Lenny Zeltser

Lenny's uncommon technical depth and breadth allow him to share practical insights from firsthand experience across a range of topics, ranging from cybersecurity leadership to malware analysis. In addition to capturing his expertise through authoring and teaching at SANS, he writes a blog at zeltser.com.

Like many of his students, Lenny's career path began in an IT role, which lends unique strengths to his cybersecurity perspective.

"My first job in IT was Unix system administration, then I moved onto Windows sysadmin, and then I spent a bit of time on software development," Lenny explains. "I found myself gravitating toward the security aspects of these jobs. For me, cybersecurity exists at the intersection of many disciplines, and working in this field allows me to make use of the skills and interests I've acquired across various aspects of technology."

Lenny gives his students more than technical tools, however, and he says that the most important lesson he teaches his students is: "You can do it."

"It's easy to get discouraged when you run into professional challenges that you're not equipped to handle," Lenny explains. "But when you participate in SANS training, you encounter many new tools and concepts that you will be able to attach to the techniques you already know from prior experience in the field. Much of what you learn will occur after you finish the course and begin applying the concepts to your work outside the classroom. I strive to give students the confidence and the core skills they need to keep learning even after the class ends."

In his free time, Lenny indulges his love of food both as chef and consumer. "Eating a delicious meal in good company is always time well spent for me," he says. Lenny also loves to cook as a way to clear his mind, disconnect from the day-to-day challenges of business and IT, and connect with family and friends. Lenny subscribes to several food and cooking magazines and enjoys experimenting with new recipes, ingredients, and spices. "Not everything I cook turns into a great dish—sometimes experiments lead towards unfavorable results—so I keep reminding myself to think about this process as a journey, not as a destination."

Qualifications Summary

• Recipient of the prestigious GIAC Security Expert (GSE) professional certification
• Co-author of cybersecurity books, ranging from network security to malware defense
• Creator and maintainer of the REMnux Linux toolkit for malware analysis
• Faculty Fellow at SANS Institute
• Lead author of the course FOR610: Reverse-Engineering Malware: Malware Analysis Tools and Techniques
• Author of the course SEC402: Cybersecurity Writing: Hack the Reader
• Author of the course LDR550: Leading Agentic Security Teams
• Industry veteran with more decades of field experience