Re: Sans GSEC training suggestions.

[Andrew Anderson <andycapp92 () gmail com>]

I actually took my 401 course from Seth and enjoyed it greatly.  I will say
that the exam structure IMO is heavy on the memorization of details from the
course materials as opposed to simply understanding the concepts.

While if you don't know the material you are screwed anyway, having the
material at your side along with a good index (the process of making the
index goes a long way) is what helped me in getting a higher mark on the
exam.

IMO taking the course and obtaining up to date books is a must even if the
material is somewhat 'old hat'.

I have been trying to get into the 'facilitator' role here at home when
courses come up and have found that these spots have already been taken...
I'll keep trying though...  sooner or later I suppose.



On Fri, Nov 5, 2010 at 8:22 AM, Seth Misenar <seth.misenar () gmail com> wrote:

> Brandon,
>
> Full Disclosure: I teach for SANS.  Don't think that will bias my
> response, but just wanted to be clear about it up front....
>
> You might already be aware of this option, but, if not, check into
> SANS' facilitator (a.k.a. work study, volunteer) program.  Details are
> here: http://www.sans.org/security-training/volunteer.php  The (back
> then) volunteer program is actually how I got started with SANS, so I
> definitely remember it fondly.
>
> Basically in exchange for $800, some manual labor, and some
> clerical/administrative work, SANS will allow you to take a class, get
> access to the OnDemand version of the class, and (I believe) get a
> certification attempt.  The certification attempt isn't directly
> listed at the link above so this might have changed in recent years.
> Note: Of course, you will still have to foot the bill for travel and
> hotel...  HOwever, This is an especially nice option if there is a
> conference or Community SANS event running in your area.
>
> Beyond all the training/cert goodies, at conferences, you will get to
> hang out with some pretty great like-minded security folks that are
> also serving as facilitators.
>
> RE: Books
> SANS courses, and the associated certifications, get updated pretty
> regularly, which, IMO,  makes published study guides less helpful than
> with other more stagnant courses.  The most significant recent changes
> to the 401 curriculum that come to mind are major updates to both Day
> 5, Windows Security, and Day 6, Linux/Unix Security.  The 2003 book
> would be woefully outdated.  I also doubt the 2009 book would reflect
> these recent changes.  However, the majority of the thousands of pages
> of GSEC material will not have changed substantially since 2009.
> Can't really speak with any more detail to these books as I haven't
> read them, but I hope this provided a bit of context.
>
> Best of luck,
> Seth
>
>
>
> On Thu, Nov 4, 2010 at 1:44 PM, Brandon McGinty
> <brandon.mcginty () gmail com> wrote:
> > All,
> > I am looking into taking the GSEC next Spring.
> > However, the $4045, or $3072, that the SECURITY 401 class and boot camp
> > would run me, is a bit more than I can stand to spend at the present.
> > I can pay the $899 for the exam itself, and I tend to do better with
> > self-study anyhow.
> > Also, Sans has discontinued selling it's study materials for courses, so
> > buying them directly is not an option.
> > I have found the following books on Amazon:
> > ----
> > GSEC GIAC Security Essential Certification Exam Preparation Course in a
> > Book for Passing the GSEC Certified Exam - The How To Pass on Your First
> > Try Certification
> > Study Guide
> > by William Manning (Paperback - Nov 17, 2009)
> > ----
> > The GSEC Prep Guide: Mastering SANS GIAC Security Essentials
> > by
> > Mike Chapple
> > (Paperback - Jun 27, 2003)
> > ----
> > The first has less than stellar reviews, while the second seems a bit
> > outdated, and also has negative comments.
> > I was thinking of getting a book for each of the 62? sections of the
> > GSEC exam, but that might become rather costly as well.
> > Do any of you have any resources that you can recommend?
> > Are these indeed the only GSEC books published?
> > As always, thanks in advance for your help.
> >
> > Sincerely,
> > Brandon McGinty
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