Leadership Laboratory

How to Pass the GSLC Exam

June 20th, 2009
By Daryl Gilbertson and Stephen Northcutt


How to pass the GSLC Exam

by Daryl Gilbertson and Stephen Northcutt

Thank you for choosing SANS training and certification. We are excited that you will be attending our SANS Security Leadership Essentials For Managers (MGT512) class to prepare you for our GIAC Security Leadership Certification (GSLC) exam.

If you will invest some time to prepare before starting your MGT512 class you will be able to follow the material discussed in class better. Additionally, the more you prepare for the GSLC exam the better you will do on your exam. Here are a few tips that will help you get the most out of your class and exam.

Pre-Class Preparation:

  1. Take the GSLC Assessment to give you a general idea of your knowledge and skill gaps ahead of taking our GSLC class. To take the assessment, navigate to https://portal.sans.org/assessments/short_gslc.php while logged into your portal account,
  2. Read the certification objectives "fairway markers" found online at GSLC Certification Objectives & Fairway Markers.
  3. Look over the course "talking points" located at http://www.sans.edu/resources/leadershiplab/mgt512_talking_point.php
  4. If you are enrolled through an OnSite class, you may be able to review the course books prior to class since we usually ship them about a week ahead.
  5. Download & review the material below as each one will be discussed in class and will be important for passing the GSLC exam. If you are reading this Email in "plain text" format, you can get to these links from our website at (http://www.sans.org/training/laptop.php?tid=1627).

Post-Class (pre exam) Preparation:


1) Please plan to study between 40 and 55 hours for the exam, you will need to schedule this time.

2) Read the “GSLC Certification Objectives & Fairway Markers” PDF and the talking points: http://www.sans.edu/resources/leadershiplab/mgt512_talking_point.php

3) Read and re-read your SANS courseware. It is a great resource for preparing for GIAC exams. We suggest reading all slides and notes at least once. Tab your books and create an index that you can use during the test, since the test is open book and open notes.

4) Use your two practice tests wisely, don't take the first until you have familiarized yourself with the certification objectives, talking points and investing significant study time. Practice tests serve to get you familiar with the types of questions you can expect to see on the certification exam, as well as the testing interface in general. When taking the practice tests, you should pace yourself and practice using your books and any other references you plan on bringing with you to the testing center. They are more beneficial when they are used like a dry run prior to the real exam. The practice tests are also a good learning tool, as GIAC gives you the option to display the correct answer for missed questions. Don't waste them by blowing through them before studying, or not taking them at all.

5) When you complete your first practice test, print out the report at the end of it. The report tells you how well you did on each certification objective for your exam. If you have less than four stars for any certification objective you might want to consider refocusing your remaining study time in that area.

6) Study a small block every day rather than all at once. This will give the material you are learning time to sink in and help keep you from burning yourself out. Don't wait until the last minute to begin studying!

7) Use a highlighter on books you are bringing with you to the test center to help the keywords in your index stand out when you are "under fire" in an exam situation.

8) According to a survey we conducted, the average GIAC certified individual spends an average of 55 hours of study time IN ADDITION to any classroom training. If you are familiar with most of your certification objectives, that might be sufficient. If you are just learning the material for the first time, it could easily take three times that much, or more, to master the certification objectives. Be prepared to spend the time required for mastery. If you don't spend time outside of class studying, you should not expect to pass.

9) This multiple choice exam is computer created. Therefore, there are as many A choices as C choices, if you have been told to choose "C" when in doubt, that will not work.

10) While studying, use online resources like Wikipedia and Google to help you fill in gaps in your knowledge. Search by certification objective or specific tools or concepts. If there is a part of the course material you just do not understand, feel free to contact the author, Stephen Northcutt, stephen@sans.edu, and he will try to clear that up and update the course for future students as well.

Please let me know if this is helpful. Best wishes to you on your exam. Please let me know how you do. Thank you again for choosing SANS.


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People are always asking me where they can take the training, here is the upcoming schedule: