Mastering Incident Response: The Complete Guide to Becoming a GIAC Certified Incident Handler
You're under pressure. Your organisation just suffered a breach. Stakeholders are asking: What happened? When will it be contained? Why wasn't this prevented? And you're scrambling to respond with clarity, speed, and authority - while fighting through outdated playbooks and fragmented processes. The truth is, most security professionals are unprepared for the chaos of real-world cyber incidents. They rely on theory, not tactics. They memorize checklists, not command structures. And when the attack hits, they freeze instead of leading. But it doesn't have to be this way. With the right framework, tools, and proven strategy, you can transform from reactive responder to strategic incident commander - the one person the team looks to in a crisis. Mastering Incident Response: The Complete Guide to Becoming a GIAC Certified Incident Handler is your definitive roadmap from confusion to command. This course delivers a structured, field-tested path to mastering the entire incident lifecycle - going from unprepared to board-ready in under 60 days, with a battle-tested incident playbook in hand. One lead security analyst at a Fortune 500 healthcare provider used this exact method to reduce their mean time to containment by 68% within three months of completing the program. They didn’t just pass the GIAC certification - they led their first breach response three weeks later, earning executive recognition and a fast-track promotion. No more guesswork. No more patchwork training. This is the only course you’ll ever need to build irreplaceable incident response skills, backed by rigorous standards and trusted by enterprises worldwide. Here’s how this course is structured to help you get there.Course Format & Delivery Details This is a self-paced, on-demand learning experience with immediate online access. You begin the moment you enroll, progress at your own speed, and return to any section anytime - with zero fixed dates or time commitments. Most learners complete the full program in 40 to 60 hours, with many implementing core response protocols within the first two weeks. You’ll gain immediate clarity on your organisation’s weakest links and have a draft incident playbook ready in under 30 days. You receive lifetime access to all course materials, including every future update at no extra cost. As attack techniques evolve and frameworks adapt, your knowledge stays current - automatically, indefinitely. 24/7 Global & Mobile-Friendly Access
The course platform is fully responsive, accessible on any device - laptop, tablet, or smartphone - with seamless sync across sessions. Whether you're in the office, at home, or responding remotely during an active incident, your training goes where you go. Direct Instructor Guidance & Support
You're not learning alone. Throughout the course, you’ll have direct access to our incident response coaching team - seasoned practitioners with real-world GCIA and GCIH certifications. Submit questions, get tactical feedback on your playbook drafts, and receive guidance on navigating complex environments like hybrid cloud, regulated industries, and high-trust federal systems. Certificate of Completion Issued by The Art of Service
Upon successful completion, you’ll earn a globally recognised Certificate of Completion issued by The Art of Service. This credential is trusted by thousands of enterprises, security consultancies, and government agencies as proof of rigorous, practical mastery in incident handling. It’s not just a piece of paper - it’s a career accelerator with real hiring weight. No Hidden Fees - Full Transparency
Pricing is straightforward with no hidden fees, subscriptions, or surprise charges. What you pay today is all you’ll ever pay. The course includes every module, resource, and update - forever. Accepted Payment Methods
We accept all major payment methods, including Visa, Mastercard, and PayPal - for fast, secure, and hassle-free enrollment. Zero-Risk Enrollment: 30-Day Satisfied or Refunded Guarantee
If this course doesn’t deliver immediate value, clarity, and practical tools you can use in your job, request a full refund within 30 days - no questions asked. We reverse the risk so you can focus on the reward. What Happens After You Enroll
After enrollment, you’ll receive a confirmation email. Once the course materials are ready, your access details will be sent separately, ensuring a smooth and reliable onboarding experience. This Works Even If…
- You’ve never led a breach response before
- Your current role isn’t Incident Handler - but you want to be
- You’re transitioning from SOC analyst, network admin, or forensic investigator
- You work in a highly regulated environment - healthcare, finance, energy, or government
- You’ve failed a certification attempt before and need a clearer, structured method
One SOC manager in the UK told us: I’ve read the NIST guide three times and still couldn’t create a working playbook. This course broke it down step by step, with real templates and decision trees. Now I lead tabletop exercises and have started mentoring others. That’s the difference: this isn’t theory. It’s battle-ready strategy, structured for real people in real organisations. You’ll build actual artefacts - playbooks, escalation matrices, breach communication templates - that integrate directly into your workplace. You gain clarity, confidence, and credibility - with risk completely removed.
Module 1: Foundations of Incident Response - Defining incident response in modern cybersecurity
- Understanding the difference between detection, response, and recovery
- Core principles of effective incident handling
- The role of the incident handler in enterprises and SMEs
- Overview of common threats and attack vectors in 2024
- Key indicators of compromise (IoCs) and their importance
- Establishing the need for formal incident response plans
- Regulatory drivers: GDPR, HIPAA, PCI-DSS, and incident reporting
- Legal and compliance considerations during incident response
- Roles and responsibilities within an incident response team
- Internal vs external incident handling scenarios
- Understanding organisational risk tolerance and response posture
- Creating the business case for incident response capability
- Introduction to the SANS Incident Handler process
- Mapping response capability to organisational maturity
Module 2: The Incident Response Lifecycle - Preparation: Building readiness before the incident
- Identification: Detecting and validating security events
- Containment: Short-term and long-term strategies
- Eradication: Removing threats from systems
- Recovery: Restoring operations safely
- Lessons Learned: Conducting effective post-mortems
- Integrating the lifecycle into organisational workflows
- Setting timelines and decisions at each phase
- Transition triggers between lifecycle stages
- Documenting actions for compliance and audits
- Handling false positives and alert fatigue
- Using lifecycle maturity as a KPI
- Aligning the lifecycle with ISO 27035 standards
- Managing escalations across departments
- Communicating lifecycle progress to leadership
Module 3: Building an Incident Response Team (IRT) - Structuring an IRT for small, medium, and large organisations
- Defining roles: Lead Handler, Communications Lead, Technical Analyst, etc
- Building cross-functional support (Legal, PR, IT, HR)
- Outsourcing vs insourced incident response
- Engaging third-party incident responders
- Defining authority and decision rights during crises
- Training non-security staff on their response roles
- Creating an on-call rotation policy
- Managing stress and fatigue during long incidents
- Conducting team readiness assessments
- Setting clear escalation paths and thresholds
- Establishing IRT governance and oversight
- Developing team-specific playbooks and checklists
- Integrating IR with disaster recovery and BCP teams
- Conducting team certification and skills validation
Module 4: Incident Response Frameworks and Standards - Deep dive into NIST SP 800-61r2
- Applying ISO/IEC 27035
- SANS Institute best practices
- MITRE ATT&CK framework for adversarial mapping
- Using the Cyber Kill Chain model in response planning
- Mapping frameworks to real-world attack sequences
- Comparing and combining multiple frameworks
- Aligning frameworks with enterprise architecture
- Audit and compliance benefits of standards adoption
- Customising frameworks for industry-specific needs
- Implementing frameworks without overcomplication
- Using frameworks to train new responders
- Measuring maturity using framework benchmarks
- Integrating frameworks into tabletop exercises
- Documenting framework usage for external audits
Module 5: Threat Intelligence and Incident Triage - Integrating threat intelligence into incident identification
- Using commercial, open-source, and ISAC feeds
- Differentiating between threat data and intelligence
- Analysing IoCs and TTPs for early detection
- Automating IOC ingestion with SIEM and SOAR
- Classifying incidents by severity and priority
- Triage decision matrices and workflows
- Identifying high-risk versus low-risk events
- Validating incidents through log correlation
- Using SIEM correlation rules for triage
- Escalation criteria based on impact and scope
- Creating a central incident intake process
- Distinguishing malware, phishing, insider threats, and APTs
- Conducting preliminary impact assessment
- Detecting lateral movement and privilege escalation
Module 6: Playbook Development and Customisation - Defining the purpose and scope of incident playbooks
- Building playbooks for common incident types: malware, phishing, ransomware, DDoS
- Creating cloud-specific incident playbooks
- Developing playbooks for insider threats and data exfiltration
- Incorporating regulatory reporting steps
- Using decision trees and flowcharts in playbooks
- Storing and versioning playbooks securely
- Updating playbooks based on lessons learned
- Maintaining playbooks across organisational changes
- Integrating playbooks with ticketing systems
- Assigning actions and responsibilities within playbooks
- Creating executive summaries for each playbook
- Testing playbook usability under pressure
- Linking playbook actions to lifecycle phases
- Automating playbook steps with SOAR platforms
Module 7: Containment Strategies and Tactics - Choosing between isolation, segmentation, and takedown
- Short-term containment: Disconnecting systems and blocking traffic
- Long-term containment: Restructuring networks for safety
- Network segmentation techniques for containment
- Using firewalls, ACLs, and EDR for containment
- Handling encrypted threats and tunnelled traffic
- Containment in cloud environments (AWS, Azure, GCP)
- Zero Trust principles during containment
- Preserving forensic evidence during isolation
- Monitoring contained systems for reactivation
- Communicating containment actions to stakeholders
- Documenting containment decisions and justifications
- Revising containment policies post-incident
- Using deception technologies to lure and trap attackers
- Scaling containment across global networks
Module 8: Eradication and Root Cause Analysis - Identifying and removing malware persistence mechanisms
- Eliminating backdoors and C2 channels
- Analysing logs for attacker footprint
- Removing attacker accounts and privileges
- Fixing misconfigurations exploited during the incident
- Applying patches and updates across affected systems
- Validating eradication through scanning and monitoring
- Using endpoint detection tools for verification
- Conducting memory and disk analysis
- Mapping attacker TTPs using MITRE ATT&CK
- Identifying the initial attack vector
- Determining root cause with Ishikawa diagrams
- Documenting eradication steps for audit trails
- Creating remediation runbooks
- Verifying eradication with independent testing
Module 9: Recovery and Business Continuity - Validating system integrity before recovery
- Restoring systems from clean backups
- Testing recovered systems for residual threats
- Reconnecting systems to the network safely
- Monitoring for reinfection during early recovery
- Coordinating with business units during restoration
- Managing customer-facing service recovery
- Using phased reactivation for critical systems
- Validating application functionality post-recovery
- Reconciling data inconsistencies
- Updating documentation after system changes
- Conducting post-recovery performance testing
- Aligning recovery with business continuity plans
- Managing stakeholder expectations during recovery
- Reporting recovery milestones to leadership
Module 10: Post-Incident Activity and Lessons Learned - Scheduling and facilitating post-mortem meetings
- Creating blameless incident reports
- Documenting timeline of events
- Analysing response effectiveness and delays
- Identifying process gaps and skill shortages
- Generating actionable improvement recommendations
- Tracking remediation tasks to completion
- Sharing lessons across the organisation
- Benchmarking against industry peers
- Updating playbooks and policies based on findings
- Measuring MTTR and other response KPIs
- Using automation to reduce manual response time
- Integrating insights into future tabletop exercises
- Reporting outcomes to executives and boards
- Scheduling follow-up reviews after 30/60/90 days
Module 11: Communication and Stakeholder Management - Creating an incident communication plan
- Drafting internal notifications and status reports
- Managing executive briefings during crises
- Coordinating with legal and compliance teams
- Engaging public relations and marketing
- Preparing external breach notifications
- Meeting regulatory reporting deadlines
- Drafting customer notification letters
- Using communication templates for speed and consistency
- Managing media inquiries during incidents
- Documenting all communications for audit purposes
- Setting up dedicated incident communication channels
- Using Slack, Teams, and email effectively in crises
- Training spokespersons within the IRT
- Building trust through transparent communication
Module 12: Digital Forensics in Incident Response - Chain of custody procedures
- Collecting volatile and non-volatile data
- Using live forensic tools safely
- Imaging disks and memory remotely
- Analysing Windows event logs
- Examining Linux system logs and artefacts
- Forensic analysis of cloud-based instances
- Browser history, prefetch, and shellbags analysis
- Timeline creation and reconstruction
- Identifying user and system activity
- Using forensic tools: FTK, Autopsy, Volatility
- Creating forensic reports for legal use
- Preserving evidence for law enforcement
- Handling encrypted or obfuscated data
- Integrating forensics into response timelines
Module 13: Malware Analysis for Incident Handlers - Static vs dynamic malware analysis
- Identifying file types and packers
- Extracting strings and IoCs from binaries
- Analysing suspicious scripts: JavaScript, PowerShell, VBScript
- Using sandbox environments for safe execution
- Interpreting network traffic from malware
- Mapping malware behaviour to MITRE ATT&CK
- Identifying command and control infrastructure
- Reverse engineering with disassemblers
- Sharing malware hashes and YARA rules
- Creating custom detection signatures
- Analyzing ransomware decryption keys
- Identifying polymorphic and metamorphic malware
- Using open-source tools: Ghidra, Radare2, Cuckoo
- Integrating malware analysis into response workflows
Module 14: Cloud Incident Response - Key differences in cloud vs on-premise response
- Incident response in AWS environments
- Incident response in Microsoft Azure
- Incident response in Google Cloud Platform
- Accessing cloud logs and audit trails
- Responding to compromised IAM roles and keys
- Handling S3 bucket exposure incidents
- Detecting unauthorised API calls
- Responding to container and Kubernetes breaches
- Analysing cloud-native threat vectors
- Using cloud-native security tools (GuardDuty, Defender)
- Rebuilding compromised instances from templates
- Managing multi-cloud incident coordination
- Addressing shared responsibility model gaps
- Ensuring compliance during cloud incident response
Module 15: Ransomware Incident Response - Understanding ransomware business models
- Initial infection vectors: phishing, RDP, exploits
- Detecting encryption in progress
- Preserving system state before shutdown
- Identifying double-extortion tactics
- Responding to data exfiltration threats
- Assessing negotiation and payment risks
- Engaging cyber insurance providers
- Working with law enforcement on ransomware cases
- Recovering from backups without paying
- Using decryption tools from No More Ransom
- Restoring operations after decryption
- Preventing repeat attacks through hardening
- Conducting ransomware-specific tabletop exercises
- Communicating ransomware impact to boards
Module 16: Tabletop Exercises and Simulations - Designing realistic incident scenarios
- Running tabletop exercises for IRTs
- Facilitating executive-level crisis simulations
- Using injects to escalate scenarios
- Measuring team performance during drills
- Creating after-action reports from simulations
- Integrating lessons into playbooks
- Scheduling regular exercise cadence
- Involving cross-functional stakeholders
- Simulating communication breakdowns
- Testing decision-making under pressure
- Using third-party vendors for red team exercises
- Aligning simulations with regulatory requirements
- Generating executive summaries from drills
- Archiving simulation results for audits
Module 17: Automation and Orchestration in Response - Introduction to SOAR platforms
- Automating alert triage and enrichment
- Orchestrating containment actions
- Creating response workflows with playbooks
- Integrating SIEM, EDR, and firewalls
- Using APIs to connect security tools
- Building automated evidence collection
- Reducing manual steps in response
- Speeding up MTTR with automation
- Monitoring automated response for errors
- Managing false positive escalations
- Deploying automated reporting templates
- Scaling response across large environments
- Training teams to trust and use automation
- Measuring ROI of automation investments
Module 18: GIAC Certification Preparation (GCIH) - Understanding the GCIH exam structure and domains
- Mapping course content to GIAC objectives
- Study strategies for technical retention
- Time management during the exam
- Approaching scenario-based questions
- Using practice questions effectively
- Creating a personal study plan
- Joining study groups and forums
- Accessing GIAC resources and portals
- Understanding hands-on lab requirements
- Preparing for password-cracking and log analysis sections
- Mastering incident detection and analysis topics
- Reviewing buffer overflow and exploit concepts
- Practising with command-line tools
- Final review checklist before exam day
Module 19: Career Advancement and Professional Development - Positioning incident response skills on your resume
- Bridging from SOC analyst to incident handler
- Negotiating promotions using certification
- Building a personal brand in cybersecurity
- Contributing to open-source incident tools
- Speaking at conferences and meetups
- Documenting response experience for interviews
- Transitioning into DFIR, threat hunting, or red teaming
- Engaging with professional organisations (ISC², ISACA)
- Expanding into incident response consulting
- Developing training programs for others
- Creating thought leadership content
- Measuring your impact as an incident handler
- Seeking mentorship and becoming a mentor
- Planning your long-term cybersecurity career path
Module 20: Final Integration and Certification - Compiling your master incident response playbook
- Conducting a self-assessment of readiness
- Submitting your final project for review
- Receiving feedback from instructors
- Incorporating final improvements
- Preparing your portfolio for job applications
- Integrating knowledge into current job responsibilities
- Implementing one improvement per month
- Joining the alumni community
- Accessing ongoing updates and resources
- Staying current with emerging threats
- Revisiting modules for refresher training
- Earning your Certificate of Completion issued by The Art of Service
- Adding the credential to LinkedIn and professional profiles
- Planning your next certification after GCIH
- Defining incident response in modern cybersecurity
- Understanding the difference between detection, response, and recovery
- Core principles of effective incident handling
- The role of the incident handler in enterprises and SMEs
- Overview of common threats and attack vectors in 2024
- Key indicators of compromise (IoCs) and their importance
- Establishing the need for formal incident response plans
- Regulatory drivers: GDPR, HIPAA, PCI-DSS, and incident reporting
- Legal and compliance considerations during incident response
- Roles and responsibilities within an incident response team
- Internal vs external incident handling scenarios
- Understanding organisational risk tolerance and response posture
- Creating the business case for incident response capability
- Introduction to the SANS Incident Handler process
- Mapping response capability to organisational maturity
Module 2: The Incident Response Lifecycle - Preparation: Building readiness before the incident
- Identification: Detecting and validating security events
- Containment: Short-term and long-term strategies
- Eradication: Removing threats from systems
- Recovery: Restoring operations safely
- Lessons Learned: Conducting effective post-mortems
- Integrating the lifecycle into organisational workflows
- Setting timelines and decisions at each phase
- Transition triggers between lifecycle stages
- Documenting actions for compliance and audits
- Handling false positives and alert fatigue
- Using lifecycle maturity as a KPI
- Aligning the lifecycle with ISO 27035 standards
- Managing escalations across departments
- Communicating lifecycle progress to leadership
Module 3: Building an Incident Response Team (IRT) - Structuring an IRT for small, medium, and large organisations
- Defining roles: Lead Handler, Communications Lead, Technical Analyst, etc
- Building cross-functional support (Legal, PR, IT, HR)
- Outsourcing vs insourced incident response
- Engaging third-party incident responders
- Defining authority and decision rights during crises
- Training non-security staff on their response roles
- Creating an on-call rotation policy
- Managing stress and fatigue during long incidents
- Conducting team readiness assessments
- Setting clear escalation paths and thresholds
- Establishing IRT governance and oversight
- Developing team-specific playbooks and checklists
- Integrating IR with disaster recovery and BCP teams
- Conducting team certification and skills validation
Module 4: Incident Response Frameworks and Standards - Deep dive into NIST SP 800-61r2
- Applying ISO/IEC 27035
- SANS Institute best practices
- MITRE ATT&CK framework for adversarial mapping
- Using the Cyber Kill Chain model in response planning
- Mapping frameworks to real-world attack sequences
- Comparing and combining multiple frameworks
- Aligning frameworks with enterprise architecture
- Audit and compliance benefits of standards adoption
- Customising frameworks for industry-specific needs
- Implementing frameworks without overcomplication
- Using frameworks to train new responders
- Measuring maturity using framework benchmarks
- Integrating frameworks into tabletop exercises
- Documenting framework usage for external audits
Module 5: Threat Intelligence and Incident Triage - Integrating threat intelligence into incident identification
- Using commercial, open-source, and ISAC feeds
- Differentiating between threat data and intelligence
- Analysing IoCs and TTPs for early detection
- Automating IOC ingestion with SIEM and SOAR
- Classifying incidents by severity and priority
- Triage decision matrices and workflows
- Identifying high-risk versus low-risk events
- Validating incidents through log correlation
- Using SIEM correlation rules for triage
- Escalation criteria based on impact and scope
- Creating a central incident intake process
- Distinguishing malware, phishing, insider threats, and APTs
- Conducting preliminary impact assessment
- Detecting lateral movement and privilege escalation
Module 6: Playbook Development and Customisation - Defining the purpose and scope of incident playbooks
- Building playbooks for common incident types: malware, phishing, ransomware, DDoS
- Creating cloud-specific incident playbooks
- Developing playbooks for insider threats and data exfiltration
- Incorporating regulatory reporting steps
- Using decision trees and flowcharts in playbooks
- Storing and versioning playbooks securely
- Updating playbooks based on lessons learned
- Maintaining playbooks across organisational changes
- Integrating playbooks with ticketing systems
- Assigning actions and responsibilities within playbooks
- Creating executive summaries for each playbook
- Testing playbook usability under pressure
- Linking playbook actions to lifecycle phases
- Automating playbook steps with SOAR platforms
Module 7: Containment Strategies and Tactics - Choosing between isolation, segmentation, and takedown
- Short-term containment: Disconnecting systems and blocking traffic
- Long-term containment: Restructuring networks for safety
- Network segmentation techniques for containment
- Using firewalls, ACLs, and EDR for containment
- Handling encrypted threats and tunnelled traffic
- Containment in cloud environments (AWS, Azure, GCP)
- Zero Trust principles during containment
- Preserving forensic evidence during isolation
- Monitoring contained systems for reactivation
- Communicating containment actions to stakeholders
- Documenting containment decisions and justifications
- Revising containment policies post-incident
- Using deception technologies to lure and trap attackers
- Scaling containment across global networks
Module 8: Eradication and Root Cause Analysis - Identifying and removing malware persistence mechanisms
- Eliminating backdoors and C2 channels
- Analysing logs for attacker footprint
- Removing attacker accounts and privileges
- Fixing misconfigurations exploited during the incident
- Applying patches and updates across affected systems
- Validating eradication through scanning and monitoring
- Using endpoint detection tools for verification
- Conducting memory and disk analysis
- Mapping attacker TTPs using MITRE ATT&CK
- Identifying the initial attack vector
- Determining root cause with Ishikawa diagrams
- Documenting eradication steps for audit trails
- Creating remediation runbooks
- Verifying eradication with independent testing
Module 9: Recovery and Business Continuity - Validating system integrity before recovery
- Restoring systems from clean backups
- Testing recovered systems for residual threats
- Reconnecting systems to the network safely
- Monitoring for reinfection during early recovery
- Coordinating with business units during restoration
- Managing customer-facing service recovery
- Using phased reactivation for critical systems
- Validating application functionality post-recovery
- Reconciling data inconsistencies
- Updating documentation after system changes
- Conducting post-recovery performance testing
- Aligning recovery with business continuity plans
- Managing stakeholder expectations during recovery
- Reporting recovery milestones to leadership
Module 10: Post-Incident Activity and Lessons Learned - Scheduling and facilitating post-mortem meetings
- Creating blameless incident reports
- Documenting timeline of events
- Analysing response effectiveness and delays
- Identifying process gaps and skill shortages
- Generating actionable improvement recommendations
- Tracking remediation tasks to completion
- Sharing lessons across the organisation
- Benchmarking against industry peers
- Updating playbooks and policies based on findings
- Measuring MTTR and other response KPIs
- Using automation to reduce manual response time
- Integrating insights into future tabletop exercises
- Reporting outcomes to executives and boards
- Scheduling follow-up reviews after 30/60/90 days
Module 11: Communication and Stakeholder Management - Creating an incident communication plan
- Drafting internal notifications and status reports
- Managing executive briefings during crises
- Coordinating with legal and compliance teams
- Engaging public relations and marketing
- Preparing external breach notifications
- Meeting regulatory reporting deadlines
- Drafting customer notification letters
- Using communication templates for speed and consistency
- Managing media inquiries during incidents
- Documenting all communications for audit purposes
- Setting up dedicated incident communication channels
- Using Slack, Teams, and email effectively in crises
- Training spokespersons within the IRT
- Building trust through transparent communication
Module 12: Digital Forensics in Incident Response - Chain of custody procedures
- Collecting volatile and non-volatile data
- Using live forensic tools safely
- Imaging disks and memory remotely
- Analysing Windows event logs
- Examining Linux system logs and artefacts
- Forensic analysis of cloud-based instances
- Browser history, prefetch, and shellbags analysis
- Timeline creation and reconstruction
- Identifying user and system activity
- Using forensic tools: FTK, Autopsy, Volatility
- Creating forensic reports for legal use
- Preserving evidence for law enforcement
- Handling encrypted or obfuscated data
- Integrating forensics into response timelines
Module 13: Malware Analysis for Incident Handlers - Static vs dynamic malware analysis
- Identifying file types and packers
- Extracting strings and IoCs from binaries
- Analysing suspicious scripts: JavaScript, PowerShell, VBScript
- Using sandbox environments for safe execution
- Interpreting network traffic from malware
- Mapping malware behaviour to MITRE ATT&CK
- Identifying command and control infrastructure
- Reverse engineering with disassemblers
- Sharing malware hashes and YARA rules
- Creating custom detection signatures
- Analyzing ransomware decryption keys
- Identifying polymorphic and metamorphic malware
- Using open-source tools: Ghidra, Radare2, Cuckoo
- Integrating malware analysis into response workflows
Module 14: Cloud Incident Response - Key differences in cloud vs on-premise response
- Incident response in AWS environments
- Incident response in Microsoft Azure
- Incident response in Google Cloud Platform
- Accessing cloud logs and audit trails
- Responding to compromised IAM roles and keys
- Handling S3 bucket exposure incidents
- Detecting unauthorised API calls
- Responding to container and Kubernetes breaches
- Analysing cloud-native threat vectors
- Using cloud-native security tools (GuardDuty, Defender)
- Rebuilding compromised instances from templates
- Managing multi-cloud incident coordination
- Addressing shared responsibility model gaps
- Ensuring compliance during cloud incident response
Module 15: Ransomware Incident Response - Understanding ransomware business models
- Initial infection vectors: phishing, RDP, exploits
- Detecting encryption in progress
- Preserving system state before shutdown
- Identifying double-extortion tactics
- Responding to data exfiltration threats
- Assessing negotiation and payment risks
- Engaging cyber insurance providers
- Working with law enforcement on ransomware cases
- Recovering from backups without paying
- Using decryption tools from No More Ransom
- Restoring operations after decryption
- Preventing repeat attacks through hardening
- Conducting ransomware-specific tabletop exercises
- Communicating ransomware impact to boards
Module 16: Tabletop Exercises and Simulations - Designing realistic incident scenarios
- Running tabletop exercises for IRTs
- Facilitating executive-level crisis simulations
- Using injects to escalate scenarios
- Measuring team performance during drills
- Creating after-action reports from simulations
- Integrating lessons into playbooks
- Scheduling regular exercise cadence
- Involving cross-functional stakeholders
- Simulating communication breakdowns
- Testing decision-making under pressure
- Using third-party vendors for red team exercises
- Aligning simulations with regulatory requirements
- Generating executive summaries from drills
- Archiving simulation results for audits
Module 17: Automation and Orchestration in Response - Introduction to SOAR platforms
- Automating alert triage and enrichment
- Orchestrating containment actions
- Creating response workflows with playbooks
- Integrating SIEM, EDR, and firewalls
- Using APIs to connect security tools
- Building automated evidence collection
- Reducing manual steps in response
- Speeding up MTTR with automation
- Monitoring automated response for errors
- Managing false positive escalations
- Deploying automated reporting templates
- Scaling response across large environments
- Training teams to trust and use automation
- Measuring ROI of automation investments
Module 18: GIAC Certification Preparation (GCIH) - Understanding the GCIH exam structure and domains
- Mapping course content to GIAC objectives
- Study strategies for technical retention
- Time management during the exam
- Approaching scenario-based questions
- Using practice questions effectively
- Creating a personal study plan
- Joining study groups and forums
- Accessing GIAC resources and portals
- Understanding hands-on lab requirements
- Preparing for password-cracking and log analysis sections
- Mastering incident detection and analysis topics
- Reviewing buffer overflow and exploit concepts
- Practising with command-line tools
- Final review checklist before exam day
Module 19: Career Advancement and Professional Development - Positioning incident response skills on your resume
- Bridging from SOC analyst to incident handler
- Negotiating promotions using certification
- Building a personal brand in cybersecurity
- Contributing to open-source incident tools
- Speaking at conferences and meetups
- Documenting response experience for interviews
- Transitioning into DFIR, threat hunting, or red teaming
- Engaging with professional organisations (ISC², ISACA)
- Expanding into incident response consulting
- Developing training programs for others
- Creating thought leadership content
- Measuring your impact as an incident handler
- Seeking mentorship and becoming a mentor
- Planning your long-term cybersecurity career path
Module 20: Final Integration and Certification - Compiling your master incident response playbook
- Conducting a self-assessment of readiness
- Submitting your final project for review
- Receiving feedback from instructors
- Incorporating final improvements
- Preparing your portfolio for job applications
- Integrating knowledge into current job responsibilities
- Implementing one improvement per month
- Joining the alumni community
- Accessing ongoing updates and resources
- Staying current with emerging threats
- Revisiting modules for refresher training
- Earning your Certificate of Completion issued by The Art of Service
- Adding the credential to LinkedIn and professional profiles
- Planning your next certification after GCIH
- Structuring an IRT for small, medium, and large organisations
- Defining roles: Lead Handler, Communications Lead, Technical Analyst, etc
- Building cross-functional support (Legal, PR, IT, HR)
- Outsourcing vs insourced incident response
- Engaging third-party incident responders
- Defining authority and decision rights during crises
- Training non-security staff on their response roles
- Creating an on-call rotation policy
- Managing stress and fatigue during long incidents
- Conducting team readiness assessments
- Setting clear escalation paths and thresholds
- Establishing IRT governance and oversight
- Developing team-specific playbooks and checklists
- Integrating IR with disaster recovery and BCP teams
- Conducting team certification and skills validation
Module 4: Incident Response Frameworks and Standards - Deep dive into NIST SP 800-61r2
- Applying ISO/IEC 27035
- SANS Institute best practices
- MITRE ATT&CK framework for adversarial mapping
- Using the Cyber Kill Chain model in response planning
- Mapping frameworks to real-world attack sequences
- Comparing and combining multiple frameworks
- Aligning frameworks with enterprise architecture
- Audit and compliance benefits of standards adoption
- Customising frameworks for industry-specific needs
- Implementing frameworks without overcomplication
- Using frameworks to train new responders
- Measuring maturity using framework benchmarks
- Integrating frameworks into tabletop exercises
- Documenting framework usage for external audits
Module 5: Threat Intelligence and Incident Triage - Integrating threat intelligence into incident identification
- Using commercial, open-source, and ISAC feeds
- Differentiating between threat data and intelligence
- Analysing IoCs and TTPs for early detection
- Automating IOC ingestion with SIEM and SOAR
- Classifying incidents by severity and priority
- Triage decision matrices and workflows
- Identifying high-risk versus low-risk events
- Validating incidents through log correlation
- Using SIEM correlation rules for triage
- Escalation criteria based on impact and scope
- Creating a central incident intake process
- Distinguishing malware, phishing, insider threats, and APTs
- Conducting preliminary impact assessment
- Detecting lateral movement and privilege escalation
Module 6: Playbook Development and Customisation - Defining the purpose and scope of incident playbooks
- Building playbooks for common incident types: malware, phishing, ransomware, DDoS
- Creating cloud-specific incident playbooks
- Developing playbooks for insider threats and data exfiltration
- Incorporating regulatory reporting steps
- Using decision trees and flowcharts in playbooks
- Storing and versioning playbooks securely
- Updating playbooks based on lessons learned
- Maintaining playbooks across organisational changes
- Integrating playbooks with ticketing systems
- Assigning actions and responsibilities within playbooks
- Creating executive summaries for each playbook
- Testing playbook usability under pressure
- Linking playbook actions to lifecycle phases
- Automating playbook steps with SOAR platforms
Module 7: Containment Strategies and Tactics - Choosing between isolation, segmentation, and takedown
- Short-term containment: Disconnecting systems and blocking traffic
- Long-term containment: Restructuring networks for safety
- Network segmentation techniques for containment
- Using firewalls, ACLs, and EDR for containment
- Handling encrypted threats and tunnelled traffic
- Containment in cloud environments (AWS, Azure, GCP)
- Zero Trust principles during containment
- Preserving forensic evidence during isolation
- Monitoring contained systems for reactivation
- Communicating containment actions to stakeholders
- Documenting containment decisions and justifications
- Revising containment policies post-incident
- Using deception technologies to lure and trap attackers
- Scaling containment across global networks
Module 8: Eradication and Root Cause Analysis - Identifying and removing malware persistence mechanisms
- Eliminating backdoors and C2 channels
- Analysing logs for attacker footprint
- Removing attacker accounts and privileges
- Fixing misconfigurations exploited during the incident
- Applying patches and updates across affected systems
- Validating eradication through scanning and monitoring
- Using endpoint detection tools for verification
- Conducting memory and disk analysis
- Mapping attacker TTPs using MITRE ATT&CK
- Identifying the initial attack vector
- Determining root cause with Ishikawa diagrams
- Documenting eradication steps for audit trails
- Creating remediation runbooks
- Verifying eradication with independent testing
Module 9: Recovery and Business Continuity - Validating system integrity before recovery
- Restoring systems from clean backups
- Testing recovered systems for residual threats
- Reconnecting systems to the network safely
- Monitoring for reinfection during early recovery
- Coordinating with business units during restoration
- Managing customer-facing service recovery
- Using phased reactivation for critical systems
- Validating application functionality post-recovery
- Reconciling data inconsistencies
- Updating documentation after system changes
- Conducting post-recovery performance testing
- Aligning recovery with business continuity plans
- Managing stakeholder expectations during recovery
- Reporting recovery milestones to leadership
Module 10: Post-Incident Activity and Lessons Learned - Scheduling and facilitating post-mortem meetings
- Creating blameless incident reports
- Documenting timeline of events
- Analysing response effectiveness and delays
- Identifying process gaps and skill shortages
- Generating actionable improvement recommendations
- Tracking remediation tasks to completion
- Sharing lessons across the organisation
- Benchmarking against industry peers
- Updating playbooks and policies based on findings
- Measuring MTTR and other response KPIs
- Using automation to reduce manual response time
- Integrating insights into future tabletop exercises
- Reporting outcomes to executives and boards
- Scheduling follow-up reviews after 30/60/90 days
Module 11: Communication and Stakeholder Management - Creating an incident communication plan
- Drafting internal notifications and status reports
- Managing executive briefings during crises
- Coordinating with legal and compliance teams
- Engaging public relations and marketing
- Preparing external breach notifications
- Meeting regulatory reporting deadlines
- Drafting customer notification letters
- Using communication templates for speed and consistency
- Managing media inquiries during incidents
- Documenting all communications for audit purposes
- Setting up dedicated incident communication channels
- Using Slack, Teams, and email effectively in crises
- Training spokespersons within the IRT
- Building trust through transparent communication
Module 12: Digital Forensics in Incident Response - Chain of custody procedures
- Collecting volatile and non-volatile data
- Using live forensic tools safely
- Imaging disks and memory remotely
- Analysing Windows event logs
- Examining Linux system logs and artefacts
- Forensic analysis of cloud-based instances
- Browser history, prefetch, and shellbags analysis
- Timeline creation and reconstruction
- Identifying user and system activity
- Using forensic tools: FTK, Autopsy, Volatility
- Creating forensic reports for legal use
- Preserving evidence for law enforcement
- Handling encrypted or obfuscated data
- Integrating forensics into response timelines
Module 13: Malware Analysis for Incident Handlers - Static vs dynamic malware analysis
- Identifying file types and packers
- Extracting strings and IoCs from binaries
- Analysing suspicious scripts: JavaScript, PowerShell, VBScript
- Using sandbox environments for safe execution
- Interpreting network traffic from malware
- Mapping malware behaviour to MITRE ATT&CK
- Identifying command and control infrastructure
- Reverse engineering with disassemblers
- Sharing malware hashes and YARA rules
- Creating custom detection signatures
- Analyzing ransomware decryption keys
- Identifying polymorphic and metamorphic malware
- Using open-source tools: Ghidra, Radare2, Cuckoo
- Integrating malware analysis into response workflows
Module 14: Cloud Incident Response - Key differences in cloud vs on-premise response
- Incident response in AWS environments
- Incident response in Microsoft Azure
- Incident response in Google Cloud Platform
- Accessing cloud logs and audit trails
- Responding to compromised IAM roles and keys
- Handling S3 bucket exposure incidents
- Detecting unauthorised API calls
- Responding to container and Kubernetes breaches
- Analysing cloud-native threat vectors
- Using cloud-native security tools (GuardDuty, Defender)
- Rebuilding compromised instances from templates
- Managing multi-cloud incident coordination
- Addressing shared responsibility model gaps
- Ensuring compliance during cloud incident response
Module 15: Ransomware Incident Response - Understanding ransomware business models
- Initial infection vectors: phishing, RDP, exploits
- Detecting encryption in progress
- Preserving system state before shutdown
- Identifying double-extortion tactics
- Responding to data exfiltration threats
- Assessing negotiation and payment risks
- Engaging cyber insurance providers
- Working with law enforcement on ransomware cases
- Recovering from backups without paying
- Using decryption tools from No More Ransom
- Restoring operations after decryption
- Preventing repeat attacks through hardening
- Conducting ransomware-specific tabletop exercises
- Communicating ransomware impact to boards
Module 16: Tabletop Exercises and Simulations - Designing realistic incident scenarios
- Running tabletop exercises for IRTs
- Facilitating executive-level crisis simulations
- Using injects to escalate scenarios
- Measuring team performance during drills
- Creating after-action reports from simulations
- Integrating lessons into playbooks
- Scheduling regular exercise cadence
- Involving cross-functional stakeholders
- Simulating communication breakdowns
- Testing decision-making under pressure
- Using third-party vendors for red team exercises
- Aligning simulations with regulatory requirements
- Generating executive summaries from drills
- Archiving simulation results for audits
Module 17: Automation and Orchestration in Response - Introduction to SOAR platforms
- Automating alert triage and enrichment
- Orchestrating containment actions
- Creating response workflows with playbooks
- Integrating SIEM, EDR, and firewalls
- Using APIs to connect security tools
- Building automated evidence collection
- Reducing manual steps in response
- Speeding up MTTR with automation
- Monitoring automated response for errors
- Managing false positive escalations
- Deploying automated reporting templates
- Scaling response across large environments
- Training teams to trust and use automation
- Measuring ROI of automation investments
Module 18: GIAC Certification Preparation (GCIH) - Understanding the GCIH exam structure and domains
- Mapping course content to GIAC objectives
- Study strategies for technical retention
- Time management during the exam
- Approaching scenario-based questions
- Using practice questions effectively
- Creating a personal study plan
- Joining study groups and forums
- Accessing GIAC resources and portals
- Understanding hands-on lab requirements
- Preparing for password-cracking and log analysis sections
- Mastering incident detection and analysis topics
- Reviewing buffer overflow and exploit concepts
- Practising with command-line tools
- Final review checklist before exam day
Module 19: Career Advancement and Professional Development - Positioning incident response skills on your resume
- Bridging from SOC analyst to incident handler
- Negotiating promotions using certification
- Building a personal brand in cybersecurity
- Contributing to open-source incident tools
- Speaking at conferences and meetups
- Documenting response experience for interviews
- Transitioning into DFIR, threat hunting, or red teaming
- Engaging with professional organisations (ISC², ISACA)
- Expanding into incident response consulting
- Developing training programs for others
- Creating thought leadership content
- Measuring your impact as an incident handler
- Seeking mentorship and becoming a mentor
- Planning your long-term cybersecurity career path
Module 20: Final Integration and Certification - Compiling your master incident response playbook
- Conducting a self-assessment of readiness
- Submitting your final project for review
- Receiving feedback from instructors
- Incorporating final improvements
- Preparing your portfolio for job applications
- Integrating knowledge into current job responsibilities
- Implementing one improvement per month
- Joining the alumni community
- Accessing ongoing updates and resources
- Staying current with emerging threats
- Revisiting modules for refresher training
- Earning your Certificate of Completion issued by The Art of Service
- Adding the credential to LinkedIn and professional profiles
- Planning your next certification after GCIH
- Integrating threat intelligence into incident identification
- Using commercial, open-source, and ISAC feeds
- Differentiating between threat data and intelligence
- Analysing IoCs and TTPs for early detection
- Automating IOC ingestion with SIEM and SOAR
- Classifying incidents by severity and priority
- Triage decision matrices and workflows
- Identifying high-risk versus low-risk events
- Validating incidents through log correlation
- Using SIEM correlation rules for triage
- Escalation criteria based on impact and scope
- Creating a central incident intake process
- Distinguishing malware, phishing, insider threats, and APTs
- Conducting preliminary impact assessment
- Detecting lateral movement and privilege escalation
Module 6: Playbook Development and Customisation - Defining the purpose and scope of incident playbooks
- Building playbooks for common incident types: malware, phishing, ransomware, DDoS
- Creating cloud-specific incident playbooks
- Developing playbooks for insider threats and data exfiltration
- Incorporating regulatory reporting steps
- Using decision trees and flowcharts in playbooks
- Storing and versioning playbooks securely
- Updating playbooks based on lessons learned
- Maintaining playbooks across organisational changes
- Integrating playbooks with ticketing systems
- Assigning actions and responsibilities within playbooks
- Creating executive summaries for each playbook
- Testing playbook usability under pressure
- Linking playbook actions to lifecycle phases
- Automating playbook steps with SOAR platforms
Module 7: Containment Strategies and Tactics - Choosing between isolation, segmentation, and takedown
- Short-term containment: Disconnecting systems and blocking traffic
- Long-term containment: Restructuring networks for safety
- Network segmentation techniques for containment
- Using firewalls, ACLs, and EDR for containment
- Handling encrypted threats and tunnelled traffic
- Containment in cloud environments (AWS, Azure, GCP)
- Zero Trust principles during containment
- Preserving forensic evidence during isolation
- Monitoring contained systems for reactivation
- Communicating containment actions to stakeholders
- Documenting containment decisions and justifications
- Revising containment policies post-incident
- Using deception technologies to lure and trap attackers
- Scaling containment across global networks
Module 8: Eradication and Root Cause Analysis - Identifying and removing malware persistence mechanisms
- Eliminating backdoors and C2 channels
- Analysing logs for attacker footprint
- Removing attacker accounts and privileges
- Fixing misconfigurations exploited during the incident
- Applying patches and updates across affected systems
- Validating eradication through scanning and monitoring
- Using endpoint detection tools for verification
- Conducting memory and disk analysis
- Mapping attacker TTPs using MITRE ATT&CK
- Identifying the initial attack vector
- Determining root cause with Ishikawa diagrams
- Documenting eradication steps for audit trails
- Creating remediation runbooks
- Verifying eradication with independent testing
Module 9: Recovery and Business Continuity - Validating system integrity before recovery
- Restoring systems from clean backups
- Testing recovered systems for residual threats
- Reconnecting systems to the network safely
- Monitoring for reinfection during early recovery
- Coordinating with business units during restoration
- Managing customer-facing service recovery
- Using phased reactivation for critical systems
- Validating application functionality post-recovery
- Reconciling data inconsistencies
- Updating documentation after system changes
- Conducting post-recovery performance testing
- Aligning recovery with business continuity plans
- Managing stakeholder expectations during recovery
- Reporting recovery milestones to leadership
Module 10: Post-Incident Activity and Lessons Learned - Scheduling and facilitating post-mortem meetings
- Creating blameless incident reports
- Documenting timeline of events
- Analysing response effectiveness and delays
- Identifying process gaps and skill shortages
- Generating actionable improvement recommendations
- Tracking remediation tasks to completion
- Sharing lessons across the organisation
- Benchmarking against industry peers
- Updating playbooks and policies based on findings
- Measuring MTTR and other response KPIs
- Using automation to reduce manual response time
- Integrating insights into future tabletop exercises
- Reporting outcomes to executives and boards
- Scheduling follow-up reviews after 30/60/90 days
Module 11: Communication and Stakeholder Management - Creating an incident communication plan
- Drafting internal notifications and status reports
- Managing executive briefings during crises
- Coordinating with legal and compliance teams
- Engaging public relations and marketing
- Preparing external breach notifications
- Meeting regulatory reporting deadlines
- Drafting customer notification letters
- Using communication templates for speed and consistency
- Managing media inquiries during incidents
- Documenting all communications for audit purposes
- Setting up dedicated incident communication channels
- Using Slack, Teams, and email effectively in crises
- Training spokespersons within the IRT
- Building trust through transparent communication
Module 12: Digital Forensics in Incident Response - Chain of custody procedures
- Collecting volatile and non-volatile data
- Using live forensic tools safely
- Imaging disks and memory remotely
- Analysing Windows event logs
- Examining Linux system logs and artefacts
- Forensic analysis of cloud-based instances
- Browser history, prefetch, and shellbags analysis
- Timeline creation and reconstruction
- Identifying user and system activity
- Using forensic tools: FTK, Autopsy, Volatility
- Creating forensic reports for legal use
- Preserving evidence for law enforcement
- Handling encrypted or obfuscated data
- Integrating forensics into response timelines
Module 13: Malware Analysis for Incident Handlers - Static vs dynamic malware analysis
- Identifying file types and packers
- Extracting strings and IoCs from binaries
- Analysing suspicious scripts: JavaScript, PowerShell, VBScript
- Using sandbox environments for safe execution
- Interpreting network traffic from malware
- Mapping malware behaviour to MITRE ATT&CK
- Identifying command and control infrastructure
- Reverse engineering with disassemblers
- Sharing malware hashes and YARA rules
- Creating custom detection signatures
- Analyzing ransomware decryption keys
- Identifying polymorphic and metamorphic malware
- Using open-source tools: Ghidra, Radare2, Cuckoo
- Integrating malware analysis into response workflows
Module 14: Cloud Incident Response - Key differences in cloud vs on-premise response
- Incident response in AWS environments
- Incident response in Microsoft Azure
- Incident response in Google Cloud Platform
- Accessing cloud logs and audit trails
- Responding to compromised IAM roles and keys
- Handling S3 bucket exposure incidents
- Detecting unauthorised API calls
- Responding to container and Kubernetes breaches
- Analysing cloud-native threat vectors
- Using cloud-native security tools (GuardDuty, Defender)
- Rebuilding compromised instances from templates
- Managing multi-cloud incident coordination
- Addressing shared responsibility model gaps
- Ensuring compliance during cloud incident response
Module 15: Ransomware Incident Response - Understanding ransomware business models
- Initial infection vectors: phishing, RDP, exploits
- Detecting encryption in progress
- Preserving system state before shutdown
- Identifying double-extortion tactics
- Responding to data exfiltration threats
- Assessing negotiation and payment risks
- Engaging cyber insurance providers
- Working with law enforcement on ransomware cases
- Recovering from backups without paying
- Using decryption tools from No More Ransom
- Restoring operations after decryption
- Preventing repeat attacks through hardening
- Conducting ransomware-specific tabletop exercises
- Communicating ransomware impact to boards
Module 16: Tabletop Exercises and Simulations - Designing realistic incident scenarios
- Running tabletop exercises for IRTs
- Facilitating executive-level crisis simulations
- Using injects to escalate scenarios
- Measuring team performance during drills
- Creating after-action reports from simulations
- Integrating lessons into playbooks
- Scheduling regular exercise cadence
- Involving cross-functional stakeholders
- Simulating communication breakdowns
- Testing decision-making under pressure
- Using third-party vendors for red team exercises
- Aligning simulations with regulatory requirements
- Generating executive summaries from drills
- Archiving simulation results for audits
Module 17: Automation and Orchestration in Response - Introduction to SOAR platforms
- Automating alert triage and enrichment
- Orchestrating containment actions
- Creating response workflows with playbooks
- Integrating SIEM, EDR, and firewalls
- Using APIs to connect security tools
- Building automated evidence collection
- Reducing manual steps in response
- Speeding up MTTR with automation
- Monitoring automated response for errors
- Managing false positive escalations
- Deploying automated reporting templates
- Scaling response across large environments
- Training teams to trust and use automation
- Measuring ROI of automation investments
Module 18: GIAC Certification Preparation (GCIH) - Understanding the GCIH exam structure and domains
- Mapping course content to GIAC objectives
- Study strategies for technical retention
- Time management during the exam
- Approaching scenario-based questions
- Using practice questions effectively
- Creating a personal study plan
- Joining study groups and forums
- Accessing GIAC resources and portals
- Understanding hands-on lab requirements
- Preparing for password-cracking and log analysis sections
- Mastering incident detection and analysis topics
- Reviewing buffer overflow and exploit concepts
- Practising with command-line tools
- Final review checklist before exam day
Module 19: Career Advancement and Professional Development - Positioning incident response skills on your resume
- Bridging from SOC analyst to incident handler
- Negotiating promotions using certification
- Building a personal brand in cybersecurity
- Contributing to open-source incident tools
- Speaking at conferences and meetups
- Documenting response experience for interviews
- Transitioning into DFIR, threat hunting, or red teaming
- Engaging with professional organisations (ISC², ISACA)
- Expanding into incident response consulting
- Developing training programs for others
- Creating thought leadership content
- Measuring your impact as an incident handler
- Seeking mentorship and becoming a mentor
- Planning your long-term cybersecurity career path
Module 20: Final Integration and Certification - Compiling your master incident response playbook
- Conducting a self-assessment of readiness
- Submitting your final project for review
- Receiving feedback from instructors
- Incorporating final improvements
- Preparing your portfolio for job applications
- Integrating knowledge into current job responsibilities
- Implementing one improvement per month
- Joining the alumni community
- Accessing ongoing updates and resources
- Staying current with emerging threats
- Revisiting modules for refresher training
- Earning your Certificate of Completion issued by The Art of Service
- Adding the credential to LinkedIn and professional profiles
- Planning your next certification after GCIH
- Choosing between isolation, segmentation, and takedown
- Short-term containment: Disconnecting systems and blocking traffic
- Long-term containment: Restructuring networks for safety
- Network segmentation techniques for containment
- Using firewalls, ACLs, and EDR for containment
- Handling encrypted threats and tunnelled traffic
- Containment in cloud environments (AWS, Azure, GCP)
- Zero Trust principles during containment
- Preserving forensic evidence during isolation
- Monitoring contained systems for reactivation
- Communicating containment actions to stakeholders
- Documenting containment decisions and justifications
- Revising containment policies post-incident
- Using deception technologies to lure and trap attackers
- Scaling containment across global networks
Module 8: Eradication and Root Cause Analysis - Identifying and removing malware persistence mechanisms
- Eliminating backdoors and C2 channels
- Analysing logs for attacker footprint
- Removing attacker accounts and privileges
- Fixing misconfigurations exploited during the incident
- Applying patches and updates across affected systems
- Validating eradication through scanning and monitoring
- Using endpoint detection tools for verification
- Conducting memory and disk analysis
- Mapping attacker TTPs using MITRE ATT&CK
- Identifying the initial attack vector
- Determining root cause with Ishikawa diagrams
- Documenting eradication steps for audit trails
- Creating remediation runbooks
- Verifying eradication with independent testing
Module 9: Recovery and Business Continuity - Validating system integrity before recovery
- Restoring systems from clean backups
- Testing recovered systems for residual threats
- Reconnecting systems to the network safely
- Monitoring for reinfection during early recovery
- Coordinating with business units during restoration
- Managing customer-facing service recovery
- Using phased reactivation for critical systems
- Validating application functionality post-recovery
- Reconciling data inconsistencies
- Updating documentation after system changes
- Conducting post-recovery performance testing
- Aligning recovery with business continuity plans
- Managing stakeholder expectations during recovery
- Reporting recovery milestones to leadership
Module 10: Post-Incident Activity and Lessons Learned - Scheduling and facilitating post-mortem meetings
- Creating blameless incident reports
- Documenting timeline of events
- Analysing response effectiveness and delays
- Identifying process gaps and skill shortages
- Generating actionable improvement recommendations
- Tracking remediation tasks to completion
- Sharing lessons across the organisation
- Benchmarking against industry peers
- Updating playbooks and policies based on findings
- Measuring MTTR and other response KPIs
- Using automation to reduce manual response time
- Integrating insights into future tabletop exercises
- Reporting outcomes to executives and boards
- Scheduling follow-up reviews after 30/60/90 days
Module 11: Communication and Stakeholder Management - Creating an incident communication plan
- Drafting internal notifications and status reports
- Managing executive briefings during crises
- Coordinating with legal and compliance teams
- Engaging public relations and marketing
- Preparing external breach notifications
- Meeting regulatory reporting deadlines
- Drafting customer notification letters
- Using communication templates for speed and consistency
- Managing media inquiries during incidents
- Documenting all communications for audit purposes
- Setting up dedicated incident communication channels
- Using Slack, Teams, and email effectively in crises
- Training spokespersons within the IRT
- Building trust through transparent communication
Module 12: Digital Forensics in Incident Response - Chain of custody procedures
- Collecting volatile and non-volatile data
- Using live forensic tools safely
- Imaging disks and memory remotely
- Analysing Windows event logs
- Examining Linux system logs and artefacts
- Forensic analysis of cloud-based instances
- Browser history, prefetch, and shellbags analysis
- Timeline creation and reconstruction
- Identifying user and system activity
- Using forensic tools: FTK, Autopsy, Volatility
- Creating forensic reports for legal use
- Preserving evidence for law enforcement
- Handling encrypted or obfuscated data
- Integrating forensics into response timelines
Module 13: Malware Analysis for Incident Handlers - Static vs dynamic malware analysis
- Identifying file types and packers
- Extracting strings and IoCs from binaries
- Analysing suspicious scripts: JavaScript, PowerShell, VBScript
- Using sandbox environments for safe execution
- Interpreting network traffic from malware
- Mapping malware behaviour to MITRE ATT&CK
- Identifying command and control infrastructure
- Reverse engineering with disassemblers
- Sharing malware hashes and YARA rules
- Creating custom detection signatures
- Analyzing ransomware decryption keys
- Identifying polymorphic and metamorphic malware
- Using open-source tools: Ghidra, Radare2, Cuckoo
- Integrating malware analysis into response workflows
Module 14: Cloud Incident Response - Key differences in cloud vs on-premise response
- Incident response in AWS environments
- Incident response in Microsoft Azure
- Incident response in Google Cloud Platform
- Accessing cloud logs and audit trails
- Responding to compromised IAM roles and keys
- Handling S3 bucket exposure incidents
- Detecting unauthorised API calls
- Responding to container and Kubernetes breaches
- Analysing cloud-native threat vectors
- Using cloud-native security tools (GuardDuty, Defender)
- Rebuilding compromised instances from templates
- Managing multi-cloud incident coordination
- Addressing shared responsibility model gaps
- Ensuring compliance during cloud incident response
Module 15: Ransomware Incident Response - Understanding ransomware business models
- Initial infection vectors: phishing, RDP, exploits
- Detecting encryption in progress
- Preserving system state before shutdown
- Identifying double-extortion tactics
- Responding to data exfiltration threats
- Assessing negotiation and payment risks
- Engaging cyber insurance providers
- Working with law enforcement on ransomware cases
- Recovering from backups without paying
- Using decryption tools from No More Ransom
- Restoring operations after decryption
- Preventing repeat attacks through hardening
- Conducting ransomware-specific tabletop exercises
- Communicating ransomware impact to boards
Module 16: Tabletop Exercises and Simulations - Designing realistic incident scenarios
- Running tabletop exercises for IRTs
- Facilitating executive-level crisis simulations
- Using injects to escalate scenarios
- Measuring team performance during drills
- Creating after-action reports from simulations
- Integrating lessons into playbooks
- Scheduling regular exercise cadence
- Involving cross-functional stakeholders
- Simulating communication breakdowns
- Testing decision-making under pressure
- Using third-party vendors for red team exercises
- Aligning simulations with regulatory requirements
- Generating executive summaries from drills
- Archiving simulation results for audits
Module 17: Automation and Orchestration in Response - Introduction to SOAR platforms
- Automating alert triage and enrichment
- Orchestrating containment actions
- Creating response workflows with playbooks
- Integrating SIEM, EDR, and firewalls
- Using APIs to connect security tools
- Building automated evidence collection
- Reducing manual steps in response
- Speeding up MTTR with automation
- Monitoring automated response for errors
- Managing false positive escalations
- Deploying automated reporting templates
- Scaling response across large environments
- Training teams to trust and use automation
- Measuring ROI of automation investments
Module 18: GIAC Certification Preparation (GCIH) - Understanding the GCIH exam structure and domains
- Mapping course content to GIAC objectives
- Study strategies for technical retention
- Time management during the exam
- Approaching scenario-based questions
- Using practice questions effectively
- Creating a personal study plan
- Joining study groups and forums
- Accessing GIAC resources and portals
- Understanding hands-on lab requirements
- Preparing for password-cracking and log analysis sections
- Mastering incident detection and analysis topics
- Reviewing buffer overflow and exploit concepts
- Practising with command-line tools
- Final review checklist before exam day
Module 19: Career Advancement and Professional Development - Positioning incident response skills on your resume
- Bridging from SOC analyst to incident handler
- Negotiating promotions using certification
- Building a personal brand in cybersecurity
- Contributing to open-source incident tools
- Speaking at conferences and meetups
- Documenting response experience for interviews
- Transitioning into DFIR, threat hunting, or red teaming
- Engaging with professional organisations (ISC², ISACA)
- Expanding into incident response consulting
- Developing training programs for others
- Creating thought leadership content
- Measuring your impact as an incident handler
- Seeking mentorship and becoming a mentor
- Planning your long-term cybersecurity career path
Module 20: Final Integration and Certification - Compiling your master incident response playbook
- Conducting a self-assessment of readiness
- Submitting your final project for review
- Receiving feedback from instructors
- Incorporating final improvements
- Preparing your portfolio for job applications
- Integrating knowledge into current job responsibilities
- Implementing one improvement per month
- Joining the alumni community
- Accessing ongoing updates and resources
- Staying current with emerging threats
- Revisiting modules for refresher training
- Earning your Certificate of Completion issued by The Art of Service
- Adding the credential to LinkedIn and professional profiles
- Planning your next certification after GCIH
- Validating system integrity before recovery
- Restoring systems from clean backups
- Testing recovered systems for residual threats
- Reconnecting systems to the network safely
- Monitoring for reinfection during early recovery
- Coordinating with business units during restoration
- Managing customer-facing service recovery
- Using phased reactivation for critical systems
- Validating application functionality post-recovery
- Reconciling data inconsistencies
- Updating documentation after system changes
- Conducting post-recovery performance testing
- Aligning recovery with business continuity plans
- Managing stakeholder expectations during recovery
- Reporting recovery milestones to leadership
Module 10: Post-Incident Activity and Lessons Learned - Scheduling and facilitating post-mortem meetings
- Creating blameless incident reports
- Documenting timeline of events
- Analysing response effectiveness and delays
- Identifying process gaps and skill shortages
- Generating actionable improvement recommendations
- Tracking remediation tasks to completion
- Sharing lessons across the organisation
- Benchmarking against industry peers
- Updating playbooks and policies based on findings
- Measuring MTTR and other response KPIs
- Using automation to reduce manual response time
- Integrating insights into future tabletop exercises
- Reporting outcomes to executives and boards
- Scheduling follow-up reviews after 30/60/90 days
Module 11: Communication and Stakeholder Management - Creating an incident communication plan
- Drafting internal notifications and status reports
- Managing executive briefings during crises
- Coordinating with legal and compliance teams
- Engaging public relations and marketing
- Preparing external breach notifications
- Meeting regulatory reporting deadlines
- Drafting customer notification letters
- Using communication templates for speed and consistency
- Managing media inquiries during incidents
- Documenting all communications for audit purposes
- Setting up dedicated incident communication channels
- Using Slack, Teams, and email effectively in crises
- Training spokespersons within the IRT
- Building trust through transparent communication
Module 12: Digital Forensics in Incident Response - Chain of custody procedures
- Collecting volatile and non-volatile data
- Using live forensic tools safely
- Imaging disks and memory remotely
- Analysing Windows event logs
- Examining Linux system logs and artefacts
- Forensic analysis of cloud-based instances
- Browser history, prefetch, and shellbags analysis
- Timeline creation and reconstruction
- Identifying user and system activity
- Using forensic tools: FTK, Autopsy, Volatility
- Creating forensic reports for legal use
- Preserving evidence for law enforcement
- Handling encrypted or obfuscated data
- Integrating forensics into response timelines
Module 13: Malware Analysis for Incident Handlers - Static vs dynamic malware analysis
- Identifying file types and packers
- Extracting strings and IoCs from binaries
- Analysing suspicious scripts: JavaScript, PowerShell, VBScript
- Using sandbox environments for safe execution
- Interpreting network traffic from malware
- Mapping malware behaviour to MITRE ATT&CK
- Identifying command and control infrastructure
- Reverse engineering with disassemblers
- Sharing malware hashes and YARA rules
- Creating custom detection signatures
- Analyzing ransomware decryption keys
- Identifying polymorphic and metamorphic malware
- Using open-source tools: Ghidra, Radare2, Cuckoo
- Integrating malware analysis into response workflows
Module 14: Cloud Incident Response - Key differences in cloud vs on-premise response
- Incident response in AWS environments
- Incident response in Microsoft Azure
- Incident response in Google Cloud Platform
- Accessing cloud logs and audit trails
- Responding to compromised IAM roles and keys
- Handling S3 bucket exposure incidents
- Detecting unauthorised API calls
- Responding to container and Kubernetes breaches
- Analysing cloud-native threat vectors
- Using cloud-native security tools (GuardDuty, Defender)
- Rebuilding compromised instances from templates
- Managing multi-cloud incident coordination
- Addressing shared responsibility model gaps
- Ensuring compliance during cloud incident response
Module 15: Ransomware Incident Response - Understanding ransomware business models
- Initial infection vectors: phishing, RDP, exploits
- Detecting encryption in progress
- Preserving system state before shutdown
- Identifying double-extortion tactics
- Responding to data exfiltration threats
- Assessing negotiation and payment risks
- Engaging cyber insurance providers
- Working with law enforcement on ransomware cases
- Recovering from backups without paying
- Using decryption tools from No More Ransom
- Restoring operations after decryption
- Preventing repeat attacks through hardening
- Conducting ransomware-specific tabletop exercises
- Communicating ransomware impact to boards
Module 16: Tabletop Exercises and Simulations - Designing realistic incident scenarios
- Running tabletop exercises for IRTs
- Facilitating executive-level crisis simulations
- Using injects to escalate scenarios
- Measuring team performance during drills
- Creating after-action reports from simulations
- Integrating lessons into playbooks
- Scheduling regular exercise cadence
- Involving cross-functional stakeholders
- Simulating communication breakdowns
- Testing decision-making under pressure
- Using third-party vendors for red team exercises
- Aligning simulations with regulatory requirements
- Generating executive summaries from drills
- Archiving simulation results for audits
Module 17: Automation and Orchestration in Response - Introduction to SOAR platforms
- Automating alert triage and enrichment
- Orchestrating containment actions
- Creating response workflows with playbooks
- Integrating SIEM, EDR, and firewalls
- Using APIs to connect security tools
- Building automated evidence collection
- Reducing manual steps in response
- Speeding up MTTR with automation
- Monitoring automated response for errors
- Managing false positive escalations
- Deploying automated reporting templates
- Scaling response across large environments
- Training teams to trust and use automation
- Measuring ROI of automation investments
Module 18: GIAC Certification Preparation (GCIH) - Understanding the GCIH exam structure and domains
- Mapping course content to GIAC objectives
- Study strategies for technical retention
- Time management during the exam
- Approaching scenario-based questions
- Using practice questions effectively
- Creating a personal study plan
- Joining study groups and forums
- Accessing GIAC resources and portals
- Understanding hands-on lab requirements
- Preparing for password-cracking and log analysis sections
- Mastering incident detection and analysis topics
- Reviewing buffer overflow and exploit concepts
- Practising with command-line tools
- Final review checklist before exam day
Module 19: Career Advancement and Professional Development - Positioning incident response skills on your resume
- Bridging from SOC analyst to incident handler
- Negotiating promotions using certification
- Building a personal brand in cybersecurity
- Contributing to open-source incident tools
- Speaking at conferences and meetups
- Documenting response experience for interviews
- Transitioning into DFIR, threat hunting, or red teaming
- Engaging with professional organisations (ISC², ISACA)
- Expanding into incident response consulting
- Developing training programs for others
- Creating thought leadership content
- Measuring your impact as an incident handler
- Seeking mentorship and becoming a mentor
- Planning your long-term cybersecurity career path
Module 20: Final Integration and Certification - Compiling your master incident response playbook
- Conducting a self-assessment of readiness
- Submitting your final project for review
- Receiving feedback from instructors
- Incorporating final improvements
- Preparing your portfolio for job applications
- Integrating knowledge into current job responsibilities
- Implementing one improvement per month
- Joining the alumni community
- Accessing ongoing updates and resources
- Staying current with emerging threats
- Revisiting modules for refresher training
- Earning your Certificate of Completion issued by The Art of Service
- Adding the credential to LinkedIn and professional profiles
- Planning your next certification after GCIH
- Creating an incident communication plan
- Drafting internal notifications and status reports
- Managing executive briefings during crises
- Coordinating with legal and compliance teams
- Engaging public relations and marketing
- Preparing external breach notifications
- Meeting regulatory reporting deadlines
- Drafting customer notification letters
- Using communication templates for speed and consistency
- Managing media inquiries during incidents
- Documenting all communications for audit purposes
- Setting up dedicated incident communication channels
- Using Slack, Teams, and email effectively in crises
- Training spokespersons within the IRT
- Building trust through transparent communication
Module 12: Digital Forensics in Incident Response - Chain of custody procedures
- Collecting volatile and non-volatile data
- Using live forensic tools safely
- Imaging disks and memory remotely
- Analysing Windows event logs
- Examining Linux system logs and artefacts
- Forensic analysis of cloud-based instances
- Browser history, prefetch, and shellbags analysis
- Timeline creation and reconstruction
- Identifying user and system activity
- Using forensic tools: FTK, Autopsy, Volatility
- Creating forensic reports for legal use
- Preserving evidence for law enforcement
- Handling encrypted or obfuscated data
- Integrating forensics into response timelines
Module 13: Malware Analysis for Incident Handlers - Static vs dynamic malware analysis
- Identifying file types and packers
- Extracting strings and IoCs from binaries
- Analysing suspicious scripts: JavaScript, PowerShell, VBScript
- Using sandbox environments for safe execution
- Interpreting network traffic from malware
- Mapping malware behaviour to MITRE ATT&CK
- Identifying command and control infrastructure
- Reverse engineering with disassemblers
- Sharing malware hashes and YARA rules
- Creating custom detection signatures
- Analyzing ransomware decryption keys
- Identifying polymorphic and metamorphic malware
- Using open-source tools: Ghidra, Radare2, Cuckoo
- Integrating malware analysis into response workflows
Module 14: Cloud Incident Response - Key differences in cloud vs on-premise response
- Incident response in AWS environments
- Incident response in Microsoft Azure
- Incident response in Google Cloud Platform
- Accessing cloud logs and audit trails
- Responding to compromised IAM roles and keys
- Handling S3 bucket exposure incidents
- Detecting unauthorised API calls
- Responding to container and Kubernetes breaches
- Analysing cloud-native threat vectors
- Using cloud-native security tools (GuardDuty, Defender)
- Rebuilding compromised instances from templates
- Managing multi-cloud incident coordination
- Addressing shared responsibility model gaps
- Ensuring compliance during cloud incident response
Module 15: Ransomware Incident Response - Understanding ransomware business models
- Initial infection vectors: phishing, RDP, exploits
- Detecting encryption in progress
- Preserving system state before shutdown
- Identifying double-extortion tactics
- Responding to data exfiltration threats
- Assessing negotiation and payment risks
- Engaging cyber insurance providers
- Working with law enforcement on ransomware cases
- Recovering from backups without paying
- Using decryption tools from No More Ransom
- Restoring operations after decryption
- Preventing repeat attacks through hardening
- Conducting ransomware-specific tabletop exercises
- Communicating ransomware impact to boards
Module 16: Tabletop Exercises and Simulations - Designing realistic incident scenarios
- Running tabletop exercises for IRTs
- Facilitating executive-level crisis simulations
- Using injects to escalate scenarios
- Measuring team performance during drills
- Creating after-action reports from simulations
- Integrating lessons into playbooks
- Scheduling regular exercise cadence
- Involving cross-functional stakeholders
- Simulating communication breakdowns
- Testing decision-making under pressure
- Using third-party vendors for red team exercises
- Aligning simulations with regulatory requirements
- Generating executive summaries from drills
- Archiving simulation results for audits
Module 17: Automation and Orchestration in Response - Introduction to SOAR platforms
- Automating alert triage and enrichment
- Orchestrating containment actions
- Creating response workflows with playbooks
- Integrating SIEM, EDR, and firewalls
- Using APIs to connect security tools
- Building automated evidence collection
- Reducing manual steps in response
- Speeding up MTTR with automation
- Monitoring automated response for errors
- Managing false positive escalations
- Deploying automated reporting templates
- Scaling response across large environments
- Training teams to trust and use automation
- Measuring ROI of automation investments
Module 18: GIAC Certification Preparation (GCIH) - Understanding the GCIH exam structure and domains
- Mapping course content to GIAC objectives
- Study strategies for technical retention
- Time management during the exam
- Approaching scenario-based questions
- Using practice questions effectively
- Creating a personal study plan
- Joining study groups and forums
- Accessing GIAC resources and portals
- Understanding hands-on lab requirements
- Preparing for password-cracking and log analysis sections
- Mastering incident detection and analysis topics
- Reviewing buffer overflow and exploit concepts
- Practising with command-line tools
- Final review checklist before exam day
Module 19: Career Advancement and Professional Development - Positioning incident response skills on your resume
- Bridging from SOC analyst to incident handler
- Negotiating promotions using certification
- Building a personal brand in cybersecurity
- Contributing to open-source incident tools
- Speaking at conferences and meetups
- Documenting response experience for interviews
- Transitioning into DFIR, threat hunting, or red teaming
- Engaging with professional organisations (ISC², ISACA)
- Expanding into incident response consulting
- Developing training programs for others
- Creating thought leadership content
- Measuring your impact as an incident handler
- Seeking mentorship and becoming a mentor
- Planning your long-term cybersecurity career path
Module 20: Final Integration and Certification - Compiling your master incident response playbook
- Conducting a self-assessment of readiness
- Submitting your final project for review
- Receiving feedback from instructors
- Incorporating final improvements
- Preparing your portfolio for job applications
- Integrating knowledge into current job responsibilities
- Implementing one improvement per month
- Joining the alumni community
- Accessing ongoing updates and resources
- Staying current with emerging threats
- Revisiting modules for refresher training
- Earning your Certificate of Completion issued by The Art of Service
- Adding the credential to LinkedIn and professional profiles
- Planning your next certification after GCIH
- Static vs dynamic malware analysis
- Identifying file types and packers
- Extracting strings and IoCs from binaries
- Analysing suspicious scripts: JavaScript, PowerShell, VBScript
- Using sandbox environments for safe execution
- Interpreting network traffic from malware
- Mapping malware behaviour to MITRE ATT&CK
- Identifying command and control infrastructure
- Reverse engineering with disassemblers
- Sharing malware hashes and YARA rules
- Creating custom detection signatures
- Analyzing ransomware decryption keys
- Identifying polymorphic and metamorphic malware
- Using open-source tools: Ghidra, Radare2, Cuckoo
- Integrating malware analysis into response workflows
Module 14: Cloud Incident Response - Key differences in cloud vs on-premise response
- Incident response in AWS environments
- Incident response in Microsoft Azure
- Incident response in Google Cloud Platform
- Accessing cloud logs and audit trails
- Responding to compromised IAM roles and keys
- Handling S3 bucket exposure incidents
- Detecting unauthorised API calls
- Responding to container and Kubernetes breaches
- Analysing cloud-native threat vectors
- Using cloud-native security tools (GuardDuty, Defender)
- Rebuilding compromised instances from templates
- Managing multi-cloud incident coordination
- Addressing shared responsibility model gaps
- Ensuring compliance during cloud incident response
Module 15: Ransomware Incident Response - Understanding ransomware business models
- Initial infection vectors: phishing, RDP, exploits
- Detecting encryption in progress
- Preserving system state before shutdown
- Identifying double-extortion tactics
- Responding to data exfiltration threats
- Assessing negotiation and payment risks
- Engaging cyber insurance providers
- Working with law enforcement on ransomware cases
- Recovering from backups without paying
- Using decryption tools from No More Ransom
- Restoring operations after decryption
- Preventing repeat attacks through hardening
- Conducting ransomware-specific tabletop exercises
- Communicating ransomware impact to boards
Module 16: Tabletop Exercises and Simulations - Designing realistic incident scenarios
- Running tabletop exercises for IRTs
- Facilitating executive-level crisis simulations
- Using injects to escalate scenarios
- Measuring team performance during drills
- Creating after-action reports from simulations
- Integrating lessons into playbooks
- Scheduling regular exercise cadence
- Involving cross-functional stakeholders
- Simulating communication breakdowns
- Testing decision-making under pressure
- Using third-party vendors for red team exercises
- Aligning simulations with regulatory requirements
- Generating executive summaries from drills
- Archiving simulation results for audits
Module 17: Automation and Orchestration in Response - Introduction to SOAR platforms
- Automating alert triage and enrichment
- Orchestrating containment actions
- Creating response workflows with playbooks
- Integrating SIEM, EDR, and firewalls
- Using APIs to connect security tools
- Building automated evidence collection
- Reducing manual steps in response
- Speeding up MTTR with automation
- Monitoring automated response for errors
- Managing false positive escalations
- Deploying automated reporting templates
- Scaling response across large environments
- Training teams to trust and use automation
- Measuring ROI of automation investments
Module 18: GIAC Certification Preparation (GCIH) - Understanding the GCIH exam structure and domains
- Mapping course content to GIAC objectives
- Study strategies for technical retention
- Time management during the exam
- Approaching scenario-based questions
- Using practice questions effectively
- Creating a personal study plan
- Joining study groups and forums
- Accessing GIAC resources and portals
- Understanding hands-on lab requirements
- Preparing for password-cracking and log analysis sections
- Mastering incident detection and analysis topics
- Reviewing buffer overflow and exploit concepts
- Practising with command-line tools
- Final review checklist before exam day
Module 19: Career Advancement and Professional Development - Positioning incident response skills on your resume
- Bridging from SOC analyst to incident handler
- Negotiating promotions using certification
- Building a personal brand in cybersecurity
- Contributing to open-source incident tools
- Speaking at conferences and meetups
- Documenting response experience for interviews
- Transitioning into DFIR, threat hunting, or red teaming
- Engaging with professional organisations (ISC², ISACA)
- Expanding into incident response consulting
- Developing training programs for others
- Creating thought leadership content
- Measuring your impact as an incident handler
- Seeking mentorship and becoming a mentor
- Planning your long-term cybersecurity career path
Module 20: Final Integration and Certification - Compiling your master incident response playbook
- Conducting a self-assessment of readiness
- Submitting your final project for review
- Receiving feedback from instructors
- Incorporating final improvements
- Preparing your portfolio for job applications
- Integrating knowledge into current job responsibilities
- Implementing one improvement per month
- Joining the alumni community
- Accessing ongoing updates and resources
- Staying current with emerging threats
- Revisiting modules for refresher training
- Earning your Certificate of Completion issued by The Art of Service
- Adding the credential to LinkedIn and professional profiles
- Planning your next certification after GCIH
- Understanding ransomware business models
- Initial infection vectors: phishing, RDP, exploits
- Detecting encryption in progress
- Preserving system state before shutdown
- Identifying double-extortion tactics
- Responding to data exfiltration threats
- Assessing negotiation and payment risks
- Engaging cyber insurance providers
- Working with law enforcement on ransomware cases
- Recovering from backups without paying
- Using decryption tools from No More Ransom
- Restoring operations after decryption
- Preventing repeat attacks through hardening
- Conducting ransomware-specific tabletop exercises
- Communicating ransomware impact to boards
Module 16: Tabletop Exercises and Simulations - Designing realistic incident scenarios
- Running tabletop exercises for IRTs
- Facilitating executive-level crisis simulations
- Using injects to escalate scenarios
- Measuring team performance during drills
- Creating after-action reports from simulations
- Integrating lessons into playbooks
- Scheduling regular exercise cadence
- Involving cross-functional stakeholders
- Simulating communication breakdowns
- Testing decision-making under pressure
- Using third-party vendors for red team exercises
- Aligning simulations with regulatory requirements
- Generating executive summaries from drills
- Archiving simulation results for audits
Module 17: Automation and Orchestration in Response - Introduction to SOAR platforms
- Automating alert triage and enrichment
- Orchestrating containment actions
- Creating response workflows with playbooks
- Integrating SIEM, EDR, and firewalls
- Using APIs to connect security tools
- Building automated evidence collection
- Reducing manual steps in response
- Speeding up MTTR with automation
- Monitoring automated response for errors
- Managing false positive escalations
- Deploying automated reporting templates
- Scaling response across large environments
- Training teams to trust and use automation
- Measuring ROI of automation investments
Module 18: GIAC Certification Preparation (GCIH) - Understanding the GCIH exam structure and domains
- Mapping course content to GIAC objectives
- Study strategies for technical retention
- Time management during the exam
- Approaching scenario-based questions
- Using practice questions effectively
- Creating a personal study plan
- Joining study groups and forums
- Accessing GIAC resources and portals
- Understanding hands-on lab requirements
- Preparing for password-cracking and log analysis sections
- Mastering incident detection and analysis topics
- Reviewing buffer overflow and exploit concepts
- Practising with command-line tools
- Final review checklist before exam day
Module 19: Career Advancement and Professional Development - Positioning incident response skills on your resume
- Bridging from SOC analyst to incident handler
- Negotiating promotions using certification
- Building a personal brand in cybersecurity
- Contributing to open-source incident tools
- Speaking at conferences and meetups
- Documenting response experience for interviews
- Transitioning into DFIR, threat hunting, or red teaming
- Engaging with professional organisations (ISC², ISACA)
- Expanding into incident response consulting
- Developing training programs for others
- Creating thought leadership content
- Measuring your impact as an incident handler
- Seeking mentorship and becoming a mentor
- Planning your long-term cybersecurity career path
Module 20: Final Integration and Certification - Compiling your master incident response playbook
- Conducting a self-assessment of readiness
- Submitting your final project for review
- Receiving feedback from instructors
- Incorporating final improvements
- Preparing your portfolio for job applications
- Integrating knowledge into current job responsibilities
- Implementing one improvement per month
- Joining the alumni community
- Accessing ongoing updates and resources
- Staying current with emerging threats
- Revisiting modules for refresher training
- Earning your Certificate of Completion issued by The Art of Service
- Adding the credential to LinkedIn and professional profiles
- Planning your next certification after GCIH
- Introduction to SOAR platforms
- Automating alert triage and enrichment
- Orchestrating containment actions
- Creating response workflows with playbooks
- Integrating SIEM, EDR, and firewalls
- Using APIs to connect security tools
- Building automated evidence collection
- Reducing manual steps in response
- Speeding up MTTR with automation
- Monitoring automated response for errors
- Managing false positive escalations
- Deploying automated reporting templates
- Scaling response across large environments
- Training teams to trust and use automation
- Measuring ROI of automation investments
Module 18: GIAC Certification Preparation (GCIH) - Understanding the GCIH exam structure and domains
- Mapping course content to GIAC objectives
- Study strategies for technical retention
- Time management during the exam
- Approaching scenario-based questions
- Using practice questions effectively
- Creating a personal study plan
- Joining study groups and forums
- Accessing GIAC resources and portals
- Understanding hands-on lab requirements
- Preparing for password-cracking and log analysis sections
- Mastering incident detection and analysis topics
- Reviewing buffer overflow and exploit concepts
- Practising with command-line tools
- Final review checklist before exam day
Module 19: Career Advancement and Professional Development - Positioning incident response skills on your resume
- Bridging from SOC analyst to incident handler
- Negotiating promotions using certification
- Building a personal brand in cybersecurity
- Contributing to open-source incident tools
- Speaking at conferences and meetups
- Documenting response experience for interviews
- Transitioning into DFIR, threat hunting, or red teaming
- Engaging with professional organisations (ISC², ISACA)
- Expanding into incident response consulting
- Developing training programs for others
- Creating thought leadership content
- Measuring your impact as an incident handler
- Seeking mentorship and becoming a mentor
- Planning your long-term cybersecurity career path
Module 20: Final Integration and Certification - Compiling your master incident response playbook
- Conducting a self-assessment of readiness
- Submitting your final project for review
- Receiving feedback from instructors
- Incorporating final improvements
- Preparing your portfolio for job applications
- Integrating knowledge into current job responsibilities
- Implementing one improvement per month
- Joining the alumni community
- Accessing ongoing updates and resources
- Staying current with emerging threats
- Revisiting modules for refresher training
- Earning your Certificate of Completion issued by The Art of Service
- Adding the credential to LinkedIn and professional profiles
- Planning your next certification after GCIH
- Positioning incident response skills on your resume
- Bridging from SOC analyst to incident handler
- Negotiating promotions using certification
- Building a personal brand in cybersecurity
- Contributing to open-source incident tools
- Speaking at conferences and meetups
- Documenting response experience for interviews
- Transitioning into DFIR, threat hunting, or red teaming
- Engaging with professional organisations (ISC², ISACA)
- Expanding into incident response consulting
- Developing training programs for others
- Creating thought leadership content
- Measuring your impact as an incident handler
- Seeking mentorship and becoming a mentor
- Planning your long-term cybersecurity career path