About SANS Institute

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Our Mission

Our mission is simple: To empower current and future cybersecurity practitioners and organizations around the globe with practical knowledge and skills they need to make the world a safer place. 

We make our mission a reality by:

Leading community programs

We deliver industry-leading cybersecurity programs, GIAC certifications, resources, training, tools, and events.

Sharing knowledge and skills

We collaborate with cyber professionals, organizations, and governments from varied backgrounds and experiences.

Fostering industry innovation

We are committed to building a resilient cyber workforce comprising a broad spectrum of perspectives and talents.

Partnering for learning

We work with the industry's brightest minds to offer a wide range of learning opportunities.

Our Vision

We are focused on building, strengthening, and supporting the global cybersecurity community, ensuring new and current practitioners can access impactful, high-quality training solutions. 

We make our vision a reality by:

Innovative training for success

We deliver hands-on, job-relevant training and industry certifications to cybersecurity professionals of all skill levels, ensuring access to the latest resources, best practices, and information for success in a rapidly evolving industry. 

First-in-class, hands-on simulations

State-of-the-art, immersive simulation programs prepare students for real hurdles they are likely to face in today’s cybersecurity landscape, allowing them to confidently apply their skills and knowledge to real-world scenarios. 

Readiness for tomorrow’s challenges

We want students and organizations to stay ahead of the latest trends, emerging threats, and technological advancements. Our goal is to provide relevant solutions that address today’s challenges and anticipate future needs.

Honesty, integrity, and flexibility in all we do

Embracing our company values of honesty, integrity, and flexibility cultivates a professional environment where authentic bonds can be formed and strengthened.

Our Values

The success of SANS Institute is rooted in our core values – fundamental principles that shape our character and influence the daily conduct of all employees and faculty.

We make our values a reality by:

Integrity and trust 

We ensure we’re providing credible and trustworthy knowledge and skills, whether it’s through our training courses, programs, research, or industry events. 

Excellence in training, resources, and content

We deliver the highest standard in cybersecurity education for all, offering courses, cyber ranges, programs, and resources created by leading field-tested experts. 

Community and collaboration

Encouraging collaboration and knowledge sharing allows us to foster a skilled global cybersecurity community. 

Continuous learning and innovation

Continuous learning and innovation are vital to staying ahead of the ever-evolving cybersecurity landscape, ensuring we’re equipped to share the latest knowledge and address emerging threats.

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Empowering You with Free Training and Support
The SANS Difference
We provide thousands of free resources for the cybersecurity community. Elevate your knowledge and gain hands-on experience at free SANS Summits or in virtual workshops. Monitor and learn about emerging threats via the Internet Storm Center. Access original research and insightful analysis from global experts.
Explore Free Resources
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Making education in cybersecurity more accessible
The SANS Difference
Explore scholarship opportunities such as the Paller Cybersecurity Scholarship. The income share agreement (ISA) makes undergraduate programs at SANS Technology Institute more accessible to U.S. applicants and permanent residents who demonstrate their potential. Participants pay little or no tuition until they are employed.
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Offering top college programs for a stronger cyber workforce
The SANS Difference
SANS Technology Institute is strengthening the cyber workforce through hands-on, career-focused degree and certificate programs built on proven SANS courses and industry-recognized GIAC certifications.
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SANS Instructors

The cornerstones of our business are SANS instructors – passionate, experienced practitioners, actively working in the field, who are committed to mentoring others and teaching critical cybersecurity skills in an immersive and impactful learning environment.

Learn more about our instructors

How SANS Makes an Impact

We fulfill our mission by offering scholarship academies, free global cyber range challenges and summits, foundational learning programs, thousands of practical resources, and other valuable initiatives. 

400,000+

Cybersecurity professionals have trained with SANS, making us the number one provider of security education globally.

17+

Annual SANS cybersecurity summits, hosted worldwide, covering a wide range of topics, from incident response to cloud security, AI, Industrial Controls Systems, emerging threats, and more. Summits foster collaboration and innovation. 

85+

Cybersecurity courses across multiple focus areas, including offensive operations, cloud security, cyber defense, AI, digital forensics, leadership, and industrial control systems security. 

50+

GIAC certifications that validate skills and knowledge, providing assurance to employers and opening the doors to new careers and growth.

The SANS Mission

Internet Storm Center

Global incident alert network with more than 15,000 global target IPs and 250-300 active submitters gathering new data to help you stay abreast of the latest threats.

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Cyber Academies

A variety of scholarship-based academies from SANS and our partner enable under-resourced career changers and students to launch new cyber careers every year.

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Law Enforcement Appreciation Program

Supporting state, provincial, local, and federal law enforcement with promotional programs towards SANS training.

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SANS Summits

SANS Summits offer opportunities to learn, connect, and share with cybersecurity professionals from around the globe.

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Paller Cybersecurity Scholarship

The Paller Cybersecurity Scholarship is an international scholarship program providing free access to world-class cybersecurity education at the SANS Technology Institute.

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Perspectives from the Community

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With attention to quality, SANS creates a virtuous circle of goodness - high quality attendees make the high quality training even more valuable.
Chris BDiscover Financial Services
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I have taken numerous courses over my career and many were online. Nothing, including expensive college-level courses, were on the same level as SANS training. It's dense, rich, and immediately applicable. If the student takes what they have learned into their workplace, they will immediately be able to distinguish themselves. I’m already looking forward to my next SANS training opportunity, and I highly recommend it to others.
Dave BLytx Inc.
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I recognize SANS is constantly evolving the process of delivery, both in person and OnDemand. What we students gain access to is simply phenomenal.  While my very first exposure to SANS was in New Orleans in 1999, the quality remains simply unmatched in this industry.
Dustin D.1 on 1 Security
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The entire atmosphere presented by the SANS team is a welcoming, informative, and comfortable learning environment
Odam TWestrock

SANS’s Impact Throughout the Decades

As cybersecurity threats have expanded over the years, so has SANS Institute, but our mission remains the same – to equip cybersecurity professionals with practical skills and knowledge for a better future while servicing the technical community with resources, expertise, and guidance to protect themselves and their organizations. Read on to see how SANS has made a definitive impact during landmark cybersecurity events throughout the years.

Our Journey

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SANS Founded
Alan Paller established the SANS Institute as a cooperative research and education organization to empower cybersecurity professionals with skills to make the world a safer place.  It has since grown into a global organization providing cybersecurity training and resources worldwide.
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Fought Early Viruses and Worms
As a well-established training provider, SANS was able to arm professionals around the globe with the skills to protect their critical data from some of the earliest viruses and worms, including the Melissa virus, the ILOVEYOU Worm, and the Code Red Worm.
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GIAC Founded
GIAC (Global Information Assurance Certification) is formed to provide and skills validation to cybersecurity practitioners and assurance to hiring organizations and employers. Today, SANS Institute is the preferred training provider for GIAC exam preparation.
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Internet Storm Center Launched
SANS launched the Internet Storm Center, a global cooperative cyber threat monitoring and alert system, providing real-time analysis and warnings about new and emerging cyber threats.
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Aurora Generator Test Conducted
The Aurora Generator Test was conducted by INL, with significant contributions from SANS leader Mike Assante. The test demonstrated the severe consequences of cyberattacks on physical infrastructure and underscored the importance of enhancing cybersecurity protocols.
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Operation Aurora
Chinese military hackers targeted more than 20 leading technology companies, including Google, to steal intellectual property and conduct corporate espionage. Many in the SANS faculty contributed directly to this investigation and supported it in their daily practice.
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APT1 Exposed
The exposure of APT1 by Mandiant was a landmark event in the cybersecurity field. It provided valuable insights into the operations of one of the world’s most prolific cyber espionage groups and also underscored the need for international cooperation in addressing state-sponsored cyber threats. As a global, cooperative training and research provider, SANS was positioned to make a big impact.
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Sony Pictures Hacked
North Korean hackers attacked Sony Pictures, leaking sensitive data and causing significant financial and reputational damage. SANS faculty provided analysis of the incident for the cybersecurity community.
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WannaCry Ransomware
A global ransomware attack affected hundreds of thousands of computers in over 150 countries, exploiting a vulnerability in Windows systems. SANS supplied expert tools and guidance to assist the community in protecting against this threat.
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SolarWinds Attack and Fox Kitten Campaign
In 2020, SANS expert faculty contributed to the analysis and security against several high-profile attacks, including the SolarWinds supply chain attack attributed to Russian state actors and the Fox Kitten campaign orchestrated by Iranian hackers.
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Colonial Pipeline Ransomware Attack
A ransomware attack on Colonial Pipeline led to fuel shortages in the US. SANS provided multiple resources to share information about the OT systems involved in the attack and the broader implications of such attacks on critical infrastructure.
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Cybersecurity Workforce Research
SANS launched its inaugural Cyber Workforce Research Report, a collaborative effort led by GIAC. This research has helped organizations refine their hiring, training, and retention strategies, directly impacting their ability to respond to and manage cybersecurity incidents.

Alan Paller 

About Our Founder

Mr. Paller was a pioneer in the cybersecurity industry, championing the need for greater education and knowledge for practitioners. His combination of passion, intellect, and ethical rigor was instrumental in bringing more skilled people into the profession. In 1989, he founded SANS, a professional cybersecurity training and research organization that has grown to be the world’s largest and now trains more than 40,000 cybersecurity technologists each year. 

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Connect with Us

Reach out to our team for more information about our mission and how together we can make a meaningful impact in the cybersecurity community. 

SEC504: Hacker Tools, Techniques, and Incident Handling

About SANS Institute

Our Mission

We make our mission a reality by:

Leading community programs

Sharing knowledge and skills

Fostering industry innovation

Partnering for learning

Our Vision

We make our vision a reality by:

Innovative training for success

First-in-class, hands-on simulations

Readiness for tomorrow’s challenges

Honesty, integrity, and flexibility in all we do

Our Values

We make our values a reality by:

Integrity and trust

Excellence in training, resources, and content

Community and collaboration

Continuous learning and innovation

SANS Instructors

How SANS Makes an Impact

The SANS Mission

Internet Storm Center

Cyber Academies

Law Enforcement Appreciation Program

SANS Summits

Paller Cybersecurity Scholarship

Perspectives from the Community

SANS’s Impact Throughout the Decades

Our Journey

Alan Paller

Connect with Us

Integrity and trust 

Alan Paller 