SANS Institute: Leading the Way in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Cybersecurity Training

Download the SANS GenAI/ML Course Brochure

SANS Institute is at the forefront of integrating generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) and machine learning (ML) into cybersecurity training, preparing professionals to tackle AI-related complexities and advanced threats.

GenAI/ML Focus Areas for Courses, Summits, and Research Pursued Aggressively by SANS

Defending and Attacking GenAI/ML Technical Implementations

SANS conducts thorough research into exploiting and defending against vulnerabilities of large language models (LLMs) and GenAI solutions. We explore the tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) used by attackers to compromise LLMs and GenAI models and develop countermeasures and defense strategies. Our research provides subject matter expert insights and best practices for securely building and deploying LLMs and GenAI solutions, including robust access controls, data encryption, and anomaly detection mechanisms.

Cybersecurity Enhanced AI Capabilities

SANS focuses on applying GenAI and ML techniques to enhance cybersecurity job roles. Through courses, summits, forums, and webcasts, SANS showcases innovative and practical approaches to incorporating AI and ML into daily cybersecurity tasks, making them more efficient, accurate, and effective.

Broader GenAI/ML Engagement: Leading the Way

SANS provides training, cutting-edge research, community building, open-source tools, resources, and shaping standards throughout the cybersecurity industry.

AI-Specific Research

SANS actively pursues innovative AI cybersecurity research in collaboration with academic and industry partners. This research enhances AI's role in cybersecurity solutions and addresses its security implications.

Community Building

SANS organizes summit events, workshops, webcasts, and more, connecting AI and cybersecurity experts to discuss advances, share knowledge, and collaborate on emerging technologies. These events foster a collaborative environment, encouraging the exchange of ideas and strategies to tackle AI-related security challenges. 

Open-Source Tools

SANS instructors have developed a range of open-source cybersecurity tools designed to support your work and enhance your security implementations.

GenAI/ML-Centric Resources

The SANS AI resources page is dedicated to equipping professionals with the training and tools necessary to address the risks and vulnerabilities associated with the rapid integration of ML and AI in today's world. Discover comprehensive guides, cutting-edge research, and expert insights designed to enhance your knowledge and skills in mitigating AI-related security threats. Access a wealth of information to stay ahead of the evolving intersection of AI and cybersecurity.

Shaping AI Cybersecurity Standards

SANS is at the forefront of shaping AI cybersecurity standards by establishing security policies that address specific AI system vulnerabilities. This work enhances system resilience against sophisticated threats and influences AI security implementation industry wide. Through comprehensive white papers, insightful surveys, and collaborative community research, SANS provides a robust framework for AI security. These efforts not only guide industry best practices but also ensure that professionals are equipped with the knowledge and tools needed to secure AI technologies effectively. 

Incorporating GenAI/ML into Cybersecurity: Specialized Training

SANS offers two specialized approaches to incorporate GenAI/ML into cybersecurity. The Technology-Focused Courses dive deep into AI and ML principles, providing comprehensive understanding and practical problem-solving skills. The Integration-Enhanced Courses incorporate AI techniques into broader cybersecurity practices, enhancing tasks such as threat detection and incident response as well as AI-related risks.

SANS GenAI/ML Technology-Focused Courses

• AIS247: AI Security Essentials for Business Leaders explores generative AI principles, applications, and associated risks with a focus on ethical usage and policy development. This course emphasizes enhancing productivity, ethically aligning cybersecurity teams, risk management, and responsible AI policies.
• SEC595: Applied Data Science and AI/Machine Learning for Cybersecurity Professionals focuses on hands-on problem-solving exercises to implement AI and ML in cybersecurity. This course covers practical threat detection, response applications, data handling, advanced skills in threat detection and response, and model integration, while maintaining ethical and legal standards for organizations
• COMING SOON - SEC535: Offensive AI - Attack Tools and Techniques provides a foundational understanding of using AI for offensive purposes, covering security bypassing, exploit development, social engineering, automated attacks, and malware creation. This course culminates in a comprehensive lab where students learn to navigate cybersecurity threats using the skills they learned.

SANS GenAI/ML Integration-Enhanced Courses

Forensic and Incident Response

• FOR518: Mac and iOS Forensic Analysis and Incident Response uses AI and ML to analyze Mac artifacts and create user behavior patterns, enhancing threat detection and response capabilities.
• FOR585: Smartphone Forensic Analysis In-Depth enhances AI detection on smartphones, tracing interactions with browser and app-based AI to distinguish between human and AI activities, improving detection and response to security breaches.
• FOR610: Reverse-Engineering Malware: Malware Analysis Tools and Techniques delves into malware analysis, providing the knowledge and skills to dissect and counteract malware using advanced tools and methods, including AI-driven approaches for enhanced threat detection and response.
• FOR710: Reverse-Engineering Malware: Advanced Code Analysis uses AI tools to enhance the analysis of advanced malware code, helping students dissect complex threats and develop robust defense strategies more efficiently.

Penetration Testing & Offensive Operations

• SEC504: Hacker Tools, Techniques, and Incident Handling applies AI for advanced threat detection, analysis, and automated response capabilities.
• SEC598: Security Automation for Offense Defense and Cloud integrates AI technologies, including Amazon Web Services (AWS) AI/ML LLM service offerings, to automate threat detection, risk assessment, and incident response.

Cyber Defense & Cloud

• SEC497: Practical Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) covers AI applications like generative adversarial networks (GANs), ChatGPT, and Gemini to automate sentiment analysis and manage email communications.
• SEC503: Network Monitoring and Threat Detection In-Depth uses AI to enhance network monitoring and threat detection, teaching professionals to analyze traffic, identify zero-day threats, and improve incident response by automating data analysis and increasing detection accuracy.
• SEC587: Advanced Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) Gathering and Analysis employs AI and ML for advanced OSINT tasks, focusing on prompt engineering, code analysis, and identifying AI-generated disinformation and deepfake imagery.

Cybersecurity Leadership

• LDR512: Security Leadership Essentials for Managers incorporates AI insights to enhance decision-making and security policy development, covering GenAI fundamentals, AI application architecture, and AI-specific attacks and defenses.
• LDR514: Security Strategic Planning Policy and Leadership uses AI-driven data analysis to develop comprehensive security policies for AI technologies, ensuring robust AI security policies and responsible AI deployments.

SANS Institute's comprehensive approach to integrating AI into its cybersecurity curriculum ensures that professionals are well-equipped to handle the complexities of AI in security, enhancing their skills and improving their organizations' overall security posture.