SEC504: Hacker Tools, Techniques, and Incident Handling
SEC504Offensive Operations
SEC403: Secrets to Successful Cybersecurity Presentation
SEC403Digital Forensics and Incident Response
- 6 Hours (Self-Paced)
Course created by:
Heather Barnhart, John Hubbard & Alan Paller
Course created by:Heather Barnhart, John Hubbard & Alan Paller
- 6 CPEs
Apply your credits to renew your certifications
- Self-paced
Train at your own pace from wherever you are
- Essential Skill Level
Course material is for individuals with an understanding of IT or cyber security concepts
Elevate security briefings from forgettable data dumps to compelling narratives that drive action and secure stakeholder buy-in with this cybersecurity presentations course.
Featured Quote
Valuable information, well presented, and effectively explained and demonstrated. I really enjoyed it all, and I am very much looking forward to the rest of the course.
Course Overview
In the cybersecurity realm, technical prowess alone rarely drives change. SEC403 equips professionals with the precise communication tactics needed to transform technical findings into actionable intelligence that resonates with diverse audiences. This intensive course addresses the critical gap between security expertise and influence, teaching participants to craft messages that capture attention, maintain engagement, and persuade key stakeholders to act.
Participants develop essential cybersecurity presentation frameworks specific to penetration test reports, incident briefings, security assessments, and awareness training, enabling them to project authority, handle challenging questions, and adapt on-the-fly in high-stakes situations. By enhancing these communication capabilities, security professionals significantly amplify their impact, secure resources for critical initiatives, and accelerate their career trajectory while strengthening their organization's security posture.
What You'll Learn
- Project authority that commands attention from any audience
- Structure security findings for maximum clarity and impact
- Deliver virtual presentations with professional polish and reach
- Transform technical data into compelling visual narratives
- Adapt seamlessly to questions that challenge your position
Business Takeaways
- Secure leadership buy-in for critical security initiatives
- Elevate team communication effectiveness across all channels
- Convert technical findings into business-centric recommendations
- Accelerate positive security outcomes through improved messaging
- Strengthen stakeholder trust through clear incident communication
- Enhance your organization's security awareness training impact
- Increase your team's value perception among executive leadership
Meet Your Authors
- Slide 1 of 3
Heather Barnhart
FellowHeather has 20+ years of experience working with government agencies, defense contractors, law enforcement, and Fortune 500 companies. Her case experience ranges from fraud, crimes against children, counter-terrorism, and homicide investigations.
Read more about Heather Barnhart - Slide 2 of 3
John Hubbard
Senior InstructorJohn redefined modern SOC operations by engineering globally adopted blue team strategies and co-creating the GSOC cert. Through the Blueprint podcast and SANS leadership, he’s unified thousands of defenders around real-world detection tactics.
Read more about John Hubbard - Slide 3 of 3
Alan Paller
Alan transformed cybersecurity by founding SANS Institute, training tens of thousands annually, co-developing the CIS Controls, and shaping U.S. cyber policy. Through countless initiatives, he was a pivotal architect of the modern cybersecurity team.
Read more about Alan Paller
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Course Syllabus
Explore the course syllabus below to view the full range of topics covered in SEC403: Secrets to Successful Cybersecurity Presentation.
Section 1Gaining and Keeping the Audience's Attention
Master strategies to capture and hold audience attention through nonverbal communication techniques. Learn to project authority, establish presence, and identify common presentation errors that undermine credibility. Develop practical methods to reduce anxiety, manage unexpected interruptions, and continuously improve.
Topics covered
- Project authority, energy, and awareness
- Develop effective non-verbal communication skills
- Identify common presentation mistakes
- Develop strategies to reduce anxiety when speaking
- Effectively manage interruptions
Section 2Packaging for Impact
Learn frameworks for organizing technical content, building credibility, and keeping your audience engaged. Master visual storytelling for security data and strategies for handling technical and challenging questions with confidence.
Topics covered
- Create a trust-building opening sequence
- Develop a strategic information hierarchy
- Retain focus retention through content structuring
- Practice voice projection and modulation techniques
- Learn visual presentation optimization methods
Section 3Using Stories and Models to Engage and Inspire
Discover narrative frameworks designed for security incidents, vulnerability findings, and program proposals. Learn techniques for tailoring presentations to diverse audiences and emphasizing critical insights. Explore methods for creating visual timelines, deploying reference metrics, and using persuasive examples that build trust with stakeholders.
Topics covered
- Calibrate audience-specific content
- Learn principles of strategic information curation
- Understand effective methods for timeline visualization
- Reference metric selection and deployment
- Construct trust-building examples
Section 4The Making of a Professional Virtual Presentation
Transform your virtual presentation capabilities with practical solutions for environment optimization and technical configuration. Learn to create professional audio-visual setups, configure lighting, and establish backup systems. Develop techniques for maintaining audience engagement in virtual settings and leveraging platform features effectively.
Topics covered
- Optimize your audio environment
- Configure a professional visual backdrop
- Learn principles for camera and lighting arrangement
- Select and configure hardware skillfully
- Establish virtual meeting management best practices
Things You Need To Know
Relevant Job Roles
Cybersecurity Legal Advice (OPM 731)
NICE: Oversight and GovernanceResponsible for providing cybersecurity legal advice and recommendations, including monitoring related legislation and regulations.
Explore learning pathCybersecurity Instruction (OPM 712)
NICE: Oversight and GovernanceResponsible for developing and conducting cybersecurity awareness, training, or education.
Explore learning pathKnowledge Management (OPM 631)
NICE: Implementation and OperationResponsible for managing and administering processes and tools to identify, document, and access an organization’s intellectual capital.
Explore learning pathTechnology Program Auditing (OPM 805)
NICE: Oversight and GovernanceResponsible for conducting evaluations of technology programs or their individual components to determine compliance with published standards.
Explore learning pathSystems Requirements Planning (OPM 641)
NICE: Design and DevelopmentResponsible for consulting with internal and external customers to evaluate and translate functional requirements and integrating security policies into technical solutions.
Explore learning pathSystems Testing and Evaluation (OPM 671)
NICE: Design and DevelopmentResponsible for planning, preparing, and executing system tests; evaluating test results against specifications and requirements; and reporting test results and findings.
Explore learning pathCourse Schedule & Pricing
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- Location & instructor
Virtual (OnDemand)
Instructed by Alan Paller, Heather Barnhart & John HubbardDate & TimeOnDemand (Anytime)Self-Paced, 4 months accessCourse price$1,375 USD*Prices exclude applicable local taxesEnrollment options
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Learn Alongside Leading Cybersecurity Professionals From Around The World
- Slide 1 of 4Overall class was great, and I really learned a lot about public speaking, presenting, writing emails reports and presentations.
- Slide 2 of 4Speaking is a skill that's essential for all cybersecurity students and professionals to develop in interpreting the technical terms to the non-technical stakeholders such as the CEO of a company. It increases the value of a cybersecurity professional having to articulate the subject matter to a company's leaders.
- Slide 3 of 4Great course! I will recommend it to my co-workers and people managers on the team.
- Slide 4 of 4The short video clips depicting the behaviors as examples helps keep these pointers memorable. I like how the premise here is "poor communications avoidance" rather than "this is what you need to memorize and do to succeed." I think more people focus on the latter rather than the former, which really sets this style of learning apart. Really well done!
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