Global Industrial Cyber Security Professional (GICSP) Certification Course

The GICSP certification from GIAC (Global Information Assurance Certification) focuses on the foundational knowledge of securing critical infrastructure assets, e.g. distributed control systems in the process control domain. The GICSP bridges IT, engineering and cyber security to achieve security for industrial control systems from design through retirement.

The GICSP certification is relatively new, and its specific combination of industrial cyber security topics makes it a valuable addition to the curriculum of participants. For experienced IT, engineering and cyber security professionals, it widens their knowledge and formally confirms their experience with the GICSP credential. For those new in this field, the GICSP certification provides a good foundational knowledge on industrial cyber security to work with and from.

Pre-requisites

Formally, there are no specific requirements from SANS/GIAC to follow this certification course and attempt the certification exam. Realistically, however, the following should be considered before registering for either of them:

• Justification: The GICSP certificate is a (potential) job requirement for the participant’s current or future position. Or the GICSP subject matter is a valuable addition to the participant’s curriculum, knowledge or skills (“upskill”).

• Knowledge: Course participants need to have a basic understanding of security priorities, roles and responsibilities in the process control domain, and of computer networking and security principles, such as networking and system administration, TCP/IP, networking design/architecture, vulnerability assessment and risk methodologies. This understanding can be from professional experience, from other information and cyber security training/credentials, or from self-study.

• Availability: Course participants need to be able and willing to attend the ten weekly three-hour training sessions. In addition, participants will need to spend approx. four hours a week on self-study (course preparation and review). Lastly, the participants need to be available for the half-day exam at the proctor’s site, after completing the course and personal exam preparations.

• Examination: The final GICSP exam is in English, so it is essential that participants are proficient in reading and understanding technical/business English. Experience with online exam-taking is preferred, although stress-relief, exam question styles and trick questions will also be handled during the course.

Pricing

The price of the CGI GICSP Certification Course / Spring 2026 Edition for external (non-CGI) participants is EUR 3,600.- (approx. USD 4,850.-), excluding 21% VAT. This price includes ten ( 10 ) three-hour course sessions conducted via virtual Microsoft Teams Meeting conference calls, and course materials (course slides, exam handout and sample questions).

This price excludes the course book “Industrial Network Security – Third Edition” by Eric D. Knapp (approx. EUR 80.-), and excludes the actual GIAC Registration and GICSP Certification Attempt (exam) costs, which amount to USD 999.- (approx. EUR 880.-),
and excludes the recommended two GIAC Practice Tests, at USD 399.- (approx. EUR 350.-), each, currently.
See https://www.giac.org/pricing/ for the latest pricing.