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Pick up to 3 certifications and compare them side-by-side on cost, exam format, recertification, salary signal, quality, and domain coverage.
GIAC / SANS · associate
GSECGIAC Security Essentials
Broad defender fundamentals. Often paired with SANS SEC401.
Official pageComparing
GIAC / SANSGSEC
› Cost
Exam fee
GSEC$979
Exam fee
$979
Annual maintenance fee
GSEC—
Annual maintenance fee
—
3-year cost of ownership
GSEC$979
3-year cost of ownership
$979
› Exam mechanics
Pass mark
GSEC73% (scaled per attempt)
Pass mark
73% (scaled per attempt)
Retake policy
GSEC$999 fee · 30d wait
Retake policy
$999 fee · 30d wait
Study time
GSEC100–200 hrs
Study time
100–200 hrs
Validity
GSEC4 yrs
Validity
4 yrs
CPE / yr
GSEC9 CPEs
CPE / yr
9 CPEs
Delivery
GSEConline proctored
Delivery
online proctored
› Salary signal (US base)
Range
GSEC$85K – $125K
Range
$85K – $125K
Median
GSEC$102,000
Median
$102,000
Premium %
GSEC—
Premium %
—
Role context
GSECSecurity generalist / SOC analyst, US, 2–4 years.
Role context
Security generalist / SOC analyst, US, 2–4 years.
› Quality (4-axis rubric · 0–10)
Schema quality
GSEC8.5
Schema quality
8.5
Practice evidence
GSEC4.0
Practice evidence
4.0
Maintenance
GSEC8.5
Maintenance
8.5
Market recognition
GSEC6.5
Market recognition
6.5
Average
GSEC6.9
Average
6.9
› Recognition & lifecycle
Recognition
GSECGlobal · US · EU · UK
Recognition
Global · US · EU · UK
ISO 17024 accredited
GSEC✓
ISO 17024 accredited
✓
DoD 8140 baseline
GSEC✓
DoD 8140 baseline
✓
Holders worldwide
GSEC30,000
Holders worldwide
30,000
Current version
GSEC2024 SEC401 refresh (2024-02)
Current version
2024 SEC401 refresh (2024-02)
› Domain coverage
A10Security Operations
GSEC● core
A10Security Operations
● core
A12Data Security, Privacy & Protection
GSEC○ touched
A12Data Security, Privacy & Protection
○ touched
A15Cryptography
GSEC● core
A15Cryptography
● core
A2Network Security
GSEC● core
A2Network Security
● core
A3Zero Trust Architecture
GSEC○ touched
A3Zero Trust Architecture
○ touched
A4Application Security
GSEC○ touched
A4Application Security
○ touched
A6Identity & Access Management
GSEC● core
A6Identity & Access Management
● core
Browse the full catalog or open any one of these on its detail page for full study materials, peer comparisons, and lifecycle notes.