☁️ GIAC GCLD
(GIAC Cloud Security Essentials)

🧠 1. Certification Name and Issuing Body

🧩 2. Certification Level and Type

  • Level: Intermediate

  • Type: Technical (Defensive Cloud Security / Architecture / Operations)

📜 3. Purpose and Goals

  • What skills does it certify?
    Securing cloud environments across AWS, Azure, and GCP; implementing identity management, network security, logging, and secure cloud architectures; applying compliance and risk controls

  • Target roles or profiles:
    Cloud Security Engineer, DevSecOps Engineer, Cloud Architect, Compliance Analyst, Cloud Administrator

  • Practical applications:
    Implementing secure cloud configurations, managing IAM roles, analyzing logging and monitoring setups, supporting cloud security audits and governance

🎓 4. Prerequisites

  • Recommended prior certifications:
    GSEC, Security+, AWS/Azure fundamentals (or equivalent hands-on experience)

  • Suggested experience:
    1–3 years working with cloud services (AWS, Azure, or GCP) and basic understanding of cloud architecture

  • Required technical knowledge:
    Identity and access management, shared responsibility model, networking and firewall rules in cloud, encryption, cloud-native logging

📚 5. Content and Curriculum

  • Key domains/modules:

    1. Cloud Concepts and Architecture

    2. Cloud Identity and Access Control

    3. Network and Perimeter Security in the Cloud

    4. Logging, Monitoring, and Incident Response

    5. Cloud Governance, Risk, and Compliance

    6. Cloud Platform (AWS, Azure, GCP) Case Studies

  • Technologies/tools:
    IAM, CloudTrail, Azure Monitor, GCP Logging, VPC/Subnets, S3 Bucket Policies, AWS KMS, Azure Key Vault

  • Framework mapping:
    NIST SP 800-53 (Rev 5), ISO/IEC 27017, CIS Benchmarks, MITRE ATT&CK Cloud Matrix, NIST CSF (PR, DE, RS)

🧪 6. Learning Approach

  • Style: Theory-based with multi-cloud examples and diagrams

  • Labs/environments: None in certification; available via optional SANS SEC488 course

  • Materials:

    • SANS SEC488: Cloud Security Essentials (optional but recommended)

    • GCLD practice tests (x2 included with exam)

    • SANS cheat sheets and cloud reference cards

  • Recommended platforms: SANS OnDemand, ACloudGuru (labs), Qwiklabs, Cloud Academy

📝 7. Exam Format and Details

  • Mode: Online proctored (ProctorU)

  • Duration: 2 hours

  • Questions: 50–75 multiple choice

  • Languages: English

  • Passing score: ~70% (varies by version)

  • Retake policy: Retake available after 30-day waiting period (fee applies)

  • Certification validity: 4 years

💰 8. Estimated Cost

  • Exam-only fee: $949 USD

  • SEC488 + exam bundle: ~$7,000–$8,000 USD

  • Renewal cost: $479 USD (or 36 CPEs over 4 years)

🌍 9. Industry Recognition

  • Demand/popularity: Growing in government, MSSPs, financial institutions, and companies moving to hybrid/multi-cloud

  • Organizations that value it: U.S. DoD (8570.01-m), Fortune 500 cloud adopters, cloud-first consultancies

  • Comparison:

    • More multi-cloud and compliance-focused than vendor certs (e.g., AWS Security Specialty, AZ-500)

    • Less hands-on than OSCP or GCP Security certs, but more governance-heavy

    • Strong complement to CCSK or CCSP

💼 10. Career Opportunities

  • Job roles:
    Cloud Security Analyst, Multi-Cloud Security Consultant, Compliance & Risk Engineer, Cloud Operations Engineer

  • Suggested paths:
    → GSEC → GCLD → GCSA / GCPN / CCSP
    → GCLD + AWS Security Specialty = hands-on + governance blend

💵 11. Average Salary

  • USA: $110,000–$135,000/year

  • Europe: €70,000–€95,000/year

  • Salary impact: High in hybrid/multi-cloud roles or risk/compliance cloud governance

  • (Sources: SANS Salary Survey, LinkedIn, PayScale)

📅 12. Renewal and Maintenance

  • Validity: 4 years

  • Renewal options:

    • Submit 36 CPE credits

    • Pay $479 renewal fee

    • Retake exam or upgrade to higher-level GIAC certs

🧭 13. Final Recommendations

  • Ideal for:
    Professionals needing a structured foundation in multi-cloud security across AWS, Azure, and GCP—especially in environments focused on compliance and risk

  • When to pursue:
    After introductory cloud security certs (SC-900, AWS Foundations) or alongside hands-on cloud experience

  • Tips:
    Create a solid open-book index. Focus on comparative security implementations across cloud providers. Study how compliance requirements map to cloud controls.