SEC275: Foundations: Computers, Technology, & Security™

Master the fundamentals of cybersecurity.

SANS Foundations is the most comprehensive, certified introductory cybersecurity course on the market. It supports your early steps into the industry by enabling you to master the fundamental knowledge and demonstrate the practical skills you need to prove you are ready for that first job in cybersecurity.

SANS instructors developed SANS Foundations to help you learn in a way that works best for you. Our engaging, high-definition video lectures are supported by audio recordings, hands-on labs and exercises, ensuring every student graduates with real-world, practical skills.

The course covers the foundations of cybersecurity in 13 modules, they are:

• Computer components and concepts
• Linux
• The Web
• Networking Fundamentals
• Servers and Services
• Practical Programming and Concepts
• SQL
• Windows Foundations
• Advanced Computer Hardware
• Assembly
• Security concepts
• Offensive Security Concepts
• Network and Computer infiltration

Upon completion, you will be able to demonstrate programming skills in Python and C, understand the fundamentals of networking, encryption, and Linux, and you will have covered all the core elements of Operating systems, the Web and Security concepts.

"The security labs were my personal favorite as the skills attained through those helped me land a role as a vulnerability analyst in the information security office!" - Kirti Nangia, SANS Foundations Student

Course FAQs

Q: How do I know if this course is right for me?

A: SANS created the Foundations course for students who are new to cyber and looking to take their first step into a technical, cybersecurity career. It is also ideal for IT professionals looking to change their focus to cybersecurity or those who have been working in cybersecurity for a while and would like to refresh their foundational knowledge.

Q: How long does it take to complete the course?

A: The course content can be completed in 50 to 60 hours. To maximize learning outcomes, most students review course content multiple times, repeat labs and quizzes, or do extra exercises.

Q: How long do students have access to the course?

A: Students have access to the course for 4 months, providing plenty of time to go over the material.

Q: How do the labs work?

A: The learning platform for SANS Foundations has an online labs system where students can interact with security tools, get their hands on the Linux command line, and use an Integrated Development Environment (IDE) to write and test code.

Q: What do the quizzes test?

A: The quizzes benchmark a student's knowledge and measure if they understand each module's key concepts and topics. Quizzes are based on course content and can be taken multiple times.

Q: Are there books for this course?

A: All reading materials are electronic and available online. When a student takes the GFACT exam, they'll be provided with a book to aid their learning.

Q: Do students have to take the GIAC SANS Foundations final exam?

A: We strongly advise that all students take the GFACT exam to fully master the SANS Foundations course.

Business Takeaways

SANS Foundations helps Businesses, Government and Federal organizations recruit, train and re-skill cybersecurity professionals across the globe.

• Reduce the risk of foundational, cybersecurity knowledge gaps within your organization
• Reduce costs of hiring externally by discovering latent talent within your current IT team
• Improve new-starter success on advanced courses by covering the foundations first
• Enable business growth through training all technical employees to the highest standard
• Validate your training investment with your employees passing the GFACT certification
• Design effective onboarding frameworks for your employees knowing the foundations of cybersecurity are covered.

Skills Learned

• Understand key hardware components and associated memory concepts
• Understand the uses of virtualization and containers, with their advantages, and disadvantages.
• Be familiar with common exploit anatomy, methodology, and the tools used by attackers
• Be familiar with tools used in forensics investigations and their function.
• Have a working knowledge of most used Linux commands, permissions, and access control
• Understand core networking concepts, protocols, different server types and their uses.
• Be able to determine the result of basic logical operation.
• Be familiar with programming syntax, constructs, and errors in popular languages.
• Recognise different file systems, web technology, and cloud computing models.
• Be comfortable with the concepts and terminology associated with cryptography
• Be familiar with the ethical and legal concerns associated with hacking
• Know the stages of an attack and be familiar with key defensive strategies and concepts.
• Be familiar with key Windows CLI commands, permissions and access control.

Hands-On Cybersecurity Foundations Training

To help build on your newfound knowledge, you will practice using the Linux command line, writing computer programs in C and Python, and running common exploits in dozens of hands-on labs and exercises included in the course.

The labs draw on the latest technology, techniques, and concepts in cybersecurity, bringing your knowledge to life in a practical, technical environment, giving you real-world skills that prepare you for the first day of your new cybersecurity career.

'The hands-on labs allowed me to apply theoretical knowledge and improve problem-solving skills. The course stressed the importance of analytical thinking and effective response to security incidents, guiding my approach in real-world scenarios.' - Louise, IT Officer at Insurance Commission

What You Will Receive

Everything is provided in the online learning platform, and no additional software is required to participate in the course. Everything is done online. You can also change between devices and pick up where you left off at any time.

When taking the GFACT exam, students will receive a book to aid their learning.

What Comes Next?

Depending on your current role or career goals, one of these courses is a great next step in your cybersecurity journey

• SEC301: Introduction to Cyber Security
• SEC401: Security Essentials - Network, Endpoint and Cloud

SEC275 and the GFACT certification constitute the initial course for these career-launching programs at the SANS Technology Institute:

• Applied Cybersecurity Certificate
• Bachelor's Degree in Applied Cybersecurity