GIAC Certified Windows Security Administrator (GCWN)

• Securing PowerShell
• Zero Trust multifactor authentication
• Windows endpoint protection
• Operating system and application hardening
• PKI management
• Restricting administrative compromise

• Individuals responsible for installing, configuring, & securing Microsoft Windows clients & servers
• Windows endpoint and server administrators
• Practitioners who want to validate PowerShell automation skills
• Practitioners implementing the CIS Critical Security Controls
• USA military and government cyber defenders
• Blue teamers

• 1 proctored exam
• 75 questions
• 2 hours
• Minimum passing score of 66%

NOTE: All GIAC Certification exams are web-based and required to be proctored. There are two proctoring options: remote proctoring through ProctorU, and onsite proctoring through PearsonVUE. Click here for more information.

GIAC certification attempts will be activated in your GIAC account after your application has been approved and according to the terms of your purchase. Details on delivery will be provided along with your registration confirmation upon payment. You will receive an email notification when your certification attempt has been activated in your account. You will have 120 days from the date of activation to complete your certification attempt.

• Active Directory and WMI Scripting
  The candidate will be able to use PowerShell and Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) to query and manage Active Directory, Group Policy Objects, Local Users and Groups, and Active Directory permissions.
• Endpoint and PowerShell Security
  The candidate will be able to secure PowerShell and Windows endpoints against ransomware and other malware using PowerShell hardening, AppLocker, Credential Guard, Group Policy preferences, Windows privileges, and PowerShell logging.
• Hardening Services and Features
  The candidate will be able to use PowerShell to harden and manage Windows roles and features, Windows Firewall rules, IPsec zero trust policies, audit policies, and event logging.
• PowerShell Fundamentals
  The candidate will demonstrate familiarity with PowerShell's use of objects, properties, methods, arrays, flow control, and how to write basic PowerShell functions and scripts.
• PowerShell Remote Command Execution
  The candidate will be able to securely configure and use PowerShell Remoting, OpenSSH for WIndows, Just Enough Admin (JEA), Group Policy, and the Task Scheduler for remote command execution.
• Windows Certificate Services
  The candidate will be able to implement a Windows Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) and manage certificates used for multi-factor authentication, smart cards/tokens, data encryption, and digital signatures.

• Practical work experience can help ensure that you have mastered the skills necessary for certification
• College level courses or self paced study through another program or materials may meet the needs for mastery.
• Get information about the procedure to contest exam results.

Practice Tests

• These tests are a simulation of the real exam allowing you to become familiar with the test engine and style of questions.
• Practice exams are a gauge to determine if your preparation methods are sufficient.
• The practice bank questions are limited so you may encounter the same question on practice tests when multiple practice tests are purchased.
• Practice exams never include actual exam questions.
• Purchase a GCWN practice test here.
• GIAC recommends leveraging additional study methods for test preparation.