Cookie Notice

Updated: September 1, 2021

This Cookie Notice describes the different types of cookies and similar technologies that may be applied on sans.org, sans.edu, giac.org , and other domains owned and operated by The Escal Institute of Advanced Technologies, Inc. / dba SANS Institute, GIAC, and SANS Technology Institute (hereafter referred to collectively as “SANS.”) 

1. What is a cookie? 

Cookies are small text files that a website transfers to your device to store and sometimes collect information about your usage of websites, such as time spent on websites, pages visited, language preferences, and other traffic data. We use the information for security purposes, to facilitate navigation, to display information more effectively, to personalize your experience while using our websites and to recognize your computer in order to assist your use of our websites. We also gather statistical information about use of our websites in order to improve their design and functionality, understand how they are used and assist us with resolving questions regarding them. 

There are different types of cookies, for example:

  • Cookies served directly by SANS (‘first party cookies’) and cookies served on our behalf, for example by advertisers and data analytics companies (‘third party cookies’) 
  • Cookies which endure for different periods of time, including those that only last only as long as your browser is open (referred to as ‘session cookies’). These are deleted automatically once you close your browser. Other cookies are ‘permanent cookies’, meaning that they survive after your browser is closed. For example, they recognize your device when you open your browser and browse the internet again. 

2. What cookies do we use? 

Below we list the different types of cookies and similar technologies that may be used on the websites. Where we use third party cookies, we provide a link to the third party’s cookie policy. 

To the extent any personal information (which is information that identifies you as an individual or relates to an identifiable individual) is collected through cookies, our Privacy Notice applies and supplements this Cookie Notice.

3. How do I manage cookies? 

You have the right to choose whether or not to accept cookies. To update your cookie preferences click the button below.

4. Changes to our Cookie Notice

We may change this Cookie Notice from time to time. Please take a look at the “Last Revised” legend at the top of this page to see when this Cookie Notice was last revised. If we make significant changes to this Cookie Notice, we will notify you of changes when you next visit any of our websites. 

5. Contacts and comments

If you have any questions or comments regarding this Cookie Notice, please contact us by email at privacy@sans.org, or write to us at: 

SANS Institute 

11200 Rockville Pike, Suite 200 

North Bethesda, MD 20852