SANS.edu Sentinels Triumph at Spring 2024 National Cyber League Competition
At the spring 2024 National Cyber League (NCL) competition, SANS.edu demonstrated its cybersecurity prowess once again. Among more than 500 participating colleges and universities, SANS.edu stood out as one of just three to achieve Top 10 power rankings in both the Standard Student and Experienced Student brackets.
- #1 Power Ranking (Experienced Students)
- #1, #2, #3, and #4 Individual Players (Experienced Students)
- More than 30% of the Top 100 individual players in the Experienced bracket were SANS.edu Sentinels
Graduate Student Success Stories
Our graduate students are IT and cybersecurity professionals, advancing their expertise and careers through rigorous, industry-focused programs.
Brian Davidson
Master of Science in Information Security Engineering
For his master’s degree research project, U.S. Marine veteran Brian Davidson created a first-of-its-kind human interface device firewall — a firewall between a keyboard and the computer — that is patent pending. Learn why Brian chose SANS.edu and how his education made him an increasingly valued asset to his employer.
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Shawna Turner
Master of Science in Information Security Engineering
Shawna Turner earned a master's from SANS.edu while working full time at Nike, so online course options and the ability to adjust her schedule to her life needs were critical to her success. Discover how this former theater tech transformed herself into a cybersecurity subject matter expert.
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Billy Wilson
Master of Science in Information Security Engineering
Flexibility and real-world hands-on experience were key when father of five Billy Wilson started looking at cybersecurity master's degree programs. See what he has to say about attending the SANS.edu master's program while working full time - and presenting a student project to the CISO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta.
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Jeremiah Hainly
Master of Science in Information Security Engineering
A natural introvert and self-described computer/gamer geek, Jeremiah Hainly knew that gaining up-to-the-minute cybersecurity knowledge could give him game-changing confidence. See why he chose SANS.edu and where the master's program took him.
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Melissa Bischoping
Master of Science in Information Security Engineering
Melissa Bischoping works alongside some of the most brilliant minds in cybersecurity as Director of Endpoint Security Research at Tanium. Learn about her career journey and why she chose to pursue a master’s degree at SANS.edu.
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Jamy Casteel
Master of Science in Information Security Engineering
Jamy Casteel chose the SANS.edu master’s degree program to enhance both hands-on technical skills and soft skills to gain a competitive advantage for his career. Learn more about how this penetration testing expert and Vice President of Offensive Security at Kroll is protecting his clients’ important data from his rural Oklahoma town.
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Megan Roddie
Master of Science in Information Security Engineering
Megan Roddie’s presentation of her well received master’s degree research paper Automating Google Workspace Incident Response at the SANS DFIR Summit led to an invitation to join the authors of the popular SANS course FOR509: Enterprise Cloud Forensics and Incident Response as a co-author. Her work developing labs for the course gives students realistic, practical hands-on experiences that allow them to approach real-life incidents more effectively.
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Karim Lalji
Master of Science in Information Security Engineering
Karim Lalji, Senior Manager and North America Penetration Testing Lead for Accenture, considered other cybersecurity master's programs, but found them too theoretical. He chose SANS.edu because it was the "gold standard," but was still blown away by the depth of knowledge provided. Learn more about Karim's story.
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Richard “Rick” Halsell Jr.
Graduate Certificate in Cybersecurity Engineering
Graduate Certificate in Cybersecurity Leadership
Richard “Rick“ Halsell Jr. defended the Army against network breaches and today is Principal Security Program Manager at Microsoft. Learn about his career journey and see why this master's degree holder chose to pursue 2 graduate certificates at SANS.edu.
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Jeff Sass
Graduate Certificate in Cybersecurity Engineering
Graduate Certificate in Penetration Testing & Ethical Hacking
Graduate Certificate in Incident Response
Video gaming was the start of what would lead to Jeff Sass's decades-long career at Adobe. Discover why he chose to pursue 3 graduate certificates at SANS.edu — and how the experience helped him win promotions first to manager, then director.
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Jessica Stainer
Graduate Certificate in Incident Response
Digital forensics examiner Jessica Stainer pursued a graduate certificate in Incident Response at SANS.edu to gain hands-on skills her theory-based master’s degree didn’t provide. Along the way, she found her online courses so interesting and engaging that they didn’t seem like school.
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Christopher Haller
Graduate Certificate in Penetration Testing and Ethical Hacking
Christopher Haller beat out more than 6,000 competitors to earn the #1 individual player ranking in the Spring 2022 National Cyber League competition. See why he chose to pursue a graduate certificate at SANS.edu — and learn about his career path from the US Navy to his current role as Director of Professional Services at Centripetal Networks.
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Ryan Van Den Heuvel
Graduate Certificate in Industrial Control Systems Security
Graduate Certificate in Cyber Defense Operations
Ryan Van Den Heuvel, an ICS/OT Cyber Security Researcher at Idaho National Laboratory, protects critical infrastructure by developing cutting-edge cybersecurity solutions. Learn how his drive for innovative problem-solving led him to earn a Graduate Certificate in Industrial Control Systems Security from SANS.edu and receive the Assante Scholar Award for his outstanding contributions to the field.
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Danil Karandin
Master of Science in Information Security Engineering
Graduate Certificate in Penetration Testing and Ethical Hacking
Danil Karandin’s journey from Western Siberia to the U.S. Army and ultimately to his role as Lead Purple Team Engineer at Gartner, Inc., reflects his lifelong passion for technology, innovation, and cybersecurity. Discover how his pursuit of advanced degrees and certificates from the SANS Technology Institute significantly impacted his career trajectory and opportunities.
Read More Undergraduate Student Success Stories
Our undergraduate programs attract students of all ages, from college transfers and associate degree graduates to industry professionals with prior college credits, reflecting diverse paths to a cybersecurity career.
Rachel Downs
Bachelor’s Degree in Applied Cybersecurity
Rachel Downs’ cybersecurity journey started in the UK’s Ministry of Defense, where she worked in various cyber-adjacent roles. Discover how the SANS.edu bachelor's degree program fueled her passion for the field and led to her to receive multiple job offers before she finished the program.
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Keegan Hamlin
Bachelor’s Degree in Applied Cybersecurity
Keegan Hamlin’s career shift from aircraft maintenance to Cyber Warfare Operations for the U.S. Air Force exemplifies the power adaptability and continuous learning. Discover how earning a bachelor's degree from SANS.edu equipped him with advanced skills and confidence to excel in defending national interests.
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James Childers
Undergraduate Certificate in Applied Cybersecurity
Graduate Certificate in Incident Response
Graduate Certificate in Cyber Defense Operations
U.S. Army veteran James Childers filled out an application to the SANS Technology Institute the day he discovered the GI Bill would cover his SANS.edu tuition costs. Learn how the multiple certificates and GIAC certifications James earned at SANS.edu prepared him to become vice president of Cyber Detection and Response at City National Bank. “I am not exaggerating when I say SANS.edu changed my life.”
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Lori Brum
Bachelor’s Degree in Applied Cybersecurity
Lori Brumm says that working with Internet Storm Center director Dr. Johannes Ullrich was one of the most valuable parts of her internship as a bachelor’s student at SANS.edu. She chose to pursue her bachelor’s degree at SANS.edu to gain a strong competitive advantage in the job market — and because the online options gave this busy mother of three the flexibility she needed to succeed.
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James Turner
Undergraduate Certificate in Applied Cybersecurity
Bachelor’s Degree in Applied Cybersecurity
Master of Science in Information Security Engineering
James Turner’s journey from electrician to an Industrial Control Systems/Operational Technology solution architect underscores the significance of lifelong education. Discover why this Assante Scholar Award winner chose to earn an Applied Cybersecurity Certificate from the SANS Technology Institute — followed by bachelor’s and master’s degrees from SANS.edu.
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Kaela Manger
Bachelor's Degree in Applied Cybersecurity
Kaela Manger’s love of technology and desire to make a positive contribution to the world attracted her to cybersecurity. She chose the bachelor’s degree program in Applied Cybersecurity at the SANS Technology Institute to gain skills that would enhance her value as an information security professional and to secure highly valued GIAC certifications. See how the SANS.edu Income Share Agreement made it possible for Kaela to pay no tuition until she was employed full time.
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Jesse LaGrew
Bachelor’s Degree in Applied Cybersecurity
Jesse LaGrew wanted a bachelor’s degree that would strengthen his cybersecurity skillset and advance his career. He chose SANS.edu because the program included 9 GIAC certifications and he knew that securing industry certifications was particularly important in an ever-changing profession.
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Will Green
Bachelor’s Degree in Applied Cybersecurity
Will Green's talent for cybersecurity capture the flag (CTF) competitions earned him a place on the US Cyber Team. Learn how he prepares for CTFs and how he used the SANS.edu Income Share Agreement to earn a bachelor's degree in applied cybersecurity, paying no tuition until he was employed full time.
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Eunice Park
Undergraduate Certificate in Applied Cybersecurity
Eunice Park wanted to enter the cybersecurity field without pursuing another degree or attending a bootcamp that lacked certifications. Discover her inspiring journey from the fashion industry to becoming a digital forensics and incident response analyst.
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Jake Danuser
Undergraduate Certificate in Applied Cybersecurity
Jake Danuser looked at 50 different schools before selecting SANS.edu for its stellar reputation, GIAC certifications, and positive return on investment. He used the college’s Income Share Agreement (ISA) to fund the program and, in his words, “made enough salary gains to pay for the program twice.”
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Loveona Jones
Undergraduate Certificate in Applied Cybersecurity
Loveona Jones completed the SANS.edu Undergraduate Certificate in Applied Cybersecurity during her senior year at a different college. Learn how this Cyber FastTrack scholarship winner got her start in cybersecurity and won prestigious internships with the U.S. State Department and a Fortune 500 company.
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Tin Nguyen
Undergraduate Certificate in Applied Cybersecurity
Tin Nguyen’s professional journey has taken him from the United States Marines to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to the helm of a Vietnam-based cybersecurity company. Learn how this graduate of the Undergraduate Certificate program in Applied Cybersecurity led the response and recovery efforts for one of the greatest crypto hacks in history.
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Michelle Porter
Undergraduate Certificate in Applied Cybersecurity
Michelle Porter beat out more than 10,000 applicants to earn one of 20 spots in Deloitte's inaugural Cyber Career Accelerator Program. She credits her success to the SANS.edu cybersecurity certificate program, which she funded using the college's Income Share Agreement (ISA), saying she made a solid return on investment in "experience, industry connections, and earnings." Learn how this former music education major made the leap to cybersecurity.
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Cody Williams
Undergraduate Certificate in Applied Cybersecurity
Cody Williams completed the SANS.edu Undergraduate Certificate in Applied Cybersecurity in just under a year and landed his first cybersecurity job before completing the program. See why Cody thinks there's a place for everybody in cybersecurity, particularly for those who fear having a boring desk job.
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Cathy Sowa
Undergraduate Certificate in Applied Cybersecurity
Cathy Sowa made a mid-career change to cybersecurity. Learn how this former middle school teacher and adjunct professor gained the skills and confidence to enter the cybersecurity field.
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Anthony Messina
Undergraduate Certificate in Applied Cybersecurity
Anthony Messina completed the SANS.edu Undergraduate Certificate in Applied Cybersecurity after earning a bachelor’s in information technology. Learn about his journey from the Marine Corps to a career as a security analyst — and discover why he recommends the security analyst career path to anyone who wants to be on the front line of cybersecurity.
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Patrick Seibert
Undergraduate Certificate in Cybersecurity Fundamentals
Bachelor's Degree in Applied Cybersecurity
Inspired by Hackers and The Hacker's Manifesto, Patrick Seibert discovered his interest in cybersecurity at an early age. Now he plans to combine hands-on technical skills with a future law degree to shape cybersecurity policies. Explore why Patrick recommends the Cybersecurity Fundamentals Certificate for aspiring cybersecurity professionals.
Read More Our Grads Get Hired
Our alumni work for organizations large and small, including Fortune 500 companies, military and government organizations, and leading cybersecurity firms. Here are just a few.
Adobe |
Discover Financial Services |
Northrop Grumman |
Akamai |
Epic |
OpenSecurity |
Amazon |
Expel |
Oracle |
Apple Inc |
EY |
PwC |
Artic Wolf Networks |
Facebook |
Raytheon |
Bank of America |
FireEye |
Red Canary |
Blizzard Entertainment |
IBM |
Rendition Infosec |
Boeing |
Jigsaw Google |
RSA |
Booz Allen Hamilton |
JHU/APL |
SAIC |
Capital One |
JPMorgan Chase |
Salesforce |
Cisco |
KBR |
Sandia National Laboratories |
Coalfire |
Mantech |
SixGen |
Coretelligent |
Mastercard |
Symantec |
CrowdStrike |
Microsoft |
Verizon |
Deloitte |
MITRE |
Walmart |
Dragos |
NIST |
Wells Fargo Bank |
Secure Your Future
The SANS Technology Institute offers career-focused master’s degree, graduate certificate, bachelor’s degree and undergraduate certificate programs on the cutting edge of cybersecurity.
Need more information? We’re happy to answer your questions. Join us for an info session, email info@sans.edu or call 301.241.7665.
Ready to apply? We look forward to learning about you and your cybersecurity career goals.