SANS Cyber Defense Initiative

Six days of hands-on SANS courses plus NetWars; analysts, engineers and threat researchers train alongside peers.

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Dates
Dec 14 to Dec 19, 2026
Where
Washington, DC · In person and online
Cost
Ticket $3,000 to $9,230. Per-course pricing, $3,000 to $9,230; free NetWars with a course. Live online option.
Type
Workshop · Paid ticket
Suits
Changing careers
Last checked
October 23, 2026 against the event’s own site

Official site and registration

Cheaper ways in: Work Study Program linked (no details read); $2,000 certification/lab package for registrations Sep 4-Nov 15, 2026.

Speaking opportunities

No speaking slots

Who goes

Roles and segments the organizer or our research tag this event for.

Segments: Cybersecurity

Roles: security analyst, security engineer, threat researcher

The field it serves: Technology & Software

Verified open jobs
about 67,766

Source: NextChapter job data, jobs verified live in the last 7 days.

See the detail →
Typical posted salary
$152,000 a year (middle half $114,000 to $200,000)

Source: NextChapter job data: salary ranges employers posted, midpoint of each range, 1,804 of the newest 5,000 verified open jobs.

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Entry or early-career level
30% of openings

Source: NextChapter job data: level read from the full posting, newest 5,000 verified open jobs.

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Employment, year over year
−4.2% in information, the closest BLS sector

Source: BLS Current Employment Statistics, seasonally adjusted payroll employment, October 2026.

See the detail →

Full Technology & Software snapshot: jobs, pay, layoffs and conferences

Employers at this conference

Exhibitors, sponsors and speakers we have found on the event’s own lists.

Read from the event’s own pages: www.sans.org.

Industries and functions

Where it is and who it is for

Held in Washington, DC. Local jobs, employers, layoffs and other conferences nearby are on the place pages.

Past and planned editions

  • 2026: December 14, 2026 to December 19, 2026, Washington, DC

More from SANS Institute

  • SANS 2027 (Orlando)

    Apr 12 to Apr 17, 2027 · Orlando, FL

    Ticket $3,000 to $9,230. Per-course pricing $3,000-$9,230; GIAC exam attempts $499-$999.

  • SANS AI Cybersecurity Summit

    Apr 27 to Apr 28, 2027 · Denver, CO

    Ticket $525 to $5,250. Summit only $525; summit plus course $5,250.

All 3 SANS Institute conferences

Free for SANS Cyber Defense Initiative to use. Paste either into your website.

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