GAWNGIAC Assessing Wireless Networks
Created per CertMap methodology · About the editorial team →
▾ Jump to …5 sections
What is GAWN?
The GAWN certifies readiness to assess the security of wireless networks. The exam covers attacks on weak encryption, WLAN fundamentals and WPA, client attacks, 802.11 fuzzing and Bluetooth attacks, plus RFID at low and high frequency, NFC, practical software defined radio attacks, and the detection of hotspots and rogue networks. It is aligned with the SANS course SEC617. According to GIAC it addresses auditors, penetration testers and ethical hackers, network security and administration staff, incident response teams, security consultants, wireless system engineers, and embedded wireless system developers.
Suitable for
Quick facts
Cost, prerequisites, exam & renewal
Cost over 5 years
Prerequisites
No formal prerequisites. Associated SANS course highly recommended.
Exam format
Renewal & maintenance
Valid for 4 years. Renewal via 36 CPE credits or renewal exam ($479). Each GIAC cert separately.
CertMap score and matching roles
Rating
Matching NICE roles
More certifications
Personal consulting
Not sure what's next? Ask someone who knows.
Personal strategy instead of weeks of self-research. Vendor-independent, with auditable recommendations and transparent sources.
From the knowledge base
View all articles →CISSP or CISM? Two Careers, One Decision
Both require five years of experience, both cost roughly the same at first glance. Yet CISSP and CISM lead to different professions. The comparison with the numbers that course providers don't show.
CISM or CISA? Two ISACA paths, one directional decision
Both come from ISACA, both require five years of experience, and both cost almost the same. The difference is not the price but the role: managing or auditing. The comparison with the numbers and the role mapping.
CC or Security+? The Free Entry Point and the Job-Market Classic
Both are entry-level certifications with no admission barrier, both cover the fundamentals of cybersecurity, and yet they stand for different strategies: one as a low-threshold, temporarily free start, the other as an established credential with weight in the job market. The comparison with the numbers and the opposing cost logic.