GPEN Passed!!!!!

kMastaFlashkMastaFlash Posts: 1,012Member ■■■■□□□□□□
in GIAC
Well I passed my GPEN exam yesterday!!! :) icon_cheers.gificon_cool.gif 81%

So excited I didn't sleep last night! :)

It was a brutal exam. Finished with 8 seconds left!! Down to the wire and every second counted!!

With that said, here are my tips:

1. Solid Index is key. Make it searchable and easy to use. Best advice for this, alphabetize your index (obvious but helpful) and have a small definition followed by page number. (Keyword,Definition,Pagenumber) Can't stress enough how helpful it was because you won't have time to read it in the book!! If anyone wants to see a small sample of my index, PM me and I can give you a small sample to give you jump start! If you can't find key words within 15 seconds, you made your index wrong! You will need to make modifications to your index multiple times throughout the studying process. This is normal.

2. Practice exams are very similar to actual exam!

3. Had tons of screenshots of tools! Practice with the tools listed in the courseware!

4. Important sections in general are Metasploit, Powershell, SQL injection and Windows commands!

5. Keep calm and carry on!

Now it's time for some R&R for 2 weeks and play some video games. Maybe Overwatch or some old school n64 not sure!

But after this I will be getting into GXPN next and getting revenge on Server+ just because!
2018: CCSK
2019: CWSP,Cloud+,Project+,CASP,PenTest+,CWNA,CCNA Security,GXPN,GREM
2021: LPIC-2,JNCIS-ENT,eLearnSecurity Courses
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Comments

  • TheFORCETheFORCE Posts: 2,235Member ■■■■■■■■□□
    Congratulations man! You have been making progress in all fronts recently! Keep up thw goos job. Did your company foot the bill for this? How long have you been preparing for?
  • E Double UE Double U Posts: 1,538Member ■■■■■■■■□□
    Congratulations!

    How much of an overlap is there between C|EH and GPEN material?
    Alphabet soup: CISSP, CCSP, CISM, CISA, GPEN, GCIA, GCIH, GCCC, CEH, etc

    "You tried your best and you failed miserably. The lesson is, never try." - Homer Simpson
  • kMastaFlashkMastaFlash Posts: 1,012Member ■■■■□□□□□□
    Thanks guys!! :) I paid for the exam and stuff out of my own pocket!! (Being single has it's benefits) ;)

    I bought my exam attempt back in the end of Nov 2016 like Nov 28 or so. About 4 months (length of the exam attempt with no extensions)

    In regards to overlap from C|EH, I would say only what is covered with Nmap at the most.

    Reason for that is because C|EH mostly covered basic switches like -sS -sP -Pn etc.

    Where GPEN covers NSE scripts, other useful switches such as --top-ports and more real world side of using Nmap not just how do you do a SYN Scan type of questions but actually tshooting output from Nmap to understanding output and interpret results.

    Also, C|EH just covers things like What is Metasploit where GPEN covers actually configuring, using and applying the framework and useful features of the framework. (in otherwords, GPEN covers more technical info than C|EH)

    Also, C|EH just covers more theory of Pen testing and provides a solid methodology imo. But GPEN covers things from more of a Pen test consulting side. Ex: Rules of engagement, Scope Creep etc. is covered in GPEN where C|EH covers nothing of the sort.

    I can't say much else without violating NDA (and we know how that turns out on here don't we) ;)

    If anyone has more specific questions about GPEN about studying tips, PM me and let me know!
    2018: CCSK
    2019: CWSP,Cloud+,Project+,CASP,PenTest+,CWNA,CCNA Security,GXPN,GREM
    2021: LPIC-2,JNCIS-ENT,eLearnSecurity Courses
  • scoobydoesscoobydoes Posts: 25Member ■□□□□□□□□□
    Congratulations brother!!! I knew you were sweating it, but you did it! And thanks for sharing your tips in approaching the exam.
  • kMastaFlashkMastaFlash Posts: 1,012Member ■■■■□□□□□□
    Thanks man! Yeah I was nervous as all get out!
    2018: CCSK
    2019: CWSP,Cloud+,Project+,CASP,PenTest+,CWNA,CCNA Security,GXPN,GREM
    2021: LPIC-2,JNCIS-ENT,eLearnSecurity Courses
  • kMastaFlashkMastaFlash Posts: 1,012Member ■■■■□□□□□□
    So question to anyone who got the GPEN recently or anyone who has a GIAC cert, how long did it take for GIAC to update the directory with your name and to get the digital badge and getting your certificate? I also was wondering if anyone can answer if it is ok to use the GPEN logo as my avatar on the site without breaking any logo terms? I didn't see anything on the site saying I can't!
    2018: CCSK
    2019: CWSP,Cloud+,Project+,CASP,PenTest+,CWNA,CCNA Security,GXPN,GREM
    2021: LPIC-2,JNCIS-ENT,eLearnSecurity Courses
  • 636-555-3226636-555-3226 Posts: 976Member ■■■■■□□□□□
    You can use the cert & logo as soon as you pass the test since you're pretty much official as of that date. The site usually takes just one or two business days to update in my experience. get rid of that CEH junk and get a GPEN logo on there!
  • ErtazErtaz Posts: 907Member ■■■■■□□□□□
    kMastaFlash wrote: »
    So question to anyone who got the GPEN recently or anyone who has a GIAC cert, how long did it take for GIAC to update the directory with your name and to get the digital badge and getting your certificate? I also was wondering if anyone can answer if it is ok to use the GPEN logo as my avatar on the site without breaking any logo terms? I didn't see anything on the site saying I can't!

    It took around two days. I had my paper cert within a week.
  • JoJoCal19JoJoCal19 California Kid Posts: 2,772Mod Mod
    Congrats on the pass!!
    Have: CISSP, CISM, CISA, CRISC, eJPT, GCIA, GSEC, CCSP, CCSK, AWS CSAA, AWS CCP, CEHv8, CHFIv8, ITIL-F, MS Cyber Security - USF, BSBA - UF, MSISA - WGU
    Currently Working On: Python, OSCP Prep
    Next Up:​ OSCP
    Studying:​ Code Academy (Python), Bash Scripting, Virtual Hacking Lab Coursework
  • JasminLandryJasminLandry Posts: 601Member
    Congrats on the pass!

  • quogue66quogue66 GREM GPEN GCIA GSEC GCFE GCFA GCIH GASF GSE (multiple choice) Posts: 157Member ■■■□□□□□□□
    kMastaFlash wrote: »
    So question to anyone who got the GPEN recently or anyone who has a GIAC cert, how long did it take for GIAC to update the directory with your name and to get the digital badge and getting your certificate? I also was wondering if anyone can answer if it is ok to use the GPEN logo as my avatar on the site without breaking any logo terms? I didn't see anything on the site saying I can't!

    Congrats...I think I received mine within 2-3 days
  • yoba222yoba222 Posts: 956Member ■■■■■■□□□□
    Nice! !
    Obtained: A+ | Network+ | Security+ | CySA+ | PenTest+ | CAPM | eJPT | CCNA R&S | CCNA CyberOps | GCIH | LFCS
    2019: Virtual Hacking Labs then OSCP
  • teawreckzteawreckz Posts: 6Member ■□□□□□□□□□
    Congrats! I'll be saving these points for once I get to GPEN. I'm finishing up the GSEC bootcamp On-demand. Dr. Cole is awesome at breaking things down.

    Would you be able to do a snapshot of the formatting for the index? Or maybe a template?
  • Mike7Mike7 Posts: 1,062Member ■■■■□□□□□□
    kMastaFlash wrote: »
    So question to anyone who got the GPEN recently or anyone who has a GIAC cert, how long did it take for GIAC to update the directory with your name and to get the digital badge and getting your certificate?

    Congrats! GIAC sent the "exam passed, congrats!" email within an hour of finishing the exam followed by digital badge email a day later. You can look for your digital badge in the GIAC portal
  • JasperSKJasperSK Posts: 1Registered Users ■□□□□□□□□□
    Hi

    I just failed my gpen exam and i decided to retake the exam, can you share some tips for me ?
  • ben128ben128 Posts: 8Member ■□□□□□□□□□
    I also want to know. My account don't have enough permission to PM kMastaFlash.
  • khiemkpkhiemkp Posts: 32Member ■■□□□□□□□□
    Congratulations!
  • InCryptableInCryptable Posts: 36Member ■■□□□□□□□□
    kMastaFlash wrote: »
    Well I passed my GPEN exam yesterday!!! :) icon_cheers.gificon_cool.gif 81%

    ...here are my tips:

    1. Solid Index is key. Make it searchable and easy to use. Best advice for this, alphabetize your index (obvious but helpful) and have a small definition followed by page number. (Keyword,Definition,Pagenumber) Can't stress enough how helpful it was because you won't have time to read it in the book!! If anyone wants to see a small sample of my index, PM me and I can give you a small sample to give you jump start!

    I too would be interested in seeing a sample of your index. Thanks for the other tips as well.
  • mad23e_mariusmad23e_marius Posts: 1Registered Users ■□□□□□□□□□
    Congratulations! Could you please provide me your index. Thanks !
  • InCryptableInCryptable Posts: 36Member ■■□□□□□□□□
    I don't think we are going to get a sample of his/her GPEN index...I still have not heard anything.
  • TechGromitTechGromit A+, N+, GSEC, GCIH, GREM, Ontario, NY Posts: 1,888Member ■■■■■■■□□□
    Congratulations. Did you index include the format of commands and what all the switches mean. Every time I took a GIAC exam, they always seemed to ask me about a command parameter switch I didn't know and I’d bet you $100 it wasn’t in the books. I started adding command format and switches into my last index, did you have anything similar? I can’t say I attempted the GPEN yet, but I plan on taking it in the future.
    Still searching for the corner in a round room.
  • kMastaFlashkMastaFlash Posts: 1,012Member ■■■■□□□□□□
    Sorry for the delay with this. I decided to make it easier for everyone by inserting an image sample of my GPEN index. I hope this provides a sample layout of how to set yours up.
    2018: CCSK
    2019: CWSP,Cloud+,Project+,CASP,PenTest+,CWNA,CCNA Security,GXPN,GREM
    2021: LPIC-2,JNCIS-ENT,eLearnSecurity Courses
  • StonerJerryStonerJerry Posts: 1Registered Users ■□□□□□□□□□
    Sorry to be tardy to the party but how did you go about using a file as an index? Everything I just experienced with my GSEC certification led me to believe it had to be written indexes. Congratulations on passing! I just signed up for a OnDemand SEC560 to follow up my GSEC and it seems like an exciting course from everything I've read.
  • TechGromitTechGromit A+, N+, GSEC, GCIH, GREM, Ontario, NY Posts: 1,888Member ■■■■■■■□□□
    StonerJerry wrote: »
    Sorry to be tardy to the party but how did you go about using a file as an index? Everything I just experienced with my GSEC certification led me to believe it had to be written indexes. Congratulations on passing! I just signed up for a OnDemand SEC560 to follow up my GSEC and it seems like an exciting course from everything I've read.

    I think your taking the word "written" too literal. You don't have to write everything out by hand, you can create your spreadsheets, notes, etc on a computer and Print them out to bring with you. The only restriction is what you bring with you must be written/typed/scribbled on Paper, Parchment or stone tablets (And of course your course books), no pen/pencil/marker/quill or hammer/chisel (for those stone tablets) allowed. Also I believe you have to be able to carry in what you bring, you can use a box if you want, but no hand truck allowed. (Better leave those stone tablets home).
    Still searching for the corner in a round room.
  • Adel_SaddahAdel_Saddah Posts: 2Registered Users ■□□□□□□□□□
    Congrats.. Can you send me your index? I know I have to do it myself but it will be helpful to see yours as well..
  • TechGromitTechGromit A+, N+, GSEC, GCIH, GREM, Ontario, NY Posts: 1,888Member ■■■■■■■□□□
    And a copy of your cert too, I know I have to get my own, but a photocopy of yours with the name whited out be oh so helpful. icon_twisted.gif
    Still searching for the corner in a round room.
  • billowsbillows Posts: 12Member ■□□□□□□□□□
    Congrats! GPEN is also one of my targets to achieve this year or early next year
  • DonTicoDonTico Posts: 11Registered Users ■□□□□□□□□□
    CONGRATS and thanks for the tips
  • IntrusionNewbIntrusionNewb Posts: 20Registered Users ■□□□□□□□□□
    Congrats on the pass.
  • brusellbrusell Posts: 7Member ■□□□□□□□□□
    Hi kMastaFlash,
    I'm currently preparing myself by selfstudy for GPEN exam (from official training books).
    Do you mind to share with me few info how exactly exam is organized?


    Many thanks.
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