SANS Cyber Defense Initiative
Six days of hands-on SANS courses plus NetWars; analysts, engineers and threat researchers train alongside peers.
- 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
- Organizer
- SANS Institute
- 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 89,532
- Typical posted salary
- $184,000 a year (middle half $131,000 to $234,000)
- Entry or early-career level
- 24% of openings
- Employment, year over year
- −4.2% in information, the closest BLS sector
Source: NextChapter job data, jobs verified live in the last 7 days.
Source: NextChapter job data: salary ranges employers posted, midpoint of each range, 2,228 of the newest 5,000 verified open jobs.
Source: NextChapter job data: level read from the full posting, newest 5,000 verified open jobs.
Source: BLS Current Employment Statistics, seasonally adjusted payroll employment, September 2026.
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.
- Arctic Wolf Speaking
- Context Security Consulting Speaking
- Dragos, Inc. Speaking
- FBI Speaking
- Fortinet Speaking
- MITRE Speaking
- SANS Institute Speaking
- Secured IT Solutions Speaking
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.
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