Bethesda, MD, September 12, 2017 – SANS Institute, the global leader in information security training, today announced its return to Washington, D.C. December 12 – 19 with SANS Cyber Defense Initiative 2017. SANS Cyber Defense Initiative 2017 is one of SANS’ biggest training events of the year. The event features more than 35 information security courses, bonus evening discussions and multiple NetWars Challenges, including the Tournament of Champions event.

“The SANS Cyber Defense Initiative event is all about securing critically important systems around the country and around the world. That’s why it’s the perfect place to hold our biggest, most diverse NetWars events ever,” said Ed Skoudis (@edskoudis), SANS NetWars CyberCity Director and Faculty Fellow. “We’ll have three different versions of NetWars running simultaneously so participants can apply different skillsets in cyber defense, digital forensics, and core cyber security skills. We’ll also host a hundred champion NetWars players from around the world – the cream of the crop – in a Tournament of Champions face off to determine who is the best of the best.”

SANS Cyber Defense Initiative 2017 offers courses filled with dynamic content on the hottest information security issues covering such topics as cyber defense, penetration testing, ethical hacking, digital forensics, cloud security, management, and industrial controls system security. SEC503: Intrusion Detection In-Depth, SEC545: Cloud Security Architecture and Operations, SEC564: Red Team Operations and Threat Emulation and SEC542: Web App Penetration Testing and Ethical Hacking are just some of the courses offered.

In addition to SANS classroom training, attendees of SANS Cyber Defense Initiative 2017 can test their security skills at the Core NetWars Experience, DFIR NetWars Tournament, and the new Cyber Defense NetWars Tournament Dec. 17-18. Bonus evening discussions will round out the agenda.

To learn more about SANS Cyber Defense Initiative 2017 including a complete list of courses and details on bonus evening discussions, or to register, visit: www.sans.org/cyber-defense-initiative-2017