SANS Institute wins IT Security-related Training Program category

For more than 30 years the SANS Institute has been training cybersecurity professionals and corporate end-users with practitioner-led training and hands-on training labs that mirror real-world environments across defensive, offensive and governance domains.

This year they are honored as the winner of the 2026 SC Award for the best IT Security-related Training Program.

Their courses and curriculums go beyond theory, enabling learners to practice with tools, processes and situations before facing on-the-job scenarios and tasks, accelerating job readiness and confidence. In addition, SANS Institute Cyber Ranges and NetWars simulations provide safe, repeatable practice for individuals and teams, advancing them from theoretical understanding to practical execution through realistic situations.

This combination of deep technical instruction, applied learning and performance validation ensures professionals are equipped to meet today’s complex security requirements challenges effectively and efficiently.

The SANS Institute training stands apart through Instructor-authored, practitioner-taught content combined with immersive, hands-on labs that replicate real-world enterprise environments. Learners build, break, detect and respond in scenarios that mirror actual constraints and tooling, reinforcing applied skills through repeated practice. This approach ensures professionals gain practical experience before facing on-the-job realities.

SANS offers end-to-end learning pathways by tightly coupling courses with GIAC’s rigorous certification exams, including CyberLive performance-based testing.

SC Media judge Patrick O’Guinn Sr., principal of the O’Guinn Law Firm, agreed. The integration of theory and practice is a “key differentiator.” The strength [of this program] is “the hands-on lab model led by practitioners, culminating in rigorous GIAC certification exams.”