SOC Class Build Course Description

"The course was an enriching learning experience. I left with a practical toolkit of skills that I could confidently apply. Chris is an engaging instructor and his experience and knowledge were evident in how generously he shared insights and answered questions."

Christopher Crowley's training was a pivotal moment for SMT Group. His expertise and tailored approach have not only resonated with our team but also significantly contributed to our success across the Levant and Gulf regions. Since then, our cyber fusion center, offering over 37 cutting-edge services and products, has become a cornerstone in the cybersecurity landscape. Serving key telecom providers and numerous private sector entities, our expansion into markets like Jordan, Iraq, Kuwait, Dubai, and Saudi Arabia, with imminent plans for Kenya, stands as a testament to the solid foundation laid by Chris's top-notch training. SMT Group's trajectory of growth and innovation continues to be fueled by the valuable insights and skills gained from his training.

Dr. Samir Tahoun SMT Group

I have been a student on a course taught by you and teach assistant at events where you have taught. You have an amazing and broad technical knowledge which is combined with a deep understanding of security and its role in the business. You have an outstanding ability to convey complicated technical information to both technical and non-technical audiances. You manage audiences ranging from entry level technical security personnel to executives and CISOs with ease. Your advice and guidance provides superb, cost-effective solutions to real world problems. I have consistently been impressed with your professionalism and knowledge. It was an genuine pleasure to be a student and I wouldn’t hesistate to recommend you to others.

Taz Wake, Security Director Halkyn Consulting Ltd

It's is rare that you come across someone with such exceptional talent and professionalism as Chris. I've had the pleasure of working with Chris for many years as a peer. His ability to breakdown complex challenges in an approachable format makes him an expert in delivering solutions. I highly recommend Chris as an asset to help solve the problems we face in protecting our critical systems against cyber attacks.

Joe Vest, Author Red Team Development and Operations

Myself and my staff have had the pleasure of attending training and conferences hosted by Chris. He has a font of knowledge and experience pertaining to multiple domains of information security/security operations. I will continue to recommend my staff and my peers in industry to seek out Chris' training and advice wherever they can get it, via SANS, AND, or directly from Chris.

Nathan Clarke - Advanced SOC Manager at Verizon Australia

As for me, Mr. Crowley's main qualities are sensitivity, care, understanding of business processes, and patience. I had a luck to learn mobile application security from him at SEC575 Sans classes. When you talk with Christopher, it feels like he knows exact answers on questions that you kept inside yourself for a long long time, and you want work hard to learn his wisdom. Furthermore, Christopher is proactive in making people's lives better. While being in classes, I asked a lot of questions and got a lot of answers, and he answered me very patiently, even if my questions are unnecessary or irrelevant. Mr. Crowley's answers are specific, short, deep, and with strict footing on business. He speaks very accurately. Therefore I definitely recommend Christopher Crowley as a well-qualified teacher, and a solid security expert, which level of solidity I cannot even feel, like a grain of sand cannot understand the weight of a mountain.

Simon Lyhin, Deloitte Ukraine

I really recommend this training not only for the ones who start to build the security operations center but also for those who want to check whether the fundamentals, best practises are implemented and followed. It really gives the holistic view for all the activities you need to do, to deliver proper SOC services. Very often it raises the question “is this the best solution for our SOC” pointing out that there are many ways to deliver SOC services depending on the business needs, resources and time. If you are technical specialist, security auditor or security manager and want learn how to deliver SOC services I really recommend this class.

SOC Manager/utility provider Europe

One of the huge things that I took out of the class was the concept of a maturity model and a way to assess the maturity of an organization's security operations using the free open-source SOC-CMM that was introduced. Since taking the class under the SANS umbrella in the summer of 2018 at the DFIR Summit, I have been utilizing and following the updates to the SOC-CMM ever since using it especially in an ISAC that my company belongs to. Besides the SOC-CMM, I have been using other points from the class such as the section on metrics when talking to other members companies in the ISAC and discussing ways to assess and mature their operations. This has been a stepping stone to help prepare our security operations for the upcoming DoD CMMC initiative for contractors and educate our peers within the ISAC. Please keep up the great work!

US Defense Industrial Base (USDIB) and Logistics Contractor

I wanted to let you know that I was able to use material I learned from that class to propose to our upper management what a formalized security team could look like in our environment and some ways we could move forward with that. We are now making progress in making that happen. Thank you for all the work you put in to that class.

Clothing and Adventure Gear Manufacturer

You probably would not be surprised but I keep the books on my desk and every day find some minutes to list pages and read something. I replaced listening to music on my way home to audio from the course. The course as such became my new Bible and sometime I find it addictive. Thanks very much again for given such a valuable information in 5 days.

Global Manufacturer and Retailer

I share all of this only to make this point – never has a track been more relevant, timely, thorough, and pragmatic as I found the course to be. In my opinion, Chris (and I am quite sure an entire team of reviewers) has thought of, considered, and addressed every issue that I have encountered in my journey to standing up an internal SOC at my company.

Food and Beverage Conglomerate

I attended a fantastic course this month on Managing Security Operations taught by Chris Crowley . If you have anything to do with managing a SOC or your organization needs an idea of how to get to the next level...this is the course for you.

Medical Supplier and Innovator

Thanks for the excellent course in San Francisco...Btw, I appreciated how you quickly comprehended and translated specific feedback to general principles, when fielding questions in the class. That is a good skill.

US Department of Defense