# Cyber Defense & SOC Analyst Certificate Program (Self-Paced)

Canonical URL: <https://www.graduateschool.edu/certificates/cyber-defense-and-soc-analyst-certificate-program-self-paced>

## Overview

This leads to the complete federal security operations credential and prepares you for Federal SOC Analyst, Detection Engineer, and threat hunter roles, and for CompTIA CySA+ and the GIAC GCIH and GMON credentials. Learners start with how a federal SOC actually functions, its roles, workflows, tooling, and the standards it answers to, then move into responding when something is found, and finish by learning to go looking before an alert fires.

The progression is deliberate: monitoring and triage first, response second, and hunting last, because hunting is only meaningful once you know what normal looks like and what happens when you find something. Aligns to NIST SP 800-61 Rev 3, SP 800-53 RA-10, the CSF 2.0 Detect and Respond outcomes, and the DoD Diamond Model.

## What you'll learn

- Operate effectively inside a federal SOC from day one
- Triage, escalate, and document alerts to a federal standard
- Take an incident from detection through containment, recovery and reporting
- Run proactive hunts rather than waiting for alerts
- Convert what a hunt finds into detections that keep working

## Curriculum
1. **SOC Foundations for Federal Cyber Defense and Operations Course (Self-Paced)**
2. **Federal Incident Response for Agency Practitioners Course (Self-Paced)**
3. **Threat Hunting and Detection Engineering Course (Self-Paced)**

## Instructors

### Wes Bryan — Instructor

Wes Bryan resides in Gainesville, Florida, and has built his career around technology, education, and helping others understand complex subjects. He values continuous learning, clear communication, and practical problem-solving. Outside of work, Wesley enjoys running, hiking, fishing, and spending time outdoors. He also has a strong interest in music and literature, enjoys reading both fiction and nonfiction, as well as playing guitar.

### Chuck Moore — Instructor

With more than 25 years of experience in IT and cybersecurity, Chuck has built a career on a strong foundation in security, networking, help desk operations, and technical training. He has helped organizations strengthen their security posture by identifying vulnerabilities, conducting threat assessments, implementing security controls, and ensuring compliance with industry standards. Combining extensive technical expertise with a passion for education, Chuck equips professionals with the knowledge and practical skills needed to recognize risks and respond effectively.

## Pricing

**Tuition:** $2699