The GDSA exam, officially titled GIAC Defensible Security Architect, is the GIAC exam you pass to earn the GIAC Defensible Security Architect (GDSA) certification, a credential at the Professional level. Passing it confirms the skills defined in the official exam outline, and it is associated with related credentials such as GIAC GSEC, GIAC GCIA, GIAC GCIH, GIAC GCED, SANS SEC530.

The GDSA exam includes 115 questions and gives you 180 minutes to finish them. That is a tight pace per question, so get used to reading each stem once, flagging anything uncertain, and moving on rather than getting stuck. Running timed practice tests in the Fast2test desktop or online test engine is the most reliable way to build that rhythm before exam day.

The passing score for the GDSA exam is 73%, and the official registration fee is $979 USD. Keep in mind that a failed attempt means paying $979 USD again in full to retake it, so book your slot only when your scores on Fast2test practice tests sit consistently above the passing line.

GIAC lists the following prerequisites or eligibility notes for the GDSA exam: No formal prerequisites required. Recommended 3–5 years of experience in security architecture or enterprise security engineering.. Requirements can change over time, so confirm the details on the official exam page at GIAC's official site before you register.

You can register for the GDSA exam through the official channels below:

• GIAC Certification Registration

The exam is delivered in the following format: Online proctored exam (remote proctoring or authorized testing delivery depending on GIAC policies). Choose a date that leaves you enough time to work through the full 184-question practice set first.

GIAC recommends the following training resources for GDSA candidates:

• SANS SEC530: Defensible Security Architecture

Official courses build the theory, and the 184 practice questions from Fast2test help you turn that theory into exam-ready speed and accuracy.

Yes. Fast2test offers a free PDF demo of the GDSA material, so you can check the question style and answer quality before purchasing. Every purchase also includes 365 days of free updates, and if your product expires you can extend the update service at a 50% discount from your member zone.

Your purchase is protected by a 100% Money Back Guarantee with clear conditions: if you take the corresponding GDSA exam within 60 days of purchase and do not pass, you can apply for a full refund. The candidate name must match the payer name, and you need to submit a scanned exam enrollment slip together with the official Score Report PDF within 2 days of taking the exam; claims are processed within 7 days. Sitting the exam within 3 days of purchase, downloading without taking the exam, free materials, and expired orders are not covered. If you would rather not take a refund, you can exchange your order for two free exam products of equal value and keep the update service on your original purchase.

Delivery is instant: your download links are emailed within one minute of payment, and you can also download directly from the website. If nothing arrives within 2 hours, contact customer service and check your spam folder. There is no limit on how many computers you can install the material on.

The GDSA exam blueprint is divided into 6 domains, starting with Enterprise Security Architecture; Cloud and Hybrid Security Architecture; Identity and Access Management (IAM). For the complete domain-by-domain breakdown, see the Exam Topics section above — it lists every topic the current outline covers.