SANS Institute’s LEAP program takes 50% off list price on its open-source intelligence and digital forensics courses, and it’s for law enforcement only: active-duty state or local officers, plus support staff whose unit is paying for the training. Firefighters, EMTs and paramedics aren’t named on the page.
SANS says it’s proud to support state, provincial and local law enforcement and the badged professionals behind them, especially those having a hard time funding their training. The page says the program helps law enforcement professionals reinforce their skills in digital forensics and incident response and learn the latest techniques for everyday investigations, so the courses lean toward casework rather than a general career change.
How To Get The SANS Institute First Responder Discount
- Confirm you qualify. You’re an active-duty state or local law enforcement professional, or a professional in support of state or local law enforcement whose unit is directly funding your training.
- Pick the class. The page asks for the course number or name and your delivery format, live or online.
- Have your full name and title ready, along with your department email address.
- Complete the LEAP Appreciation Program Submission Form on the page.
- Wait for SANS to contact you. The page says it sends a promotional code if all criteria have been met.
Who Qualifies, In SANS’s Words
The program page speaks only to law enforcement. It names active-duty state, local or provincial law enforcement professionals in North America, and professionals who support them when the unit you support is directly funding your training. Firefighters, EMS, dispatchers, retirees and volunteers aren’t named, and neither are family members. If you’re in one of those groups, the SANS partnership address on the page, [email protected], is where to ask whether anything fits.
What The Discount Covers And What It Leaves Out
The page says 50% off list price on all OSINT and DFIR courses offered live or online in North America, and on the annual DFIR Summit. The OSINT courses it names are SEC497, Practical Open-Source Intelligence, and SEC587, Advanced Open-Source Intelligence. The DFIR courses carry a FOR prefix, such as FOR498, Digital Acquisition and Rapid Triage Essentials, and FOR508, Advanced Incident Response, Threat Hunting, and Digital Forensics.
Several limits come with it:
- One seat per organization, and the number of seats per class event may be limited.
- Future events only.
- No combining it with other SANS promotions or discounts.
- No GIAC certifications and no bundled SANS offerings.
- North America only.
Two SANS Pages, Two Descriptions
The program page says OSINT and DFIR courses plus the DFIR Summit. SANS’s general FAQ describes a “Local Law 50” program that applies 50% off list price to DFIR courses, with a special discount code, and that entry doesn’t mention OSINT or the Summit. Go by the program page, and email SANS if you want a course the FAQ doesn’t list.
If Your Agency Is Buying
A separate SLTT Government program offers up to 50% off training vouchers, covering more than forensics and OSINT courses. It’s for government entities at the state, provincial, local, tribal and territorial levels, including their law enforcement personnel in the US and Canada, and the minimum purchase is three seats. The page says the biggest discounts come in two annual windows. Pass that section to your training officer.
Q&A
Q: Can a firefighter or paramedic use LEAP?
A: The page doesn’t name them. It describes law enforcement professionals and the people who support them.
Q: How much does LEAP take off?
A: The page says 50% off list price for OSINT and DFIR courses and the annual DFIR Summit.
Q: Do I get a code right away?
A: No. You submit the form, and SANS contacts you with a promotional code if all criteria have been met.
Q: Can I use it for a GIAC certification?
A: No. The page says it can’t be used for GIAC certifications or bundled offerings.
Q: Can it be combined with another SANS discount?
A: The page says it can’t be combined with any other SANS promotion or discount.
Q: Would a degree suit you better than a course?
A: If you’re weighing one, our Liberty University page is a good next stop.
More Information:
SANS can change its program, so read the page before you apply. More tech savings are collected in our tech discounts. For more options in this category, see How First Responders Can Save Thousands on College Tuition: The Best Schools Offering Tuition Discounts.
