GIAC Secure Software Programmer-.NET (GSSP-.NET)

Exam Overview

The GIAC Secure Software Programmer-.NET (GSSP-.NET) certification exam is designed for software developers who want to validate their knowledge and skills in secure .NET programming practices. This specialized certification focuses on identifying and mitigating security vulnerabilities in .NET applications, ensuring code is developed with security as a priority throughout the development lifecycle.

Exam Information

This certification focuses on practical security knowledge for .NET developers, addressing common vulnerabilities, secure coding standards, and best practices for developing robust .NET applications. The GSSP-.NET validates a programmer's ability to write secure code that can withstand various security threats and attacks in the .NET environment.

Key Topics Covered

.NET security architecture and mechanisms
Common security vulnerabilities in .NET applications
Secure coding practices and standards in C# and VB.NET
Input validation and output encoding
Authentication and authorization implementation
Secure session management
Cryptography in .NET Framework
Secure configuration and deployment
Security testing for .NET applications
Secure ASP.NET development

Target Audience

This exam is ideal for:

.NET developers and programmers
Application security professionals working with Microsoft technologies
Software architects in .NET environments
Quality assurance specialists focusing on security
DevSecOps engineers working with .NET codebases
Security consultants specializing in .NET code review

Exam Format

Multiple-choice and scenario-based questions
Approximately 75-115 questions
Time limit: 3 hours
Passing score: 70% (typically)
Proctored examination environment

Skills Measured

.NET Security Fundamentals (15-20%)

Understand .NET security architecture
Implement Code Access Security (CAS)
Apply principle of least privilege
Utilize .NET security APIs
Handle sensitive data securely

Vulnerability Prevention (25-30%)

Prevent SQL injection and other injection flaws
Mitigate Cross-Site Scripting (XSS)
Address Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF)
Prevent XML-based attacks
Implement proper error handling and exception management

Secure Authentication and Authorization (20-25%)

Implement secure authentication mechanisms
Apply role-based and claims-based access control
Secure session management in ASP.NET
Protect credentials and tokens
Implement secure identity management

Cryptography in .NET (15-20%)

Utilize .NET Cryptography classes
Implement proper key management
Apply encryption and decryption techniques
Secure data in transit and at rest
Generate secure random numbers

Secure .NET Application Development (15-20%)

Follow secure SDLC practices for .NET
Implement secure configuration
Apply strong naming and assembly security
Perform secure logging
Utilize security testing tools for .NET

Preparation Resources

SANS courses (particularly SEC542)
GIAC study materials and practice tests
OWASP .NET security resources
Microsoft security documentation
Hands-on secure coding labs
.NET security testing tools