GPEN vs CRTP
| GPEN GIAC (SANS) | CRTP Altered Security | |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Offensive · Intermediate | Offensive · Intermediate |
| Price | $979 Exam attempt only; the SANS SEC560 course costs over USD 8,000. | $249 Course plus 30-day lab with one exam attempt. |
| Study hours | 80–120 h | 40–80 h |
| Real difficulty | ●●●○○ | ●●●○○ |
| Exam | Multiple choice Length: 3 h | Hands-on Length: 24 h |
| Validity | 4 years (credits + fee) | Does not expire |
| Job ads in United States | – | – |
| Avg. salary | – | – |
| Index | – | – |
| Summary | Well respected in large companies and the public sector, usually paid by the employer together with the SANS course. Open-book exam with lab questions. | Focused on attacking Active Directory from Windows. Cheap and very hands-on; a good complement to OSCP or PNPT. |
Highlighted: the best in that row.