My experience as SANS Facilitator (LDR521)

2024-10-12 19:29:00

Five and a half years ago I took my first SANS training, SEC566, which I worked as so-called Facilitator. This week I repeated the experience, for a newly updated training: LDR521 - Security culture for leaders. I will discuss the course in a separate post.

My experience as Facilitator in the SANS Work Study program echoes my 2019 trek: highly positive. 

To remind you of what the Work Study program entails: if accepted by SANS as "Facilitator", you will participate in a SANS training while at the same time helping SANS staff run a successful event. Primarily you are there to help your teacher with things they may need (call it a gopher, a runner, an errand person).

Secondarily you will also help classmates with questions and you may end up helping them setup their lab system. Aside from that: you act as SANS rep to welcome all guests during breaks, to ensure everyone's feeling good and happy.  

In return, you gain a big fat discount on your training package. You are also given access to the on-demand class and (if applicable) you receive an exam voucher.

In my case, LDR521 does not include an exam, so I got the training, the on-demand and access to NetWars Core. Normally that would rack up a bill of around €12.000. As Facilitator, my company paid €2.300 on the final bill. 

As I said: big fat discount. 

What did I do for this?

• Sunday before class, from 10:00 - 15:00 I worked with the other Facilitators and the SANS crew to get all the training rooms setup. 
• Monday through Friday I arrive an hour before class to ensure the classrooms are tidy and that we welcome all the guests.
• During class I ensure my trainer is comfortable and has all they need.
• Over breaks I ensure the classroom remains clean and comfortable. I help students with any practical SANS questions they may have. 
• At the end of the day I again ensure the classroom is clean and tidy.

Since five years ago, a number of things have improved! Changes from 2019:

• We now use a private Slack channel for all operations-comms. Much better than WhatsApp.
• All the AV-setup is handled by two on-site techs (Ben and Steve are excellent!).
• All the desks, sets and power setup is handled by the hotel. 
• No more hours of gaffer-taping cables; it's already been handled for us. 

Now, after the full week I am absolutely drained. 

Twenty years ago, I described PCD: post-convention depression, after coming home from AnimeCon. Coming home after a week of SANS is very similar! My brain is mush, my social battery is dead and the sudden switch back from "150 cool people all working hard at learning" to "my usual routine" is harsh. 

Working with my co-Facilitators was a joy: they were a great group of people, I thoroughly enjoyed their company. My class was good, properly "drinking from the firehose" as is behooves SANS. The legwork and social interactions left pretty tired by Thursday already! 

Is it worth it? Absolutely. Working with these awesome people is the best, the discount is just a bonus. I'm shooting for LDR512 or LDR514 in May. 

kilala.nl tags: studies,

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