🕵️ OSINT Certification · 2025

GIAC Open Source Intelligence Certification (GOSI)

Master the methodology and tradecraft of open source intelligence investigations. GOSI validates a strong foundation in OSINT frameworks, data collection, target analysis, dark web harvesting, and operational security — equipping analysts to conduct professional, documented investigations across individuals, organisations, networks, and infrastructure using publicly available sources.

OSINT Methodology Target Analysis Dark Web OpSec Business Investigation People Investigation Network OSINT

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OSINT Methodology & FrameworksGoals, investigation process, and documentation standards

Investigating Businesses & PeoplePII collection, org profiling, breach data, and social media

Network Data & Dark Web HarvestingDomain/IP analysis, certificates, and dark web sources

Privacy & Operational SecurityMinimising investigator exposure and managing OSINT risk

Exam Questions

2 hrs

Duration

69%

Passing Score

GIAC

Certified

Why It's Valuable

OSINT Is the Intelligence Discipline of the Modern Internet

Public data is a powerful investigative resource — but only when used with proper methodology, discipline, and operational security. GOSI certifies professionals who can conduct structured, defensible OSINT investigations across the full spectrum of modern intelligence sources.

Trending

Universal

OSINT Skills Apply Across Security, Legal, and Intelligence Roles

From IR analysts to private investigators to HR professionals, structured OSINT methodology is valuable in any role that requires research, due diligence, or fact-finding from public sources.

Dark Web

Includes Dark Web Collection and Analysis Techniques

GOSI covers harvesting data from the dark web — a capability that is increasingly essential for threat intelligence, fraud investigation, and understanding criminal infrastructure targeting organisations.

Trending

OpSec

Operational Security for Investigators Is a Core Skill

GOSI trains investigators to protect their own identity and exposure during investigations — a critical but often overlooked skill that prevents investigators from alerting targets.

Growing

Demand for OSINT Skills Is Rapidly Expanding

Security operations, red teams, fraud units, law enforcement, and intelligence agencies all require OSINT-trained analysts — and formal certification like GOSI increasingly validates this capability.

Course Content

Complete GOSI Curriculum

Click any module to expand and explore the topics covered in detail.

OSINT Methodology, Frameworks & Data Collection

5 Topics

Common goals and application of Open Source Intelligence across security, legal, and investigative contexts

Requirements for executing a fact-based investigation process supported by detailed documentation

Using search engines and simple automation to collect, process, and analyse data and metadata

Handling data and metadata of varying sizes and formats from diverse public sources

OSINT frameworks and toolsets: structuring a repeatable, defensible investigation workflow

Investigating Businesses & People

5 Topics

Collecting, analysing, and reporting on organisations using publicly available data and breach data

Identifying and assessing risk to an organisation through open source reconnaissance

Collecting personally identifiable information of individuals using public data and social media

Social media platform intelligence: profiling targets through publicly posted activity and connections

Documenting and reporting findings from business and individual OSINT investigations

Network Data, Infrastructure Analysis & Dark Web

5 Topics

Discovering and analysing publicly available information about domains, IP addresses, and certificates

Network infrastructure OSINT: mapping an organisation's internet-facing attack surface

Dark web sources and techniques for collecting intelligence from hidden services and forums

Analysing network metadata and passive DNS data to identify infrastructure patterns

Certificate transparency logs, WHOIS, Shodan, and other network intelligence sources

Privacy, Operational Security & Reporting

5 Topics

Identifying confidentiality and integrity risks while conducting OSINT investigations

Implementing operational security best practices to minimise investigator exposure and vulnerability

Avoiding target alerting and digital footprinting during covert OSINT collection operations

Structuring OSINT investigation reports for legal proceedings, corporate decision-making, and IR teams

Maintaining chain of custody and evidential standards for OSINT-derived intelligence

FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the GIAC Open Source Intelligence (GOSI) certification?

GOSI confirms that practitioners have a strong foundation in OSINT methodologies and frameworks and are well-versed in data collection, reporting, and analysing targets. GOSI-certified professionals can conduct professional, structured investigations using publicly available information from the surface web, social media, network infrastructure, and the dark web.

What are the GOSI exam requirements?

The GOSI exam consists of 75 questions, is web-based and proctored, has a 2-hour time limit, and requires a minimum passing score of 69%. Proctoring is available via ProctorU (remote) or PearsonVUE (onsite).

What topics does GOSI cover?

GOSI covers OSINT methodology and frameworks, investigating businesses using public data and breach data, investigating people using PII and social media sources, network data and infrastructure analysis (domains, IPs, certificates), dark web intelligence collection, searching and collecting data with automation, privacy considerations, and operational security for investigators.

Who should take GOSI?

GOSI has an unusually broad audience: cyber incident responders, DFIR analysts, security analysts, penetration testers, social engineers, law enforcement officers, intelligence personnel, recruiters, private investigators, insurance investigators, HR professionals, and researchers — anyone who uses public information sources in their professional work.

Why is operational security important in OSINT investigations?

Without proper OpSec, investigators can inadvertently alert targets, expose their identity, or contaminate the investigation. GOSI covers techniques to conduct covert collection operations while minimising your digital footprint — a critical discipline that separates professional investigators from amateur searchers.

Does GOSI cover dark web intelligence?

Yes — GOSI includes techniques for harvesting data from dark web sources, which is increasingly relevant for threat intelligence, fraud investigation, tracking criminal infrastructure, and monitoring data breach markets for corporate intelligence purposes.

Master Open Source Intelligence with GOSI

Join Zetlan Technologies' GOSI programme and build the structured OSINT methodology that professional investigators, security analysts, and intelligence practitioners rely on. Earn your GIAC certification and turn publicly available data into actionable intelligence.

GIAC Open Source Intelligence Certification (GOSI)

OSINT Is the Intelligence Discipline of the Modern Internet

GOSI Exam Details

Complete GOSI Curriculum

The Broadest Audience of Any GIAC Certification

Frequently Asked Questions

Master Open Source Intelligence with GOSI