Failed a Cybersecurity Exam? Here’s What Happened Next

Why It Matters

The experience highlights how mentorship and recognized certifications can overcome setbacks, accelerating talent development in the high‑demand cybersecurity sector.

Key Takeaways

• SANS program demands three certifications within a year.
• Missed third exam by a few points, felt crushed.
• Mentorship and persistence helped retake and pass exam.
• Certification opened new career opportunities for cybersecurity professionals.
• Speaker now aims to mentor aspiring cybersecurity professionals.

Summary

The video chronicles a professional’s journey through the SANS cybersecurity certification track, a master‑level program that expects participants to earn three credentials within roughly twelve months. After breezing through the first two exams, the speaker fell short on the third by one or two points, describing the experience as crushing.

Key insights include the program’s rigorous timeline, the emotional impact of narrowly missing a pass mark, and the pivotal role of mentorship. SANS emphasizes that candidates need not arrive with deep technical backgrounds; instead, they value persistence and a willingness to learn. With guidance from mentors and a few extra months of study, the speaker retook the exam and achieved a high score.

Notable remarks such as “they’re not expecting you to come from a super technical background” and “we’re all behind you” illustrate the supportive culture. The speaker credits the network of peers and mentors for turning a setback into a career catalyst, ultimately enabling a transition into a more advanced cybersecurity role.

The story underscores how resilience, structured support, and recognized certifications can reshape career trajectories in a talent‑starved field. It also signals a commitment to “pay it forward,” as the speaker now seeks to mentor the next generation of cybersecurity talent.

Original Description

This is a real story from a SANS Cyber Academy alum who struggled early in cybersecurity training, narrowly missed passing an exam, and now works as a Cybersecurity Defense Consultant.

In this video, Brandon shares what it was like to go through an accelerated program, the challenges he faced, and how close he came to failing. He also explains how support from instructors and mentors helped him push through and ultimately succeed.

If you are wondering how hard cybersecurity training is or what happens if you fail an exam, this provides a clear and honest perspective on what it takes to keep going and build a career.

Today, he is focused on helping others break into cybersecurity and encouraging new students to stay committed and use the support available to them.

Start your cybersecurity journey: https://go.sans.org/zG3e6I

Interested in sponsoring training or partnering with SANS to develop cybersecurity talent?

Learn more: https://go.sans.org/1T18tX

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