☁️ AWS Certified Security – Specialty

🧠 1. Certification Name and Issuing Body

🧩 2. Certification Level and Type

  • Level: Intermediate to Advanced (intermediate if already familiar with AWS)

  • Type: Technical (Cloud Security – Defensive / Architectural)

📜 3. Purpose and Goals

  • What skills does it certify?
    Designing and implementing secure infrastructure in AWS, monitoring and responding to incidents, identity management, encryption, logging, and compliance in cloud-native environments

  • Target roles or profiles:
    Cloud Security Engineer, DevSecOps Engineer, Security Architect, Security Analyst (Cloud-focused)

  • Practical applications:
    Protecting cloud workloads, securing APIs and identities, configuring logging and alerting (SIEM), applying least privilege across AWS services

🎓 4. Prerequisites

  • Recommended prior certifications:
    AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate or equivalent hands-on AWS experience

  • Suggested experience:
    2–3 years of security experience with 1–2 years using AWS services

  • Required technical knowledge:
    IAM, VPCs, S3, KMS, CloudTrail, GuardDuty, AWS WAF, security groups, encryption, incident response in AWS

📚 5. Content and Curriculum

  • Key domains/modules:

    1. Incident Response

    2. Logging and Monitoring

    3. Infrastructure Security

    4. Identity and Access Management (IAM)

    5. Data Protection and Encryption

  • Technologies/tools:
    AWS IAM, KMS, CloudTrail, CloudWatch, Config, Security Hub, GuardDuty, Macie, WAF, Shield, Inspector

  • Framework mapping:
    AWS Well-Architected Framework (Security Pillar), NIST SP 800-53, CIS AWS Foundations Benchmark

🧪 6. Learning Approach

  • Style: Mixed (theory + hands-on, scenario-based)

  • Labs/environments: AWS Free Tier + sandbox labs via platforms

  • Materials:

    • AWS Skill Builder (free)

    • Udemy (e.g., Stéphane Maarek, Zeal Vora)

    • Tutorials Dojo practice exams

    • AWS Whitepapers (Security, IAM, Encryption)

  • Recommended platforms: ACloudGuru, Whizlabs, Tutorials Dojo, AWS Skill Builder, TryHackMe («AWS Cloud Security»)

📝 7. Exam Format and Details

  • Mode: Online proctored or in-person (Pearson VUE)

  • Duration: 170 minutes

  • Questions: 65 (multiple choice & multiple response)

  • Languages: English, Japanese, Korean, Simplified Chinese

  • Passing score: 750 / 1000

  • Retake policy: 14-day waiting period

  • Certification validity: 3 years

💰 8. Estimated Cost

  • Exam fee: $300 USD

  • Training cost: $20–$150 USD (for courses, practice tests)

  • Renewal cost: Retake exam after 3 years

🌍 9. Industry Recognition

  • Demand/popularity: Extremely high in cloud-native and hybrid environments

  • Organizations that value it: AWS customers, DevSecOps teams, MSSPs, financial and healthcare industries using AWS

  • Comparison:

    • More practical and platform-specific than generalist certs like CySA+

    • Complementary to vendor-neutral certs like CCSK or CCSP

    • More technical than SC-200 (focused on Microsoft)

💼 10. Career Opportunities

  • Job roles:
    Cloud Security Engineer, AWS Security Consultant, DevSecOps Analyst, Cloud Security Architect

  • Suggested paths:
    → AWS SAA → Security – Specialty → AWS Advanced Security Workshops
    → AWS Security + PNPT → Strong Blue/Red Cloud Defense Profile

💵 11. Average Salary

  • USA: $120,000–$150,000/year

  • Europe: €75,000–€100,000/year

  • Salary impact: High in cloud-native or regulated cloud environments

  • (Sources: PayScale, Cloud Academy, Global Knowledge Salary Reports)

📅 12. Renewal and Maintenance

  • Validity: 3 years

  • Renewal options:

    • Retake the latest version of the exam

    • Take a higher AWS certification (e.g., AWS Certified Security – Advanced, when available)

🧭 13. Final Recommendations

  • Ideal for:
    Security professionals working in AWS environments or DevOps engineers transitioning into security

  • When to pursue:
    After foundational AWS certs or cloud security experience; ideal before CCSK, CCSP, or vendor-neutral architecture roles

  • Tips:
    Practice configuring CloudTrail, IAM policies, and KMS encryption in a lab. Know how to analyze GuardDuty findings and respond to incidents.