☁️ ISC2 Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP)

🧠 1. Certification Name and Issuing Body

  • Full certification name: Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP)

  • Issuing organization: (ISC)² – International Information System Security Certification Consortium

  • Official website: https://www.isc2.org/Certifications/CCSP

🧩 2. Certification Level and Type

  • Level: Intermediate to Advanced (intermediate if already experienced in cybersecurity/cloud)

  • Type: Technical–Managerial Hybrid (Cloud Security Architecture / Governance / Risk Management)

📜 3. Purpose and Goals

  • What skills does it certify?
    Cloud security architecture, governance, compliance, data protection, risk management, legal and regulatory concerns, and identity & access controls across any cloud platform

  • Target roles or profiles:
    Cloud Security Architect, Compliance Officer, Risk Analyst, Cloud Governance Specialist, DevSecOps Lead

  • Practical applications:
    Designing secure multi-cloud systems, applying ISO/NIST controls, evaluating cloud service agreements, managing shared responsibility, supporting audits and regulatory compliance

🎓 4. Prerequisites

  • Recommended prior certifications:
    CISSP, GCLD, AWS/Azure Security, or equivalent knowledge

  • Required experience:

    • 5 years total IT experience

    • 3 years in cybersecurity, including 1 year in at least 1 CCSP domain

    • If no experience: you can take the exam and become an Associate of (ISC)²

  • Required technical knowledge:
    Cloud computing models (IaaS/PaaS/SaaS), IAM, encryption, virtualization, legal frameworks (GDPR, HIPAA, etc.)

📚 5. Content and Curriculum

  • Key domains/modules:

    1. Cloud Concepts, Architecture, and Design

    2. Cloud Data Security

    3. Cloud Platform & Infrastructure Security

    4. Cloud Application Security

    5. Cloud Security Operations

    6. Legal, Risk, and Compliance

  • Technologies/tools:
    Vendor-neutral (theoretical focus); includes AWS, Azure, GCP examples for context

  • Framework mapping:
    ISO/IEC 27017, NIST SP 800-53 & 800-144, CSA CCM, CIS Controls, GDPR, FedRAMP

🧪 6. Learning Approach

  • Style: Theoretical, scenario-based with practical implications

  • Labs/environments: Not included, but optional practice labs available via 3rd-party training

  • Materials:

    • Official (ISC)² CCSP CBK (Common Body of Knowledge)

    • CCSP Official Study Guide (Sybex)

    • Thor Teaches (Udemy), Boson, Study Notes and Theory, Mike Chapple resources

  • Recommended platforms: Skillset, Cybrary, Cloud Academy, LinkedIn Learning

📝 7. Exam Format and Details

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

  • Duration: 180 minutes

  • Questions: 125 multiple-choice questions

  • Languages: English, Japanese, Simplified Chinese, Korean

  • Passing score: 700 / 1000

  • Retake policy: 30-day wait after 1st fail, then 60 and 90 days

  • Certification validity: 3 years

💰 8. Estimated Cost

  • Exam fee: $599 USD

  • Training cost: $100–$1,500 USD depending on method (self-study vs instructor-led)

  • Annual maintenance fee: $125 USD

  • Renewal cost: Submit 90 CPE credits over 3 years

🌍 9. Industry Recognition

  • Demand/popularity: Very high—considered a global standard in cloud security governance and architecture

  • Organizations that value it: Fortune 500, financial services, healthcare, MSSPs, cloud consultancy firms

  • Comparison:

    • More theoretical and governance-heavy than AWS/Azure/GCP security certs

    • Stronger vendor-neutral alternative to GCLD, more advanced than CCSK

    • Complements CISSP for cloud-focused professionals

💼 10. Career Opportunities

  • Job roles:
    Cloud Security Architect, Cloud Governance Officer, Compliance Analyst, Security Consultant (multi-cloud)

  • Suggested paths:
    → CISSP → CCSP → SABSA / CCAK / CISM
    → CCSP + AWS Security = governance + technical blend

💵 11. Average Salary

  • USA: $125,000–$150,000/year

  • Europe: €80,000–€110,000/year

  • Salary impact: High in regulated sectors, cloud compliance, or architecture roles

  • (Sources: (ISC)² Cybersecurity Workforce Study, PayScale, LinkedIn)

📅 12. Renewal and Maintenance

  • Validity: 3 years

  • Renewal options:

    • Submit 90 Continuing Professional Education (CPE) credits

    • Pay $125 USD annual maintenance fee

    • Retake exam (optional)

🧭 13. Final Recommendations

  • Ideal for:
    Security professionals transitioning to cloud governance, architecture, or compliance, or managing multi-cloud strategies

  • When to pursue:
    After gaining hands-on cloud or cybersecurity experience (or CISSP/CySA+/GCLD)

  • Tips:
    Focus on understanding the shared responsibility model, risk frameworks (NIST, ISO), and data lifecycle protection. Use diagrams and mnemonics to master the 6 domains.