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AWS Certified Security Specialty Quick Facts
The AWS Certified Security Specialty certification opens doors for professionals ready to master advanced cloud security skills. This overview provides the clarity and guidance you need to focus your study with confidence and purpose.
How does the AWS Certified Security Specialty help validate your expertise?
The AWS Certified Security Specialty demonstrates deep expertise in securing workloads, identities, data, and governance within AWS environments. It’s ideal for cloud security professionals, architects, and engineers who want to showcase their ability to implement advanced protections, respond to incidents effectively, and design secure infrastructures. By covering everything from threat detection to compliance evaluation, this certification ensures you can confidently safeguard organizations at scale while aligning with AWS best practices.
Who should consider earning the AWS Certified Security Specialty certification?
The AWS Certified Security Specialty certification (SCS-C02) is designed for IT professionals who want to validate their advanced expertise in securing workloads and designing robust architectures on AWS. This certification is ideal for individuals currently working in roles such as cloud security engineers, security architects, DevSecOps engineers, compliance specialists, and IT professionals looking to specialize in AWS cloud security.
If you have at least five years of IT security experience and two or more years of hands-on experience securing AWS workloads, this certification is an excellent way to demonstrate your ability to apply security best practices, manage risks, and build trust with stakeholders and customers.
What jobs or roles can this AWS security certification help me qualify for?
Achieving this certification opens the door to a range of specialized cloud and security positions. Employers actively look for this credential when filling security-focused roles, including:
- Cloud Security Engineer
- Security Architect
- AWS Security Specialist
- DevSecOps Engineer
- Cloud Compliance Analyst
- Cybersecurity Consultant with AWS focus
Having this certification also increases your credibility across broader cloud roles like Solutions Architect or Site Reliability Engineer. It demonstrates your ability to apply security-first principles that are essential in industries that prioritize regulatory compliance and data protection.
Which version of the AWS Certified Security Specialty exam is current?
The latest version of this exam is identified by the exam code SCS-C02. This version is updated to reflect the newest AWS services and best practices for cloud security. When preparing, always make sure you are studying materials specific to SCS-C02 so you feel confident that the content aligns with what you’ll experience on exam day.
How much does it cost to take the AWS Certified Security Specialty exam?
The exam fee is 300 USD, which is standard for AWS Specialty-level certifications. Keep in mind that applicable taxes or exchange rates may vary by country. If you already hold an active AWS Certification, you can also take advantage of a 50% discount voucher toward this exam. This makes it easier to continue your certification journey without as much financial commitment.
How long is the AWS Certified Security Specialty (SCS-C02) exam?
The exam duration is 170 minutes. This gives you almost three hours to carefully read through each question, analyze scenario-based details, and provide the best possible answers. Many test-takers find this time frame sufficient when they pace themselves properly throughout the multiple-choice and multiple-response questions.
How many questions are on this certification exam?
You will encounter 65 questions in total. These include both multiple choice (one correct answer) and multiple response (two or more correct answers). Out of the 65, only 50 are scored, while 15 are unscored trial questions used by AWS for exam development. Since unscored questions are not marked, treat every question seriously.
What is the required passing score for the AWS Certified Security Specialty exam?
To pass this certification exam, you need a scaled score of 750 out of 1000. AWS uses a compensatory scoring model, which means you do not have to pass each section individually. Instead, your overall performance across all domains determines your success. This allows you to shine in your stronger areas while balancing out weaker sections.
What languages is the AWS Certified Security Specialty (SCS-C02) exam offered in?
The exam is available in multiple languages to support professionals around the globe. You can take it in:
- English
- Japanese
- Korean
- Simplified Chinese
- Portuguese (Brazil)
- Spanish (Latin America)
AWS is continually expanding language accessibility to allow more people worldwide to demonstrate their skills.
What topics and domains will the exam cover?
The exam blueprint includes six weighted domains. Each domain validates specific knowledge and skills crucial for securing AWS workloads:
- Threat Detection and Incident Response (14%)
- Security Logging and Monitoring (18%)
- Infrastructure Security (20%)
- Identity and Access Management (16%)
- Data Protection (18%)
- Management and Security Governance (14%)
Together, these domains ensure you demonstrate mastery over detection, prevention, response, governance, monitoring, and protection strategies aligned with AWS best practices.
Are there any prerequisites before taking the AWS Certified Security Specialty exam?
There are no mandatory prerequisites. However, AWS recommends at least:
- 5+ years of IT security experience
- 2+ years of hands-on AWS security workload experience
- Strong familiarity with encryption, IAM, secure network architectures, incident response, and governance models
Some candidates benefit from first achieving AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Associate or Professional, but this is not required.
What prior knowledge or skills will help me succeed?
You should be comfortable with the AWS shared responsibility model, cryptography and key management, designing resilient architectures, vulnerability management, multi-account governance, and logging strategies.
Hands-on knowledge of services like GuardDuty, Security Hub, Macie, CloudTrail, IAM, AWS Config, KMS, and WAF is key, since these are directly tested. Real-world experience applying tools to monitor, detect, and remediate security incidents is invaluable.
How is the AWS Certified Security Specialty exam scored?
Your exam results are reported as a scaled score between 100 and 1000. The minimum passing score is 750. While some exam sections carry more weight than others, you only need to pass overall, not on each domain individually. AWS also provides a section-level score breakdown to guide future study if you need to improve in certain domains.
Where can I take the AWS Certified Security Specialty exam?
You can choose between:
- Online proctored delivery (take from home or office through Pearson VUE, requires webcam and strong internet connection).
- Testing centers (Pearson VUE centers worldwide that provide a professional test-taking setup).
Both options offer the same testing experience, so you can choose whichever is most convenient.
How long is this certification valid once earned?
Your AWS Certified Security Specialty credential is valid for 3 years. To maintain your certification status, you’ll need to retake the current version of the exam or choose another AWS certification at the same or higher level before it expires.
What makes this certification valuable in the job market?
This certification is recognized globally as one of the highest-paying technical certifications in the world. Employers value it because it proves that you can design, secure, and monitor complex AWS environments with best-in-class expertise. In fact, demand for roles requiring this certification continues to grow rapidly, making it an investment with proven career returns.
What study resources are best for preparing?
There are multiple resources that can set you up for success:
- AWS Skill Builder – digital courses, exam prep plans, and labs
- AWS Builder Labs & Jam Sessions – hands-on learning environments
- AWS Whitepapers & Security Documentation – essential for deep AWS understanding
- Community-driven study groups & forums for peer discussions
- High-quality practice questions – boost readiness with realistic AWS Certified Security Specialty practice exams that mirror the exam experience and include detailed explanations
Combining hands-on labs with study materials makes preparation more engaging and effective.
What is the exam format like?
Expect a mix of scenario-based questions that test theoretical knowledge and practical application. You’ll see multiple-choice questions (one correct answer) as well as multiple-response questions (several correct answers). These often involve analyzing a real-world security challenge, then selecting the best AWS solution or design strategy.
What are common mistakes to avoid during preparation?
Some candidates make the mistake of focusing only on IAM policies or encryption while neglecting services like GuardDuty, Security Hub, or Macie. Another common gap is not practicing with logging and monitoring tools like CloudWatch, CloudTrail, and VPC Flow Logs. Finally, skipping hands-on experience can hold you back since the exam emphasizes real-world application, not just theory.
Can I use AWS Free Tier to practice for this certification?
Yes, and it is highly recommended. The AWS Free Tier allows you to simulate incident responses, deploy IAM policies, test WAF rules, and generate logs in a safe environment. Even setting up simple monitoring alerts or encryption policies in Free Tier can help reinforce key concepts that appear on the exam.
What certification paths are recommended before or after SCS-C02?
While not required, many candidates first earn AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Associate or Professional before pursuing this exam. After earning the AWS Certified Security Specialty, natural next steps include:
- AWS Certified DevOps Engineer - Professional for automation and operations roles
- AWS Certified Advanced Networking - Specialty for deeper expertise in networking and security connectivity
These certifications build on your security foundation and unlock even more career potential.
How do I schedule the AWS Certified Security Specialty exam?
To schedule:
- Sign in to your AWS Certification Account
- Select the AWS Certified Security Specialty (SCS-C02) exam
- Choose whether to test online or at a Pearson VUE center
- Pick your date and time
- Complete payment and confirm
You can find the official registration page at the AWS Certified Security Specialty certification site.
Final thoughts on earning the AWS Certified Security Specialty certification
The AWS Certified Security Specialty certification is not just a credential, it is a professional milestone that proves your ability to secure and protect complex AWS environments. Security skills are among the most sought after in today’s cloud-first landscape, and this certification showcases your expertise at the highest level. By investing in your preparation, balancing theory with hands-on practice, and leveraging the right study tools, you can achieve this prestigious certification and open doors to some of the most rewarding cloud security roles available today.
