The AWS Certified Security - Specialty exam is created for those professionals who want to consolidate their knowledge of managing AWS security services and related products.

Target Audience for AWS Certified Security Specialty Exam

The AWS Certified Security - Specialty test is suitable for those individuals who already have at least a two-year experience in a security role in an organization working with AWS. Also, taking this test is a wise step for those aiming to validate their capacity to use specialized data protection mechanisms provided by Amazon. The applicants are often interested in finding more about data encryption and internet security methods and protocols, discover what AWS tools to use to succeed in their implementation, and build a secure production and working environment.

Amazon recommends the professionals who want to sit for this exam have a minimum of 5 years of general experience working with IT security tools as well as knowing how to implement and design different security solutions. Another recommendation for the applicants would be to know how to use the security controls when working with workloads on the AWS platform.

Overview of AWS Certified Security - Specialty Exam

The AWS Certified Security - Specialty exam is coded SCS-C01. This test includes 65 inquiries that have multiple-response and multiple-choice formats. The time limit given is 170 minutes, therefore, the candidates should be prepared for quite a difficult exam. Additionally, to pass the assessment, one will need to obtain a minimum passing score of 750 points out of 1000.

The test can be taken either online through Amazon’s dedicated platform for proctored exams or in one of the available testing centers. The candidates who prefer the second option should search whether there is a testing center available in their location and schedule the final exam in advance. The registration fee for the AWS Certified Security - Specialty exam is $300.

The test-takers also have the opportunity to take a practice exam before enrolling in the real test. This will cost them $40. Finally, the exam is available in English and some other languages like Korean, Japanese, and Simplified Chinese.

Topics Tested in AWS Certified Security - Specialty Exam

The professionals who want to take the AWS Certified Security - Specialty exam and get certified should have consolidated knowledge on a variety of security topics. In case they want to get a passing score on this test from the first try, the applicants should read the official blueprint and identify the topics on which they need to focus. Therefore, according to the syllabus provided by Amazon, they should demonstrate advanced knowledge on the following domains:

• Becoming skilled in incident response

  When they start preparing for the AWS Certified Security - Specialty exam, the candidates should gain extra knowledge of how to evaluate the exposed access keys considering the given AWS abuse notice. Also, they should be able to immediately identify the compromised instances and be skilled in the development of a comprehensive plan for incident response with the help of relevant AWS tools and services. This exam domain also aims to validate the candidates’ competency to set up automated alerting and remediate the emerging issues and security incidents effectively.

• Becoming skilled in developing monitoring and logging processes

  For this section, the applicants should obtain advanced knowledge of implementing and designing security alerting and monitoring processes. Additionally, they will find questions that focus on troubleshooting techniques for security alerting and monitoring. Another topic included in this domain requires the test-takers to demonstrate their knowledge of implementing and designing comprehensive logging solutions that match their business objectives. Finally, this chapter asks examinees to prove that they can troubleshoot the logging solutions implemented in the organization.

• Monitoring and managing infrastructure security

  If they want to get a passing score in the AWS Certified Security - Specialty exam, the candidates should develop solid design skills to operate a secure network infrastructure. Also, they should demonstrate that they can implement its elements and troubleshoot them to ensure the highest level of productivity. Besides, the candidates are required to become skilled in implementing and designing host-based security concepts and tools.

• Understanding how access and identity management processes work

  Within this chapter, the candidates will learn how to implement and design a scalable authorization system. Also, they should gain experience in implementing authentication systems that help them to provide access to different AWS resources. Besides, the test-takers should be able to take immediate action whenever they need to troubleshoot an authentication and authorization system with the help of AWS tools and resources.

• Ensuring the highest level of data protection

  This is the final chapter included in the exam’s syllabus. It validates the candidates’ skills in implementing and designing data-protection management processes. Also, they should consolidate their knowledge of troubleshooting key management tools and phases. Finally, the professionals who decide to take this test have to become competent at implementing and designing advanced data encryption solutions for both in transit and at rest types of data.

Career Opportunities for AWS Certified Security - Specialty Exam-Passers

An individual who manages to get a passing score in the AWS Certified Security - Specialty exam becomes a valuable candidate for various well-paid positions in international corporations. The recruiters consider that the certified professionals are trustworthy as they went through a complicated exam. Once they get certified, these specialists can apply for the positions like security engineer, cyber security analyst, and others.

On Payscale.com, the candidates will find that the annual payment that a Security Engineer can get is $94k. Also, if they prefer to apply for a Cyber Security Analyst position, the applicants should know that they can get an average annual payment of $76k.

Certification Path

The AWS Certified Security - Specialty exam is necessary for obtaining the certification with the same name. This accreditation is part of the Specialty category that validates the professionals’ skills in different areas. Apart from obtaining this certificate, the candidates can move forward to earning other accreditations from the same category. For example, they can opt for Advanced Networking, Data Analytics, Machine Learning, or Database Specialty certifications.