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The rapid adoption of cloud technology has revolutionized industries worldwide. As businesses embrace the cloud, ensuring robust cloud security has emerged as their top concern. Obtaining cloud security certifications is highly advantageous for individuals seeking to enhance their expertise in cloud security. While a bachelor’s degree is often a prerequisite for many roles, cloud security certifications play a crucial role in validating technical proficiency. Employers strongly prefer candidates with certifications, particularly in this domain.
Now that you recognize the significance of Cloud Security Certifications, let’s explore the leading certifications in the field.
What is Cloud Security?
Cloud Security encompasses a comprehensive framework of policies, technologies, and controls that are put in place to safeguard data, applications, and infrastructure within cloud computing environments. Its primary objective is to protect cloud-based resources from unauthorized access, data breaches, service interruptions, and other potential security threats. This comprehensive approach encompasses a variety of measures and strategies that are put in place to guarantee the security and integrity of assets hosted in the cloud.
Cloud security addresses the unique challenges presented by cloud computing, where data and applications are stored and accessed remotely over the internet. With organizations’ growing adoption of cloud services, data confidentiality, integrity, and availability assurance have become top priorities.
10 Best Cloud Security Certifications in 2024
#1 Google Professional Cloud Security Engineer
The Google Professional Cloud Security Engineer certification validates your proficiency in architecting, configuring, and deploying secure infrastructure within the Google Cloud platform. This certification demonstrates your understanding of security requirements and best practices in cloud security engineering.
These cloud security certifications cover various skills, including configuring access in a cloud solution environment, implementing network security measures, ensuring data protection, ensuring compliance with security standards, and managing operations within a cloud environment.
Job Roles:
The certification is valuable for cloud security engineers or architects professionals.
Cost:
The exam fee is $200.
#2 Microsoft Certified Azure Security Engineer Associate
By successfully attaining a passing score in the AZ-500 exam, you will earn a Microsoft Azure credential that verifies your proficiency in scripting, automation, networking, virtualization, cloud architecture, and the associated capabilities. The exam evaluates a variety of proficiencies, including:
- Configuring and overseeing secure access in Azure Active Directory
- Implementing measures to protect the platform
- Managing security operations using Azure Monitor, Security Center, and Sentinel
- Safeguarding data and applications within the Azure environment
Job Roles:
The AZ-500 certification holds significant value for professionals pursuing positions such as cybersecurity engineer, cloud DevOps engineer, Azure security engineer, or security and integration architect.
Cost:
The cost is $165.
#3 AWS Certified Security
The AWS Certified Security certification is an excellent choice for individuals seeking to work with Amazon Web Services. This specialty-level certification validates your ability to create and maintain a secure environment using AWS security services and demonstrates your understanding of specialized data classifications within AWS.
Professionals who attain this certification possess expertise in the following areas:
- AWS data protection mechanisms
- Implementation of data encryption methods using AWS tools
- Security operations and risk management
With a market share of 34%, AWS is the leading cloud platform, according to Statista. Obtaining the AWS Certified Security certification is reliable for enhancing your job prospects and advancing your career.
Job Roles:
These cloud security certifications are valuable for professionals seeking roles such as cloud security engineers, security and compliance engineers, and security architects.
Cost:
The certification exam fee is $300.
#4 CompTIA Cloud+
The CompTIA Cloud+ certification validates your aptitude in effectively planning, deploying, and automating secure cloud environments.
While CompTIA does not enforce specific prerequisites for the Cloud+ certification, they advise candidates to have two to three years of experience in systems administration or networking. CompTIA also recommends CompTIA Network+ and Server+ certifications as beneficial preparation for the Cloud+ certification.
Job Roles:
These cloud security certifications are valuable for professionals aiming for roles such as cloud specialist, cloud architect, information security manager, vulnerability tester, or cybersecurity cloud specialist.
Cost:
The certification exam fee for CompTIA Cloud+ in the United States amounts to $358. By obtaining this certification, you demonstrate your proficiency in designing and managing secure cloud environments, opening up promising career opportunities.
#5 Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP)
As your cloud security career progresses, the CCSP (Certified Cloud Security Professional) certification from (ISC)², a renowned security membership organization, validates your advanced technical skills.
Requirements for the CCSP certification include passing the exam and possessing at least five years of paid work experience in the IT industry. Among the required five years of experience, a minimum of three years should be focused on information security, with at least one year dedicated to working in one or more of the six (ISC)² CCSP Common Body of Knowledge domains.
Job Roles:
The CCSP certification expands your prospects for various job roles, including cyber integration engineer, information security auditor, incident response specialist, senior security analyst, and cloud application security consultant.
Cost:
The cost of this certification is $599. This certification demonstrates your advanced technical skills in cloud security and strengthens your professional standing in the field.
#6 Certified Kubernetes Security Specialist (CKS)
As the dominant platform for container-based applications, Kubernetes has established itself as a leader in the field. If you are actively involved with Kubernetes and aiming to validate your skills in securing container-based applications and the Kubernetes platform, pursuing the Certified Kubernetes Security Specialist (CKS) certification is highly recommended.
Achieving the CKS certification demonstrates your proficiency in securing Kubernetes-based environments and enhances your credibility in container security.
Job Roles:
Kubernetes Security Engineer, Cloud Security Architect, DevSecOps Engineer, Cloud Security Consultant, Kubernetes Administrator, etc.
Cost:
The cloud security certifications are priced at $395, providing the added benefit of one free retake in the event that you do not pass the exam on your initial try.
#7 Certificate of Cloud Security Knowledge (CCSK)
The cloud security credential offered by the Cloud Security Alliance (CSA) equips individuals with comprehensive knowledge of various critical cloud security aspects, enabling them to customize and implement robust security solutions in cloud environments.
The CCSK certification does not impose any experience requirements, making it accessible to professionals at various career stages.
Job Roles:
This credential enhances job prospects for roles such as threat analyst, cybersecurity architect, ethical hacker, security analyst, and IT security engineer.
Cost:
The cloud security certifications exam fee is $395 in the United States.
Attaining the CCSK certification allows individuals to showcase their proficiency in cloud security, positioning themselves for rewarding career opportunities within the field.
#8 ISACA and CSA Certificate of Cloud Auditing Knowledge (CCAK)
The ISACA and CSA (Cloud Security Alliance) Certificate of Cloud Auditing Knowledge (CCAK) is a collaborative certification that focuses on cloud auditing and provides individuals with the knowledge and skills to assess and evaluate cloud environments effectively.
- The CCAK certification is designed for professionals involved in auditing, assessing, and governing cloud environments.
- It covers various domains, including cloud governance, auditing methodology, cloud security, and compliance and assurance.
- The certification equips individuals with the expertise to effectively audit cloud services and ensure compliance with industry standards and regulations.
Job Roles:
Cloud Auditor, Compliance Manager, IT Auditor.
Cost:
The cost of cloud security certifications is $395 for CSA members and $495 for non-members.
#9 GIAC Cloud Security Automation (GCSA)
If your goal is to develop and deploy secure systems and applications, the GCSA (Global Cloud Security Alliance) certification may be of interest to you. While the GCSA is not affiliated with any specific cloud platform, the study materials encompass open-source tools such as AWS and Azure. The certification covers a wide range of topics, including:
- Fundamentals of cloud security
- Cloud security monitoring
- Compliance standards
- Security aspects of containers and microservices
- Data protection in cloud environments
- Fundamentals and controls of DevOps and DevSecOps
One of the benefits of these cloud security certifications is that there are no prerequisites for the certification exam.
Target Roles:
Holding the GCSA certification can open doors to job roles such as security consultant, application security analyst, security engineer, cloud security developer, and DevSecOps engineer.
Cost:
The GCSA certification in the United States is $949. By obtaining the GCSA certification, you demonstrate your proficiency in cloud security and position yourself for exciting opportunities in the industry.
#10 GIAC Cloud Security Essentials (GCLD)
The GIAC Cloud Security Essentials (GCLD) certification is designed to validate the knowledge and skills of professionals in understanding and implementing secure cloud environments. Here are the details, cost, and target roles associated with the GCLD certification:
Details:
- The GCLD certification focuses on essential concepts and best practices related to cloud security.
- It covers various topics, including cloud architecture, data protection, legal and compliance considerations, virtualization security, and incident response in cloud environments.
- The certification empowers individuals with the essential skills to evaluate and mitigate security risks associated with cloud deployments.
Job Roles:
Cloud Security Analyst, Cloud Compliance Officer, Cloud Consultant.
Cost:
The cost of these cloud security certifications starts from $949.
Conclusion
As the cloud security market expands, the need for skilled professionals will increase in the coming years. Acquiring relevant certifications is a reliable strategy to initiate and progress your career in this field. Within this blog, we have curated a selection of premier Cloud Security Certifications for your consideration. Recognizing that these certifications frequently involve a substantial financial commitment is crucial. However, view them as a worthwhile long-term investment in your professional growth, and remain focused on achieving your career objectives.
