Many professionals seeking a career in cloud security turn to certifications to enhance their learning and demonstrate their knowledge to potential employers. However, the number of cloud security certifications has increased in recent years, making it difficult for students and practitioners to decide which one to pursue.
Are you trying to analyze the differences and figure out which certifications will improve your knowledge and career? Get the lowdown on the best cloud security certifications here.
The importance of certificates
Although the value of security certification programs is hotly contested, they are still one of the best ways employers screen job candidates and evaluate an interviewee's background knowledge. The truth is that most certifications offer more significant benefits to professionals than traditional self-study options.
For example, a certificate covers topics broader than those of interest to the student, which requires learning more than just the bare minimum about a particular topic. Skipping some boring but important classes is not a wise decision if there is an expensive exam.
Certification tests also force students to study the material, not just read it. Exam dates provide a deadline for finishing the material. Certifications also show employers that future employees have dedicated significant time and money to obtaining certifications and associated skills.
The information security industry has been around for decades and has some of the most well-known certifications. For example, ISC2's CISSP was issued in 1994, and ISACA's Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) certification dates back to 1978.
Older, more established certification providers have added cloud components to their materials, but the depth of these add-ons can be limited—sometimes, just a few pages in the book. Given the importance of cloud technologies and the constant threat of cloud-specific attacks, greater focus is needed.
Let's take a look at some certification providers that offer customized, in-depth cloud security certifications, as well as what cloud security professionals can expect when they pursue them.
1. ISC2 Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP)
The most well-known and well-established cloud security certification is ISC2's CCSP. Although ISC2's CISSP program now contains more cloud material than in years past, the nonprofit's specialized CCSP program takes it to the next level and covers a wide range of cloud-related topics, from cloud application security to system security Cloud basic.
Students should expect to invest a significant amount of time to pass this exam and use self-paced or instructor-led training to prepare for this certification.
Candidates must have at least five years of paid work experience in the IT field before becoming certified. Three years must be in the field of information security, and one year must be in one or more of the six areas included in the CCSP Common Body of Knowledge (CBK):
Cloud concepts, architecture, and design (17% of the exam). Cloud data security (20%). Cloud platform and infrastructure security (17%). Cloud application security (17%). Cloud security operations (16%). Legal, risk and compliance (13%).
Cloud Security Alliance (CSA) certification for cloud security knowledge can be substituted for one year of experience in one or more CCSP areas. Obtaining a CISSP covers all basic requirements.
2. CSA Certification for Cloud Security Knowledge (CCSK)
The CSA's CCSK is a lighter alternative to the CCSP certification. Launched in 2010, this certification is dedicated to cloud security. Like the CCSP, the CCSK gets into the technical details.
CCSP and CCSK have some key differences. For example, CBK is not as extensive for CCSK as it is for CCSP. CCSK's study materials – sourced from CSA Security Guidance v.4, the CSA Cloud Controls Matrix and the EU Agency for Cybersecurity Cloud Computing Risk Assessment report – are available online for free, so no books or training courses are required. The CCSK certificate also has no prerequisites or experience requirements. In addition, the CCSK test is available online and is open book.
CCSK is a good alternative cloud security certification for entry-level to mid-range security professionals who are interested in cloud data security but there is no justification for spending the time and money needed to obtain a CCSP certification.
CCSK covers 16 areas, including cloud computing concepts and architecture, data security and cryptography, and security as a service.
3. ISACA and CSA Certification of Cloud Audit Knowledge (CCAK)
In March 2021, ISACA and CSA jointly released the CCAK, which builds on and complements the content of the CCSK. They also complete the CISA and ISACA Certified Information Security Administrator certifications. Applicants are advised to have a CCSK before obtaining a CCAK, although this is not a prerequisite.
Assessors, auditors, compliance managers, vendor and partner program managers, security and privacy consultants, security analysts and architects can benefit from training that covers the following areas:
Cloud governance. Cloud Compliance Program. CCM and CAIQ: aims, objectives and structure. Cloud threat analysis methodology using CCM. Evaluate your cloud compliance program. Cloud audit. CCM: audit controls. Ongoing assurance and compliance. Star program.
Candidates can choose to self-study or attend CCSK training. Training options include online self-learning, online instructor-led, and in-person.
4. GIAC Cloud Security Automation (GCSA)
Launched in April 2020, GIAC's GCSA certification is designed specifically for developers, analysts, and engineers working to secure cloud and DevOps environments. It includes topics such as configuration management automation, continuous integration/continuous delivery, and continuous monitoring, as well as how to use open source tools, the AWS toolchain, and Azure services.
GIAC certification is based on the “SEC540: Cloud Security and DevSecOps Automation” course offered by the SANS Institute in person or online. This five-day course, which includes hands-on laboratories, covers topics in the following five sections:
DevOps security automation. Cloud infrastructure security. Cloud native security operations. Microservices and serverless security. Ongoing compliance and protection.
The test can be purchased alone or at a discounted price when purchased with SANS training. Purchasing a certification attempt comes with two practice tests, which are in the same format as the exam.
5. GIAC Cloud Security Essentials (GCLD)
GIAC's GCLD, released in April 2021, covers how to evaluate cloud providers and how to plan, deploy, and secure single and multi-cloud environments, as well as topics such as cloud auditing, security assessments, and incident response.
Specialized for security engineers, analysts, managers and auditors, the GCLD aims to help candidates demonstrate their knowledge of how to prevent, detect and react to security events for cloud workloads.
The GCLD certification is based on “SEC488: Cloud Security Essentials,” a six-day course with hands-on training that teaches:
Identity and access management (IAM). Computing and configuration management. Data protection and automation. Networking and registration. Compliance, incident response and penetration testing. CloudWars.
SANS training, which is offered online and in-person, has no prerequisites, but a basic understanding of networking, security, Linux, and the cloud is helpful.
GIAC also offers specialized certifications that can be applied depending on the candidate's career path. These include the following:
6. Mile2 Certified Cloud Security Officer (C)CSO)
Mile2's C)CSO certification consists of a five-day program that includes instructor-led sessions, self-study time, and live virtual trainings. It consists of 15 units:
Introduction to cloud computing and architecture. Cloud security risks. Enterprise risk management and governance. Legal issues. Default. Data security. Data center operations. Interoperability and portability. Traditional security. BCM and Dr. Incident response. Application security. Encryption and key management. Identity, entitlement and access management. Audit and compliance.
It also consists of 23 labs, including PaaS in Azure and Cryptography/Key Management in SaaS.
This advanced certification is part of Mile2's Cloud Security and Virtualization career path, and is ideal for professionals seeking careers in virtualization, cloud management, audit, and compliance.
General knowledge of cloud architectures and 1 year of experience in both virtualization and Infosec are recommended.
7. Arcitura Certified Cloud Security Specialist
Arcitura's Certified Cloud Security Professional certification focuses on security threats associated with cloud platforms, cloud services, and other cloud technologies, including virtualization. The Certified Cloud Security Professional certification is aimed at IT and security professionals, as well as cloud engineers, and consists of the following three modules:
The Fundamental Cloud Security program contains training on cloud security mechanisms, cloud threats and auditing, and cloud IAM. Advanced Cloud Security provides training on attack lifecycles, threat modeling, and virtual machine protection. Cloud Security Lab includes exercises on cloud IAM, cloud public key infrastructure, cloud cryptography and key management.
The 30-hour course ends with a Cloud Security Specialist exam and certification. A general IT background is recommended.
Use this chart to compare the best cloud security certifications.
8. and 9. CompTIA Cloud Essentials+ and Cloud+
CompTIA offers two certifications that cover cloud security topics, although they are not security specific. Cloud Essentials+ is geared toward making cloud business decisions, while Cloud+ is more focused on the technical implementation of the cloud.
The Cloud Essentials+ entry-level certification covers cloud security concerns and measures, as well as risk assessment, cloud security policies, and compliance. Six months to one year of IT Business Analyst experience is recommended, along with some cloud technology experience. The more in-depth Cloud+ certification covers security configurations, access control, key management, certificates, hashing, and microsegmentation. Two to three years of system or network administration experience is recommended, as well as CompTIA Network+ and Server+ certifications.
10. Vendor cloud security certificates
Since many organizations work with specific vendors and technologies, it may be beneficial for their security team members to obtain certifications in those areas. Some cloud platform providers offer hands-on product training, including the following:
Sharon Shea is the executive editor of TechTarget Security.
