Nowadays, technology executives throughout the world continue to place a high premium on cloud computing and moving enterprise operations there. To increase the likelihood of success, investing in new technology must be matched by an equal amount of money spent on the personnel in charge of the design, implementation, and maintenance of those organizational projects.
There are a number of paths one can take in their career in the cloud if they are a practitioner looking for career-advancement chances.
Offering training for the top cloud computing and cloud security certifications will be a better place to start for companies wishing to make an investment in their staff members’ professional development and upgrade their skills to simplify existing or upcoming organizational goals linked to the cloud. You can learn more about the most sought-after vendor-specific as well vendor-neutral cloud certifications in this article.
Why cloud security certification?
A cloud security certification is quite helpful for those who wish to advance their cloud security knowledge. Although a Bachelor’s degree is the most common educational background for cloud security experts, certifications that attest to their technical proficiency are also required. Particularly in cloud security profession, employers strongly favour applicants with certifications.
Also Read: Top Cybersecurity Certifications for Beginners
According to Burning Glass, 60% of all cloud security positions, require candidates to hold at least one certification. And it does not require any programming language while taking this certification. And thus it will be one of the best option for non-coders.
Vendor-neutral or vendor-specific cloud security certifications are also possible. Although they cover skills applicable to the majority of technology and tools, vendor-neutral certifications are unrelated to a specific IT vendor. Vendor-specific certificates cover a particular technology’s expertise.
Top 7 Cloud Security Certifications for 2024
Here is a list of top cloud security certifications that you can try out in 2024. While taking this certification, consideration of pre-requisites must be reviewed and you can be able to clear the certification as per the skills you have.
1. Google Professional Cloud Security Engineer
Getting this certification can help the individual to validate their skills and knowledge in designing, configuring, and deploying infrastructures on Google Cloud. And it also requires to carry out the following tasks and they may include:
- Configuration of identity and access management
- Security policy defining
- Deploying network security
- Analysis of logs and incident response management
- Protection of the data with Google Cloud Technologies
Jobs for Google-certified Professional Cloud Security Engineer
- Cloud security engineers
- Solution engineer
- Cloud Architect
Prerequisites for Google Professional Cloud Security Engineer: To take this exam, there are no formal requirements needed but having at least 3 years of experience and one year in management and designing with Google Cloud platform is highly recommended before taking this cert.
Exam pattern: The exam may contain 50-60 MCQs and duration will be 2 hours.
Exam fee: $200
Languages: English, Japanese
Salary for Google certified Professional Cloud Security Engineer:
As per recruiter.com, the average salary for a Cloud Security Engineer in the United States found to be $140,632 per year.
2. Certified Cloud Security Professional(CCSP)
It is an advanced and globally recognised certification and it is issued by (ISC)², and it helps to validate the technical skills in designing, securing and managing cloud networks. It also helps to assess that you possess the best skills and knowledge that are required by the (ISC)².
Among other IT Google certifications, it is ranked as top certification for those who want to advance their career to the next level. And thus CCSP will be a great choice for those who want to uplift their career to next levels. This cert can be highly preferred by cloud architects, security specialists, analysts, consultants and professional developers.
The skills required for taking the CCSP exam such as:
- Cloud architecture and design
- Cloud data security
- Cloud platform and infrastructure security
- Cloud application security
- Legal, risk, and compliance
- Cloud security operations
Jobs for CCSP candidate
Those who get certified in CCSP can try for the following job roles:
- Product security engineer
- Cyber integration engineer
- Senior security analyst
- Cybersecurity solutions architect
- Information security manager
- Compliance technology specialist
- Cloud security engineer
- Information security auditor
- Application security architect
Prerequisites for CCSP: Having at least 5 years of experience in the IT environment is recommended. It may include 3 years of experience in IT security and one year or more of six domains of CCSP.
Exam pattern : The exam may contain 125 MCQs and duration will be 3 hours.
Exam fee: $599
Languages: English, Japanese
Salary for Certified Cloud Security Professionals (CCSP): According to payscale.com, the average pay for a Certified Cloud Security Professional(CCSP) is found to be $124k per year.
3. AWS Certified Security Speciality Certification
If you are the one who is seeking job openings at companies using AWS, then AWS certified security cert will be an apt choice for you. By getting certified in this certification, you can showcase your skills and knowledge in
- AWS data protection mechanisms
- AWS mechanisms to deploy data encryption methods
- Security operations and risks
As per Statista, the average market share of AWS was found to be 34%. And holding this cert can be the best choice while coming to career improvement.
Jobs for AWS-certified security specialists
- Cloud security engineers
- Security and compliance engineer
- Security Architect
Prerequisites for AWS certified security: There are no prerequisites needed for taking this cert but Amazon recommends the individual to have 5 years of experience in information security. And they must have working experience in securing workloads of AWS.
Exam pattern: The exam may contain 65 multiple-choice and multiple-response questions and the duration will be 170 minutes.
Exam fee: $300
Languages: English, French, German, Italian, Korean, Spanish, Portuguese, Japanese, and Chinese.
Salary for AWS certified security: According to ziprecruiter.com, the average pay for an AWS Security Specialist in the United States found to be $101,592 per annum.
4. Microsoft Certified Azure Security Engineer Associate
Azure ranked top after AWS in the cloud market. If you are interested in taking cert in Azure, then Microsoft Certified Azure Security Engineer Associate will be the right choice for you. Taking this certification can validate your skills in deploying Azure security controls.
The AZ-500 certification validates your skills in following areas such as:
- Managing identity and access
- Implementing platform protection
- Managing the security operations
- Securing data and applications
Jobs for Microsoft Certified Azure Security Engineer Associate
- Security engineer
- Cybersecurity engineer
- Security and integration architect
Prerequisites: None
Exam pattern : The exam may contain 40 to 60 multiple-choice and multiple-response questions and duration will be 150 minutes.
Exam fee: $165
Languages: English, French, and Spanish
5. Certified Kubernetes Security Specialist (CKS)
We all know that kubernetes is the most popular for the container based application. And thus getting a CKS cert can help to gain more experience in kubernetes and assess your skills and knowledge in making the container based application and kubernetes platform in a secure manner.
CKS certification can validate skills in the following six domains such as:
- Cluster setup
- Hardening of cluster
- System hardening
- Minimization of micro-service vulnerabilities
- Supply chain security
- Monitoring, logging, and run-time security
Jobs for Certified Kubernetes Security Specialist (CKS)
- Security specialist
- Software Architect
Prerequisites: Must completed CKA exam before appearing for this exam
Exam pattern : This exam is performance based and duration will be 2 hours.
Exam fee: $ 395
Languages: English, Simplified Chinese, and Japanese
Salary for Certified Kubernetes Security Specialist (CKS): According to payscale.com, the average salary for Certified Kubernetes Security Specialist will be $115,000 per year.
6. CompTIA Cloud+
It is vendor-neutral certification and it helps to test your skills in designing and managing secure cloud platforms. This cert is highly focused on taking common cloud certification, it contains broad data on cloud security.
And it covers the topics on cloud architecture, identity and access management, automation, disaster recovery, and application security controls.
And some of the skills covered in CompTIA Cloud+ cert such as:
- Cloud architecture and design
- Operations and support
- Cloud security
- Cloud deployment
- Troubleshooting
Jobs for CompTIA Cloud+ candidate
The CompTIA certified individuals can apply for the following job roles:
- Senior systems administrator
- Cloud engineer
- Senior network engineer
- Cloud project manager
- Systems engineer, cloud specialist
- Senior network administrator
- Vulnerability tester
Prerequisites: It is recommended to clear CompTIA Network+ and Server+. And also it recommends you to have an experience of 2-3 years in areas such as system administration or networking.
Exam pattern : This exam contains 90 multiple-choice and performance-based questions and exam duration will be 90 minutes.
Exam fee: $ 395
Languages: English
Salary for CompTIA Cloud+ candidate: According to payscale.com, the average salary for CompTIA Cloud+ candidates will be $$77k per annum.
7. Certificate of Cloud Security Knowledge (CCSK)
Certificate of Cloud Security Knowledge (CCSK) issued by Cloud security alliance. This certification in cloud security from the Cloud Security Alliance (CSA) covers a variety of important cloud security topics and can provide you the ability to customize security solutions for a cloud environment. The subjects included are:
- Architecture of clouds
- Issues of governance, risk management, and the law
- secure infrastructure
- Data encryption and security
- Incidental reaction
- Security as a service and application security
Jobs for CCSK candidate
- Threat analyst
- Cybersecurity architect
- Security administrators
- Security consultants
- Compliance managers
- Ethical hacker
- Security analyst
- IT security engineer
Prerequisites: There are no prerequisites required for taking this certification.
Exam pattern : This exam contains 60 multiple choice questions and exam duration will be 90 minutes.
Exam fee: $ 395
Languages: English
Salary for CompTIA Cloud+ candidate: According to payscale.com, the average salary for CompTIA Cloud+ candidates will be $$77k per annum. As per the experience gained, it tends to vary.
FAQs
Which cloud security certification is best ?
Sone of the best Cloud Security Certifications such as:
- Google Professional Cloud Security Engineer
- Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP)
- AWS Certified Security Specialist certification
- Microsoft Certified Azure Security Engineer Associate
- Certified Kubernetes Security Specialist (CKS)
- CompTIA Cloud+
- Certificate of Cloud Security Knowledge (CCSK)
Which cloud certification has the most value?
The below shown cloud certification has the highest value:
- AWS Certified SysOps Administrator Associate
- Microsoft Certified: Azure Fundamentals
- Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate
- Google Associate Cloud Engineer
- Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert
- Google Professional Cloud Architect
- AWS Solutions Architect Professional
Is working in cloud security stressful?
First of all, it’s critical to acknowledge how difficult working in the cybersecurity sector is. Fifty-one percent of analysts claimed that the demands and stress of their jobs keep them awake at night. There will be a lot of openings available for cloud security certified candidates in the future as the cloud technology plays a major role in various firms.
Is a job in cloud security worthwhile?
In recent years, careers in cloud security have risen to the top of the list of positions open to cyber security experts. There has been an increase in the demand for qualified and experienced individuals as more businesses rely more heavily on digital platforms to maintain the security of these vital systems.
Should I pursue cybersecurity or the cloud?
Emerging disciplines in the IT sector like cloud computing and cyber security provide lots of career prospects. Cybersecurity is the greatest field to work in if you want to learn new things, are curious about the newest techniques, and are looking for potential bugs to protect the company from the threats and dangers.
Summary
Hope this blog wraps up everything about cloud security and cloud security certifications in a detailed way.
With more businesses looking at cloud migration, it is essential that staff members must understand how and why to set up cloud infrastructure safely. Vendor-neutral training may be helpful for those who are either new to the area or are interested in getting a fundamental understanding of cloud security.
Whizlabs now provides an on-demand course called Cloud Security Certifications that focuses on developing the fundamental know-how and abilities required for secure cloud development and implementation. Apart from the theoretical side, we also come up with hands-on labs and sandboxes to make you familiar with cloud platforms.
If you have doubts on this blog, please feel free to comment us!
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