AWS Certified Security — Specialty

C
By Certalyze Editorial Team Research & Analysis
Reviewed by Certalyze Review Board Updated 2025-04-10
cybersecurity Advanced Updated: 2025-04-10 Methodology

The AWS Certified Security — Specialty validates advanced skills in securing AWS workloads. It covers threat detection, incident response, infrastructure security, identity and access management, and data protection in complex AWS environments.

$148K
Avg Salary
48%
Pass Rate
11.0K
Job Listings
160h
Study Time
$300
Exam Cost

Is the AWS Certified Security — Specialty Worth It?

Strengths

  • Strong earning potential with an average salary of $148,000
  • Good job market demand with 11.0K active listings

Considerations

  • Moderate exam investment at $300
  • Challenging exam (8/10 difficulty) — requires significant preparation
  • Lower pass rate (48%) — thorough preparation is essential
  • Has prerequisites — not suitable for complete beginners

Bottom line: At $300 exam cost with an average salary of $148,000, the AWS Certified Security — Specialty offers a strong return on investment for cybersecurity professionals. Not sure if this is the right choice? See how it stacks up in our AWS Certified Security — Specialty vs Azure Security Engineer Associate (AZ-500) comparison.

Who Should Get the AWS Certified Security — Specialty?

This certification is a good fit if you are:

  • Senior cybersecurity professionals aiming for architect or lead roles
  • Experienced practitioners seeking top-tier industry recognition
  • Anyone targeting roles that list AWS Certified Security — Specialty as preferred or required

Exam Details

Exam CodeSCS-C02
Exam Cost$300 USD
Duration170 minutes
Questions65
Passing Score750/1000
ProviderAmazon Web Services
Difficulty8/10

Salary Data

Professionals holding the AWS Certified Security — Specialty certification earn between $118,000 and $195,000 annually, with an average of $148,000. For context, the CISSP averages $152,000.

Job market demand trend: Growing (+15% YoY)

Prerequisites

  • AWS Solutions Architect Associate or equivalent AWS knowledge recommended
  • 5+ years of IT security experience with 2+ years in AWS security
  • Hands-on experience with AWS security services (IAM, KMS, GuardDuty, Security Hub)

Skills Covered

AWS IAM & OrganizationsThreat Detection (GuardDuty, Detective)Infrastructure Security (VPC, WAF, Shield)Data Protection & Encryption (KMS, ACM)Incident Response & ForensicsSecurity Hub & Compliance AutomationLogging & Monitoring (CloudTrail, Config)

Best Study Resources

Official

AWS Exam Guide — SCS-C02

 Course

Zeal Vora — AWS Security Specialty

 Practice Exams

Tutorials Dojo Practice Exams

 Official

AWS Security Documentation & Whitepapers

Comparisons Featuring AWS Certified Security — Specialty

AWS Security Specialty vs Azure Security Engineer

AWS Certified Security Specialty vs Microsoft Azure Security Engineer Associate (AZ-500): comparing cloud security certi...

More Cybersecurity Certifications

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CISSP

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$148K avg 55% pass

CCSP

ISC2 · Advanced

$138K avg 50% pass

ISACA CISA

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$130K avg 50% pass
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Frequently Asked Questions

Is the AWS Security Specialty worth it?
For cloud security professionals in AWS environments, it's one of the most valuable certifications available. It commands an average salary of $148K and validates deep security expertise that enterprises urgently need as cloud adoption grows.
How hard is the SCS-C02 exam?
Very challenging with an estimated 48% pass rate. The exam tests deep knowledge of AWS security services, IAM policies, encryption strategies, and incident response. Real-world AWS security experience is almost essential — this is not a cert you can pass with theory alone.
AWS Security Specialty vs CISSP — which is more valuable?
They're complementary. CISSP is vendor-neutral and covers broad security management across 8 domains. AWS Security Specialty is deep and AWS-specific. For cloud security roles in AWS shops, having both is ideal. If you must choose one, CISSP has broader market recognition.
How much does the AWS Certified Security — Specialty exam cost?
The AWS Certified Security — Specialty exam costs $300 USD. Additional costs may include study materials and practice exams, typically $50-$300. Some employers offer certification reimbursement programs that can offset this cost.
What jobs can I get with the AWS Certified Security — Specialty certification?
There are currently approximately 11,000 active US job listings mentioning the AWS Certified Security — Specialty certification. Market demand is growing (+15% yoy). Common roles include cybersecurity positions at various levels. The certification is valued by employers seeking validated Amazon Web Services skills.

Explore other options in cybersecurity: CISSP, CISM, and more in our Cybersecurity Certifications hub.

Data Sources & Transparency

  • Salary data — Bureau of Labor Statistics, Glassdoor, and job posting aggregates (US median)
  • Job listings — LinkedIn, Indeed, and Dice active postings (sampled quarterly)
  • Pass rates — Community-reported estimates from Reddit, TechExams, and certification forums
  • Exam details — Amazon Web Services official certification documentation
Last reviewed: 2025-04-10 Our Methodology Editorial Standards