CCSP

cybersecurity Advanced Updated: 2025-04-10 Methodology

The Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP) from ISC2 validates advanced competence in cloud security architecture, design, operations, and service orchestration. It's the premier certification for professionals who manage and secure cloud environments at an enterprise level.

$138K
Avg Salary
50%
Pass Rate
9.5K
Job Listings
180h
Study Time
$599
Exam Cost

Exam Details

Exam CodeCCSP
Exam Cost$599 USD
Duration180 minutes
Questions150
Passing Score700/1000
ProviderISC2
Difficulty8/10

Salary Data

Professionals holding the CCSP certification earn between $105,000 and $185,000 annually, with an average of $138,000.

Job market demand trend: Growing (+18% YoY)

Prerequisites

  • 5 years of cumulative paid IT experience, with 3 years in information security and 1 year in one or more CCSP domains
  • CISSP credential can substitute for the entire CCSP experience requirement
  • Associate of ISC2 designation available if experience requirements are not met

Skills Covered

Cloud Concepts & ArchitectureCloud Data SecurityCloud Platform & Infrastructure SecurityCloud Application SecurityCloud Security OperationsLegal, Risk & ComplianceEncryption & Key ManagementIdentity & Access Management

Best Study Resources

Official

ISC2 Official CCSP Training

 Course

Ben Maguire CCSP Course — Pluralsight

 Practice Exams

Wiley CCSP Official Study Guide

Comparisons Featuring CCSP

CISSP vs CCSP

CISSP vs CCSP: two elite (ISC)² certifications for senior security professionals. CISSP covers broad information securit...

Frequently Asked Questions

CCSP vs CISSP — which should I get first?
If your focus is cloud security specifically, CCSP is more targeted. If you want broader security leadership credentials, start with CISSP. Holding CISSP satisfies all CCSP experience requirements, making it a natural progression from CISSP to CCSP.
How hard is the CCSP exam?
CCSP is considered very challenging with a pass rate around 50%. The exam is heavy on cloud-specific security concepts, legal/compliance frameworks, and requires understanding of both technical and governance aspects of cloud security.
Is CCSP in demand?
Yes. Cloud security is one of the fastest-growing cybersecurity specializations (+18% YoY). CCSP holders are sought after for cloud security architect, cloud compliance, and CISO roles, especially in regulated industries.

Data Sources

  • Salary data — Aggregated from job postings and salary surveys (US median)
  • Job listings — Active postings across major job boards
  • Pass rates — Community-reported estimates (not official vendor data)
  • Exam details — ISC2 official documentation