AWS Security – Specialty
Last Updated: June 2026 | Reviewed by: Enroll Research Team
The AWS Certified Security – Specialty (SCS-C02) is the advanced certification for security engineers, GRC professionals, and architects responsible for AWS security posture. With cybersecurity job growth projected at 29% through 2034 and median salaries of $120,360+, this cert positions you at the intersection of cloud and security—two of the hottest IT fields
Quick Specs Table
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Exam Code | SCS-C02 |
| Level | Specialty |
| Cost | $300 USD |
| Duration | 170 minutes |
| Questions | 65 (multiple choice and multiple response) |
| Passing Score | 750 / 1000 |
| Prerequisites | AWS recommends Associate-level cert (SAA-C03) + 2+ years security experience |
| Validity | 3 years |
| Format | Online proctored or test center |
What the Certification Covers
| Domain | % of Exam | Key Topics |
|---|---|---|
| Incident Response | 16% | Forensic investigation, GuardDuty findings, Security Hub, automated remediation |
| Logging and Monitoring | 16% | CloudTrail, CloudWatch Logs, VPC Flow Logs, S3 access logging, Macie for PII detection |
| Infrastructure Security | 20% | VPC security (SGs, NACLs), AWS WAF, Shield Advanced, Network Firewall |
| Identity and Access Management | 22% | IAM policies, permission boundaries, IAM Identity Center, federation, KMS key design |
| Data Protection | 18% | Encryption at rest/in transit, Secrets Manager, Parameter Store, Certificate Manager |
| Management and Governance | 8% | AWS Config, Security Hub, Control Tower, Organizations SCPs |
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| High demand—cybersecurity jobs projected 29% growth through 2034 | Requires significant experience (2+ years security + AWS) |
| Premium salary: $150,000 – $180,000+ | Expensive exam ($300 vs $150 for Associate) |
| Validates specialized, high-value skills employers actively seek | Niche focus—not valuable for non-security cloud roles |
| Complements AWS Solutions Architect cert for security-minded architects | Difficult exam—rated among AWS's hardest |
| Recognized globally across industries (finance, healthcare, government) | Recertification required every 3 years |
Who Is This Certification For?
| ✅ Ideal Candidate | ❌ Not For |
|---|---|
| Security engineers responsible for AWS security posture | Beginners with no AWS or security experience |
| GRC (Governance, Risk, Compliance) professionals | Cloud architects focused only on non-security design |
| Solutions architects designing for regulated industries (finance, healthcare) | Candidates without Associate-level certification (AWS recommends SAA-C03 first) |
| IT professionals seeking to specialize in cloud security's highest-paying niche | Anyone looking for an easy cert—this is advanced |
Recommended Study Resources
| Resource | Type | Provider |
|---|---|---|
| AWS Certified Security Specialty Study Guide | Book | Sybex/Wiley |
| AWS Security Specialty Online Course | Video + Labs | Whizlabs |
| AWS Security Fundamentals (SCS-C02) | Course | Coursera |
| Tutorials Dojo Security Specialty Practice Exams | Practice Tests | Tutorials Dojo |
