Microsoft
Intermediate
Microsoft Cloud and AI Security Engineer Associate
Proves you can secure Azure, hybrid and AI workloads across identity, network, data and compute; SC-500 replaced the retired AZ-500 in 2026
- Exam
- $165
- Study
- 3-4 months
Skill
Cloud Security
Cloud Security protects cloud-based systems, data, and applications. You'll secure AWS, Azure, or GCP environments while leveraging cloud-native tools.
Infrastructure
Learning path
Learn cloud fundamentals, then focus on cloud-specific security controls.
Career relevance
Critical for cloud security engineers, DevSecOps, cloud architects.
Practice projects
Scan a test cloud account with Prowler
In a dedicated test account with a billing alert and no real data, deploy a few deliberately misconfigured resources and scan them with the open-source Prowler tool. Delete everything afterwards.
What you'll have: A findings list with the fix for each misconfiguration.
Scan infrastructure code before it ships
Write a small Terraform configuration, run the open-source Checkov scanner against it and fix the findings until it passes.
What you'll have: Before-and-after code that shows each fix.
Certifications teaching Cloud Security
Intermediate1
Advanced2
ISC2
Advanced
Certified Cloud Security Professional
Vendor-neutral proof that you can secure cloud architecture, data and operations, and handle the legal and contract side of cloud services
- Exam
- $599
- Study
- 4-8 months
Amazon Web Services
Advanced
AWS Certified Security - Specialty
Proves you can secure a multi-account AWS organization, from detection and incident response to KMS keys, now tested on the SCS-C03 exam
- Exam
- $300
- Study
- 4-6 months