7 Popular Cloud Security Certifications to go for in 2023
Popular Cloud Security Certifications
We are about to enter the year 2023. As we welcome the New Year, newer employment opportunities will also join the market. As more and more businesses move to the cloud, cybersecurity is increasingly becoming cloud security. In fact, cloud computing is the top technology companies are likely to adopt by 2025, according to the World Economic Forum Future of Jobs Survey. This means more job opportunities for those with the right combination of cloud and cybersecurity skills. If you’re interested in starting or advancing your career in the information security industry, earning a cloud security certification can help you learn critical skills and validate those skills to recruiters and hiring managers. In this article, you’ll learn about seven cloud security certifications companies are hiring for, with tips on how to choose the right cloud computing certification for you.
7 cloud security certifications
companies are hiring for
While a bachelor’s degree is the most common
entry-level qualification for computer and IT jobs, many employers also look
for an industry certification to demonstrate specific technical skills. This is
especially true in cybersecurity, where 60 percent of all cybersecurity positions
request at least one certification. You’ll find a huge range of certifications
out there, and not all of them are created equal. We searched three top job
listing sites, LinkedIn, Indeed, and Simply Hired, to find the certifications
that show up most frequently on job listings. Companies are looking to hire
candidates with these credentials, which may make them worth considering as
part of your own career development.
Cloud computing technology is evolving very quickly.
The depth and extensiveness of product and service offerings across cloud
vendors is widespread and continues to grow! In addition, many cloud providers
are beginning to offer remarkably similar products, creating more questions and
the need for clarification. If you are a company or vendor offering cloud
expertise or doing cloud development, having employees that are “cloud
certified” signifies not only a commitment to knowledge excellence, but a
deeper understand of cloud offerings as compared to their non-certified peers.
Often, employees whose job responsibilities are cloud related, will become
quite knowledgeable on specific aspects of particular cloud services. Some of
these job titles may include but are not limited to: Cloud Architect, DevOps
Practitioners, Data Engineers, SysAdmins, Network Ops, App Developers and more!
They may use it regularly and have adapted the cloud service offering to meet
their needs. The training and certification process can help expand their
knowledge and improve how they develop using the cloud service. Within
certification training environments, students are introduced to a broader scope
of a particular cloud’s offering. Often, they learn that the previous
architectural or programmatic method they were employing may not be the most
effective way of using specific cloud services. Certification training teaches
employees’ new tactics for working with specific cloud services while making
the employee a more valuable asset to the company. It also allows the company
to benefit from the knowledge gained that comes with adding certified
engineers, developers and architects to their bench of resources. In a level
playing field where companies are looking to hire engineers or cloud
architects, companies will choose the candidate with the certification if they
have two potential candidates with the same technical experience otherwise.
This is driven by the fact that certification represents a deeper understanding
of complex concepts as well as commitment to learning. This is especially true
in the world of ever-changing abilities and features of cloud providers.
Studies have shown that active learning, meaning
writing and speaking, is more effective than passive learning, meaning reading
and listening. When the students are actively participating in a the course and
learning new knowledge, their retention rate increases. This is why Fast Lane
provides interactive courses and labs to keep learning active! Are You Cloud
Ready? Get your Cloud platform training and certification to take advantage of
the power, agility, efficiency, simplicity and cost savings of virtualized
cloud infrastructure and services. We are uniquely positioned to help you gain
the cross?vendor cloud knowledge and skills you desire. All of our cloud
certification-specific training courses include vendor authorized materials.
Students are always guaranteed to have the most current and relevant course
content as it applied to the actual certification course materials.
1.
Google Professional Cloud Security Engineer
Earning
this certification from the Google demonstrates your ability to design,
configure, and implement secure infrastructures on the Google Cloud Platform.
This includes:
·
Configuring
identity and access management
·
Defining
security policy
·
Implementing
network security
·
Analyzing
logs and managing incident response
·
Protecting
data with Google Cloud technologies
Target
job titles: Cloud security
engineers, solutions engineer, cloud architect
Requirements: There are no prerequisites to take the exam.
Google recommends that you have at least three years of experience, including
at least one year managing and designing with the Google Cloud Platform.
2.
Microsoft Certified Azure Security Engineer Associate
Passing
the AZ-500 exam for this Microsoft Azure credential demonstrates your skills in
scripting, automation, networking, virtualization, and cloud architecture and
capabilities. Skills tested include:
·
Configuring
and managing secure access in Azure Active Directory
·
Implementing
platform protection
·
Managing
security operations with Azure Monitor, Security Center, and Sentinel
·
Securing data
and applications
Note: Exam AZ-500 will be updated on August 2,
2021. Be sure to download the latest version of the exam guide.
Target
job titles: Cybersecurity
engineer, cloud DevOps engineer, Azure security engineer, security and
integration architect
Requirements: None
3.
AWS Certified Security
If
you’re looking for a security job at a company using Amazon Web Services (AWS),
the AWS Certified Security - Specialty could be a good option. By earning this
credential, you can show employers your proficiency in:
·
Encrypting
and classifying data in AWS
·
Implementing
secure internet protocols
·
Providing a
secure production environment with AWS security services
·
Understanding
security operations and risk management
Target
job titles: Security
architect, cloud security engineer, information security analyst, security and
compliance engineer
Requirements: There are no prerequisites to take the exam.
AWS recommends that you have at least two years of experience securing AWS
workloads and five years of general IT security experience.
4.
CompTIA Cloud+
The
CompTIA Cloud+ validates your ability to plan, deploy, and automate secure
cloud environments. The new version of the CV0-003 exam, which launched in June
2021, covers topics like:
·
High
availability and disaster recovery
·
Automation
and virtualization
·
Cloud
architecture
·
Identity and
access management
·
Securing
networks in a cloud environment
·
OS and
application security controls
Target
job titles: Cloud
specialist, cloud architect, information security manager, vulnerability
tester, cybersecurity cloud specialist
Requirements: CompTIA sets no prerequisites for this
certification. They do recommend that you have two to three years in systems
administration or networking, as well as the CompTIA Network+ and Server+
certifications.
5.
Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP)
As
you advance your career in cloud security, the CCSP from security membership
organization (ISC)² validates your more advanced technical skills in the
industry. The exam tests skills across six different domains:
·
Cloud
architecture and design
·
Cloud data
security
·
Cloud
platform and infrastructure security
·
Cloud
application security
·
Legal, risk,
and compliance
·
Cloud
security operations
Target
job titles: Cyber
integration engineer, information security auditor, incident response
specialist, senior security analyst, cloud application security consultant
Requirements: To become a CCSP, you have to pass an exam
and have at least five years of paid work experience in IT. Three of those
years must be in information security and one needs to be in one or more of six
(ISC)² CCSP Common Body of Knowledge domains.
6.
Certificate of Cloud Security Knowledge (CCSK)
This
cloud security credential from the Cloud Security Alliance (CSA) covers a range
of key cloud security issues that can empower you to tailor security solutions
in a cloud environment. Topics covered include:
·
Cloud
architecture
·
Governance,
risk management, legal issues
·
Infrastructure
security
·
Data security
and encryption
·
Incident
response
·
Application
security and security as a service
Target
job titles: Threat analyst,
cybersecurity architect, ethical hacker, security analyst, IT security engineer
Requirements: The CCSK has no experience requirements.
7.
GIAC Cloud Security Automation (GCSA)
If
you’re interested in building and deploying secure systems and applications,
you might consider the GCSA. While the GCSA isn’t affiliated with a particular
cloud platform, the materials do cover open-source tools like AWS and Azure.
Topics covered include:
·
Cloud
security fundamentals
·
Cloud
security monitoring
·
Compliance
·
Container and
microservice security
·
Data
protection
·
DevOps and
DevSecOps fundamentals and controls
Target
job titles: Security
consultant, application security analyst, security engineer, cloud security
developer, Dev SecOps engineer
Requirements: There are no prerequisites for the GCSA
certification exam.
Are
cloud security certifications worth it?
Earning
a cloud security certification often requires investing both time and money
into preparing for and taking the exam. Whether that investment is worth it
depends on your career goals. The right certification can help give you a
competitive edge when applying for jobs. According to a survey by (ISC)²,
earning a cybersecurity certification can come with an average salary increase
of $18,000 in the US.
How
to choose a cloud security certification
Once
you’ve decided to earn a cloud security certification, it’s important to choose
the right one for your professional goals. Here are some things to think about
when deciding which credential is the best fit.
Cost: Certification
exams and prep courses can cost hundreds (and sometimes thousands) of dollars.
Think about your certification as an investment in higher-paying job
opportunities. Do your research and invest wisely.
Vendor-specific
vs. vendor-neutral: Do you want to specialize in a specific cloud
platform, or would you prefer to keep your options open?
Experience
level: Start with a certification you currently qualify for, then progress
to more advanced certifications as you gain work experience.
Area
of focus: Many of the certifications on this list cover general cloud
security practices, though options like the GCSA are more specialized. Think
about whether you’re interested in cloud security architecture, engineering,
incident response, development, or something else; there might be a
certification that addresses that specialty.
Potential
employers: Search some job listings for positions and organizations you’d
like to apply for. Make a list of what certifications show up most often. Those
could be beneficial to pursue.
How
to get into cloud security: First steps
Many
of the top cloud security certifications require or recommend previous
experience in information security or IT. If you’re considering a career
securing cloud environments, here are some tips for getting started.
Develop
technical skills through courses, bootcamps, or a degree.
Before
shifting your focus to cloud security, establish a base of IT and computer
science skills and knowledge. You don’t necessarily need a degree to get a job
in cybersecurity. But by completing a degree program, online course, or
bootcamp, you can build a strong foundation to set yourself up for future
success. Some certifications will waive a portion of the work experience
requirement if you have a bachelor’s or
master’s degree in computer science or a related field. Even if you
don’t have a degree, start building job-ready skills in IT or cybersecurity
with a Professional Certificate on Coursera. Learn from industry leaders with
the Google
IT Support Professional Certificate or the IBM
Cybersecurity Analyst Professional Certificate.
Start
with an entry-level IT job.
Many
security professionals start out in an entry-level IT
role before
making the switch to security. Working as an IT support specialist, systems
administrator, or cybersecurity analyst can often give you hands-on experience
in cloud environments.
Earn
an entry-level IT or cloud certification.
After
gaining some experience in IT, consider earning your first certification in IT.
You’ll find a range of entry-level
IT certifications that
you can use to build your knowledge, enhance your resume, and possibly qualify
for new roles.
Build
your cloud and security skills.
As
you gain experience on the job, look for opportunities to work on your cloud
and security skills. Some essential skills for cloud security engineers
include:
Experience
with cloud service providers
Information
security
DevOps
Programming
languages like Python and Ruby
Network
and application security
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