Staying Ahead of the Curve: Updates in the AWS Certified Security – Specialty (SCS-C02) Exam

The Amazon certification exams are widely recognized in the industry as a benchmark for cloud computing skills and knowledge. The vendor regularly updates its certification tests to reflect the latest changes in AWS services and best practices, as well as to ensure that the exams remain relevant and valuable for IT professionals.

Thus, Amazon has recently announced updates to the AWS Certified Security – Specialty (SCS-C02) exam. These updates reflect the changing nature of cloud security and the need for security professionals to stay ahead of the curve. The updates to the exam objectives are a response to the rapidly evolving threat landscape and the need to ensure that security professionals have the skills and knowledge necessary to secure the AWS cloud platform.

Overview of the AWS Certified Security – Specialty (SCS-C02) Exam

The SCS-C02 exam is designed to validate the skills of professionals in creating and implementing security solutions in the AWS cloud platform. It is a challenging test that requires a deep understanding of security best practices, AWS services and infrastructure, and the ability to apply this knowledge to real-world scenarios. The exam consists of 65 multiple-choice and multiple-response questions and must be completed within 170 minutes. And to take it one has to pay an exam fee of $300. It can be taken both online and in-person via Pearson VUE testing center or as an online proctored exam.

What Are Specific Changes in the SCS-C02 Exam?

With the increasing use of cloud computing, security has become a critical concern for organizations of all sizes. The updated objectives for the SCS-C02 exam reflect the latest security best practices and cover a wider range of skills and knowledge that are essential for securing the AWS cloud platform. The new version of the SCS-C02 exam will be available on July 11, 2023. The exam objectives will be organized into six domains, each covering a specific set of skills and knowledge.

One of the significant changes in the SCS-C02 exam is the increased focus on incident response. With the increasing number of security incidents, it is essential to have a robust incident response plan in place to quickly and effectively respond to security incidents. The updated exam objectives cover the skills and knowledge necessary to identify and classify incidents, gather evidence, and mitigate the impact of the incident.

Another significant change in the SCS-C02 exam is the increased focus on logging and monitoring. Monitoring AWS services and infrastructure for security events and responding to them quickly is critical to maintaining the security of the AWS cloud platform. The updated exam objectives cover the skills and knowledge necessary to configure logging and monitoring tools, analyze log data, and respond to security events.

In addition, candidates will need to have updated skills and knowledge related to infrastructure security. This includes the ability to secure network connections and implement best practices for infrastructure security. The ability to configure security groups, network ACLs, and implement encryption for data at rest and in transit are critical skills for securing the AWS cloud platform. The identity and access management domain in the updated SCS-C02 exam objectives covers a broader set of skills and knowledge related to implementing identity and access management best practices for securing the AWS cloud platform. This includes the ability to configure AWS IAM policies, implement multi-factor authentication, and manage AWS resources and permissions.

The candidates will be also tested based on their expertise in data protection. With the increasing use of cloud computing, it is crucial to have a robust data protection strategy in place to protect data in transit and at rest. The updated exam objectives cover the skills and knowledge necessary to implement encryption for data, configure backup and recovery procedures, and implement security controls for databases and storage system

Finally, the management and security governance domain will cover the skills and knowledge needed for implementing and maintaining effective security governance practices in an AWS environment. These include developing a strategy for the deployment and management of AWS accounts, evaluating the compliance of AWS resources, identifying security gaps with the help of cost analysis and architectural reviews, as well as implementing a secure deployment strategy for cloud resources.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the updates to the AWS Certified Security – Specialty (SCS-C02) exam reflect AWS’s commitment to ensuring that its certifications remain relevant and up-to-date with the latest industry trends. The updates to the exam objectives reflect the changing nature of security threats and the need for security professionals to keep their skills sharp. Candidates who pass the SCS-C02 exam will have validated their expertise in securing the AWS cloud platform and demonstrated their commitment to keeping up with the latest industry developments. As the cloud continues to evolve rapidly, it is essential for security professionals to adapt to new security technologies and practices.