As someone who already held a CompTIA Security+ certification and had earned the AWS Cloud Practitioner certification, I thought I had a solid foundation in security and cloud technologies when I decided to tackle the AWS Certified Security – Specialty exam. Add in a few years of hands-on experience working with AWS, and I felt ready to take on this challenge. However, the journey to passing the exam taught me a few key lessons about focusing on the right resources, study strategies, and mastering the specifics of AWS security.
Here are the tips and resources that helped me prepare for the exam:
1. Understand the Exam Scope
The AWS Certified Security – Specialty exam focuses on various aspects of cloud security, including:
- Incident response
- Identity and access management (IAM)
- Detective controls
- Infrastructure security
- Data protection
- Compliance
Make sure you’re familiar with these areas, as they form the bulk of the exam content. Even if you have experience with AWS, it’s important to dive deep into the security services and best practices provided by AWS.
2. Leverage Your Existing Knowledge
Having the CompTIA Security+ certification gave me a strong foundation in general security concepts such as encryption, risk management, and security controls. The AWS Cloud Practitioner certification helped me become familiar with AWS’s basic offerings and cloud terminology. I used these as the base for expanding my knowledge into the security-specific features within AWS.
However, this was just a starting point. The AWS Certified Security – Specialty exam dives much deeper into the specifics of securing AWS environments and services, so while your general security knowledge is helpful, you’ll need to build on that with AWS-specific concepts.
3. Focus on Key AWS Services and Features
There are many AWS services that are central to the security exam. Some key services to focus on include:
- AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM): This is essential for controlling access to AWS resources.
- AWS Key Management Service (KMS): Learn how encryption and key management work within AWS.
- Amazon GuardDuty, Inspector, and Macie: Understand how to use these services for threat detection and data protection.
- AWS Shield and WAF: Learn how to protect your AWS infrastructure from DDoS attacks and web application vulnerabilities.
- AWS CloudTrail and CloudWatch: These tools are essential for logging, monitoring, and incident response.
To get a solid overview of AWS security services, check out this Security Services Overview video.
4. Dive Into AWS Whitepapers and Documentation
AWS’s official documentation and whitepapers are critical for this exam. AWS provides comprehensive resources that are aligned with the exam objectives. Key whitepapers that helped me include:
- AWS Security Best Practices
- AWS Well-Architected Framework – Security Pillar
- Amazon Web Services Risk and Compliance
- Overview of Amazon Web Services (for a solid understanding of their global infrastructure and compliance certifications)
These resources provided both foundational knowledge and in-depth explanations of security services and best practices.
5. Hands-On Practice
While studying theory is important, hands-on practice is crucial to fully understanding AWS security services. Fortunately, AWS offers a free tier that allows you to experiment with various security services. During my preparation, I set up IAM roles, practiced using KMS for encryption, and configured GuardDuty and CloudTrail to simulate security monitoring. This not only helped reinforce the theoretical knowledge but also provided real-world experience with AWS security tools.
If you want a deeper dive into specific services, check out this Cognito Walkthrough. It’s an excellent practical demo of how to configure user authentication securely.
6. Recommended Learning Resources
Here’s a curated list of learning resources that I found particularly helpful during my preparation:
udemy courses
I really like how concise and effective Neil’s trainings are👇
AWS Certified Security Specialty Course SCS-C02
AWS Certified Security Specialty Practice Exams SCS-C02
Official AWS Training and Courses
- AWS Security Fundamentals (Second Edition) – Official AWS Course
- AWS Certified Security – Specialty Official Practice Questions (SCS-C02)
- AWS Certified Security – Specialty Official Practice Exam (SCS-C02)
Video Guides
- The Fundamentals of AWS Cloud Security
- Security best practices, common mistakes, and solutions
- Essential AWS Security Best Practices: Building Workloads the Well-Architected Way
🔥 More Practice Tests – A Must-Have!
7. Set a Study Schedule and Stick to It
As with any certification exam, consistency is key. I created a study schedule that allocated time for theory study, hands-on practice, and practice exams. This helped ensure that I covered all topics without feeling overwhelmed. It’s easy to get lost in AWS’s wide array of services, so having a structured approach kept me focused.
Final Thoughts
The AWS Certified Security – Specialty exam is challenging, but with a solid foundation, the right resources, and consistent hands-on practice, you can succeed. If you already have experience working with AWS, that’s a great starting point. Understanding core AWS services, cloud architecture, and basic security principles provides a solid base to build upon.
However, the real difference comes from diving deep into AWS-specific security services and fully leveraging recommended learning resources. Prioritize hands-on practice with tools like IAM, KMS, GuardDuty, and CloudTrail, and focus on understanding how these services interconnect to secure AWS environments.
Stay committed to your study plan, regularly test your knowledge with practice exams, and refine your hands-on skills. With the right approach, you’ll be well-prepared to pass the exam and confidently secure AWS workloads in real-world scenarios.
Good luck with your preparation, and remember—mastery comes with practice!