What Is the CCSP? Your Guide to Becoming Certified in Cloud Security

The Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP) is a certification designed for those with some experience in information technology (IT) and security looking to advance their careers in cloud-based cybersecurity. Becoming a CCSP demonstrates to potential employers that you have the technical skills needed to secure valuable assets in the cloud.

With more and more organizations moving their operations to cloud environments, security professionals with specialized cloud knowledge will be in demand. In the Thales 2024 Cloud Security Study, 65 percent of respondents named cloud security as a top priority [1].

Explore the CCSP requirements, what to expect from the exam, and how to prepare for certification if you decide it’s a good fit for you.

How to get your CCSP certification

Becoming a CCSP means meeting a set of requirements and passing a certification exam designed to test your knowledge of cloud security topics. Take a quick look at the CCSP exam:

CCSP training and requirements

The CCSP is for IT professionals with a few years of experience in both IT and security. To qualify for the exam, you need five years of cumulative experience in IT. Three of those years must have been in information security, and one of them must have been in one of the six CCSP domains:

• Cloud architecture and design

• Cloud data security

• Cloud platform and infrastructure security

• Cloud application security

• Cloud security operations

• Legal, risk, and compliance

Full-time, part-time, and paid or unpaid internships count toward the experience requirement. Earning the Certificate of Cloud Security Knowledge (CCSK) from the Cloud Security Alliance also counts toward one year of experience in one of the six domains. 

If you have relevant IT and information security experience but haven’t yet worked with a cloud environment, earning the CCSK could be a faster option than accruing a year of experience working in cloud security. The CCSK has no experience requirements.

Another option if you're just starting out in the world of cybersecurity is to consider an entry-level credential, like the Microsoft Cybersecurity Analyst Professional Certificate. You can build job-ready skills in around six months while earning a shareable certificate from an industry leader.

What does the CCSP exam cover?

The multiple-choice exam questions cover each of the six (ISC)² CCSP Common Body of Knowledge (CBK) domains listed above. Each section has a weight of 17 percent except cloud data security, which is worth 19 percent, and legal, risk, and compliance, which is worth 13 percent. 

The CCSP Certification Exam Outline goes into detail about what you need to know for each domain.

Preparing for the CCSP exam

The CCSP is a knowledge-based exam with a clear outline of six domains to cover. While experience is an excellent teacher, it’s often a good idea to set aside extra time to prepare for the exam. You can prepare in several ways depending on your learning style and other obligations. Discover a few options:

• Exam prep course: Several companies offer training for the CCSP. While you’ll have to figure in the extra cost, a course could be helpful for those who do well with a more structured learning environment.

• Practice tests: When you take practice exams ahead of the real thing, you can identify areas where you may need to spend more time, and you can build confidence on test day by knowing what to expect. (ISC)² offers an official set of practice tests with 1,000-plus questions, but you’ll find others online and in print as well.

• Study groups: Learning with others can be a fun way to keep yourself motivated as exam day approaches. If you’re looking for fellow exam takers to form a study group, start with forums like the subreddit r/CCSP.

Tips for CCSP exam success

Some tips to keep in mind as you prepare:

• Register for the exam to give yourself a date to work toward. Consider your other obligations and pick a date that is realistic for you.

• Set aside a little time each day to study. Even 15 minutes a day can add up when you’re consistent.

• The CCSP exam does not penalize you for incorrect answers, so use the process of elimination and make your best guess.

• You can flag questions to skip and come back to later. Remember, you have three hours to finish—that works out to nearly 90 seconds per question.

Is the CCSP right for me?

If you’re working in cybersecurity and want to specialize in cloud security, becoming a CCSP could be a worthwhile investment. According to (ISC)², CCSPs in North America earn an average salary of $148,009 [3]. In comparison, Glassdoor reports an average salary of $126,038 for cloud security analysts with or without a CCSP certification [4].

If you’re just starting out in cybersecurity but think you have an interest in cloud security, the CCSP might be something to aim for as you build experience and earn more beginner-friendly cybersecurity certifications and credentials, like the CCSK.

Jobs that hire for CCSP

As more companies work with cloud technologies, it’s common for cybersecurity professionals in a variety of roles to need cloud security skills. Explore some of the jobs listed on LinkedIn that require or request a CCSP:

• Product security engineer

• Cybersecurity solutions architect

• Application security architect

• Cloud security engineer

• Information security auditor

• Compliance technology specialist

• Information security manager

Benefits of a CCSP certification

Becoming a CCSP could help you advance into a better, higher-paying job. But it could also come with other benefits.

• Learn new skills: Preparing for the CCSP certification exam could double as a way to develop your vendor-neutral cloud security skills in a more structured way.

• On-the-job confidence: The knowledge and skills gained by attaining CCSP status could help you be better prepared to solve cloud security problems in the real world.

• Networking: Earning the CCSP also gives you membership to (ISC)², which includes networking opportunities and professional development resources. 

Security clearance

The CCSP is one of seven certifications approved by the US Department of Defense as an information assurance (IA) baseline certification. Earning this certification meets the minimum certification requirement for IAT Level III and IASAE III jobs [5].

CCSP vs. CISSP

If you have several years of experience working in cybersecurity, you may find yourself deciding between the CCSP and the Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), two reputable security certifications from (ISC)². 

Which you choose will depend on your level of experience and your career goals. While the CCSP requires five years of experience, the CISSP doubles that requirement to 10 years of cumulative experience; this could be a limiting factor if you’re still early in your career.

The CSSP focuses on cloud security specifically, while the CISSP covers cybersecurity topics more broadly (and may be desirable for a wider range of jobs). 

It’s also possible to start with the CCSP as a way to advance your career and build experience while working toward the CISSP in the future. 

Get started in cybersecurity with Coursera

The CCSP certification is an intermediate cloud computing security credential for IT professionals with at least five years of experience in the field. Experience the work of a cybersecurity analyst as you build job-ready skills with the Microsoft Cybersecurity Analyst Professional Certificate on Coursera. Learn at your own pace from top industry experts at Microsoft as you earn a credential for your resume.

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