You can see it againUnder pressure people bring back shapes and positions long after the wording has gone.
Picture superiority · Shepard 1967, Standing 1973
AWSAWS Certified Security - Specialty
The AWS Certified Security - Specialty certification validates your expertise in creating and implementing security solutions in the AWS Cloud. It covers specialized data classifications, data protection mechanisms, encryption methods, and secure internet protocols. This certification is for experienced security professionals who design and secure AWS workloads and architectures, positioning you as a trusted advisor to stakeholders and customers.
Exam formatMultiple choice, multiple response, ordering, and matching
Duration170 minutes
DeliveryPearson VUE
Passing score750 out of 1000
Free questions462
Content last reviewed 30 July 2026 · Up to date
The certification
What SCS-C03 proves, and what it asks of you
What this certification covers, who it is written for, and what the exam itself looks like on the day.
6domains
16objectives
172concepts
US $300exam fee
What it is
What this certification is
What it validates, who it is written for, and the experience it assumes.
About this certification
The AWS Certified Security - Specialty certification validates your expertise in creating and implementing security solutions in the AWS Cloud. It confirms your ability to apply specialized data classifications and AWS data protection mechanisms, implement data-encryption methods and AWS encryption mechanisms, and use secure internet protocols and AWS mechanisms to implement them. The exam also validates your understanding of security operations and risks, and your ability to make decisions that account for tradeoffs between cost, security, and deployment complexity.
Earning this certification demonstrates that you can secure production environments using AWS security services and features, and that you understand the AWS shared responsibility model, identity management at scale, multi-account governance, and incident response strategies. It complements the skills required for multiple job roles across cloud architecture, database, networking, and DevSecOps, and can build your credibility as a trusted advisor to stakeholders and customers.
Who it’s for
This certification is intended for experienced individuals who have a responsibility to secure cloud solutions. The target candidate should have the equivalent of 3–5 years of experience securing cloud solutions, including designing and implementing security solutions and hands-on experience securing AWS workloads. The exam is designed for security professionals who work in roles such as cloud security architect, security engineer, or DevSecOps engineer, and who need to demonstrate advanced technical skills in securing workloads and architectures on AWS.
Recommended experience
AWS recommends that candidates have the equivalent of 3–5 years of experience securing cloud solutions, including hands-on experience with AWS security services and best practices. Experience with the AWS shared responsibility model and its application; Managing identity at scale and multi-account governance; Security incident prevention and response strategies; Vulnerability management in the cloud; Logging and monitoring strategies; Data encryption methodologies, both at-rest and in-transit
The syllabus
What you’ll learn
Every domain and objective AWS measures, with the weight they carry on the exam.
The official AWS exam outline · checked 30 July 2026 · See the source
Content Domain 1: Detection
- Task 1.1: Design and implement monitoring and alerting solutions for an AWS account or organization
- Task 1.2: Design and implement logging solutions
- Task 1.3: Troubleshoot security monitoring, logging, and alerting solutions
Content Domain 2: Incident Response
- Task 2.1: Design and test an incident response plan
- Task 2.2: Respond to security events
Content Domain 3: Infrastructure Security
- Task 3.1: Design, implement, and troubleshoot security controls for network edge services
- Task 3.2: Design, implement, and troubleshoot security controls for compute workloads
- Task 3.3: Design and troubleshoot network security controls
Content Domain 4: Identity and Access Management
- Task 4.1: Design, implement, and troubleshoot authentication strategies
- Task 4.2: Design, implement, and troubleshoot authorization strategies
Content Domain 5: Data Protection
- Task 5.1: Design and implement controls for data in transit
- Task 5.2: Design and implement controls for data at rest
- Task 5.3: Design and implement controls to protect confidential data, credentials, secrets, and cryptographic key materials
Content Domain 6: Security Foundations and Governance
- Task 6.1: Develop a strategy to centrally deploy and manage AWS accounts
- Task 6.2: Implement a secure and consistent deployment strategy for cloud resources
- Task 6.3: Evaluate the compliance of AWS resources
On the day
The exam itself
Everything AWS publishes about sitting it, and nothing we inferred.
Prerequisites
No mandatory prerequisites — this certification has no required predecessor exam or credential.
Exam codeSCS-C03
CertificationAWS Certified Security - Specialty
Exam formatMultiple choice, multiple response, ordering, and matching
Duration170 minutes
Questions50–65 questions
Passing score750 out of 1000
DeliveryPearson VUE
LanguagesEnglish, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese (Brazil), Simplified Chinese, Spanish (Latin America)
PricingUS $300
Certification levelSpecialty
After you pass
Where this credential goes next
The path AWS lays out, how the credential is kept, and where to book.
Step-by-step path to AWS Certified Security - Specialty
Credential earnedAWS Certified Security - Specialty Specialty level certification Renewal and maintenance
The AWS Certified Security - Specialty certification is valid for 3 years. To maintain your certification, you can recertify by passing the latest version of this exam or by completing a recertification assessment on AWS Skill Builder. Stay current with the latest technologies and maintain your certification.
Learn more about renewal requirements Lifecycle status
This certification is currently active and available. AWS maintains this certification to validate current skills and industry relevance.
Exam status: ActiveMaintained by AWS
Exam registration
Register for the exam through Pearson VUE, AWS’s authorized testing partner.
Schedule your examVisit the official AWS certification page for exam policies and requirements.
View the official pageYour coach
And when you are serious, your coach Pip takes over
Your coach in the app reads what you have answered with the book closed and tells you one thing to do tonight. It will not count an answer you gave with the page open, and it will tell you when you are not ready.
See how the coach worksBefore you book
Questions people ask
How does SCS-C03 relate to the previous version of this exam?
The SCS-C03 exam is the latest version of the AWS Certified Security - Specialty exam. It includes updated content domains and objectives compared to the previous SCS-C02 version. The exam guide provides a comparison of revisions between SCS-C02 and SCS-C03.
Do I need to earn a lower-level AWS certification before taking this exam?
No. AWS does not require any specific certifications as prerequisites for the AWS Certified Security - Specialty exam. However, candidates commonly earn the AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Associate and/or AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Professional before attempting this exam.
Are there any hands-on or lab-based components in the exam?
The SCS-C03 exam includes multiple choice, multiple response, ordering, and matching question types. There is no separate hands-on lab component; however, the exam may include scenario-based questions that test your practical knowledge of AWS security services.
What is the retake policy if I fail the exam?
AWS Certification exams can be retaken after a waiting period. The specific retake policy is outlined in the AWS Certification Program Agreement. Generally, you must wait 14 days after a failed attempt before retaking the exam, and there is a limit on the number of attempts per year.
What job roles does this certification map to?
This certification complements the skills and expertise required for multiple job roles across cloud architecture, database, networking, and DevSecOps. It is particularly relevant for security engineers, cloud security architects, and DevSecOps engineers.
Can I recertify by passing a different AWS exam?
Yes. AWS offers multiple recertification options. For the AWS Certified Security - Specialty, you can recertify by passing the latest version of this exam, or by passing any Professional-level exam. You can also maintain your certification by completing recertification assessments on AWS Skill Builder.
Are there any discounts available for the exam?
Yes. Once you earn one AWS Certification, you get a 50% discount on your next AWS Certification exam. You can sign in and access this discount in your AWS Certification Account.
What are the testing accommodations for candidates with disabilities?
AWS Certification and their vendors are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. Accommodations must be requested prior to scheduling each exam, and are arranged individually and in advance with the test delivery provider. An ESL +30 minute extension is also available for non-native English speakers.
How soon are exam results available?
All AWS Certification exam results, including results for beta exams, are available within 5 business days after you complete your exam. You can access the results in your AWS Certification Account under Exam History.
Information freshness · Content last reviewed on 2026-07-30 Up to date
Practice free questions 462 questions, free, no account needed.
The curriculum
The whole exam, mapped and written
Every domain, every objective, and every concept AWS measures — each one written out.
6domains
16objectives
172concepts
99free pages
The domains, and what sits inside them
Every objective below is a page you can open and practise now, without an account.
The official AWS exam outline · checked 30 July 2026 · See the source
1Content Domain 1: Detection76 questions
Task 1.1: Design and implement monitoring and alerting solutions for an AWS account or organization5 concepts · 4 pagesOpen →Task 1.2: Design and implement logging solutions18 concepts · 9 pagesOpen →Task 1.3: Troubleshoot security monitoring, logging, and alerting solutions6 concepts · 3 pagesOpen →
2Content Domain 2: Incident Response67 questions
3Content Domain 3: Infrastructure Security100 questions
Task 3.1: Design, implement, and troubleshoot security controls for network edge services11 concepts · 6 pagesOpen →Task 3.2: Design, implement, and troubleshoot security controls for compute workloads17 concepts · 11 pagesOpen →Task 3.3: Design and troubleshoot network security controls8 concepts · 5 pagesOpen →
4Content Domain 4: Identity and Access Management45 questions
5Content Domain 5: Data Protection93 questions
Task 5.1: Design and implement controls for data in transit10 concepts · 6 pagesOpen →Task 5.2: Design and implement controls for data at rest14 concepts · 7 pagesOpen →Task 5.3: Design and implement controls to protect confidential data, credentials, secrets, and cryptographic key materials14 concepts · 7 pagesOpen →
6Content Domain 6: Security Foundations and Governance81 questions
Not a table of contents
Every line on this map already opens
In front of every objective the practice pages are already there, free and without an account. This is one objective, opened.
Task 1.1: Design and implement monitoring and alerting solutions for an AWS account or organization4 pagesOpen →
Free in front of it
19 questions on this objective, five to a page. Every range above is a real page, open now, with no account.
Reading the map is not the same as knowing the ground
The curriculum tells you what is on the exam. Proving you know it is a different job — and it is the one the closed-book run does.
Free questions
462 questions. No account, no card.
The whole bank is open. 5 questions to a page, every answer explained, and a discussion thread on each one.
462questions
99pages
16objectives
Freealways
Start anywhereTask 1.1: Design and implement monitoring and alerting solutions for an AWS account or organization 19 questions · 4 pages
Browse by domain
Every objective, and every page range, is a link — so you can pick up exactly where you left off.
1Content Domain 1: Detection76 questions
2Content Domain 2: Incident Response67 questions
3Content Domain 3: Infrastructure Security100 questions
4Content Domain 4: Identity and Access Management45 questions
5Content Domain 5: Data Protection93 questions
6Content Domain 6: Security Foundations and Governance81 questions
What a practice page gives you
1Five to a page
Short enough to finish, long enough to matter.
2Every answer explained
Not only which one is right — why the others are wrong.
3A discussion on each
Ask, answer, and vote. Every question has its own thread.
A question, and the idea behind it
Every question comes from a concept
These are not trivia. Each one is written against a concept in the book, so when you get one wrong there is somewhere to go and find out why.
The visual book
See it once. Carry it into the exam.
The pages shown here come from our AI-900 book — an example of how each concept is written in plain language and, where the idea needs one, drawn as a full page you can take in at a glance.
172concepts
462free questions
Why a picture, and not another paragraph
Three reasons, and each one is a real finding rather than a slogan.
You can see it againThe whole idea at onceWhere it starts, what happens in the middle, what comes out, and the mistake to avoid.
Multimedia principle · MayerThe look-alikes sit togetherThe pairs the exam tests are drawn side by side, so the difference is seen, not told.
Dual coding · PaivioWhat one page is made of
You are never asked to read a poster here — only to see how one is built. After that, every other page is legible at a glance.
1A numbered strip on top
The idea as a sequence, followed with a finger before a word is read.
2Panels for the parts
What it is, how the machine learns it, when it is the right tool.
3The trap, framed
The distinction the exam tests, given its own box instead of buried in prose.
4One line at the bottom
The sentence to carry into the exam room.
Open book, on purpose
Answer it with the picture beside you
This is the part that teaches. The illustration and the written explanation stay where they are while you work, so a scenario stops being a memory test and becomes something you can simply look at.
It teaches · it does not count
A smartphone uses AI to unlock when the owner looks at the camera. Which AI capability is being used?
AImage classification
BFacial recognition
COptical character recognition
DObject detection
Look at the five steps. Detect finds a face, align straightens it, encode turns it into numbers, search compares it with a stored face, and decide answers one question: is this the same person? Classification would only say “a face”. Detection would only draw a box. Neither decides whose.
Then the page shuts, and it starts counting
The same questions come back with the book closed — that run is the one that counts. After it, your coach picks one thing for tonight, sized to the time you have, and brings pages back before you lose them.
Testing effect · Roediger & Karpicke 2006 · spacing effect · Cepeda et al. 2006
Official resources
Straight from AWS
Where the exam is defined, scheduled and scored.
5official links
172concepts mapped
The source
AWS’s own pages
We link to them rather than repeat them, so nothing here goes stale behind them.
Checked against the source
Every objective on the official AWS outline already has questions here
We build from the official skills outline, not from a summary of it — 16 objectives, 172 concepts written under them, and free questions against every one. When AWS changes the outline, this page changes with it.
16objectives on the outline→172concepts written→462free questions
An official page tells you what will be asked. It cannot tell you what you will get right.
That is the only question worth answering the night before, and no link answers it. You answer it by taking the questions with the book closed, and seeing what comes back.