Cloud Security Alliance · Professional Certification · Associate
Certificate of Cloud Security Knowledge (CCSK)
Crydd Score 83
Demand Growing
Career Value Strong
Recognition High
CCSK at a glance
- Provider
- Cloud Security Alliance
- Credential type
- Professional Certification
- Exam required
- Yes
- Category
- Security
- Level
- Associate
- Cost
- $445 (includes two exam attempts)
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Time to earn
- 1–2 months
- Validity
- Does not expire
- Format
- 60 multiple-choice questions, 120 minutes, online and open book; 80% to pass
- Prerequisites
- None; a grounding in firewalls, encryption and identity and access management is recommended
What is CCSK?
The Cloud Security Alliance's Certificate of Cloud Security Knowledge, now at version 5: cloud architecture, governance, risk and compliance, identity and access, security monitoring, workload and data security, incident response, and newer topics including Zero Trust and AI.
Skills it covers
- Cloud security architecture
- Cloud governance and risk
- Identity and access management
- Data security
- Cloud incident response
Is CCSK worth it? The Crydd Verdict
CS 83Choose it if
You want a vendor-neutral grounding in cloud security that applies across AWS, Azure and Google Cloud, at a modest price and with no expiry date.
Consider alternatives if
You have several years of experience and want the senior credential: ISC2's CCSP. For one provider in depth, its own security certification.
Why we say so
It is the long-established vendor-neutral cloud security baseline, and it never expires.
Market demand
Named in cloud security and GRC postings as a baseline, and often taken on the way to the CCSP.
Where CCSK takes you
- Cloud Security Engineer
- Security Architect
Career roadmaps show where this certification fits in each path. See the roadmaps.
Related certifications
Curated connections from the catalog — each labelled with how it relates to CCSK, so you know why it’s here.
Careers CCSK leads to
The professional paths this certification genuinely serves — browse every relevant credential for each.
A sensible order
Where CCSK sits on the path — build up, then step on.
