Microsoft · Professional Certification · Associate
Microsoft Certified: Cloud and AI Security Engineer Associate (SC-500)
Crydd Score 56
Demand High
Career Value High
Recognition Strong
SC-500 at a glance
- Provider
- Microsoft
- Credential type
- Professional Certification
- Exam required
- Yes
- Category
- Security
- Level
- Associate
- Cost
- $165
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Time to earn
- 2–4 months
- Validity
- 1 year (free online renewal)
- Format
- Proctored exam, 120 minutes
- Prerequisites
- None required; Microsoft expects hands-on Azure and hybrid administration and strong Microsoft Entra ID familiarity
What is SC-500?
Microsoft's associate certification for securing Azure and hybrid environments and the AI workloads built on them: identity, access and governance, storage, databases and networking, compute, and security posture. It replaced AZ-500 in 2026.
Skills it covers
- Identity, access and governance
- Storage, database and network security
- Compute security
- Security posture management
Is SC-500 worth it? The Crydd Verdict
CS 56Choose it if
You secure Azure workloads, or you held or planned AZ-500: SC-500 is its replacement, with protection for AI solutions added.
Consider alternatives if
You secure AWS or Google Cloud instead: AWS Certified Security – Specialty or Google's Professional Cloud Security Engineer matches those platforms.
Why we say so
Cloud security engineers are in steady demand and Azure is a leading enterprise platform; the certification is new, so its name is still spreading, but it carries AZ-500's role forward.
Market demand
Postings for Azure security engineers are steady. Many still ask for AZ-500, which Microsoft retired on 31 August 2026 and named SC-500 as its replacement.
Where SC-500 takes you
- Cloud Security Engineer
- Security Engineer
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 SC-500, so you know why it’s here.
Careers SC-500 leads to
The professional paths this certification genuinely serves — browse every relevant credential for each.
A sensible order
Where SC-500 sits on the path — build up, then step on.
Recommended next after SC-500
A step up on a shared path
