Microsoft · Professional Certification · Associate
Microsoft Certified: Security Operations Analyst Associate (SC-200)
Crydd Score 56
Demand High
Career Value Strong
Recognition High
SC-200 at a glance
- Provider
- Microsoft
- Credential type
- Professional Certification
- Exam required
- Yes
- Category
- Security
- Level
- Associate
- Cost
- $165
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Time to earn
- 2–3 months
- Validity
- 1 year (free online renewal)
- Format
- Proctored exam, 100 minutes
- Prerequisites
- None required
What is SC-200?
Microsoft's associate certification for security operations: investigating and responding to threats with Microsoft Sentinel and the Microsoft Defender products, including threat hunting and incident response.
Skills it covers
- Security operations
- Microsoft Sentinel
- Microsoft Defender
- Threat hunting
- Incident response
Is SC-200 worth it? The Crydd Verdict
CS 56Choose it if
You work, or want to work, in a security operations centre that runs on Microsoft Sentinel and Defender, and want the credential that matches that daily work.
Consider alternatives if
Your SOC runs on other tools: CompTIA CySA+ is vendor-neutral, and Google's Professional Security Operations Engineer covers Google Security Operations.
Why we say so
SOC analyst work is one of the most common ways into security, and Microsoft's tools are widespread in enterprise SOCs, so this maps directly onto real job descriptions.
Market demand
Security operations analysts are hired steadily, and postings for Microsoft-based SOCs often name Sentinel, Defender and SC-200 directly.
Where SC-200 takes you
- Cybersecurity Analyst
- 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-200, so you know why it’s here.
CS 83
Microsoft Certified: Security, Compliance, and Identity Fundamentals (SC-900)
Microsoft · Foundational
A more foundational start
CS 70
CompTIA CySA+
CompTIA · Associate
Comparable alternative
CS 63
Google Cloud Professional Security Operations Engineer
Google Cloud · Professional
Higher-level progression
Careers SC-200 leads to
The professional paths this certification genuinely serves — browse every relevant credential for each.
A sensible order
Where SC-200 sits on the path — build up, then step on.
