Skip to content
CertAscent
Start your 7-day trialRequest an inviteCreate an account

Cybersecurity Certification Roadmap · career track

Cloud Security

Secure workloads, identities and data in AWS, Azure, GCP and Kubernetes.

Typical roles: Cloud Security Engineer · Cloud Security Architect · Platform Security

Plan this path in the app Track details

The track, phase by phase

  1. Foundation

    • AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner
    • Microsoft Certified: Azure Fundamentals
    • CompTIA Security+
    • Kubernetes and Cloud Native Security Associate
  2. Core

    • Cloud Security Alliance Certificate of Cloud Security Knowledge
    • Microsoft Certified: Cloud and AI Security Engineer Associate
    • AWS Certified Security - Specialty
    • Google Professional Cloud Security Engineer
  3. Advanced

    • ISC2 Certified Cloud Security Professional
    • Cloud Native Computing Foundation Certified Kubernetes Security Specialist
    • GIAC Public Cloud Security
    • GIAC Cloud Security Automation
  4. Mastery

    • AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Professional
    • Microsoft Certified: Cybersecurity Architect Expert
    • GIAC Cloud Penetration Tester

A suggestion, not a set of prerequisites: one or two certifications per phase is plenty.

Cloud Security on the map

Verified against issuers' official pages · updated · 695 active certifications (4 upcoming not counted)

How to read the map
  • Each tile is one certification: its abbreviation, the issuer and, when the issuer publishes one, a listed-cost band. Hover (or open) a tile for the full name.
  • under $300
  • $300 to $999
  • $1,000 to $2,999
  • $3,000 or more
  • No sign: price not published by the issuer
  • Upcoming Announced by the issuer but not yet available: not counted
  • Solid border and a phase number: on this track
  • Dashed border, greyed: not on this track

Communication & Network Security 36 certificationsnot on this track

Identity & Access Management 18 certificationsnot on this track

Expert, 2 certifications

Security Architecture & Engineering 107 certifications13 on this track

Asset Security 29 certificationsnot on this track

Security & Risk Management 170 certifications1 on this track

Intermediate, 105 certifications

Security Assessment & Testing 32 certificationsnot on this track

Expert, 1 certification

Software Security 32 certificationsnot on this track

Security Operations 271 certifications1 on this track

Intermediate, 180 certifications

Other career tracks (19)
Retired / replaced (76)

No longer offered by their issuers, so not on the map. Holders keep them; each page says what replaced it, where anything did.

  • ACE AccessData Certified Examiner
  • Apple ACSP Apple Certified Support Professional
  • AZ-220 Microsoft Certified: Azure IoT Developer Specialty
  • AZ-500 Microsoft Certified: Azure Security Engineer Associate → replaced by SC-500
  • C)ISCAP Mile2 Information Systems Certification and Accreditation Professional
  • C)ISSA Mile2 Certified Information Systems Security Auditor
  • CCSM Check Point Certified Security Master
  • CDRP Infosec Institute Certified Data Recovery Professional
  • CET ISACA Certified in Emerging Technology
  • CIISec ICSF CIISec Information and Cybersecurity Fundamentals
  • CITGP IBITGQ Certified in Implementing IT Governance - Foundation & Principles
  • Cloud Essentials CompTIA Cloud Essentials
  • CNDA EC-Council Certified Network Defense Architect
  • CREST CCHIA CREST Certified Host Intrusion Analyst → replaced by CREST CCIM
  • CREST CCNIA CREST Certified Network Intrusion Analyst → replaced by CREST CCIM
  • CREST CRTSA CREST Registered Technical Security Architect
  • CSA CCAK Cloud Security Alliance / ISACA Certificate of Cloud Auditing Knowledge
  • CSA CGC Cloud Security Alliance Cloud Governance & Compliance → replaced by CSA CCSK
  • CSSA Infosec Institute Certified SCADA Security Architect
  • CSX-P ISACA CSX Cybersecurity Practitioner → replaced by CCOA
  • DV AOPH Dark Vortex Adversary Operations & Proactive Hunting
  • DV MILF Dark Vortex Malware Incident & Log Forensics
  • DV MoS Dark Vortex Malware On Steroids
  • EEHF EXIN Ethical Hacking Foundation
  • EEXIN ISM EXIN Information Security Management Expert
  • eNDP eLearnSecurity Network Defense Professional
  • EPDPP EXIN Privacy and Data Protection Practitioner
  • EXIN 27001E EXIN ISO/IEC 27001 Expert
  • EXIN PCA EXIN Professional Cloud Administrator
  • EXIN PCD EXIN Professional Cloud Developer
  • EXIN PCSA EXIN Professional Cloud Solution Architect
  • EXIN PCSerM EXIN Professional Cloud Service Manager
  • EXIN PCSM EXIN Professional Cloud Security Manager
  • Fair Fdn FAIR Institute Analysis Fundamentals
  • FCA Fortinet Certified Associate Cybersecurity
  • FCF Fortinet Certified Fundamentals Cybersecurity
  • FCP NS Fortinet Certified Professional - Network Security
  • FCP PCS Fortinet Certified Professional - Public Cloud Security
  • FCP SO Fortinet Certified Professional - Security Operations
  • FCSS NS Fortinet Certified Solution Specialist Network Security
  • FCSS OT Fortinet Certified Solution Specialist - OT Security
  • FCSS PCS Fortinet Certified Solution Specialist - Public Cloud Security
  • FCSS SASE Fortinet Certified Solution Specialist - Secure Access Service Edge
  • FCSS SO Fortinet Certified Solution Specialist - Security Operations
  • FCSS ZTA Fortinet Certified Solution Specialist - Zero Trust Access
  • FCX Fortinet Certified Expert Cybersecurity
  • GCPM GIAC Certified Project Manager
  • GCWN GIAC Certified Windows Security Administrator
  • GEVA GIAC Enterprise Vulnerability Assessor
  • GLEG GIAC Law of Data Security & Investigations
  • GSNA GIAC Systems and Network Auditor
  • HCISPP ISC2 HealthCare Information Security and Privacy Practitioner
  • ITCA ISACA Information Technology Certified Associate
  • MAD CTI MITRE ATT&CK Defender Cyber Threat Intelligence
  • MAD SOCA MITRE ATT&CK Defender Security Operations Center Assessment
  • MASE Mosse Institute Certified Application Security Engineer
  • MCD Mosse Institute Certified Code Deobfuscation Specialist Certification
  • MCL Mosse Institute Cybersecurity Leadership
  • MESE Mosse Institute Enterprise Security Engineer
  • MNSE Mosse Institute Network Security Essentials
  • NCSC CCPLP NCSC Certified Cyber Professional (CCP) – Lead Practitioner
  • NCSC CCPP NCSC Certified Cyber Professional (CCP) – Practitioner
  • NCSC CCPSP NCSC Certified Cyber Professional (CCP) – Senior Practitioner
  • OSMR OffSec macOS Researcher
  • PCCET Palo Alto Networks Certified Cybersecurity Entry-level Technician → replaced by PAN Cyber Practitioner
  • PCCSE Prisma Certified Cloud Security Engineer → replaced by PAN Cloud Sec Eng
  • PCDRA Palo Alto Networks Certified Detection and Remediation Analyst → replaced by PAN XDR Analyst
  • PCNSA Palo Alto Networks Certified Network Security Administrator → replaced by PAN NetSec Analyst
  • PCNSE Palo Alto Networks Certified Network Security Engineer → replaced by PAN NGFW Engineer
  • PCSAE Palo Alto Certified Cloud Security Automation Engineer
  • SC-400 Microsoft Certified: Information Protection and Compliance Administrator Associate → replaced by SC-401
  • TUV Auditor IT Security Auditor (TÜV)
  • TUV MSA Mobile Security Analyst with TÜV Rheinland Certified Qualification
  • VCIX DCV VMware Certified Implementation Expert in Datacenter Virtualization
  • VCIX NV VMware Certified Implementation Expert in Network Virtualization
  • Zach EAPro Zachman Enterprise Architect Professional (Level 3)

About this map

Adapted from Paul Jerimy's Security Certification Roadmap, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0; changed (restructured, updated and extended from issuers' official sources). This adapted roadmap data is shared under the same license, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Not affiliated with the issuers; certification names are trademarks of their owners. Prices, requirements and availability change: confirm on the issuer's official page (linked from every certification page) before you register or pay.