1. Exam Overview
The AWS Certified Security – Specialty (SCS-C02) exam validates advanced knowledge of securing AWS workloads, detecting threats, implementing data protection, and maintaining compliance.
It is designed for security professionals with hands-on AWS experience managing and securing environments.
📘 Official Exam Guide (PDF): AWS Certified Security – Specialty Exam Guide
🌐 Official Certification Page: AWS Certification – Security Specialty
🧩 Practice Questions: Cloud Pass SCS-C02 Practice Page
Exam Details
- Format: 65 questions (multiple-choice / multiple-response)
- Duration: 180 minutes
- Recommended Experience: 2+ years in AWS security or governance roles
- Key Focus Areas: Threat detection, IAM, encryption, incident response, compliance, monitoring
2. Key Domains & Focus
The SCS-C02 exam reflects the latest AWS security architecture patterns and services.
It covers six major domains:
- Threat Detection and Incident Response
- Security Logging and Monitoring
- Infrastructure Security
- Identity and Access Management (IAM)
- Data Protection
- Management and Security Governance
Unlike memorization-heavy exams, SCS-C02 emphasizes practical scenario-based reasoning — understanding why a specific security measure or architecture is chosen.
3. Study Strategy
(1) Understand End-to-End Security Flow
Think holistically about how AWS security layers interact:
- Threat detection → Logging & monitoring → Response & recovery
- IAM → Key Management → Encryption → Audit & Compliance
(2) Master Core AWS Security Services
You should be comfortable with:
- Access Management: IAM, AWS KMS, STS
- Infrastructure Protection: AWS WAF, AWS Shield, VPC Security Groups, NACLs
- Data Protection: S3 encryption, EFS encryption, Macie, CloudFront security
- Monitoring & Detection: GuardDuty, CloudWatch, CloudTrail, Security Hub
- Governance & Compliance: AWS Organizations, SCPs, AWS Config, Audit Manager
(3) Practice Real-World Scenarios
Ask yourself during practice:
- “Which security service mitigates this specific threat most effectively?”
- “How can I reduce cost while maintaining encryption and compliance?”
- “Which configuration ensures least-privilege access?”
👉 Cloud Pass SCS-C02 Practice Page
(4) Study Key Whitepapers
- AWS Security Best Practices
- Security Pillar – AWS Well-Architected Framework
- AWS KMS Best Practices
- Security at Scale: Logging in AWS
4. Core AWS Services Summary
| Category | Services | Key Concepts |
|---|---|---|
| IAM & Access Control | IAM, STS, KMS | Least privilege, key rotation, temporary credentials |
| Infrastructure Security | WAF, Shield, VPC Security Groups, NACL | Network isolation, DDoS protection |
| Data Protection | S3 Encryption, EFS Encryption, Macie | Data classification, encryption management |
| Monitoring & Logging | CloudWatch, CloudTrail, Security Hub | Log aggregation, alerting, automated incident response |
| Governance & Compliance | Organizations, SCP, Config, Audit Manager | Policy enforcement, auditing, governance automation |
5. Common Exam Scenarios
- Designing encryption and access control for PII data stored in S3
- Setting up centralized logging and monitoring across multiple AWS accounts
- Mitigating DDoS attacks using AWS Shield and WAF
- Building key rotation and encryption lifecycle policies
- Implementing fine-grained governance with AWS Organizations and SCPs
6. Suggested Study Roadmap
| Week | Goal | Study Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Understand the exam structure | Read official guide, domain weights |
| Week 2 | Focus on IAM & Encryption | Key policies, temporary access, KMS rotation |
| Week 3 | Master Infrastructure & Threat Detection | WAF, GuardDuty, CloudTrail, Security Hub |
| Week 4 | Practice Data Protection & Compliance | S3 encryption, Audit Manager, governance |
| Week 5 | Take mock exams | Timed simulation, analyze weak areas |
7. Final Tips
- Understand why each security control is chosen — not just what it does.
- Practice real scenario questions and analyze the reasoning behind each answer.
- Think in layers: prevention, detection, and response.
- Manage your time during the exam and stay calm under pressure.
Ready to Begin?
- Official AWS Exam Guide (PDF)
- AWS Certification – Security Specialty
- Cloud Pass SCS-C02 Practice Page
Cloud Pass helps you master AWS Security through realistic 2025 practice questions and detailed explanations designed for true exam readiness.