What does CCSP stand for? Explore this intermediate cloud credential for cybersecurity professionals working in cloud environments.
The Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP) is a certification designed for those with some experience in information technology (IT) and security looking to advance their careers in cloud-based cybersecurity. Becoming a CCSP demonstrates to potential employers that you have the technical skills needed to secure valuable assets in the cloud.
With more and more organizations moving their operations to cloud environments, security professionals with specialized cloud knowledge will be in demand. In the Thales 2025 Cloud Security Study, 64 percent of respondents named cloud security as a top priority [].
Explore the CCSP requirements, what to expect from the exam, and how to prepare for certification if you decide it鈥檚 a good fit for you.
Becoming a CCSP means meeting a set of requirements and passing a certification exam designed to test your knowledge of cloud security topics. Take a quick look at the CCSP exam:
Certification | CCSP |
---|---|
Cost | $599 (US) [] |
Number of questions | 125 |
Type of questions | Multiple choice and advanced items |
Time to complete | 3 hours |
Passing score | 700 out of 1,000 points |
Prerequisites | 5 years of paid work experience in IT (3 years must be in information security and 1 year must be in one of six ISC2 CCSP Common Body of Knowledge (CBK) domains) |
Testing locations | Pearson VUE testing centers |
Available languages | English, Chinese, Japanese, and German |
Average CCSP salary (North America) | $148,009 [] |
The CCSP is for IT professionals with a few years of experience in both IT and security. To qualify for the exam, you need five years of cumulative experience in IT. Three of those years must have been in information security, and one of them must have been in one of the six CCSP domains:
Cloud concepts, architecture, and design
Cloud data security
Cloud platform and infrastructure security
Cloud application security
Cloud security operations
Legal, risk, and compliance
Full-time, part-time, and paid or unpaid internships count toward the experience requirement. Earning the Certificate of Cloud Security Knowledge (CCSK) from the Cloud Security Alliance also counts toward one year of experience in one or more of the six domains.听
If you have relevant IT and information security experience but haven鈥檛 yet worked with a cloud environment, earning the CCSK could be a faster option than accruing a year of experience working in cloud security. The CCSK has no experience requirements.
Another option if you鈥檙e just starting out in the world of cybersecurity is to consider an entry-level credential, like the Microsoft Cybersecurity Analyst Professional Certificate. You can build job-ready skills in around six months while earning a shareable certificate from an industry leader.
The multiple-choice exam questions cover each of the six ISC2 CCSP Common Body of Knowledge (CBK) domains listed above. The average weight for each section is as follows:
Cloud concepts, architecture, and design: 17 percent
Cloud data security: 20 percent
Cloud platform and infrastructure security: 17 percent
Cloud application security: 17 percent
Cloud security operations: 16 percent
Legal, risk, and compliance: 13 percent聽
The goes into detail about what you need to know for each domain.
The CCSP is a knowledge-based exam with a clear outline of six domains to cover. While experience is an excellent teacher, it鈥檚 often a good idea to set aside extra time to prepare for the exam. You can prepare in several ways, depending on your learning style and other obligations. Discover a few options:
Exam prep course: Several companies offer training for the CCSP. While you鈥檒l have to figure in the extra cost, a course could be helpful for those who do well with a more structured learning environment.
Practice tests: When you take practice exams ahead of the real thing, you can identify areas where you may need to spend more time, and you can build confidence on test day by knowing what to expect. ISC2 offers an official set of practice tests with 1,000-plus questions, but you鈥檒l find others online and in print as well.
Study groups: Learning with others can be a fun way to keep yourself motivated as exam day approaches. If you鈥檙e looking for fellow exam takers to form a study group, start with forums like the subreddit .
Some tips to keep in mind as you prepare:
Register for the exam to give yourself a date to work toward. Consider your other obligations and pick a date that is realistic for you.
Set aside a little time each day to study. Even 15 minutes a day can add up when you鈥檙e consistent.
The CCSP exam does not penalize you for incorrect answers, so use the process of elimination and make your best guess.
You can flag questions to skip and come back to later. Remember, you have three hours to finish鈥攖hat works out to nearly 90 seconds per question.
If you鈥檙e working in cybersecurity and want to specialize in cloud security, becoming a CCSP could be a worthwhile investment. According to ISC2, CCSPs in North America earn an average salary of $148,009 []. In comparison, Glassdoor reports a median total salary of $134,000 for cloud security analysts with or without a CCSP certification [].
If you鈥檙e just starting out in cybersecurity but think you have an interest in cloud security, the CCSP might be something to aim for as you build experience and earn more beginner-friendly cybersecurity certifications and credentials, like the CCSK.
As more companies work with cloud technologies, it鈥檚 common for cybersecurity professionals in a variety of roles to need cloud security skills. Explore some of the jobs listed on Indeed that require or request a CCSP:
Senior systems engineer
Cloud architect
Principal SIEM engineer
Cloud security engineer
IT systems and cloud security administrator
Cybersecurity engineer
Cloud security auditor
Becoming a CCSP could help you advance into a better, higher-paying job. But it could also come with other benefits:
Learning new skills: Preparing for the CCSP certification exam could double as a way to develop your vendor-neutral cloud security skills in a more structured way.
On-the-job confidence: The knowledge and skills gained by attaining CCSP status could help you be better prepared to solve cloud security problems in the real world.
Networking: Earning the CCSP also gives you membership to ISC2, which includes networking opportunities and professional development resources.听
The CCSP is one of seven certifications approved by the US Department of Defense as an information assurance (IA) baseline certification. Earning this certification meets the minimum certification requirement for IAT Level III and IASAE III jobs [].
If you have several years of experience working in cybersecurity, you may find yourself deciding between the CCSP and the Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), two reputable security certifications from ISC2.听
Which you choose will depend on your level of experience and your career goals. Both the CCSP and the CISSP require five years of experience, with the CCSP counting toward one year of work experience when earning the CISSP.
The CSSP focuses on cloud security specifically, while the CISSP covers cybersecurity topics more broadly (and may be desirable for a wider range of jobs).听
It鈥檚 also possible to start with the CCSP as a way to advance your career and build experience while working toward the CISSP in the future.听
Whether you want to develop a new skill, get comfortable with an in-demand technology, or advance your abilities, keep growing with a 糖心vlog官网观看 Plus subscription. You鈥檒l get access to over 10,000 flexible courses.听
The CCSP exam is generally considered more difficult than the CCSK but easier and less in-depth than the CISSP. Questions are multiple choice and advanced items, with no penalty for incorrect answers. With the right preparation and test strategy, it鈥檚 an attainable challenge.鈥幝 鈥
The CCSP comes with a work experience requirement, so it鈥檚 not considered an entry-level certification. If you鈥檙e new to cybersecurity, consider starting with the IBM Cybersecurity Analyst Professional Certificate, CompTIA Security+, GIAC Information Security Fundamentals (GISF), or the Systems Security Certified Practitioner (SSCP). 鈥
Whether the cost and time commitment involved in becoming a CCSP is worth it is an individual decision. If you鈥檙e committed to a career in cloud security, or if you鈥檙e applying for a job that requires a certification like the CCSP, then it could be a worthwhile investment.鈥幝 鈥
Thales. 鈥, https://cpl.thalesgroup.com/cloud-security-research.鈥 Accessed August 14, 2025.
ISC2. 鈥, https://www.isc2.org/register-for-exam/isc2-exam-pricing.鈥 Accessed August 14, 2025.
ISC2. 鈥, https://www.isc2.org/certifications/ccsp/ccsp-salary.鈥 Accessed August 14, 2025.
Glassdoor. 鈥, https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/cloud-security-analyst-salary-SRCH_KO0,22.htm/.鈥 Accessed August 14, 2025.
DoD Cyber Exchange. 鈥, https://dl.dod.cyber.mil/wp-content/uploads/8140/pdf/unclass-dod8570_ia_program_transition_dod8140_cwp.pdf.鈥 Accessed August 14, 2025.
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