AWS SCS
AWS Certified Security, Specialty (SCS-C02)
The AWS Certified Security – Specialty (SCS-C02) validates advanced cloud security expertise for architects and engineers designing security solutions on AWS. It covers the full security stack, identity management, infrastructure protection, data protection, logging, incident response, and compliance automation. SCS-C02 is the benchmark specialty credential for AWS security engineers.
Study Materials in C3RT
AWS SCS Exam Overview
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | AWS Certified Security, Specialty (SCS-C02) |
| Governing Body | AWS |
| Number of Questions | 65 |
| Time Limit | 170 minutes |
| Passing Score | 750/1000 (scaled) |
| Exam Fee | $300 USD |
| Category | IT Certifications |
| C3RT App Available On | iPhone, iPad, and Mac |
| Official Source | AWS official website ↗ |
AWS SCS Content Areas and Domains
| Domain / Content Area | Exam Weight |
|---|---|
| Threat Detection and Incident Response | 14% |
| Security Logging and Monitoring | 18% |
| Infrastructure Security | 20% |
| Identity and Access Management | 16% |
| Data Protection | 18% |
| Management and Security Governance | 14% |
Domain weights are approximate and based on the AWS content outline. Always verify at the official source before your exam.
Topics Covered
- ✓ Threat Detection with GuardDuty, Security Hub, and Detective
- ✓ Security Logging with CloudTrail, VPC Flow Logs, and CloudWatch
- ✓ Infrastructure Protection with WAF, Shield, and Network Firewall
- ✓ Identity and Access Management (IAM, SCP, Permission Boundaries)
- ✓ Data Protection with KMS, Secrets Manager, and Macie
- ✓ Incident Response Playbooks on AWS
- ✓ Security Governance with AWS Organizations and Control Tower
How C3RT Helps You Pass the AWS SCS
Adaptive Practice
Questions adapt to your weak areas automatically so every study session on the AWS SCS is time well spent.
Diagnostic Mocks
Full-length mock exams timed to the real AWS SCS format with detailed score breakdowns by topic.
Mistake Bank
Every wrong answer is saved for targeted re-drill. The system resurfaces your mistakes until they stick.
Native on iOS & Mac
Built with SwiftUI, not a web wrapper. Instant load, offline support, hardware-speed rendering.
Sample AWS SCS Practice Questions
Q1.A security engineer discovers that an S3 bucket containing sensitive data has been made publicly readable. What is the fastest way to prevent any public access to all S3 buckets in the account going forward?
- Delete the bucket policy on the affected bucket only
- Enable S3 Block Public Access at the account levelCorrect
- Rotate the IAM access keys for all users
- Enable MFA Delete on the bucket
S3 Block Public Access can be enabled at the account level, which overrides any bucket policies or ACLs that would otherwise grant public access, providing the fastest and broadest remediation across all buckets.
Q2.Which AWS service continuously analyzes CloudTrail, VPC Flow Logs, and DNS logs using machine learning to detect anomalous and potentially malicious activity?
- AWS Config
- Amazon GuardDutyCorrect
- AWS Trusted Advisor
- Amazon Inspector
Amazon GuardDuty is a threat detection service that continuously monitors CloudTrail management and data events, VPC Flow Logs, and DNS logs using machine learning and threat intelligence to identify malicious or unauthorized behavior.
Q3.A company must ensure that data encrypted with AWS KMS can only be decrypted by principals in a specific AWS account, even though the key is shared cross-account. What should be configured?
- An S3 bucket policy only
- A key policy on the KMS key combined with IAM policies granting kms:DecryptCorrect
- A NACL rule restricting the KMS API endpoint
- A VPC endpoint policy on the KMS interface endpoint alone
KMS key policies define who can use a key at the resource level, and must be combined with IAM policies on the calling principals granting kms:Decrypt for access to actually be permitted, this dual control is central to KMS access management.
AWS SCS Frequently Asked Questions
What does AWS SCS stand for?
AWS SCS stands for AWS Certified Security, Specialty (SCS-C02). It is administered by AWS.
Who administers the AWS SCS?
The AWS Certified Security, Specialty (SCS-C02) (AWS SCS) is administered by AWS. For official information, visit the AWS website.
How many questions is the AWS SCS?
The AWS SCS consists of 65 questions. Candidates are given 170 minutes to complete the exam.
How many practice questions does C3RT have for the AWS SCS?
The C3RT app includes 6,000 practice questions for the AWS SCS, along with 1,500 flashcards, 300 concept reels, and 400 concept cards.
What is the passing score for the AWS SCS?
The passing score for the AWS SCS is 750/1000 (scaled), as set by AWS. Scoring methodology and passing standards may be updated periodically. Always verify current requirements with the governing body.
How much does the AWS SCS exam cost?
The AWS SCS exam fee is $300 USD. This fee is set by AWS and may vary by testing centre, region, or membership status. Additional fees for registration or rescheduling may apply.
Is there a course or study guide for the AWS SCS?
C3RT is not a video-lecture course, it is a practice-first app built around questions, flashcards, and study tools. If you specifically want a taught course, see C3RT vs Pocket Prep, C3RT vs Tutorials Dojo, C3RT vs Whizlabs, or the full rundown in Best AWS Cloud Practitioner (CLF-C02) Prep for how C3RT compares to course-based providers for the AWS SCS.
Who should take the AWS Security Specialty?
Security engineers, cloud architects, and DevSecOps engineers with 5+ years of IT security experience and 2+ years of AWS hands-on work are the primary audience. It assumes strong knowledge of IAM, KMS, VPC security groups, and AWS logging services.
What is the hardest part of the AWS SCS-C02 exam?
Most candidates find the incident response and forensics domain most challenging, particularly designing automated response playbooks using EventBridge, Lambda, and Step Functions. Data protection involving KMS key policies and Secrets Manager rotation is also frequently cited as difficult.
Is AWS Security Specialty harder than the Solutions Architect Professional?
They're comparable in difficulty but test different domains. SCS-C02 requires deep security-specific knowledge that SAP-C02 doesn't test. Security specialists find SCS-C02 more natural; architects without a security background typically find SCS-C02 harder.
How many questions are on AWS SCS-C02?
65 questions total (50 scored, 15 unscored), with 170 minutes to complete. Questions are scenario-based, often presenting an architecture and asking which security control best addresses a specific threat or compliance requirement.
How difficult is the AWS Security Specialty exam?
AWS SCS-C02 is considered a challenging Specialty-level exam, on par with or harder than the Professional-level exams for candidates without a security background. It requires deep knowledge of IAM, KMS, GuardDuty, incident response, and data protection across many AWS services simultaneously.
What are the prerequisites for the AWS Security Specialty?
There are no enforced prerequisites, but AWS recommends at least five years of IT security experience and two or more years of hands-on AWS workload security experience. Most candidates already hold an Associate-level AWS certification before attempting this exam.
How long should I study for the AWS Security Specialty?
Candidates with a security background typically study for 6-10 weeks, while those newer to security concepts often need 3-4 months. Deep familiarity with IAM policy evaluation logic and KMS key policies is essential, as these are heavily tested areas.
What career value does the AWS Security Specialty provide?
This certification is highly regarded for cloud security engineer, security architect, and compliance-focused roles, and is often listed as a preferred qualification in job postings for organizations with strict regulatory or security requirements.
C3RT is a native iOS and macOS exam preparation platform covering the AWS Certified Security, Specialty (SCS-C02) (AWS SCS), a IT Certifications certification, administered by AWS. C3RT is not affiliated with or endorsed by AWS. Certification names and trademarks are the property of their respective organisations. For official exam registration, eligibility requirements, and content outlines, visit the AWS official website ↗ .