AWS Security Specialty
AWS Security Specialty vs 3 alternatives compared
Exam fee, level, duration, validity and salary side by side. Blank cells mean we do not have verified data yet.
| AWS Security Specialty | CISSP - Certified Information Systems Security Professional | CEH - Certified Ethical Hacker | CompTIA Security+ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vendor | Amazon Web Services | ISC2 | EC-Council | CompTIA |
| Level | Advanced | Advanced | Intermediate | Beginner |
| Exam fee | 300 USD | $749 | $1,199 | $425 |
| Duration | 170 minutes | — | 4 hours (MCQ) + 6 hours (practical) | — |
| Passing score | — | — | — | — |
| Valid for | 3 years | — | — | — |
| Typical salary | $145K–$180K | $140K–$175K | $95K–$130K | $75K–$100K |
| Prerequisites | Five years of IT security experience and two or more years of hands‑on AWS security exper… | — | — | — |
Which should you choose?
Should I take AWS Security Specialty or CISSP - Certified Information Systems Security Professional first?
Both are rated Advanced. Pick the one whose exam domains match the job you want, and check which one employers in your area ask for.
Should I take AWS Security Specialty or CEH - Certified Ethical Hacker first?
CEH - Certified Ethical Hacker is the lower-level certification (Intermediate vs Advanced), so it is usually the better first step.
Should I take AWS Security Specialty or CompTIA Security+ first?
CompTIA Security+ is the lower-level certification (Beginner vs Advanced), so it is usually the better first step.