AWS Security Specialty vs CISSP
CISSP pays $5K/yr more and covers all security domains (not just AWS). AWS Security Specialty is perfect for cloud security engineers at AWS shops. CISSP is the management and prestige path.
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Full Comparison: AWS Security Specialty vs CISSP
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| Factor | AWS Security Specialty | CISSP |
|---|---|---|
| Exam cost | $300 | $749 |
| Annual premium | +$35,000/yr | +$40,000/yr |
| Payback | ~3 months | ~3 months |
| Scope | AWS security only | All security domains |
| Experience req'd | 2 yrs cloud security | 5 yrs security |
| Management recognition | Technical | Executive-level |
AWS Security Specialty Is Faster to Get
AWS Security Specialty requires 2 years of security experience vs CISSP's 5 years. For engineers earlier in their security careers who work heavily in AWS, the Specialty is accessible 3 years before CISSP eligibility.
AWS Security Specialty covers IAM, KMS, CloudTrail, GuardDuty, Security Hub, and incident response in AWS — deeply practical content for AWS cloud security engineers.