Cloud Security Jobs: Do You Actually Need AWS Certifications?

You've seen the job posts. "AWS experience required." "Cloud certifications preferred." And you're wondering: do I really need to drop $300+ on certifications before I can even apply?

Let's cut through the noise.

What Are Employers Actually Looking For?

Here's the thing—cloud security roles are exploding right now. Companies are migrating to AWS, Azure, and GCP faster than they can hire people who know how to secure them.

But here's where it gets interesting.

Most hiring managers aren't looking for certification collectors. They're looking for people who understand how cloud infrastructure actually works and where the security risks hide.

(And yeah, sometimes certifications are a shortcut to proving that. But not always.)

So Do You Need AWS Certs or Not?

Short answer? Maybe.

Longer answer? It depends on what else you're bringing to the table.

Let's break it down:

Yes – If You're Switching Careers

If you're coming from outside cybersecurity (or outside IT entirely), certifications give you credibility fast.

Why? Because hiring managers see "AWS Certified Security - Specialty" on your resume and think, "Okay, this person at least knows the basics."

It's not fair, but it's reality. Certifications signal commitment when you don't have experience yet.

Yes – If You're Applying to Larger Orgs

Big companies (think Fortune 500, government contractors, financial institutions) often have HR filters that literally screen out resumes without certain keywords.

No AWS cert listed? Your resume might not even reach a human.

It sucks, but automated systems don't care about your homelab or GitHub projects—they're scanning for "AWS Certified" in the text.

Maybe Not – If You Have Hands-On Experience

Here's where we gotta be honest: a junior analyst with a live AWS security project on GitHub beats someone with three certs and zero practical experience.

Every. Single. Time.

If you can show:

- A homelab where you've configured AWS GuardDuty and analyzed alerts

- A GitHub repo with CloudTrail log analysis scripts

- A blog post walking through an S3 bucket misconfiguration scenario

...then you're already ahead of 80% of cert-holders who just memorized practice tests.

What Certs Should You Actually Consider?

If you decide to go the certification route, here's the priority list:

1. AWS Certified Security - Specialty

- Cost: ~$300

- Difficulty: Intermediate (requires foundational AWS knowledge)

- Value: High—directly targets cloud security roles

- Requirement: You should have AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner or Solutions Architect Associate first (or equivalent experience)

2. AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Associate

- Cost: ~$150

- Difficulty: Moderate

- Value: Medium—not security-focused, but shows you understand AWS architecture

- Bonus: Great foundation before tackling Security Specialty

3. CompTIA Security+

- Cost: ~$400

- Difficulty: Entry-level

- Value: Medium for cloud roles, but highly recognized across cybersecurity

- Note: Not cloud-specific, but checks the "has a security cert" box

The Real Secret? Combine Certs with Projects

Here's what actually works:

Don't just get certified. Build something.

Hiring managers want to see:

- How you think through security problems

- That you can actually use AWS (not just pass a test)

- You're curious enough to learn on your own

Try this instead:

1. Get AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner (entry-level, $100, easy win)

2. Build a real project: Deploy a vulnerable web app on EC2, then secure it using IAM policies, security groups, GuardDuty, and CloudTrail

3. Document it: Write a blog post or GitHub README explaining what you did and why

4. Then consider AWS Security Specialty if you want the resume boost

Now you have both the cert and proof you can actually do the work.

What If You Can't Afford Certs Right Now?

Totally fair. Here's the no-cost path:

- AWS Free Tier: 12 months of free AWS services—build security projects without spending a dime

- Free Training: AWS Skill Builder has tons of free security courses

- Open-Source Tools: Learn CloudMapper, Prowler, ScoutSuite (all free AWS security tools)

- CTFs: Try cloud security challenges on HackTheBox, TryHackMe, or PentesterLab

Get good at these, and you'll have skills most cert-holders don't.

TL;DR – Should You Get AWS Certs?

Get certified if: You're career-switching, targeting large orgs, or need resume keywords to get past HR filters.

Skip it (for now) if: You can build hands-on projects and demonstrate real cloud security skills through portfolios, GitHub, or blogs.

Best approach: Do both—get one foundational cert (Cloud Practitioner or Security+), then immediately build projects to prove you can actually use what you learned.

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FAQs

Do I need to know coding to get into cloud security?

Nope, but basic scripting (Python, Bash, PowerShell) will make your life way easier. You don't need to be a developer, but being able to automate AWS security checks or parse CloudTrail logs is huge.

Is Azure or GCP better than AWS for cloud security jobs?

AWS has the biggest market share (~32% of cloud infrastructure), so there are more jobs. But Azure is growing fast, especially in enterprises already using Microsoft. Learn one deeply first, then pick up others as needed.

How long does it take to get AWS Security Specialty?

If you're starting from zero AWS knowledge: 3-6 months (get Cloud Practitioner first, then study for Specialty). If you already know AWS basics: 1-2 months of focused study.

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Final thought: Certifications open doors. Projects keep them open.

Don't just collect certs and hope for the best. Build something real, break something (in your homelab!), then fix it. That's what gets you hired.

How EpicDetect Can Help

Want to build hands-on cloud security skills? EpicDetect has practical challenges, learning tracks, and labs designed to give you real-world experience—not just theory. Plus, we have certification prep for Security+ to help you check that foundational cert box.

Check it out here: EpicDetect Pricing