Jacob Marks

*** NOTE: AWS has pulled this specific certification version, refunding those who took the original beta exam. *** 2026 Status Update: The AWS Certified Security - Specialty is now a mature, standard certification. While the beta period mentioned below ended years ago, the core focus on deep-dive security across IAM, Encryption, and Incident Response remains the primary objective of the current exam version. I had the opportunity to take the AWS Certified Security Specialty Exam at re:Invent 2016. The exam was in a beta phase where questions were being tested, refined, and the exam pass line was being set. While I can't share actual exam questions, I can share advice for others interested in the certification path. Preparation I entered the exam cold, drawing only on my working knowledge of AWS and its services, so my perspective is an unbiased view of the exam's difficulty. While blueprints change, the foundational security pillars remain consistent. Format ...

There are many posts with various accounts from the AWS CSA exam, so I will try to keep mine concise and to the point. The exam requires a foundational understanding of all AWS services. Questions are situational and focused on technical nuances. Rather than a test of deep systems architecture, it is largely a test of your familiarity with the AWS product ecosystem. Historical Perspective: This post reflects the original SAA-C00 exam version. I originally passed on March 11, 2014 , and completed the recertification on July 30, 2015 . While concepts like S3 and EC2 are evergreen, modern exams like SAA-C03 now prioritize serverless and managed services. My studies began with the sample exam questions provided by AWS. Since AWS does not provide the answers to those samples, I've documented my research and answers for them below. Sample Exam Question Deep Dive Amazon Glacier is designed for (Choose 2 answers) Answer(s): B - Infrequen...