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Cloud Security Alliance · Cloud · Associate

Certificate of Cloud Security Knowledge (CCSK) exam guide

Exam CCSK v5

The Certificate of Cloud Security Knowledge (CCSK) v5 from the Cloud Security Alliance validates vendor-neutral understanding of securing cloud environments, based on CSA Security Guidance v5 and the Cloud Controls Matrix. It is a fast, affordable way to prove cloud security fundamentals and is often taken before CCSP.

Questions60
Time limit120 minutes
Passing score80%
Exam fee$445 USD
Valid forSee official page
DeliveryOnline, on demand via the CSA exam platform

Format: Multiple choice, open book, online. Fee note: Token includes two attempts and is valid two years from purchase.

Who it's for

Security analysts, cloud engineers, architects and auditors who need vendor-neutral cloud security knowledge.

What the exam covers

Cloud Computing Concepts and Architectures—
Cloud Governance—
Risk, Audit and Compliance—
Organization Management—
Identity and Access Management—
Security Monitoring—
Infrastructure and Networking—
Cloud Workload Security—
Data Security—
Application Security—
Incident Response and Resilience—
Related Technologies and Strategies (Zero Trust, AI)—

A dash means the vendor does not publish a weight for that domain.

Eligibility & prerequisites

Required: None

Recommended: General IT security knowledge and basic familiarity with IaaS, PaaS and SaaS.

Keeping it active

The CCSK certificate does not expire.

Skills & careers

Skills it validates

  • Shared responsibility model across service models
  • Cloud governance and risk management
  • Cloud IAM and federation
  • Securing workloads, containers and serverless
  • Cloud data security and key management
  • Using the Cloud Controls Matrix (CCM)

Job roles

Cloud Security EngineerCloud Security AnalystCloud ArchitectSecurity ConsultantIT AuditorDevSecOps Engineer

Where it fits in your path

Planning a degree too? See how this cert earns college credit in the College Credit Navigator.

Build my study plan

  1. Week 1: Read CSA Security Guidance v5 domains 1-6.
  2. Week 2: Read domains 7-12 and skim the Cloud Controls Matrix and ENISA-related material in the body of knowledge.
  3. Week 3: Take CSA's prep resources or course; build a searchable PDF set of the guidance.
  4. Week 4: Practice tests, then sit the exam in one uninterrupted 2-hour block.

Make it yours: pick your exam date and weekly hours. We'll split your time by domain weight and give you a printable plan.

Exam-day tips

  • It is open book, but 2 minutes per question leaves little time; keep searchable PDFs ready.
  • Answers follow CSA Security Guidance wording, not vendor documentation.
  • The exam cannot be paused, so plan a quiet 2-hour window.
  • Use the second attempt in the token if you miss; there is no waiting period.
  • Know the shared responsibility split for IaaS, PaaS and SaaS precisely.

Key terms for this exam

All 36 terms Study with thinQcards™

Frequently asked questions

How much does CCSK cost?

USD 445 per exam token, which includes two attempts.

Does CCSK expire?

No. The certificate does not expire.

Is CCSK open book?

Yes, but timing is tight at 60 questions in 120 minutes.

CCSK vs CCSP?

CCSK is shorter, cheaper and knowledge-focused with no experience requirement; CCSP is a deeper ISC2 credential requiring five years of experience and annual CPEs.

Is CCSK worth it?

It is a cost-effective cloud security credential and counts toward CCSP preparation.

Official page: cloudsecurityalliance.org. Reviewed November 2026. Vendors change fees and objectives, so confirm with the vendor before you book. Spot something out of date? Tell us.