Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | AWS Certified Security – Specialty | Azure Security Engineer Associate (AZ-500) |
|---|---|---|
| Provider | Amazon Web Services | Microsoft |
| Level | Specialty | Associate |
| Exam Cost | $300 | $165 |
| Avg Salary | $142,000 | $128,000 |
| Pass Rate | 45% | 55% |
| Study Hours | 160h | 120h |
| Difficulty | 8/10 | 7/10 |
| Job Listings | 19.0K | 21.0K |
Our Verdict
Despite being at different certification levels (Specialty vs Associate), both validate strong cloud security skills. AWS Security Specialty commands higher salaries ($142K vs $128K) but is significantly harder with a 45% pass rate and more study hours required. Azure AZ-500 costs less, is more accessible, and actually has slightly more job listings. Choose based on your cloud platform — if your organization is multi-cloud, AZ-500 is the easier entry point before tackling AWS Security Specialty.
Choose AWS Certified Security – Specialty if you...
- Want higher earning potential ($142K vs $128K avg)
- Focus on Amazon Web Services ecosystem and specialty-level roles
Choose Azure Security Engineer Associate (AZ-500) if you...
- Prefer a more accessible exam (55% pass rate)
- Want a lower exam cost ($165 vs $300)
- Want broader job market demand (21.0K listings)
- Prefer a less challenging exam path (7/10 difficulty)
Deep Dive Into Each Certification
AWS Certified Security – Specialty
Amazon Web Services · Specialty · $142K avg
Azure Security Engineer Associate (AZ-500)
Microsoft · Associate · $128K avg
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need other cloud certifications first?
AWS recommends the Solutions Architect Associate or SysOps Administrator before attempting Security Specialty. Microsoft recommends familiarity with Azure administration (AZ-104 level knowledge) but doesn't enforce a formal prerequisite for AZ-500.
Which covers more security domains?
AWS Security Specialty goes deeper into incident response, logging/monitoring, infrastructure security, identity management, and data protection specific to AWS. AZ-500 covers identity and access, platform protection, security operations, and data/application security within Azure, with strong integration with Microsoft Defender and Sentinel.
Are cloud security certifications worth it compared to CISSP?
They serve different purposes. CISSP validates broad security management knowledge, while these certify hands-on ability to implement security controls in specific cloud platforms. Many employers want both: CISSP for strategic credibility and a cloud security cert for practical platform expertise.
Data Sources
- Salary data — Aggregated from job postings and salary surveys (US median)
- Job listings — Active postings across major job boards
- Pass rates — Community-reported estimates