AWS Certified Security – Specialty (SCS-C03) Courses

Validates knowledge of securing AWS workloads, including threat detection, incident response, infrastructure security, identity, data protection and governance.

A good Security Specialty course follows the six SCS-C03 domains and prepares you for long multi-account scenarios, since AWS expects 3 to 5 years of cloud security experience. We compared the main options on exam version, depth, hands-on practice and price.

Most people should start with Stéphane Maarek's course, which follows the six SCS-C03 domains in about 17 hours. Choose Neal Davis for labs in a shorter course, Zeal Vora for the deepest coverage, and AWS's free plan as a study checklist.

Course	Best for	Format	Price
Ultimate AWS Certified Security Specialty [NEW 2026] SCS-C03	Focused exam-guide course	Video	$120
AWS Certified Security Specialty Course SCS-C03	Shorter course with labs	Video	$85
[NEW] AWS Certified Security Specialty 2026	Deepest coverage	Video	$28
Exam Prep Plan: AWS Certified Security - Specialty (SCS-C03)	Free study checklist	Interactive	Free

Focused exam-guide course

Ultimate AWS Certified Security Specialty [NEW 2026] SCS-C03

4.7(8.3k ratings)

About 17 hours of slide-based video that follows the six SCS-C03 domains, from detection and incident response to identity, data protection and governance. Stéphane Maarek assumes Associate-level AWS knowledge, so it moves quickly and sticks to what the exam tests.

Great fit if you know AWS at Associate level and want a focused course that follows the exam guide

Poor fit if you want labs inside the course; choose Neal Davis

Shorter course with labs

AWS Certified Security Specialty Course SCS-C03

4.8(1.3k ratings)

About 11.5 hours of instructor-led lessons with hands-on activities, exam-cram summaries and a practice exam, all for SCS-C03. It is the shortest of the three Udemy courses and the one to pick for practical work.

Great fit if you want a shorter course with labs and a practice exam

Poor fit if you want the most detailed coverage; choose Zeal Vora

Deepest coverage

[NEW] AWS Certified Security Specialty 2026

4.6(8.8k ratings)

About 46 hours of video with over 1,450 downloadable slides and real-world attack scenarios. It is the longest and cheapest of the three Udemy courses.

Great fit if you want the most exhaustive coverage and have the time

Poor fit if you are short on time or want the SCS-C03 outline; choose Maarek or Neal Davis

Free study checklist

Exam Prep Plan: AWS Certified Security - Specialty (SCS-C03)

AWS's four-step plan for SCS-C03 with domain review lessons, the free 20-question practice set, SimuLearn practice and the official pretest. It tells you what to study rather than teaching each service in full.

Great fit if you want an official checklist to pair with a full course

Poor fit if you need full lessons on each service; choose Maarek

How to choose a AWS Certified Security – Specialty course

Match the exam version. SCS-C03 replaced SCS-C02 in December 2025 and added ordering and matching questions. Maarek's and Neal Davis's courses cover SCS-C03, while Zeal Vora's sections still follow the SCS-C02 domain layout.
Start from Associate-level AWS knowledge. These courses assume you already know core AWS services. AWS writes the exam for people with 3 to 5 years of experience securing cloud solutions.
Practise in your own account. The exam asks which control fits a scenario, not what a service does. Neal Davis's hands-on activities help, and your own AWS account helps more.
Pick the depth you need. Neal Davis takes about 11.5 hours and Maarek about 17. Zeal Vora takes about 46 hours and suits people who want every detail.

Recommended AWS Certified Security – Specialty course combinations

Lowest cost: AWS's free exam prep plan and 20-question set, Tutorials Dojo's free sampler, then Tutorials Dojo's full practice exams ($18) before you book.
Standard route: Maarek's course ($120) with Tutorials Dojo's practice exams ($18) and AWS's free question set.
Want labs: Neal Davis's course ($85), which includes labs and a practice exam, with Tutorials Dojo's practice exams ($18).
Final check: Any course above, then AWS's official pretest ($29/month) in your last week to see the real exam's scoring.

Compare all AWS Certified Security – Specialty practice tests →

AWS Certified Security – Specialty course FAQ

What is the best AWS Security Specialty course?

For most people, Stéphane Maarek's SCS-C03 course on Udemy, followed by practice exams. Neal Davis suits learners who want labs, and AWS's exam prep plan is a free checklist.

Can I pass AWS Security Specialty with free courses?

AWS's free exam prep plan and 20-question set show you what to study, but they do not teach each service in full. Most candidates add one paid course and a practice exam set.

How long does an AWS Security Specialty course take?

The video courses here run 11.5 to 46 hours. Plan for about 100 hours of preparation in total, including hands-on practice and practice exams.

Do I need an Associate certification first?

No. AWS lists no prerequisite, but it writes the exam for people with Associate-level AWS knowledge and 3 to 5 years of experience securing cloud solutions.