Fortinet$249k median pay
18 postings
View jobs ↗ at Fortinet matching CCSP
Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP)
Validates knowledge of securing cloud environments, including architecture, data, platforms, applications, operations and cloud legal and compliance requirements.
Summary
CCSP is ISC2's vendor-neutral credential for securing cloud environments, aimed at experienced security professionals who design or govern cloud systems. It covers cloud architecture, data, platforms, applications, operations, and legal and compliance issues, and works as a cloud specialization for CISSP holders.
Good fit if
- You secure or govern cloud workloads and want a vendor-neutral credential
- You hold CISSP and want a cloud specialization
- Cloud security architect or GRC roles you target list CCSP
Look elsewhere if
- You are new to security: Security+ or ISC2 CC
- You want broad security leadership coverage: CISSP
- You need hands-on skills on one platform: AWS Security Specialty
Salary & jobs
1,384 US job postings ask for CCSP, with Security Engineer as the most common job title. The median pay is $162k a year; most fall between $135k and $193k.
Top-paying job titles
Most common job titles
| Job title | ||
|---|---|---|
| Solutions Engineer | $206k | 25 |
| Security Architect | $191k | 14 |
| Cybersecurity Architect | $185k | 10 |
| Information Systems Security Engineer | $165k | 12 |
| Information Security Engineer | $161k | 9 |
| Security Engineer | $161k | 36 |
| Information Security Architect | $159k | 10 |
| Cloud Security Engineer | $151k | 32 |
| Cybersecurity Engineer | $146k | 28 |
| Oracle Cloud Security Engineer | $125k | 12 |
Top-paying employers
Fortinet
Netskope$206k median pay
25 postings
View jobs ↗ at Netskope matching CCSP
Leidos$184k median pay
19 postings
View jobs ↗ at Leidos matching CCSP
State Street$161k median pay
20 postings
View jobs ↗ at State Street matching CCSP
General Dynamics Information Technology$147k median pay
16 postings
View jobs ↗ at General Dynamics Information Technology matching CCSP
Peraton$146k median pay
87 postings
View jobs ↗ at Peraton matching CCSP
Booz Allen$142k median pay
47 postings
View jobs ↗ at Booz Allen matching CCSP
Bright Vision Technologies$125k median pay
31 postings
View jobs ↗ at Bright Vision Technologies matching CCSP| Job title | ||
|---|---|---|
| Security Engineer | $161k | 36 |
| Cloud Security Engineer | $151k | 32 |
| Cybersecurity Engineer | $146k | 28 |
| Solutions Engineer | $206k | 25 |
| Security Architect | $191k | 14 |
| Information Systems Security Engineer | $165k | 12 |
| Oracle Cloud Security Engineer | $125k | 12 |
| Cybersecurity Architect | $185k | 10 |
| Information Security Architect | $159k | 10 |
| Information Security Engineer | $161k | 9 |
| Information Systems Security Officer | $148k | 9 |
| AI Security Engineer | $131k | 8 |
| Cybersecurity Analyst | $112k | 8 |
| Cloud Security Architect | $142k | 7 |
| Sales Engineer Enterprise | - | 7 |
Top employers
Peraton87 postings
$146k median pay
Most common title: Systems Administrator
View jobs ↗ at Peraton matching CCSPBooz Allen47 postings
$142k median pay
Most common title: Zero Trust Architect
View jobs ↗ at Booz Allen matching CCSPBright Vision Technologies31 postings
$125k median pay
Most common title: Oracle Cloud Security Engineer
View jobs ↗ at Bright Vision Technologies matching CCSPNetskope25 postings
$206k median pay
Most common title: Solutions Engineer
View jobs ↗ at Netskope matching CCSPState Street20 postings
$161k median pay
Most common title: Cloud Security Architect
View jobs ↗ at State Street matching CCSPLeidos19 postings
$184k median pay
Most common title: Chief Systems Architect
View jobs ↗ at Leidos matching CCSPFortinet18 postings
$249k median pay
Most common title: Sales Engineer Enterprise
View jobs ↗ at Fortinet matching CCSPGeneral Dynamics Information Technology16 postings
$147k median pay
Most common title: Network Administrator Associate
View jobs ↗ at General Dynamics Information Technology matching CCSPPrerequisites
Cost
What holders say
Often taken alongside or after CISSP
People weighing CCSP against CISSP often choose CISSP first because it is more widely requested, then add CCSP as a cloud specialization. Some follow CSA’s CCSK into CCSP.
Most useful once you have a security foundation
Experienced commenters steer people early in their careers to other credentials first. CCSP formalizes cloud security knowledge for people who already work in security, which the five-year experience rule reflects.
Covers governance that platform certifications do not
A federal IT instructor describes vendor certifications as proving you can secure one platform, while CCSP covers shared responsibility, data residency and compliance across providers.
Certification path
An active CISSP covers the entire CCSP experience requirement.
Renewal
CCSP renews every three years through continuing education and an annual fee.
- Renewal cycle
- 3 years
- Continuing education
- 90 CPE credits
- Maintenance fee
- $135 / year USD
At least 60 credits must be Group A, related to the CCSP domains; the other 30 can be Group A or professional-development Group B. One annual fee covers every ISC2 certification you hold.
ISC2 member policies ↗Alternatives
CISSP$884 required · Advanced
Broader security practice across eight domains; an active CISSP also satisfies the CCSP experience requirement.
AWS Certified Security – Specialty$300 required · Advanced
Hands-on security on AWS rather than vendor-neutral cloud governance.
ISSAP$599 required · Advanced
Security architecture beyond the cloud, for current CISSPs.
FAQ
What are the CCSP requirements?
Five years of paid IT experience, including three in cybersecurity and one in a CCSP domain. A relevant degree or CSA’s CCSK waives one year, and an active CISSP covers the whole requirement. You can take the exam before you have the experience.
How much does the CCSP cost?
The exam costs $599 in the US. After passing, the first $135 annual maintenance fee completes certification. Preparation is extra.
What changed in the CCSP exam in 2026?
A new outline took effect on August 1, 2026, with updated weights and explicit AI and machine-learning security topics. The exam has been adaptive, with 100 to 150 questions in three hours, since October 2025.
Is CCSP harder than CISSP?
They test different ground. CISSP is broader; CCSP goes deeper into cloud data, platform and application security and cloud legal issues. CISSP holders often find the governance material familiar.
CCSP or an AWS or Azure security certification?
CCSP is vendor-neutral and covers architecture, governance and compliance across providers. Platform security certifications test hands-on skills on one cloud. Many cloud security architects hold both.
Last updated October 2026