Validates foundational knowledge of cloud concepts, Azure architecture and services, and Azure management and governance.
99EntryNo prerequisites
Best Cloud Computing Certifications in 2026
Cloud certifications cover foundations, architecture, operations and development on a specific platform. Start with the platform your current or target employer uses (AWS, Azure or Google Cloud), then choose between design and operations work.
Validates knowledge of administering Azure identities, governance, storage, compute and networking, and monitoring cloud infrastructure.
165IntermediateNo prerequisites
Validates practical skills in Kubernetes cluster setup, workloads and scheduling, services and networking, storage, and troubleshooting.
445IntermediateNo prerequisites
Validates foundational knowledge of cloud concepts, core AWS services, security and compliance, and AWS pricing, billing and support.
100EntryNo prerequisites
Validates knowledge of designing secure, resilient, high-performing and cost-effective cloud solutions using AWS services.
150IntermediateNo prerequisites
Validates knowledge of designing Azure solutions for identity, governance, monitoring, data, business continuity and infrastructure.
330AdvancedHas prerequisites
Validates knowledge of designing, securing, provisioning and optimizing cloud solutions on Google Cloud against business and technical requirements.
200AdvancedNo prerequisites
Validates knowledge of developing, securing, deploying, troubleshooting and optimizing cloud applications using AWS services.
150IntermediateNo prerequisites
Validates knowledge of securing cloud environments, including architecture, data, platforms, applications, operations and cloud legal and compliance requirements.
734AdvancedHas prerequisites
Validates knowledge of securing Azure, hybrid and AI workloads through identity, data, network and compute controls and monitoring.
165IntermediateNo prerequisites
Validates knowledge of cloud architecture, deployment, operations, security, DevOps fundamentals and troubleshooting across multi-vendor cloud environments.
399IntermediateNo prerequisites
Validates foundational knowledge of infrastructure as code, the Terraform workflow, configuration, modules, state management and HCP Terraform.
70.50IntermediateNo prerequisites
Validates knowledge of setting up, deploying, operating and securing Google Cloud environments, including access and security configuration.
125IntermediateNo prerequisites
Validates knowledge of securing AWS workloads, including threat detection, incident response, infrastructure security, identity, data protection and governance.
300AdvancedNo prerequisites
Validates knowledge of designing complex multi-account solutions, improving existing workloads, and migrating and modernizing applications using AWS services.
300AdvancedNo prerequisites
Validates knowledge of designing Oracle Cloud Infrastructure solutions across identity and access management, networking, compute and storage.
FreeIntermediateNo prerequisites
Validates foundational knowledge of the FinOps Framework, including its principles, personas, capabilities and scopes, for managing cloud spend.
325IntermediateNo prerequisites
Validates knowledge of building AI-enabled Azure back-end solutions using containers, Cosmos DB, PostgreSQL, Redis, messaging, security and monitoring.
165IntermediateNo prerequisites
Validates knowledge of applying the FinOps Framework to AI costs, including allocation, forecasting, governance, optimization and unit economics.
500IntermediateHas prerequisites
Validates knowledge of applying the FinOps Framework across public cloud, SaaS, data center and data cloud platforms.
500IntermediateHas prerequisites
How to choose a certification
Which certification fits your goal?
- Cloud fundamentals: AWS Cloud Practitioner. AWS's entry-level exam on cloud concepts, core services, security and pricing. It suits beginners and business-facing roles, and there is no experience requirement.
- AWS architecture: Solutions Architect – Associate. Covers designing secure, resilient, high-performing and cost-effective systems on AWS. AWS recommends a year of hands-on AWS experience.
- AWS operations: CloudOps Engineer – Associate. Covers deploying, managing and operating AWS workloads. It is the new name for SysOps Administrator – Associate from the SOA-C03 exam, so older guides use the SysOps name.
- Azure administration: Azure Administrator Associate. Microsoft's hands-on certification for running Azure: identities and governance, storage, virtual machines, networking, monitoring and backup.
- Google Cloud operations: Associate Cloud Engineer. Covers deploying, running and securing Google Cloud projects, compute, storage, networking and access. Google recommends six months of hands-on experience.
What to know before choosing
- Pick one platform first. AWS, Azure and Google Cloud share concepts but test their own services. Start with the platform used where you work or want to work.
- Architecture and operations are different routes. Architecture exams test design choices and trade-offs; operations exams test deploying and managing services. Kubernetes and infrastructure automation are further specialisms.
- Practice on a real deployment. Build and run a small deployment while you study, and make sure you can operate, troubleshoot and explain it.