Microsoft Certified: Cloud and AI Security Engineer Associate credential artwork

Microsoft Certified: Cloud and AI Security Engineer Associate (SC-500) Courses

Validates knowledge of securing Azure, hybrid and AI workloads through identity, data, network and compute controls and monitoring.

A good SC-500 course covers the new exam's skills, including AI security, and has you build the controls in Azure yourself. We compared the options on SC-500 coverage, hands-on practice, depth and price.

Most people should start with Microsoft's free SC-500 course, then add John Christopher's Udemy course for guided video and simulations. Choose Alan Rodrigues for the most depth, or Kuljot Singh Bakshi's course if you want one built only for SC-500.

AZ-500 retired on August 31, 2026, and SC-500 replaces it; choose courses that cover the SC-500 skills, including AI security. Source ↗

CourseBest forFormatPrice
SC-500 course on Microsoft LearnFree official courseInteractiveFree
SC-500 Cloud & AI Security Engineer Associate HandsOn CourseGuided video and simsVideo$65
SC-500: Microsoft Cloud and AI Security Engineer Exam PrepBuilt for SC-500Video$35
SC-500 - Microsoft Certified: Cloud and AI Security EngineerMost depthVideo$130
Free official course

SC-500 course on Microsoft Learn

Microsoft's learning paths for SC-500, the material the exam is written against, as text modules with exercises you run in your own Azure subscription.

Great fit if you want the official material the exam is written against

Poor fit if you learn better from video; choose John Christopher

Guided video and sims

SC-500 Cloud & AI Security Engineer Associate HandsOn Course

4.7(1.7k ratings)

About 18.5 hours of video lessons with always-available simulations, so you practice in simulated portals. John Christopher added sections for the SC-500 AI security topics.

Great fit if you want a guided course with practice in simulated portals

Poor fit if you are new to Azure and want more repetition; choose Alan Rodrigues

Built for SC-500

SC-500: Microsoft Cloud and AI Security Engineer Exam Prep

4.6(143 ratings)

A 20.5-hour course written for SC-500, with labs across identity, Purview, Key Vault and AI security. It is the newest course here, with fewer reviews than the others.

Great fit if you want a course written for SC-500 from the start

Poor fit if you want a course with a long review history; choose John Christopher or Alan Rodrigues

Most depth

SC-500 - Microsoft Certified: Cloud and AI Security Engineer

4.5(10k ratings)

The longest course here at 36.5 hours, rebuilt from a long-running AZ-500 course with new SC-500 sections. It teaches through many hands-on demos in the Azure portal, so you see each control being built.

Great fit if you want the most depth and lab demos

Poor fit if you want a short course; choose John Christopher

How to choose a SC-500 course

  • Choose a course for SC-500, not AZ-500. AZ-500 retired on August 31, 2026, and SC-500 replaces it with a new AI security section. All four courses here cover SC-500.
  • Build the controls yourself. SC-500 asks long scenario questions on storage, network and Key Vault settings, Defender for Cloud and Sentinel. Hands-on labs or simulations prepare you better than lectures alone.
  • Give AI security extra time. The section on securing Copilot, agents and Microsoft Foundry is new, and older AZ-500 material does not cover it.
  • Pick the depth you need. John Christopher's course runs 18.5 hours, Kuljot Singh Bakshi's 20.5 hours and Alan Rodrigues' 36.5 hours. Plan for about 80 hours of preparation in total.

Recommended SC-500 course combinations

  • Lowest cost: Microsoft's free course in your own Azure subscription and Tutorials Dojo's free sampler, then its SC-500 practice exams ($13).
  • Guided video: John Christopher's course ($65) with its simulations, plus Tutorials Dojo's practice exams ($13).
  • Most depth: Alan Rodrigues' course ($130) for the demos, with Tutorials Dojo's practice exams ($13) to test yourself.
  • Already hold AZ-500: Microsoft's free course for the new SC-500 skills, especially AI security, and Tutorials Dojo's practice exams ($13).

Compare all SC-500 practice tests →

SC-500 course FAQ

What is the best SC-500 course?

For most people, Microsoft's free SC-500 course on Microsoft Learn, followed by John Christopher's Udemy course for guided video and simulations.

Can I pass SC-500 with free courses?

Yes. Microsoft's course is free and covers the material the exam is written against. Run its exercises in your own Azure subscription and add a practice exam set.

How long does an SC-500 course take?

The video courses here run 18.5 to 36.5 hours. Plan for about 80 hours of preparation in total, including labs and practice exams.

Can I use an AZ-500 course for SC-500?

Only if it has SC-500 sections. AZ-500 retired on August 31, 2026, and SC-500 adds AI security. Alan Rodrigues' course is an AZ-500 course rebuilt with SC-500 sections.