Most organizations have already begun their shift to the cloud. In its Cloud Computing Survey 2020, for instance, International Data Group (IDG) found that 81% of respondents had at least one workload or segment of their computing infrastructure in the cloud. That percentage could grow by the end of the year, as IDG found that 32% of total IT budgets will go to cloud computing—up from 30% in 2018.

But the cloud comes with its fair share of security risks. Seven in 10 organizations revealed that they had suffered a public cloud security incident in the last few years, reported Help Net Security. Half of the respondents said that their incidents involved ransomware or malware, while 29% said that they lost at least some of their data in the process.

In response to these experiences, organizations might consider hiring professionals who are certified in cloud security best practices. These accreditations ensure that new employees are qualified to properly configure their cloud servers and secure their data. Coupled with the proper amount of experience, certified employees can serve as a crucial resource towards helping organizations defend against a data breach.

There are plenty of cloud security certifications available on the market today. But which ones are worth looking into?

To answer that question, we have compiled a list of five cloud security certifications below. These programs are listed alphabetically and are not ranked. All are vendor-neutral.

1. Certificate of Cloud Security Knowledge

Provider: Cloud Security Alliance

Cost: 395 USD

ccsk certificationDescription: The Certificate of Cloud Security Knowledge (CCSK) confirms that a recipient possesses and can demonstrate certain technical concepts in developing a holistic cloud security program. To help applicants prepare for the exam, which covers the CSA Security Guidance for Critical Areas of Focus in Cloud Computing V3 and the ENISA report (Read more...)