Where AWS security stops being permissive defaults.
SCS-C02 is the senior AWS security credential. It validates that you can design and operate security controls across AWS at depth — IAM, KMS, detection services, edge protection and incident response in real production environments.
At Nexperts, SCS-C02 is delivered against a multi-account AWS Organizations sandbox with seeded findings. By day 4 you've hardened a permissive baseline, automated remediation across 3 services, defended a public application with WAF + Shield, and led a detection-to-containment incident.
AWS security isn't tools — it's discipline at scale. SCS-C02 tests whether you can pick the right control under constraint, not just list services.
The 2026 SCS-C02 update broadened coverage of supply-chain security, AWS Organizations governance, and the Detective + GuardDuty integration story. We cover all three with hands-on labs.
Who should take this course
🔐
Cloud security engineers
Already work in AWS security and want the formal specialty credential.
🛡️
Security architects
Designing AWS workloads. SCS sharpens the AWS-native security lens.
👨💻
DevSecOps engineers
Building secure pipelines on AWS. SCS gives the depth to defend pipelines and runtimes.
💼
SOC analysts
Investigating AWS incidents. SCS gives the platform-level fluency you need.
🌟
SAA / SOA holders
Natural progression. Add senior security depth to your associate-level base.
🔐
CISSP holders
Already strong on theory. SCS gives you the AWS operational reality.
Prerequisites
✓ AWS SAA, SOA or DVA (or 2+ years professional AWS experience)
✓ Working knowledge of IAM, KMS and VPC security at intermediate level
✓ Comfortable with the AWS console and AWS CLI
✓ Familiarity with one cybersecurity foundation (Security+, CISSP, CEH)
→ Don't have an associate AWS cert? Ask about our SAA → SCS bridge programme.
Course Curriculum
Six domains. One AWS security toolkit.
SCS-C02 is structured into Threat Detection & Incident Response, Security Logging & Monitoring, Infrastructure Security, Identity & Access Management, Data Protection, and Management & Security Governance. We deliver attack-then-defend.
Hands-On AWS Security Sandbox
9 builds. Real Organizations + seeded findings.
Every learner gets a multi-account AWS sandbox with seeded GuardDuty findings, intentionally permissive IAM and exposed S3 buckets. You harden, defend and investigate — you don't read about it.
01
Hardening Sprint
Take a permissive AWS baseline. In 90 minutes, harden it to CIS-aligned standard.
Hardening
02
Detective Investigation
Investigate a 3-vector incident across 2 accounts with Detective + GuardDuty.
DR
03
ABAC Refactor
Refactor a 50-policy permissive IAM into ABAC with permission boundaries.
Identity
04
Public App Defence
Defend a public web app with WAF + Shield Advanced + Network Firewall.
Edge
05
KMS Modernisation
Replace generic KMS keys with customer-managed multi-region keys with proper key policies.
Crypto
06
S3 Hardening
Audit and harden 12 S3 buckets to Block Public Access + Object Lock baseline.
Data
07
SCP Enforcement
Enforce a security baseline via SCPs across an Organizations OU. Validate denial paths.
Governance
08
Auto-Remediation
Build EventBridge → Lambda auto-remediation for 3 Security Hub findings.
Automation
09
CloudTrail Investigation
Receive a privilege-escalation alert. Investigate via CloudTrail Lake under timer.
Investigation
+ 12 micro-tasks across IAM Access Analyzer, Athena and AWS CLI.
Exam Information
One scenario-heavy exam. Time pressure is the killer.
SCS-C02 is 65 questions over 170 minutes. The exam is dense with multi-step scenarios involving complex IAM policy evaluation, KMS key strategy and detection-response workflows. Most candidates fail on time.
AWS SCS-C02 Exam
Questions65 (scenario + MCQ)
Duration170 minutes
Passing score750 / 1000
FormatPearson VUE / PSI / Online proctored
Validity3 years (recertification)
Industry avg pass rate~63% first attempt
Nexperts pass rate91% first attempt
IAM Policy Evaluation Drill
Drill length4-hour structured drill
FormatWhiteboard — you read JSON, peers challenge
Items practised20 IAM policy scenarios
Common gotchasExplicit deny, SCP precedence, condition logic
StrategyRead effect, then condition, then resource
OutcomePolicy-question score uplift averages +24%
WalkthroughPast JSON archive provided
Our 3-Mock Programme
01
Diagnostic Mock
End of day 1. Maps weak knowledge areas. Average score: 56%.
02
Policy-Heavy Mock
Mid-course. 50% IAM / KMS policy scenarios. Average score: 71%.
03
Final Clearance
Full timed simulation. 80%+ before we book. Average score: 84%.
0%
Pass Rate
91% of our SCS candidates pass on first attempt.
The AWS global first-attempt rate for SCS-C02 sits around 63%. We hit 91% by drilling IAM policy evaluation under timer, running real investigations on a seeded sandbox, and gating booking on a clearance mock.
Multi-account sandboxIAM policy drill91% first attemptFree retake voucherProduction hardening track
Why our pass rate is 91%
Industry average: ~63%
Most candidates revise terminology but never read 30-line IAM policies under timer. The exam puts them in front of a JSON document and asks for the effect in 60 seconds. They guess wrong half the time.
Nexperts: 91%
We drill policy reading on the whiteboard. We investigate real incidents in the sandbox. We gate booking on a clearance mock. Policy-reading becomes reflex.
Your AWS Path
SCS pairs with DOP and SAP.
SCS stacks naturally with DOP (DevOps Pro) for delivery security or SAP (Solutions Architect Pro) for architectural breadth. Most senior cloud-security roles in MY require SCS plus one of these.
Before this
SAA, SOA or DVA
Required-experience associate cert. Most candidates have SAA.
Expected salary range after SCS: RM 12,000 – RM 19,500/month for cloud security and AWS-security roles in MY MNCs and banks.
Student Reviews
What our SCS engineers say.
4.8
★★★★★
96 reviews
5★
83%
4★
14%
3★
3%
★★★★★
"ABAC refactor sprint was career-changing. We took the exact pattern back to my company and decommissioned 200+ stale IAM users in two months."
HK
Hafiz Kassim
Cloud Security Engineer · Maybank
✓ Passed first attempt · 826/1000
★★★★★
"Coming from CISSP. SCS gave me the AWS-operational depth my theory was missing. Detective + GuardDuty investigations are now how I think about cloud IR."
DK
Devagi Krishnan
Senior Security Engineer · Standard Chartered GBS
✓ Passed first attempt
★★★★
"IAM policy drill is the only reason I cleared this exam. The JSON questions in the real exam are brutal. Without practising under timer I'd have failed for sure."
RT
Ramesh Thurairajah
DevSecOps Engineer · Astro Digital
✓ Passed first attempt · 798/1000
★★★★★
"Best AWS security course I've taken. The seeded-finding sandbox makes you actually do the work, not memorise it. Highly recommend."
WS
Wendy Sim
Cloud Security Architect · IHH Healthcare
✓ Passed first attempt · 858/1000
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