It has been a while (July 2010) since the Cloud Security Alliance (CSA) unveiled the industry’s first user certification program for secure Cloud Computing. The Certificate of Cloud Security Knowledge (CCSK) is designed to ensure that IT professionals have demonstrated awareness of the security threats and best practices for securing the cloud. The CCSK is a web-based, multiple choice examination of individual competency in key Cloud security issues. The test is timed multiple choice examination.

Being a Cloud Computing supporter and blogger I finally decided to take the exam and see what the CCSK is all about. I wanted to take share my experience from the test, and hopefully help you prepare better for the examination.

I do believe that my knowledge in Cloud computing is substantial or above average, so I wanted to take the test without preparing for it and use the result as a gauge for my knowledge and then take it again (if needed) with preparation.

Five minutes into the exam I was convinced that some studying will be needed in order to pass with a good score, but I continued with the examination. Fifteen minutes into the exam I was convinced that passing this exam is not going to be possible without reading through the materials supplied by the CSA.

Let me give you one word of advice – “Study”. No matter how much you think you are familiar with Cloud computing, you will find regulation details and material that you are not aware of.  You will do yourself a big favor if you study the guides first and then take the online exam. Your chance of passing the test will increase substantially, you will hopefully learn something new, and will save yourself the frustration that you lost your $$$. Regular price for the CCSK is $295, but I was able to receive the special offering for everyone that took registered for the exam before the end of 2010. The price I paid was $195 USD and I was allowed to take the exam up to two times.

After reading through all 70 pages of the “Security Guidance for Critical Areas of Focus in Cloud Computing v2.1”, and all 125 pages of the “ENISA Cloud Computing: Benefits, Risks and Recommendations for Information Security” whitepaper I was able to ace through the exam in no time. I think I even had some extra time left over at the end.

To register and take the exam you can visit the CCSK web site: https://ccsk.cloudsecurityalliance.org/

If you have any questions or need more details about the certification or the exam you can review the FAQ section HERE.

In conclusion I would like to mention 2 things:

-          The CCSK is not only a certification, but also an important step towards improving security professionals, which co-relates with better understanding of Cloud security and its challenges and best practices.

-          Study – Study – Study!!!  The odds will be against you if you do not spend the time and at least read through the two guides provided by the CSA. Don’t get discouraged if you don’t pass the first time, even after reading through the materials. Both guides are packed with excellent information, but depending on your knowledge of Cloud computing you may find it difficult to absorb it all.

© 2011, SaaSChronicles. All rights reserved.

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