Which AWS Certification Should You Pursue First?

Amazon Web Services (AWS) continues to lead the cloud computing market, supporting everything from small startups to large-scale enterprises. With that dominance comes a growing need for professionals who can demonstrate real expertise in AWS technologies. Certifications are one of the most recognized ways to do that, and they remain highly valued by employers across industries.

At one of the organizations where I worked, holding an AWS certification was not just encouraged, it was expected. Many of my colleagues earned the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner (CCP) to establish a baseline understanding of AWS, while others, myself included, pursued the AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate to validate more technical skills. That certification played an important role in shaping my career as a security architect.

More recently, I added the GIAC AWS Secure Cloud Builder to my credentials. It is a newer certification that focuses on secure cloud design and is often considered foundational, making it an excellent complement to AWS’s own certifications.

This blog will walk through the main AWS certification options for those new to cloud computing, highlight the differences, and help you see how each path can fit your career goals.

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Why AWS Certifications Matter

AWS certifications are valuable because they prove more than just technical skill. They show that a professional understands how to apply AWS in ways that support real business outcomes. Certified staff can design systems that scale, protect sensitive data, and reduce costs while meeting compliance requirements. This makes AWS certifications important not only to technologists but also to the organizations that depend on them.

In large Fortune 500 environments, I saw AWS certifications used to create a common standard across teams. They gave leadership confidence that projects were being built with proven best practices. In my current regulatory role, AWS certifications are just as critical. They establish trust that people designing or reviewing systems have the knowledge needed to meet strict security and compliance expectations.

Another reason AWS certifications matter is accessibility. They provide a shared language across both technical and non-technical staff. Engineers may use AWS to architect solutions, while executives may only engage with dashboards or reports, but both benefit from understanding the core concepts. This is why foundational AWS certifications such as the Cloud Practitioner are valuable even for leaders who never log into the AWS console.

For individuals, the benefits are clear: AWS certifications open career opportunities, lead to higher earning potential, and provide a structured path for long-term growth. For organizations, they ensure that teams operate with a consistent understanding of cloud responsibilities and best practices.

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The AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner 

The AWS CCP is often the first step for anyone beginning their AWS journey. It covers the fundamentals of cloud computing with AWS: core services, pricing and billing, support options, and the basics of AWS architecture.

The CCP is unique because it is accessible to a wide range of professionals. You do not have to be an engineer to benefit from it. Executives, managers, sales teams, and compliance professionals can all gain value from learning how AWS works at a foundational level. One of the most important concepts covered is the AWS shared responsibility model, which defines what AWS is responsible for securing and what falls to the customer. Even if you never build or deploy in AWS directly, understanding this model is essential.

For new professionals, the CCP builds confidence by providing a broad overview without requiring deep technical expertise. For those with more experience, it ensures that everyone across an organization has a common baseline of AWS knowledge. That shared understanding helps teams work together more effectively on cloud initiatives.

Pros: Broad overview, low barrier to entry, widely applicable across technical and business roles.
Cons: Limited depth on its own, as it will not prepare you for designing complex architectures or managing production environments. Most learners will need to pursue an associate-level or specialty certification to deepen their skills.

At Cybrary, we make preparing for this certification easier through our AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner learning path. The path combines expert instruction with hands-on practice, so learners not only study for the exam but also build real-world skills they can apply immediately.

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More Specialized AWS Tracks

After the Cloud Practitioner, AWS certifications branch into role-based paths. These certifications align with specific technical responsibilities, from designing cloud environments to writing code and managing day-to-day operations. Specialty tracks, including security, let you go even deeper.

AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate

The AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate validates the ability to design secure, resilient, and cost-optimized systems on AWS. It emphasizes architectural best practices, high availability, and scalable design.

• Focus: Designing fault-tolerant, secure, and scalable AWS systems.
  
• Ideal for: Professionals with some AWS experience who want to lead architectural decisions.

This certification is one of the most popular because it bridges technical skill with business needs. In my own career, earning the Solutions Architect – Associate gave me the credibility to lead architecture projects in Fortune 500 companies and later reinforced my role in a regulatory environment where secure cloud design is critical. Learners preparing for this exam can take advantage of the Cybrary AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate learning path.

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AWS Certified Developer – Associate

The AWS Certified Developer – Associate demonstrates skills in building and optimizing cloud-native applications. It covers using AWS SDKs, serverless computing, and integrating AWS services into modern development workflows.

• Focus: Application development, AWS service integration, and CI/CD pipelines.
  
• Ideal for: Developers who want to strengthen their ability to design, build, and debug applications that run efficiently in AWS.

This certification is a great fit for coders who work with APIs, Lambda, and CI/CD pipelines. It emphasizes not only how to build but also how to optimize applications for performance and cost, making it especially valuable for engineers focused on application development.

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AWS Certified SysOps Administrator – Associate

The AWS Certified SysOps Administrator – Associate validates expertise in deploying, managing, and operating workloads in AWS. It is the only associate-level exam focused entirely on operations.

• Focus: Managing AWS workloads, automating deployments, and monitoring environments.
  
• Ideal for: System administrators who want to expand into cloud operations and DevOps practices.

This certification fits professionals with a background in system administration who are now tasked with managing AWS environments. It emphasizes monitoring, automation, and incident response, making it an excellent option for those transitioning from on-premises IT into cloud operations.

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AWS Certified Security – Specialty

The AWS Certified Security – Specialty goes deeper into protecting workloads and data in AWS. It covers advanced topics such as encryption, identity and access management (IAM), incident response, monitoring, logging, and regulatory compliance.

• Focus: Advanced cloud security across identity, data protection, and compliance.
  
• Ideal for: Security professionals who need to demonstrate advanced knowledge of cloud security.

With cybersecurity being one of the fastest-growing priorities in cloud adoption, this certification has become a key differentiator. It demonstrates that you can design and enforce strong controls in AWS, a skill set that organizations increasingly demand. Those preparing for the exam can build both exam readiness and hands-on expertise through the AWS Certified Security – Specialty learning path on Cybrary.

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GIAC AWS Secure Builder 

The GIAC AWS Secure Builder Micro-Credential validates competency in securing and managing AWS environments. It covers foundational security topics such as the Shared Responsibility Model, identity and access management, CI/CD pipeline security, workload hardening, security monitoring, incident response, supply chain threats, and zero trust principles.

• Focus: Foundational AWS security knowledge applied to real-world system design covering controls from IAM to CI/CD pipelines, zero trust, and supply chain defense.
  
• Ideal for: Professionals looking to strengthen their AWS security fundamentals or add applied security credentials to their toolkit, especially those working in cloud architecture, security operations, or DevSecOps roles.

What sets this micro-credential apart is its focus on applied security. While AWS’s Security Specialty exam validates cloud service and architectural knowledge, the GIAC AWS Secure Builder drills into practical, defensive practices such as threat detection, supply chain resilience, and workload hardening. I recently earned this credential, and it has already sharpened my approach to secure design, whether in enterprise architecture or regulatory review.

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Key Differences & Deciding Factors

With multiple certification paths available, the main decision comes down to your background and how you plan to use AWS in your role.

• Cloud Practitioner: Best for anyone new to AWS or in a non-technical role. It gives you a broad understanding of AWS services, billing, and cloud concepts, making it especially valuable for leaders and professionals who need to make informed decisions about cloud projects without diving into technical detail.
  
• Associate-Level Certifications (Solutions Architect, Developer, SysOps): Best for professionals with some hands-on AWS experience. These paths validate applied skills and are ideal if you are directly building, deploying, or managing AWS systems. Choose Solutions Architect if you design environments, Developer if you code and integrate services, and SysOps if you manage and monitor operations.
  
• AWS Certified Security – Specialty: Best for those responsible for protecting workloads. This certification is more advanced and should be considered once you already have some AWS experience or an associate-level credential. It distinguishes you as someone who can design secure AWS solutions at scale.
  
• GIAC AWS Secure Builder: Best for those who want a strong, security-first foundation. Unlike AWS’s own certifications, it emphasizes applied defenses such as workload hardening, CI/CD security, and supply chain protection. It pairs well with AWS certifications if your career focus includes cloud security or compliance-heavy environments.
  
  

How to Decide

• If you are new to AWS or not deeply technical, start with the CCP.
  
• If you are already working with AWS, pursue an associate-level track aligned to your role.
  
• If your focus is security, advance into the Security – Specialty or GIAC Secure Builder. AWS’s exam is service- and architecture-focused, while GIAC’s credential emphasizes hands-on defensive practices.
  
  

Each path builds on the one before it. The right certification to start with is the one that aligns most closely with your current responsibilities and long-term career goals.

Complexity and Study Timelines

The CCP is designed as an entry-level exam and can often be prepared for in 2–4 weeks of part-time study, especially if you use guided labs and practice tests. In contrast, Associate-level exams (Solutions Architect, Developer, SysOps) are more technical and require deeper hands-on experience. Most learners dedicate 2–3 months of consistent preparation to feel confident, with timelines varying depending on prior AWS exposure.

Study Resources & Preparation Tips

Success in AWS certifications comes from both understanding the concepts and applying them. Cybrary provides a full learning ecosystem that includes structured paths, practice tests, and hands-on labs to reinforce real-world skills.

• Cloud Practitioner: Begin with the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner learning path. This path introduces AWS fundamentals and builds a strong foundation. You can check your readiness with the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner practice test.
  
• Solutions Architect – Associate: Use the AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate learning path to cover exam objectives and practice with real-world labs. You can also prepare with the AWS SAA-C03 practice test.
  
• Security – Specialty: Strengthen your expertise with the AWS Certified Security – Specialty learning path. This training covers workload protection, monitoring, and compliance, and includes assessments to measure your progress.
  
• Guided Practical Labs: Reinforce your skills through guided labs such as Implement a CloudFront Distribution for a Load Balanced Website. This lab walks you through setting up CloudFront in front of a load balanced web application, giving you hands-on experience with a real architectural scenario.
  
  

Cybrary’s blend of structured learning, assessments, and applied labs ensures you’re not just memorizing concepts but building the confidence to use AWS effectively in both exams and real-world environments.

Conclusion

AWS certifications are one of the most effective ways to validate cloud expertise and open new career opportunities. From the foundational Cloud Practitioner to associate-level tracks like Solutions Architect, Developer, and SysOps, to specialized certifications such as the Security Specialty and the GIAC AWS Secure Builder, there is a path for every stage of your career.

The certification you choose should match where you are today and where you want to go next. Beginners can build a strong baseline with the CCP, while technical professionals may jump directly into associate-level exams. Security-focused practitioners can stand out by pursuing the Security Specialty or the GIAC AWS Secure Builder, which highlight expertise in one of the most in-demand skill areas of cloud computing.

Preparing for these certifications is not just about passing an exam. It is about building the real-world skills that employers value most. Cybrary provides the learning paths, practice tests, and guided labs you need to turn certification prep into career growth.

Join thousands of professionals who have advanced their careers with Cybrary. Take the next step, earn your AWS certification, and stand out as a trusted cloud expert!

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