CCSK v4 vs. CCSK v5

The Certificate of Cloud Security Knowledge (CCSK) by the Cloud Security Alliance (CSA) has long been the gold standard for cloud security expertise. With the introduction of CCSK v5, significant updates and enhancements have been designed to address the evolving challenges and technological advancements in cloud security. This new version reflects the latest best practices and integrates emerging topics such as AI/GenAI, Zero Trust, DevSecOps, and advanced data security measures.

CCSK v4 vs. CCSK v5

CCSK v5 expands on the foundational knowledge provided in CCSK v4 by incorporating new domains and topics while also refining and updating existing content. This ensures that security professionals are equipped with the current information and skills needed to protect cloud environments effectively.

Introduction to Certificate of Cloud Security Knowledge (CCSK)

The Certificate of Cloud Security Knowledge (CCSK) validates expertise in cloud security best practices, governance, risk management, compliance, and incident response. It demonstrates proficiency in securing cloud environments, understanding cloud architecture, and implementing effective cloud security strategies, ensuring professionals are well-equipped to handle modern cloud security challenges.

What’s New in CCSK v5?

Aspect	CCSK v4	CCSK v5
Total Domains	14 Domains	12 Domains
New Topics Added	–	Security Monitoring Generative AI Zero Trust Cloud Telemetry & Analytics Data Lakes Serverless/FaaS CI/CD DevSecOps
Content Reorganization	Distributed across 14 domains	Consolidated into 12 more streamlined domains
Practical Tools	Focused on traditional cloud security tools	Emphasis on modern cloud security tools, including AI and analytics

CCSK v5 Exam Structure

Exam Name	CCSK v4	CCSK v5
Exam Duration	90 Minutes	120 Minutes
Number of Questions	60 Questions
Exam Format	Multiple choice questions
Passing Score	80% Minimum passing score
Exam Language	English, Japanese, Spanish

Domain Comparison: CCSK v4 vs. CCSK v5

Green for new additions
Red for removed topics
Blue for renamed topics
Yellow for expanded topics

Collaboration, automation, continuous delivery

CCSK v4 Domains	CCSK v5 Domains
Domain 1: Cloud Computing Concepts and Architectures Definitions of Cloud Computing Service Models Deployment Models Reference and Architecture Models Logical Model Cloud Security Scope, Responsibilities, and Models Areas of Critical Focus in Cloud Security	Domain 1: Cloud Computing Concepts & Architectures Definitions of Cloud Computing Service Models Deployment Models Reference and Architecture Models Logical Model CSA Enterprise Architecture Mode Cloud Security Scope, Responsibilities, and Models
Domain 2: Governance and Enterprise Risk Management Cloud Governance Enterprise Risk Management in the Cloud Effects of various Service and Deployment Models Cloud Risk Trade-offs and Tools	Domain 2: Cloud Governance Cloud Governance The Governance Hierarchy Cloud Security Frameworks Policies
Domain 3: Legal Issues, Contracts and Electronic Discovery Legal Issues Contracts Electronic Discovery	Not Included
Domain 4: Compliance and Audit Management Compliance in the Cloud Compliance impact on cloud contracts Compliance scope Compliance analysis requirements Audit Management in the Cloud Right to audit Audit scope Auditor requirements	Domain 3: Risk, Audit, & Compliance Cloud Risk Management Compliance & Audit Jurisdictions Cloud-Relevant Laws & Regulations Examples Compliance Inheritance Artifacts of Compliance Governance, Risk, Compliance Tools & Technologies
Not Included	Domain 4: Organization Management Organization Hierarchy Models Managing Organization-Level Security Within a Provider Considerations for Hybrid & Multi-Cloud Deployments
Domain 5: Information Governance Data Governance Information Lifecycle Management	Topics merged into Domain 9: Data Security
Domain 12: Identity, Entitlement, and Access Management IAM Standards for Cloud Computing Managing Users and Identities Authentication and Credentials Entitlement and Access Management	Domain 5: Identity & Access Management IAM Standards for Cloud Computing Managing Users and Identities Authentication and Credentials Entitlement and Access Management
Domain 6: Management Plane and Business Continuity Management Plane Security Business Continuity Planning Architect for Failure	Domain 6: Security Monitoring Cloud Monitoring Beyond Logs – Posture Management Cloud Telemetry Sources Collection Architectures AI for Security Monitoring
Domain 7: Infrastructure Security Cloud Network Virtualization Security Changes With Cloud Networking Challenges of Virtual Appliances SDN Security Benefits Micro-segmentation and the Software Defined Perimeter Hybrid Cloud Considerations Cloud Compute and Workload Security	Domain 7: Infrastructure & Networking Cloud Infrastructure Security Cloud Network Fundamentals Cloud Network Security & Secure Architectures Infrastructure as Code (IaC) Zero Trust for Cloud Infrastructure & Networks Secure Access Service Edge (SASE)
Domain 8: Virtualization and Containers Mayor Virtualizations Categories Network Storage Containers	Domain 8: Cloud Workload Security Introduction to Cloud Workload Security Securing Virtual Machines Securing Containers Securing Serverless and Function as a Service (FaaS) Securing AI Workloads
Domain 11: Data Security and Encryption Data Security Controls Cloud Data Storage Types Securing Data in the Cloud Managing Data Migrations to the Cloud	Domain 9: Data Security Data Security Controls Primer on Cloud Storage Cloud Data Encryption at Rest Data Security Tools and Techniques Data Security for Artificial Intelligence Data Lakes
Domain 10: Application Security Opportunities and Challenges Secure Software Development Lifecycle How Cloud Impacts Application Design and Architectures	Domain 10: Application Security Opportunities and Challenges Secure Development Lifecycle Architecture’s Role in Secure Cloud Applications Identity & Access Management DevOps & DevSecOps CI/CD
Domain 9: Incident Response Incident Response Lifecycle How the Cloud Impacts IR	Domain 11: Incident Response & Resilience Incident Response Lifecycle How the Cloud Impacts IR Resilience
Domain 13: Security as a Service Security Services	Not Included (Topics are now integrated across other domains)
Domain 14: Related Technologies Big Data Internet of Things Mobile Data Serverless Computing	Domain 12: Related Technologies & Strategies Zero Trust AI/Generative AI

CCSK v5 New Topics and Domains in Detail

CCSK v5 introduces several new topics that reflect the latest advancements in cloud security.

AI/Generative AI: Replaces IoT and Mobile Data to address AI’s critical role in cloud security, including governance and secure handling of AI-generated data.
Zero Trust: Assumes no implicit trust, ensuring strict authentication and authorization for every access request, minimizing the attack surface in cloud environments.
Data Lakes: Reflects the importance of managing and securing vast amounts of unstructured and structured data, focusing on governance and compliance.
Security Monitoring, Cloud Telemetry & Analytics: Enhanced focus on security operations, cloud telemetry, and analytics to improve proactive security measures and incident response.
DevSecOps: Embeds security practices into DevOps processes, promoting collaboration and automating security testing throughout the software development lifecycle.
CI/CD: Focuses on automating the build, test, and deployment processes to enhance the security and reliability of cloud applications.
Serverless/FaaS: Addresses the security challenges and best practices of serverless architectures, including managing permissions and securing function code.
Resilience: Emphasizes strategies for disaster recovery and business continuity, ensuring robust cloud architectures that can quickly recover from disruptions.

Removed Topics

CCSK v5 removes detailed discussions on certain topics that were covered in CCSK v4:

Security as a Service (Sec-aaS): This topic has been distributed across several other domains rather than being a standalone focus.
Detailed Legal and Regulatory Aspects: The coverage of laws and regulations has been reduced to focus more on practical implementation and compliance strategies.

Enhanced and Expanded Content

CCSK v5 places a stronger emphasis on areas that have become increasingly critical:

Cloud Workloads: Includes a deeper dive into securing cloud-native applications and serverless architectures.
Governance, Auditing, and Compliance: More comprehensive coverage to help professionals ensure their organizations meet regulatory requirements and best practices.
Incident Response: Updated to reflect modern strategies and tools for effectively managing and responding to security incidents.

CCSK Training with InfosecTrain

Understanding the differences between CCSK v4 and CCSK v5 is crucial for both current certification holders and those new to cloud security. This comparison highlights the enhancements and new focus areas, providing a clear picture of how CCSK v5 better prepares professionals to tackle contemporary cloud security threats and challenges.

At InfosecTrain, we offer comprehensive CCSK Foundation and CCSK v5 training courses. These CCSK courses provide in-depth knowledge and hands-on experience in cloud security, preparing professionals for the CCSK exams. With expert instructors, practical labs, and up-to-date content, we ensure that participants gain the necessary skills and expertise to excel in cloud security roles and effectively secure cloud environments.

TRAINING CALENDAR of Upcoming Batches For CCSK Plus

Start Date	End Date	Start - End Time	Batch Type	Training Mode	Batch Status
08-Feb-2025	23-Mar-2025	09:00 - 12:00 IST	Weekday	Online	[ Open ]

AUTHOR
Ruchi Bisht

“ My Name is Ruchi Bisht. I have done my BTech in Computer Science. I like to learn new things and am interested in taking on new challenges. Currently, I am working as a content writer in InfosecTrain. “