CCSK certification: the v5 exam, cost and domains
The CCSK — Certificate of Cloud Security Knowledge — is the Cloud Security Alliance’s vendor-neutral cloud security credential. The current v5 exam is online and open book: 60 multiple-choice questions in 120 minutes, 80% to pass. US$445 buys two attempts to use within two years, there are no prerequisites, and the certificate does not expire. The v4 exam was available only until 1 January 2026.
- Certificate
- Certificate of Cloud Security Knowledge (CCSK), issued by the Cloud Security AllianceCSA CCSK page, checked 10 October 2026
- Version
- CCSK v5 (12 domains); v4 exam available only until 1 January 2026CSA CCSK page and CSA Support, checked 10 October 2026
- Exam cost
- US$445 for exam and chatbot, two attempts within two yearsCSA CCSK page, checked 10 October 2026
- Questions
- 60 multiple-choice, drawn at random from a larger poolCSA CCSK page, checked 10 October 2026
- Duration
- 120 minutes (v5)CSA Support, checked 10 October 2026
- Passing score
- 80%CSA CCSK page, checked 10 October 2026
- Format
- Online, open book; English, Spanish or JapaneseCSA CCSK page and CSA Exams FAQ, checked 10 October 2026
- Prerequisites
- None — no work experience or prior qualification requiredCSA CCSK page, checked 10 October 2026
- Validity
- Does not expireCSA Exams FAQ, checked 10 October 2026
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Why you can trust these CCSK questions
What is the CCSK certification?
CCSK stands for Certificate of Cloud Security Knowledge. It is issued by the Cloud Security Alliance (CSA), and CSA describes it as designed for IT professionals working in cloud computing. It is vendor-neutral: it tests cloud security principles across providers, not one provider’s products.
Note the wording: CCSK — certificate of cloud security knowledge — is a certificate earned by passing an exam, with no experience requirement and no expiry. That makes it an accessible first cloud security credential for anyone who wants proof of broad, provider-independent cloud security knowledge.
Source: Cloud Security Alliance — Certificate of Cloud Security Knowledge (CCSK). Checked 10 October 2026.
CCSK v5: what changed from v4
CSA’s current version is CCSK v5. The content has been reorganised into 12 domains instead of 14, and the exam time went up: the v5 exam is 120 minutes, the v4 exam was 90. Both have 60 questions and are open book.
CSA stated that the v4 exam would be available until 1 January 2026, so v5 is now the only version. Some pages still mention 90 minutes — that is the old v4 limit. If you studied from v4 material, re-check it against the 12 v5 domains.
Source: CSA Support — CCSK Exam: Format, Review, & Versions. Checked 10 October 2026.
CCSK exam cost
CSA lists the CCSK exam cost on its CCSK page: US$445 for the exam and the CCSK chatbot. That buys two test attempts, which you have two years to use; CSA recommends taking the exam within the first year. If you fail both attempts, you buy a new token.
CSA’s training store also sells a CCSK v5 Exam Bundle for US$795, which includes an exam token, the CCSK Prep Kit with the v5 Study Guide, and the chatbot. Instructor-led classes and CCSK Plus are priced separately. U.S. veterans can have the exam covered under the Post-9/11 GI Bill, according to CSA.
- Exam and chatbot: US$445, two attempts within two years
- CCSK v5 Exam Bundle (token, Prep Kit, study guide, chatbot): US$795
- U.S. veterans: exam coverage under the GI Bill
Source: Cloud Security Alliance — Certificate of Cloud Security Knowledge (CCSK). Checked 10 October 2026.
CCSK exam format and passing score
The CCSK exam is online and open book. It has 60 multiple-choice questions drawn at random from a larger pool, so two attempts do not get the same set. You have 120 minutes, and the minimum passing score is 80% — 48 of 60.
Open book does not mean easy: CSA itself advises relying on study materials as little as possible because the exam is timed. Your score appears as soon as you finish, and the certificate is a PDF download from the CSA exams platform. The v5 exam is offered in English, Spanish and Japanese.
Source: CSA Exams Platform — FAQ. Checked 10 October 2026.
What is on the CCSK exam? The 12 domains
The CCSK syllabus for v5 has 12 domains. CSA publishes no weighting per domain on its CCSK page, so plan to cover all twelve.
- Cloud Computing Concepts & Architectures
- Cloud Governance
- Risk, Audit, & Compliance
- Organization Management
- Identity & Access Management
- Security Monitoring
- Infrastructure & Networking
- Cloud Workload Security
- Data Security
- Application Security
- Incident Response & Resilience
- Related Technologies & Strategies
Source: Cloud Security Alliance — Certificate of Cloud Security Knowledge (CCSK). Checked 10 October 2026.
CCSK requirements
There is no formal requirement. CSA states that no official work experience or prior qualification is needed, though basic security knowledge helps. You buy a token, take the exam online and, with 80%, you hold the CCSK certificate.
Source: Cloud Security Alliance — Certificate of Cloud Security Knowledge (CCSK). Checked 10 October 2026.
Does the CCSK expire?
No. CSA’s exam FAQ answers it directly: your CCSK certificate will not expire. There are no renewal fees or continuing education credits. CSA does recommend staying current with the latest version, since cloud security changes quickly.
Source: CSA Exams Platform — FAQ. Checked 10 October 2026.
CCSK training, study guide and prep kit
CSA offers three training formats: online self-paced training (English only), virtual or in-person instructor-led training with lectures only, and CCSK Plus, which adds hands-on labs to the lectures. No course is required to sit the exam.
For self-study, start with CSA’s free CCSK v5 Prep Kit, which CSA says comes with everything you need to study and prepare for the exam. The US$795 exam bundle lists the Prep Kit together with the CCSK v5 Study Guide. Since the exam is open book, a well-organised copy of the guidance you study from is part of your exam prep.
Source: CSA Training — CCSK v5 Exam Bundle. Checked 10 October 2026.
CCSK practice test, questions and dumps
A good CCSK practice test should cover all 12 v5 domains and be timed at 120 minutes for 60 questions, because time, not access to notes, is the limit in an open-book exam. Avoid v4 practice sets, which follow the old 14-domain structure.
CSA does not share exam answers, to protect the integrity of the exam, and questions come from a pool that varies between attempts. A CCSK dump is therefore not a reliable way to prepare: it cannot tell you whether you understand the domains.
Certsqill’s CCSK practice questions are expert-developed: every question explains each answer option, and you see a readiness score per domain.
Source: CSA Support — CCSK Exam: Format, Review, & Versions. Checked 10 October 2026.
Is the CCSK worth it?
CSA says the certificate opens doors to new job opportunities and higher roles, but publishes no salary data for CCSK holders. What you can weigh are the facts: US$445, no prerequisites, an online open-book exam, and a certificate that never expires. For anyone who works with cloud systems and needs a vendor-neutral baseline, that is a low-risk credential.
Source: Cloud Security Alliance — Certificate of Cloud Security Knowledge (CCSK). Checked 10 October 2026.
CCSK questions people ask
What is the CCSK certification?
The Certificate of Cloud Security Knowledge from the Cloud Security Alliance, a vendor-neutral cloud security credential earned by passing an online exam. Source: CSA, checked 10 October 2026.
How much does the CCSK exam cost?
US$445 for the exam and chatbot, including two attempts within two years. A bundle with the Prep Kit and study guide costs US$795. Source: CSA, checked 10 October 2026.
How many questions are on the CCSK exam?
60 multiple-choice questions in 120 minutes for v5. Source: CSA, checked 10 October 2026.
What is the CCSK passing score?
80%. Source: CSA CCSK page, checked 10 October 2026.
Is the CCSK exam open book?
Yes. It is online and open book. Source: CSA, checked 10 October 2026.
Can I still take the CCSK v4 exam?
No. CSA stated the v4 exam would be available until 1 January 2026; v5 is current. Source: CSA Support, checked 10 October 2026.
Does the CCSK certificate expire?
No. CSA states the CCSK certificate will not expire. Source: CSA Exams FAQ, checked 10 October 2026.
Are there CCSK requirements?
No. CSA requires no work experience or prior qualification. Source: CSA, checked 10 October 2026.
What salary does a CCSK bring?
CSA publishes no salary figures for CCSK holders, checked 10 October 2026.
