Is the SC-100 Worth It?

It’s no longer financially feasible for businesses to treat cybersecurity as a second-class citizen. Governments worldwide are holding corporations accountable for data leaks and security breaches. So there’s no better time to enter the world of cybersecurity. 

With so many security-focused certifications available on the market, is the SC-100 Microsoft Cybersecurity Architect worth it? Let’s find out. 

What is the SC-100 Microsoft Cybersecurity Architect Certification?

Microsoft offers IT professionals a wide range of certifications that cover the gamut of their entire product lines. Since Azure was released, that certification pool has only grown. As a result, many businesses use Azure as the backbone of their IT services for everything from application processing to AI and data storage and management. 

The SC-100 Microsoft Cybersecurity Architect certification states that the certificate holder can design and implement secure networking solutions built on zero-trust principles. SC-100 certificate holders won’t be responsible only for highly technical skill sets, but they will also be expected to have mastered certain soft skills. These soft skills include planning network security deployment, designing the organization's security posture, and more. 

Ready to Study for the SC-100 Exam?

Are you ready to study for the SC-100 exam and become a Microsoft Certified Cybersecurity Architect? If so, begin with Bob Salmans’ SC-100 MS Cybersecurity Architect Expert training at CBT Nuggets. He uses his industry experience to relate to learners so that they retain knowledge — a vitally import factor for passing the SC-100 exam.

Not a CBT Nuggets subscriber? Sign up for a 7-day free trial to get a feel of what it’s like to learn IT with us. Explore all of our cybersecurity training and start learning skills that can make you a more in-demand IT pro. 

What Does the SC-100 Certification Exam Test For?

The SC-100 exam covers five primary knowledge domains:

• Designing a zero-trust strategy and architecture. This includes things like authentication and authorization, and encryption at rest. 

• Evaluating governance risk compliance technical and security operation strategies. 

• Design security-focused infrastructure. 

• Being able to understand and recommend security best practices based on a variety of factors. 

As you can see, the knowledge domains required to master for passing the SC-100 certification test are vast. The core concepts covered by the SC-100 test overlap many areas of the IT industry. 

How Much Does the SC-100 Certification Cost?

The SC-100 certification costs $165 USD, pass or fail. However, that price can vary based on the country or region in which the SC-100 exam is proctored.   Microsoft is reasonable with its certification learning paths. Unlike other certifying organizations, Microsoft’s goal is to ensure that IT professionals have access to the certifications and education needed to operate IT systems inside and outside the Azure ecosystem. 

Who Should Take the SC-100 Exam?

Any IT professional that works with networks or security should take the SC-100 certification exam. For example, many businesses are moving to the cloud. All cloud and network engineers will need to understand how to design and implement secure communication networks. In addition, most businesses are expected to settle on using a hybrid cloud/local architecture, and communication between both needs to be secure. 

Security operations, CISOs, and DevOps engineers must understand how zero-trust architecture works. Engaging business stakeholders in security best practices is often difficult. Employees want to avoid added friction to their workflows. IT professionals in these positions must understand how to communicate these business needs to stakeholders and get their buy-in. 

Cybersecurity experts must comply with local laws and regulations. Not conforming is a non-starter. Governments are not taking kindly to organizations that do not keep their citizens’ data safe. 

Simply put, any person who works in IT or application development will significantly benefit from taking the SC-100 exam. This is not a highly targeted certification such as the CWAP. Instead, the SC-100 exam covers a broad range of advanced topics relating to cybersecurity. 

That said, if you fall into any of these specific roles, we strongly encourage you to consider the SC-100.

SC-100 for an IT Auditor

The SC-100 demonstrates that IT pros understand how to analyze infrastructure for best practices. This includes things like ensuring compliance and risk management policies are in place, and the organization has a proper security posture. 

SC-100 for Cybersecurity Specialists

Cybersecurity specialists are like White Hat hackers. They must understand how security policies, access restrictions, etc. work in hybrid and cloud architectures. The SC-100 will teach cybersecurity specialists how organizations use zero-trust architecture so they can attempt to break it during security audits. Likewise, Cybersecurity specialists who pass the SC-100 exam will be able to recommend remediations for vulnerabilities found during their work confidently. 

SC-100 for Cloud Engineers

Cloud engineers are the people that build the IT infrastructure, which needs to be provisioned securely from the start. Cloud resources cannot be deployed unsecured. Cloud engineers who pass the SC-100 exam will know how to apply the appropriate policies and build cloud infrastructure with zero-trust principles before services are touched by the business. 

SC-100 for Network Engineers

The SC-100 exam proves that network engineers understand how to build and secure networks in hybrid infrastructures, but it goes beyond other network certifications. The SC-100 covers many IT disciplines, and network engineers no longer have the privilege of staying in their lane. Network engineers need to design network security beyond the network itself. The SC-100 shows that network engineers have these skills. 

Is SC-100 Certification Worth It?

The average salary for a cybersecurity professional is $113,000 per year, and it is projected to increase dramatically over the next 10 years. This is an easy decision to make since organizations will be investing in hardening their cybersecurity presence. 

The SC-100 exam is a $165 investment that will strengthen your professional positioning in the job market and provide a massive return for the cost.