Microsoft Certified: Cybersecurity Architect Expert (SC-100) Online Training

Yes, for cybersecurity professionals, cloud specialists, and IT architects, the Microsoft Certified Cybersecurity Architect Expert (SC-100) is probably worth it. Your specific career goals will determine whether or not it's worth it, but if you're already working in cybersecurity and have experience with Microsoft technologies, there aren't many certifications better than the Cybersecurity Architect Expert for validating advanced expertise.

The Microsoft Certified: Cybersecurity Architect Expert certification exam SC-100 costs $165. However, it's not the only cost associated with the certification. You must pass one of three prerequisites: Azure Security Engineer Associate; Identity and Access Administrator Associate; or Security Operations Analyst Associate – each of which cost $165. Therefore the total cost of earning Cybersecurity Architect Expert is at least $660, even though its exam SC-100 itself only costs $165.

Yes, if you're planning on earning the Microsoft Certified: Cybersecurity Architect Expert, you should plan on the SC-100 being a difficult exam. Building on prerequisite knowledge in identity and access management as well as security operations, the SC-100 dives deep into technical familiarity with mitigating network security threats with Microsoft technologies. Plan on the exam requiring specific expertise and deep familiarity with Microsoft security tools.

Yes, like all of their role-based (associate and expert) certifications, the Microsoft Certified: Cybersecurity Architect Expert expires after one year. Fortunately, Microsoft offers free renewal certification exams for each of those certifications, including the Cybersecurity Architect Expert, available within six months of your cert expiring. The exams tend to cover recent updates and changes to the knowledge and skill areas tested in the original exam.

The best way to study for the Microsoft Certified: Cybersecurity Architect Expert exam SC-100 is with a balance of theory and practice. As a cybersecurity architect, you'll need to know how to design security solutions that align with industry best practices as well as infrastructural, application/data and compliance requirements. Once you understand the concepts of those priorities and requirements, practice actually building those security solutions and implementing them with Microsoft security tools.