SC-500
Microsoft Certified: Cloud and AI Security Engineer Associate (exam SC-500) · Microsoft
SC-500 is Microsoft’s new security engineer certification for Azure, hybrid and AI workloads: identity and governance, storage, database and network security, compute security including AI solutions, and posture management. It succeeds AZ-500, which was very widespread, and its practice assessment is not yet available. Its strength is to include the security of AI workloads; its limit is its youth, as recruiters still often write “AZ-500” in their ads.
- Exam
- Exam “Implementing End-to-End Security Controls for Cloud and AI Workloads”: 120 minutes, pass mark 700/1,000, with possible interactive components. Number of questions not published. It replaces AZ-500, retired on 31 August 2026.
- Exam price
- $165US price, excluding tax. The price depends on the country: Microsoft SC exams cost €126 excluding VAT in France.
- Required experience
- No prerequisite. Recommended: hands-on administration of Azure and hybrid environments (compute, network, storage), strong familiarity with Microsoft Entra ID and some Microsoft 365 administration.
- Validity and maintenance
- Under Microsoft’s policy for associate certifications, valid 12 months and renewed for free through an online assessment on Microsoft Learn. AZ-500 holders get no automatic conversion.
- Format
- Multiple choice and hands-on
Who is it for?
Azure administrators and cloud engineers moving into security, and security engineers protecting Azure, hybrid or AI workloads.
Domains covered
- Manage identity, access and governance: 20-25%
- Secure storage, databases and networking: 25-30%
- Secure compute, including AI solutions: 20-25%
- Manage and monitor security posture: 20-25%
Belinda’s take
Information checked on 2 October 2026 against the official site. Prices exclude tax and training, and may change.
Some figures come from secondary sources: check them on the official site before you register.
The certification names mentioned are trademarks of their respective owners. KrakenShield is not affiliated with any certification body and does not reproduce any exam question.
