How to Become a Cloud Security Engineer: 2025 Career Guide

Cloud security engineers are in-demand professionals who help create and maintain security measures for company activities in the cloud, such as cloud infrastructure or cloud networks. In this role, you’ll help design, test, and plan the processes and procedures that keep business information, network, and other assets safe and secure. 

In 2024, cybercrime led to more than $16 billion in reported losses, based on data from the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Internet Crime Report [1]. Phishing, extortion, and personal data breaches were the most frequently reported offenses [1]. Cloud security engineers and other security professionals are the front line of defense against cybercrime. Learn more about the role of a cloud security engineer and how you can become one.

If you’re ready to begin your career in cybersecurity, consider pursuing the Google Cloud Cybersecurity Professional Certificate. This five-course program offers insights into analyzing and applying cloud security principles in practical scenarios. You’ll also have the opportunity to learn how to execute effective incident response and recovery plans.

What does a cloud security engineer do?

Cloud security engineers help plan, build, and oversee security procedures for a company’s cloud network and infrastructure. In this role, you will help assess and analyze the security risks and needs of the cloud network and digital information. You’ll design, improve, and monitor solutions and systems to minimize risk with your company’s specific needs in mind. 

You may work on a team and collaborate with other computer security professionals, so the exact roles of your job will vary from company to company. Common responsibilities of a cloud security engineer include:

• Staying ahead of industry trends and the latest threats to provide up-to-date solutions 

• Recommending software and other tools to protect company assets 

• Conducting tests and analyses of procedures and systems to prepare for emergencies 

• Ensuring compliance and documentation

• Coordinating with other teams and leadership about security needs and risks

Cloud security engineer salary and job outlook

According to Glassdoor, the estimated median total pay for a cloud security engineer in the US is $164,000 per year [2]. This role typically yields a base salary between $104,000 and $161,000, with additional pay ranging from $26,000 to $48,000 [2]. Additional pay may represent profit sharing, commissions, or bonuses. The exact amount you can expect to earn will vary depending on factors like years of experience, where you live, and what certifications or other credentials you hold. 

Cloud security is a rising industry, growing in response to companies embracing cloud computing, networking, and infrastructure. The global cloud security market was worth an estimated $30.0 billion in 2024 and is slated to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 22.5 percent to reach $148.3 billion by 2032, according to Market.US [3]. 

While the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) does not report specifically on job outlook data for cloud security engineers, it does project a much faster-than-average 29 percent growth rate for information security analysts from 2024 to 2034 [4].

How to become a cloud security engineer 

To begin a career in cloud security, you’ll need to complete your education, develop important skills, and gain relevant working experience. You can earn certifications to develop your skills even further and demonstrate your competencies to employers. Take a closer look at each of these steps: 

Step 1: Education 

The first step to becoming a cloud security engineer is to pursue formal education. The most common requirement for this role is a bachelor’s degree. According to Zippia, relevant majors are as follows [5]:

• Computer science

• Computer information systems

• Information technology

• Electrical engineering

• Business

Some employers may prefer a master’s degree in cybersecurity, computer science, or a related field.

Step 2: Skills

Depending on the area of study you choose, you’ll need to learn important cloud security skills to work in the field. You may learn these skills while obtaining your education or with certificate or certification programs. 

Some of the technical skills employers look for in cloud security engineers include:

• Object-oriented languages (Java, Python, Ruby, C++)

• Cloud environments and security 

• Incident response

• Scripting languages (JavaScript) 

• Agile

• Cloud platforms like Amazon Web Services (AWS) or Microsoft Azure

Workplace skills that help you perform effectively as a cloud security engineer include:

• Communication

• Problem-solving

• Research

• Management 

• Leadership

• Analytical thinking

• Self-motivation

Read more: 7 Problem-Solving Skills for Workplace Success

Step 3: Experience 

The next step to becoming a cloud security engineer is to gain experience in the field. You may begin in a related position as an information security analyst or a security officer. According to the US BLS, you’ll need less than five years of experience to start working as an information security analyst [4]. 

Step 4: Certifications and certificates

While not always required, earning additional credentials can help you learn important skills and stand out to potential employers. You will have many options for credentials related to cloud computing, but below, you can review five common certifications and certificates for cloud security engineers:

• Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) from ISC2 is a globally recognized certification that verifies your IT security technical skills and is often a standard for security professionals. 

• AWS Certified Security-Specialty validates your understanding of data classifications and AWS data protection mechanisms. This may be helpful for those who work in an AWS cloud architecture, networking, database management, or in a related area.

• Google Cloud Professional Cloud Security Engineer is a certification that assesses your ability to ensure data protection, manage operations within a Google Cloud Platform environment, and more. 

• Certificate of Cloud Security Knowledge (CCSK) from the Cloud Security Alliance provides you with knowledge on cloud security programs and best practices.

• Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP) from ISC2 demonstrates to employers your existing knowledge of information technology and security in cloud environments. This certification is common for cybersecurity professionals. 

Is it hard to become a cloud security engineer?

You will not likely find it hard to become a cloud security engineer, although entering this field does require you to have a background in both cybersecurity and cloud computing. This means earning a bachelor’s degree in addition to some of the certifications listed above. Learning programming languages, cloud skills, and cybersecurity fundamentals will take time and effort, as will the prior work experience you must gain. However, once you have developed your expertise in these areas, you’ll be better prepared to meet the challenges of ever-changing cloud technologies and threats and possibly move into more advanced roles.

Cloud security engineer career path

Cloud security engineers often need prior experience in security before specializing in cloud security. Typically, most employers will look for at least five years of experience. Some common entry-level positions in security to start with include: 

• Information security engineer

• Network security analyst

• Security system engineer

• Infrastructure engineer

In these roles, you’ll gain similar experience and skills to help you decide if cloud security is the right specialization for you. 

After building experience in a cloud security engineer position, you may decide to continue with your career. Your experience may help you qualify for a more senior role, such as: 

• Information technology manager

• Security operations manager

• Security architect

• Network manager

• Cybersecurity engineer

• Cybersecurity analyst

Explore our free resources for cloud security engineers

Stay ahead in your career with Career Chat, Coursera’s weekly LinkedIn newsletter covering essential job trends. Each issue ends with an opportunity for you to submit questions you'd like answered. Begin a more in-depth exploration into cloud computing and cybersecurity with additional free learning resources from Coursera:

• Watch on YouTube: 5 Essential Cloud Computing Skills in 2025 or Your Quick Guide to Cloud Computing

• Bookmark for easy access: Cybersecurity Glossary: Key Terms & Definitions

• Hear from an industry professional: Meet the IT Support Tech Advancing Toward a Cybersecurity Career

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