Certification selection
How to choose an AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, or LinuC certification in 2026
Choose a cloud certification by role, experience, and the skills you want next—not by name recognition alone. Compare practical AWS, Microsoft, Google Cloud, and LinuC paths.
The first decision is not which cloud logo to choose. It is which job you want to become better at: operations, development, architecture, security, or data. Starting with the role makes a crowded certification catalog much easier to navigate.
Decide these three things first
1. The environment you will use
If your current team or target employer already uses a cloud, prioritize that environment. If not, review three to five relevant job descriptions and identify the technical areas they share.
2. The role you want to validate
Choose one primary role: administration and operations, application development, architecture, security, or data. Exams from the same provider can target very different work.
3. Your current hands-on experience
Compare your experience with the official target candidate before rushing into an advanced exam. Fill practical gaps with labs and a lower-level credential before setting the exam date.
Choose a path by provider
These paths organize the question banks currently published by KumoCert around job roles. Always check the linked official exam guide for the latest scope before booking an exam.
SOA-C03 is operations-focused, DVA-C02 targets developers, and SAA-C03 is a common architecture starting point. DOP-C02 and SAP-C02 suit deeper experience, while SCS-C03 and ANS-C01 cover specialist domains.
- Operations: SOA-C03
- Development: DVA-C02
- Architecture: SAA-C03 → SAP-C02
- Security and networking: SCS-C03 / ANS-C01
Microsoft
Search exams →AZ-104 covers Azure administration, AZ-305 architecture, and AZ-400 DevOps. The DP family covers databases and Microsoft Fabric; the SC family separates security operations, information protection, and architecture.
- Azure administration and architecture: AZ-104 → AZ-305
- DevOps: AZ-400
- Data: DP-300 / DP-600 / DP-700
- Security: SC-200 / SC-401 → SC-100
Google Cloud
Search exams →Google offers an Associate path for Workspace administration. Its Professional certifications map to advanced roles in architecture, development, DevOps, networking, security, data, databases, and machine learning.
- Workspace administration: Associate Google Workspace Administrator
- Architecture and development: Professional Cloud Architect / Cloud Developer
- Operations and security: Cloud DevOps / Network / Security Engineer
- Data and AI: Cloud Database / Data / Machine Learning Engineer
LinuC
Search exams →For systematic Linux skills that support cloud work, begin with LinuC Level 1 exams 101 and 102, then move to Level 2 exams 201 and 202. Level 3 3PS covers virtualization and high availability.
- Foundations: LinuC Level 1 exams 101 and 102
- Server administration: LinuC Level 2 exams 201 and 202
- Virtualization and high availability: LinuC Level 3 3PS
Five steps after choosing an exam
- 1
Save the official exam guide
Confirm the domains, target candidate, and update date. Use the official scope as the source of truth instead of letting a third-party course define it for you.
- 2
Run a small diagnostic first
Try a few questions from every domain and record concepts you could not explain, not only your score. You do not need to memorize a complete bank on day one.
- 3
Close gaps with documentation and labs
Do not memorize service names from missed questions. Use official documentation and hands-on work to understand why a design or operation is appropriate.
- 4
Move from domain practice to timed mocks
Start timed mocks after weak-domain performance stabilizes. Classifying why each answer was wrong gives you a focused revision list.
- 5
Recheck the official scope before exam day
Cloud exams change. Confirm the exam code, scope, and availability on the official page when booking and again shortly before the exam.
Once you have two candidates, compare them by practicing
KumoCert lets you try 10 original questions for each exam without registering. Use the experience to compare your current vocabulary and genuine interest before committing to a study path.
KumoCert independently created this study guide from official certification sources. It does not imply affiliation with or endorsement by any certification provider.