› Certifications · compare
Compare certifications
Pick up to 3 certifications and compare them side-by-side on cost, exam format, recertification, salary signal, quality, and domain coverage.
GIAC · professional
GCWNGIAC Certified Windows Security Administrator
GIAC Certified Windows Security Administrator
Official pageMicrosoft · associate
SC-300Microsoft Certified: Identity and Access Administrator Associate
Entra ID deployment, conditional access, privileged access, identity governance.
Official pageComparing
GIACGCWN
MicrosoftSC-300
› Cost
Exam fee
GCWN$979
SC-300$165
Exam fee
$979
$165
Annual maintenance fee
GCWN—
SC-300—
Annual maintenance fee
—
—
3-year cost of ownership
GCWN$979
SC-300$165
3-year cost of ownership
$979
$165
› Exam mechanics
Pass mark
GCWN70% (scaled per attempt)
SC-300700/1000 (scaled)
Pass mark
70% (scaled per attempt)
700/1000 (scaled)
Retake policy
GCWN$999 fee · 30d wait
SC-300$165 fee · 1d wait
Retake policy
$999 fee · 30d wait
$165 fee · 1d wait
Study time
GCWN100–200 hrs
SC-30060–120 hrs
Study time
100–200 hrs
60–120 hrs
Validity
GCWN4 yrs
SC-3001 yr
Validity
4 yrs
1 yr
CPE / yr
GCWN9 CPEs
SC-3000 CPEs
CPE / yr
9 CPEs
0 CPEs
Delivery
GCWNmixed
SC-300online proctored
Delivery
mixed
online proctored
› Salary signal (US base)
Range
GCWN$100K – $150K
SC-300$110K – $155K
Range
$100K – $150K
$110K – $155K
Median
GCWN$120,000
SC-300$128,000
Median
$120,000
$128,000
Premium %
GCWN—
SC-300—
Premium %
—
—
Role context
GCWNWindows security administrator, US, 3-5 years.
SC-300Identity / IAM engineer (Azure AD / Entra ID), US, 3–5 years.
Role context
Windows security administrator, US, 3-5 years.
Identity / IAM engineer (Azure AD / Entra ID), US, 3–5 years.
› Quality (4-axis rubric · 0–10)
Schema quality
GCWN7.5
SC-3007.5
Schema quality
7.5
7.5
Practice evidence
GCWN4.5
SC-3006.0
Practice evidence
4.5
6.0
Maintenance
GCWN6.0
SC-3009.0
Maintenance
6.0
9.0
Market recognition
GCWN5.0
SC-3006.5
Market recognition
5.0
6.5
Average
GCWN5.8
SC-3007.3
Average
5.8
7.3
› Recognition & lifecycle
Recognition
GCWNGlobal
SC-300Global · US · EU
Recognition
Global
Global · US · EU
ISO 17024 accredited
GCWN—
SC-300—
ISO 17024 accredited
—
—
DoD 8140 baseline
GCWN—
SC-300—
DoD 8140 baseline
—
—
Holders worldwide
GCWN—
SC-300—
Holders worldwide
—
—
Current version
GCWN2024 SEC505 refresh (2024-04)
SC-300SC-300 (current) (2024-09)
Current version
2024 SEC505 refresh (2024-04)
SC-300 (current) (2024-09)
› Domain coverage
A1Governance, Risk & Compliance
GCWN·
SC-300○ touched
A1Governance, Risk & Compliance
·
○ touched
A2Network Security
GCWN● core
SC-300·
A2Network Security
● core
·
A3Zero Trust Architecture
GCWN·
SC-300● core
A3Zero Trust Architecture
·
● core
A5Cloud Security
GCWN·
SC-300○ touched
A5Cloud Security
·
○ touched
A6Identity & Access Management
GCWN● core
SC-300● core
A6Identity & Access Management
● core
● core
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