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Pick up to 3 certifications and compare them side-by-side on cost, exam format, recertification, salary signal, quality, and domain coverage.

Microsoft · professional
SC-100
Microsoft Cybersecurity Architect

The Microsoft Certified: Cybersecurity Architect Expert (SC-100) is Microsoft's highest security certification and targets experienced professionals who design security architectures for hybrid and cloud-native environments based on the Microsoft platform. It requires at least one associate-level security certification (e.g., AZ-500, SC-200, or SC-300) and builds on that knowledge. The certification addresses zero-trust architectures, compliance requirements, identity governance, and infrastructure protection from a strategic perspective. For organizations heavily invested in Microsoft 365 and Azure, SC-100 is valuable proof of expertise; outside the Microsoft ecosystem, its relevance is more limited. The exam will be updated in April 2026.

Official page

Cost

Exam fee
SC-100$165
Annual maintenance fee
SC-100
3-year cost of ownership
SC-100$165

Exam mechanics

Pass mark
SC-100700/1000 (scaled)
Retake policy
SC-100$165 fee · 1d wait
Study time
SC-100100–200 hrs
Validity
SC-1001 yr
CPE / yr
SC-100
Delivery
SC-100mixed

Salary signal (US base)

Range
SC-100$145K – $210K
Median
SC-100$170,000
Premium %
SC-100
Role context
SC-100Cybersecurity architect (Microsoft-stack focus), US, 7+ years.

Quality (4-axis rubric · 0–10)

Schema quality
SC-1008.5
Practice evidence
SC-1005.5
Maintenance
SC-1009.0
Market recognition
SC-1008.0
Average
SC-1007.8

Recognition & lifecycle

Recognition
SC-100Global
ISO 17024 accredited
SC-100
DoD 8140 baseline
SC-100
Holders worldwide
SC-100
Current version
SC-100SC-100 (current) (2024-09)

Domain coverage

A25Security Architecture & Engineering
SC-100● core
A3Zero Trust Architecture
SC-100● core
A5Cloud Security
SC-100● core

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