SEC480: AWS Secure Builder

Important! Bring your own system configured according to these instructions.

A properly configured system is required to fully participate in this course. If you do not carefully read and follow these instructions, you will not be able to fully participate in hands-on exercises in your course. Therefore, please arrive with a system meeting all of the specified requirements.

Back up your system before class. Better yet, use a system without any sensitive/critical data. SANS is not responsible for your system or data.

Mandatory System Hardware Requirements

• Wireless networking (802.11 standard) is required. There is no wired Internet access in the classroom.

Mandatory Host Configuration And Software Requirements

• Your host operating system must be the latest version of Windows 10, Windows 11, or macOS 10.15.x or newer.
• Fully update your host operating system prior to the class to ensure you have the right drivers and patches installed.
• Linux hosts are not supported in the classroom due to their numerous variations. If you choose to use Linux as your host, you are solely responsible for configuring it to work with the course materials and/or VMs.
• Students should have an OpenSSH client installed on their laptop.

If you have additional questions about the laptop specifications, please contact customer service.

SEC480 training is recommended for a diverse range of individuals, including:

• AWS Builders and Build Teams:
• Cloud Application Developers
• Cloud Engineering Leaders
• Cloud Engineers
• Cloud Architects
• Cloud Admins
• Technical professionals who will be building in, operating in, configuring and / or managing AWS Cloud environments

The AWS Secure Builder Micro-Credential validates competency in securing and managing AWS environments, covering key areas such as the shared responsibility model, identity and access management, CI/CD pipeline security, and workload hardening. Candidates demonstrate knowledge of monitoring solutions, mitigating attack vectors, and applying incident response best practices. The exam also emphasizes zero trust principles and supply chain security to ensure a resilient AWS infrastructure.

More Certification Details

• Printed books
• MP3 audio files of the complete course lectures
• Electronic courseware

While no specific prerequisites exist, basic familiarity with AWS services and security concepts will enhance the learning experience. The course is designed for technical professionals including cloud engineers, developers, architects, and security specialists working with AWS environments.

The learning path begins with SEC480 as foundational AWS security training, progressing to SEC502 for multi-cloud security fundamentals, then advancing to SEC510 for comprehensive cloud control implementation. Specialized paths include SEC540 for DevSecOps integration, SEC541 for threat detection capabilities, or SEC588 for cloud penetration testing, creating a complete professional development roadmap addressing diverse cloud security specializations.

AWS Secure Builder teaches engineers, developers, and architects how to securely build and manage workloads in Amazon Web Services (AWS). It focuses on preventing common cloud misconfigurations by covering identity and access management, data protection, secure CI/CD pipelines, and threat detection. Designed for non-security roles, the course helps technical teams build security into their AWS environments from the start. Delivered via SANS OnDemand, it can be completed in as little as 12 hours and includes practical labs and a micro-credential to validate newly acquired skills.

SEC480 students gain the skills to build and maintain secure AWS environments, reducing the risk of costly misconfigurations. Organizations benefit from stronger cloud security, fewer incidents, and greater confidence in development workflows. With an improved understanding of AWS best practices, non-security personnel will improve operational efficiency while maintaining compliance and protecting critical business assets. This AWS cyber security course gives you the practical experience needed to contribute directly to secure cloud architecture and DevSecOps initiatives.