The AWS Certified Security – Specialty certification differs from the AWS Certified Solutions Architect certification in several key ways:

• Focus – The Security – Specialty certification focuses primarily on security skills and knowledge, while the Solutions Architect certification has a broader focus on designing and deploying secure and reliable applications on AWS.
• Depth – The Security – Specialty certification goes into much greater depth on security topics and AWS security services. It validates an in-depth understanding of security best practices, data classification, encryption, and secure protocols on AWS.
• Experience requirements – The Security – Specialty certification typically requires at least 5 years of IT security experience and 2 years of AWS security experience. The Solutions Architect – Associate certification has no experience requirements.
• Cost – The Security – Specialty certification exam costs $300, while the Solutions Architect – Associate exam costs $150. This reflects the higher level of expertise required for the Security – Specialty exam.
• Audience – The Security – Specialty certification is aimed at security engineers, auditors, and consultants who want to validate their AWS security skills and expertise. The Solutions Architect certification is for a broader audience of architects, developers, and administrators.

In summary, the AWS Certified Security – Specialty certification focuses exclusively on security within AWS, requiring several years of relevant experience and in-depth knowledge of AWS security services. In contrast, the AWS Certified Solutions Architect certification has a broader focus on designing and deploying applications on AWS, with no experience requirements.

Sources

1. https://aws.amazon.com/certification/certified-security-specialty/
2. https://www.pluralsight.com/resources/blog/cloud/which-aws-certification-should-i-take
3. https://www.whizlabs.com/blog/which-aws-certification-should-i-choose/