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Exam Information
Official specifications published by Checkpoint
Exam Format
90 min
75
70%
Specialist
Registration
$250 USD
Pearson VUE or online proctoring
English
14-day waiting period between attempts
Validity
2 years
Pass the current version of the CCCS exam; Pass a higher-level Check Point certification exam; Attend Check Point authorized training courses
156-560 Exam Topics and Domains
156-560 is organized into 5 weighted domains. Expect to work with Smart-1 Cloud, AKS, Ansible, Application Control, and more.
1
Introducing CloudGuard Protections
15%
CloudGuard Overview and Architecture
CloudGuard Components and FeaturesMulti-Cloud Security Strategy
- Describe CloudGuard's comprehensive protection features
- Understand cloud environment threat landscape
- Identify CloudGuard components and their purposes
Cloud Threat Prevention
Threat Prevention Technologies
- Understand cloud-specific security threats
- Configure threat prevention features
- Implement security best practices
2
Deploying CloudGuard
25%
AWS Deployment
AWS Integration and ArchitectureAWS Auto-Scaling
- Deploy CloudGuard in AWS environments
- Configure high availability
- Integrate with AWS native services
Azure Deployment
Azure Integration and ArchitectureAzure High Availability
- Deploy CloudGuard in Azure environments
- Configure HA clusters in Azure
- Understand Azure-specific limitations and workarounds
GCP Deployment
GCP Integration and Architecture
- Deploy CloudGuard in GCP environments
- Configure load balancing and scaling
- Implement enterprise-scale architectures
Infrastructure as Code Deployment
Terraform AutomationCloud-Native Templates
- Deploy CloudGuard using IaC tools
- Automate deployment processes
- Maintain version-controlled infrastructure
3
CloudGuard Security Policy
20%
Unified Policy Management
Smart-1 Cloud ManagementDynamic Objects and Tags
- Create and manage unified security policies
- Configure dynamic objects based on cloud metadata
- Implement policy best practices
Traffic Inspection and Control
East-West and North-South TrafficApplication Control and URL Filtering
- Configure traffic inspection policies
- Implement application control
- Set up SSL/TLS inspection
4
Automating CloudGuard Protections
20%
CI/CD Integration
DevOps Pipeline IntegrationAPI Automation
- Integrate CloudGuard with CI/CD pipelines
- Use APIs for automation
- Implement Policy as Code
Cloud-Native Automation
Auto-Scaling and ElasticityOrchestration and Configuration Management
- Implement auto-scaling for CloudGuard
- Use configuration management tools
- Automate compliance and remediation
5
Security for Infrastructure-as-a-Service Clouds with Dome9
20%
CloudGuard Dome9 CSPM
Cloud Security Posture ManagementCloud Inventory and Asset Management
- Configure Dome9 for cloud environments
- Run compliance assessments
- Manage cloud asset inventory
Kubernetes and Container Security
Kubernetes Runtime ProtectionContainer Image SecurityKubernetes Cluster Security
- Secure Kubernetes environments
- Implement container runtime protection
- Configure container image security
Cloud Workload Protection
Serverless SecurityCloud-Native Application Protection
- Protect cloud-native applications
- Implement serverless security
- Configure workload protection
How do I earn this certification?
Passing 156-560 earns the Check Point Certified Cloud Specialist certification. It sits in the Cloud Security track.
Current Level Exams
- 156-541 - CCVS - VSX Specialist
- 156-551 - CCAS - Automation Specialist
- 156-590 - CCCS-AWS - Cloud Specialist for AWS
Next Level Options
- 156-315.81 - CCSE - Check Point Certified Security Expert
- 156-587 - CCTE - Check Point Certified Troubleshooting Expert
- 156-835 - CCME - Check Point Certified Multi-Domain Expert
Alternative Paths
- 156-730 - CCSE - Maestro Expert Advanced network security scaling
- 156-585 - CCTE - Troubleshooting SecurityDeep troubleshooting skills
- 156-607 - Harmony Endpoint Specialist Complete security portfolio expertise
Practice with Precision
The PlanetCert Simulator mirrors the real exam environment with authentic questions and timed pressure.
How to study for this exam?
Use the official PlanetCert Practice Test alongside the study plan below to prepare efficiently for 156-560.
What's changed on this exam?
Current Status
- ACTIVE
- Last content update: 2024-01-15
- Announcement date: 2020-06-01
Updates
- CloudGuard CNAPP Latest New CNAPP features likely in next exam update • Release date: 2024-Q2
- Kubernetes Runtime Protection 2.0 Enhanced container security topics expected • Release date: 2024-07-01
- CloudGuard Controller R81.20 Updated management features in exam content • Release date: 2024-06-01
Who should take this exam?
- Check Point Certified Security Administrator (CCSA) certification
- 6-12 months experience with Check Point products
- Experience with at least one major cloud platform (AWS, Azure, or GCP)
- Understanding of cloud security concepts and architectures
- Knowledge of networking and security fundamentals