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FREE Alibaba Cloud Security Associate (CSA-C01) Certification Guide 2026: Exam Format, Blueprint, Study Plan
Key Facts
- Alibaba Cloud retired the ACA Cloud Security Associate certification on May 13, 2025 and replaced it with Cloud Security Engineer (Associate), exam code CSA-C01.
- The CSA-C01 exam has 50 questions and a 90-minute time limit, per the official Alibaba Cloud Academy certification page.
- CSA-C01 requires a score of 70 out of 100 points to pass, raising the bar from the retired ACA Cloud Security exam's 60-point threshold.
- The CSA-C01 exam fee is USD $200.00 and the exam is delivered in English through Pearson VUE.
- CSA-C01 is delivered by Pearson VUE as an online proctored (OnVUE) exam or at a physical test center.
- The CSA-C01 blueprint covers Alibaba Cloud RAM, Anti-DDoS, WAF, Cloud Firewall, Security Center, KMS, Bastionhost, and ActionTrail.
- Alibaba Cloud requires a 14-day waiting period between any two professional exams, and the CSA-C01 fee is non-refundable.
- CSA-C01 has no formal prerequisites, but Alibaba Cloud recommends foundational cloud and networking knowledge before attempting the associate exam.
- The ACA Cloud Security retirement timeline was end-of-sales February 13, 2025, end-of-life May 13, 2025, and a grace period through August 13, 2025.
- Alibaba Cloud Academy associate certificates are generally valid for about 2 years before recertification is required.
Alibaba Cloud Security Associate (CSA-C01) in 2026: The First Guide Written for the New Cloud Security Engineer Exam, Not the Retired ACA Cloud Security One
If you searched "ACA Cloud Security certification" and landed on a page describing a 60-question exam, that page is out of date. Alibaba Cloud retired the legacy ACA Cloud Security Associate certification in 2025 and replaced it with Cloud Security Engineer (Associate) , exam code CSA-C01 . The end-of-sales date was February 13, 2025, end-of-life was May 13, 2025, and the grace period for converting old exam codes closed August 13, 2025, per Alibaba Cloud Academy's official certification update announcement. Every detail below is built around the current CSA-C01 exam, because most competing pages still describe the dead one.
This is the associate-level credential for engineers who secure workloads on Alibaba Cloud (Aliyun) — the dominant public cloud in mainland China and a major provider across Southeast Asia and the Middle East. If you work for an APAC-facing company, a cross-border e-commerce operation, or any organization running on Alibaba Cloud, CSA-C01 is the entry-level proof that you can operate the platform's native security stack.
CSA-C01 Exam At-a-Glance (2026)
- Item Detail
- Certification Alibaba Cloud Certified Associate: Cloud Security Engineer
- Exam Code CSA-C01
- Replaces ACA Cloud Security Associate (retired; EOL May 13, 2025)
- Questions 50
- Time Limit 90 minutes
- Passing Score 70 out of 100 points
- Exam Fee USD $200.00
- Language English
- Delivery Pearson VUE — online proctored (OnVUE) or test center
- Level Associate (entry / foundational practitioner)
- Prerequisites None required; basic cloud and networking knowledge recommended
Certificate Validity Alibaba Cloud Academy associate certificates are generally valid for 2 years; confirm on the official page before relying on a renewal date
Retake Rule 14-day wait required between two professional exams; exam fee is non-refundable
Source: Alibaba Cloud Academy — Cloud Security Engineer (Associate) certification page and the Alibaba Cloud Academy certification update announcement. Always verify the fee, languages, and validity on the official page before you register, because Alibaba Cloud localizes pricing and occasionally revises associate exam parameters.