Keys, secrets & certificates
AWS Private Certificate Authority: Azure equivalent
Azure has no general-purpose managed private CA like AWS Private CA.
Key Vault can create self-signed certificates or integrate with external CAs, and Azure Cloud HSM can protect the keys of a CA you run yourself (for example, AD Certificate Services).
Side-by-side comparison
| Aspect | Amazon Web Services | Microsoft Azure |
|---|---|---|
| Service | AWS Private Certificate Authority | No first-party equivalent |
| Lifecycle | Generally available | — |
| What it is | Managed private root and subordinate CAs for internal TLS, device, and workload certificates, with general-purpose and short-lived certificate modes. | — |
| Pricing model | Per CA per month (lower for short-lived mode) plus per certificate issued. | Not applicable. |
| Docs | AWS Private Certificate Authority docs | — |
| Pricing page | AWS Private Certificate Authority pricing | — |
| Exams | SCS-C03 | SC-500 |
Key differences
- AWS Private CA provides managed root and subordinate CAs, certificate revocation (CRL and OCSP), short-lived certificate mode, and integration with ACM, IAM Roles Anywhere, and EKS.
Pricing summary
Pricing models only. No prices are quoted because they change by region and over time.
- AWS
- Per CA per month (lower for short-lived mode) plus per certificate issued. AWS Private Certificate Authority pricing →
- Azure
- Not applicable.
Certification exam mapping
| Exam | Provider | Level | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| AWS Certified Security – Specialty SCS-C03 | AWS | Specialty | current The current code (SCS-C03) is taken from the exam-prep link on the official certification page. Simplified Chinese, Spanish (Latin America), and Portuguese (Brazil) versions retire after Dec 31, 2026. |
| Microsoft Certified – Cloud and AI Security Engineer Associate SC-500 | Azure | Associate | current New certification. A practice assessment isn't available yet, which the page says usually means the exam recently left (or is in) beta. |
Relevance is based on each exam's published scope, not a line-by-line objective match. Check the official study guide.
FAQ
Does Azure have an equivalent to AWS Private Certificate Authority?
Azure has no general-purpose managed private CA like AWS Private CA. Key Vault can create self-signed certificates or integrate with external CAs, and Azure Cloud HSM can protect the keys of a CA you run yourself (for example, AD Certificate Services).
How does pricing compare between AWS Private Certificate Authority and Azure?
AWS: Per CA per month (lower for short-lived mode) plus per certificate issued. Azure: Not applicable. Check the official pricing pages for current rates.
Which certification exams cover this topic?
AWS Certified Security – Specialty (SCS-C03); Microsoft Certified – Cloud and AI Security Engineer Associate (SC-500).