AWS retired the SysOps Administrator – Associate (SOA-C02) exam on 29 September 2025. It was replaced by SOA-C03, AWS Certified CloudOps Engineer – Associate, which adds container operations and puts more weight on multi-account, multi-Region and infrastructure-as-code work.
We have taken SysOps off sale rather than sell you preparation for an exam you cannot book. Our SOA-C03 material is being rebuilt against the new exam guide. In the meantime CrushCert covers four other AWS certifications — and if you want to be told when CloudOps prep is ready, email support@crushcert.com.
The AWS SysOps exam has changed — here is what to study instead
If you were preparing for SOA-C02, that exam no longer exists. The material below still describes the SysOps skill set accurately, but the current certification is SOA-C03 (CloudOps Engineer – Associate). CrushCert covers AWS Cloud Practitioner, Solutions Architect Associate, Developer Associate and Solutions Architect Professional today, all with hands-on labs.
7 days free on any covered exam · No card required
How CrushCert gets you exam-ready
Hands-on AWS labs
Build and match AWS architectures with drag-and-drop and work through real troubleshooting scenarios — so you learn the services by doing, not just memorizing.
Adaptive practice
The algorithm tracks every question you miss and serves more of those topics, so your weak areas get more reps and every session moves your score.
Realistic mock exams
Full-length, timed tests that mirror the real exam — countdown timer, question navigator, mark-for-review, and a 72% pass line so you know you're ready before exam day.
What's on the AWS SysOps Administrator exam
AWS renamed this exam in September 2025: the current version is SOA-C03, now titled AWS Certified CloudOps Engineer – Associate (it was formerly “SysOps Administrator – Associate”). Same associate-level operations focus. It has 65 questions in 130 minutes, scored on a 100–1,000 scale with a 720 passing score, and costs $150 USD. The five domains and weightings:
| Domain | Weight |
|---|---|
| Monitoring, Logging, Analysis, Remediation & Performance Optimization | 22% |
| Reliability & Business Continuity | 22% |
| Deployment, Provisioning & Automation | 22% |
| Security & Compliance | 16% |
| Networking & Content Delivery | 18% |
CrushCert's question bank and labs map to every domain. Hands-on lab and topic coverage includes:
Sample AWS SysOps Administrator practice questions
Amazon CloudWatch handles metrics, logs, and alarms. CloudTrail records API activity, Config tracks resource configuration, and Inspector assesses vulnerabilities. Every CrushCert question includes an explanation like this.
Amazon Managed Grafana is a fully managed service for Grafana, providing rich visualization dashboards that can pull data from CloudWatch, X-Ray, and other sources.
By default, you can associate up to 5 security groups with a network interface. This limit can be increased by contacting AWS support.
By default, Session Manager sessions time out after 20 minutes of inactivity. This can be configured in the Session Manager preferences.
Spot Instances offer up to 90% discount compared to On-Demand pricing, but AWS can reclaim them with a 2-minute warning, making them ideal for fault-tolerant workloads.
Why learners pick CrushCert
You practice the way the exam tests you. The exam includes performance-based and scenario items — not just recall. Prep that's only flashcards leaves you guessing on test day. CrushCert's labs put you in the driver's seat.
One affordable plan, no per-exam packs. The Associate plan is $19/month and also covers CCNA, CompTIA A+, Network+, Security+, and several AWS exams — so if you're stacking certs, it's all included.
You always know your readiness. A live readiness score blends your quiz accuracy, mock results, and lab performance, and points you to exactly what to study next.
A guided plan tells you what to study today. Guided Learning builds a short daily plan from your performance — a warm-up review, a lesson on your weakest topic, flashcards, and a hands-on lab, all in about 20 minutes, with spaced repetition so material comes back right before you'd forget it.
Keep learning: AWS guides & path
Going further with AWS? CrushCert also covers Cloud Practitioner, Solutions Architect, Developer Associate, and SA Professional — one plan, every exam.
Studying AWS? Start with an exam you can actually sit.
Cloud Practitioner, Solutions Architect, Developer and SA Professional — adaptive questions, hands-on labs and full mock exams. Free for 7 days, no card required.
Start studying freeAWS SysOps Administrator FAQ
How many questions are on the SOA-C03 (SysOps / CloudOps) exam?
The exam (SOA-C03, now titled AWS Certified CloudOps Engineer - Associate, formerly SysOps Administrator) has 65 questions in 130 minutes, focused on operations, monitoring, and automation on AWS.
Does CrushCert include hands-on AWS labs?
Yes — drag-and-drop labs and troubleshooting scenarios covering monitoring, automation, networking, and cost optimization.
What score do you need to pass?
720 on a 100–1,000 scale. CrushCert mock exams use a 72% pass line.
How long does it take to study?
Typically 2–3 months. CrushCert's weak-area targeting focuses your study on operational topics you miss.