CirrusHQ, the AWS cloud specialist, has announced today that CREST International (CREST), the global not-for-profit, membership body representing the cyber security industry, has significantly scaled its cyber exam delivery following a successful cloud migration to AWS which it supported.
CREST is responsible for accrediting over 400 member companies and certifying individuals through rigorous technical examinations to elevate standards in cyber security services. Its flagship certifications, combining theory and hands-on practical assessments, are trusted by governments, regulators, and industry bodies worldwide.
For years, CREST relied on a legacy private cloud infrastructure to host its practical exams, which were delivered through manual processes and assessor-led operations. The setup was designed to support test centres globally but faced limitations in efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and scalability.
CREST turned to CirrusHQ to migrate its exam platform to AWS, creating a secure, scalable, and globally accessible solution. By building a foundational AWS Landing Zone, CirrusHQ established a secure and compliant environment for CREST’s exam workloads. The new exam platform introduced centralised authentication through AWS IAM Identity Centre, enabling role-based access control resulting in simplified user management while enhancing security of sensitive exam data.
Automation – provided through the deployment of AWS Step Functions, Lambda, and CodePipeline – also streamlined the creation and deployment of exam environments, resulting in an 80% reduction in time and effort from CREST Assessors. This time saving allowed them to focus on future innovation rather than manual processes.
Furthermore, the new platform improved the candidate experience with AWS-hosted machines where candidates could practice on the tools and setup before their exams and a dedicated file-upload platform. By integrating with Pearson VUE test centres, CREST expanded its global reach from three countries to over 70, significantly increasing accessibility for candidates.
The migration has also resulted in a 33% reduction in costs while simultaneously decommissioning expensive legacy data centres.
Mark Grigg, Operations Director at CREST said: “Working with CirrusHQ has been a highly positive experience. They quickly grasped our unique needs and demonstrated a deep understanding of our objectives. Throughout the project, CirrusHQ consistently went above and beyond to ensure successful delivery. Their proactive approach and ability to propose creative, effective solutions to challenges made them a reliable and invaluable partner. The transformation of our exam platform has delivered remarkable benefits and will undoubtedly help us to realise our global ambitions.”
James Lucas, CEO at CirrusHQ added: “Partnering with organisations who recognise that more is possible when it comes to the cloud never fails to excite me. The results that CREST have had following their migration to AWS with the support of our team is nothing short of impressive. From cost savings having removed the need to maintain private data centres and the associated operational costs to scaling their exam programme to new markets – it is clear to see that CREST is on a clear path to growth and innovation. Additionally, all of this will no doubt benefit those enrolled in its exam programme around the world.”
CirrusHQ also supported CREST by automating data integration, synchronising candidate registration data between Dynamics 365, Pearson VUE, and third-party identity providers. This eliminated the need for manual handling, reducing errors and streamlining operations created following an increase of candidates due to its exam delivery expansion. CirrusHQ used AWS-powered Results Platform and Dynamics 365 to do this.
Separately, CirrusHQ recently announced that it had achieved Premier tier in the AWS Partner Network (APN) – making it the first Scottish-headquartered company to gain such a status.
For more information on CirrusHQ’s work with CREST, visit: https://cirrushq.com/
ABOUT CIRRUSHQ:
CirrusHQ is an Amazon Web Services (AWS) Premier Tier Services Partner, providing security and compliance across wide IT estates and ensuring high performance for a broad spectrum of businesses.
CirrusHQ’s mission is to enable organisations to innovate and grow in the AWS Cloud. With exclusive focus on, and unparalleled experience of, the AWS platform, together with unique levels of certification, CirrusHQ help customers reap the benefits of the Cloud wherever they are in their Cloud journey, ensuring they maximise the performance, security, and cost-effectiveness of their workloads. https://cirrushq.com/
