Data Forensics Policy

We are committed to protecting the value of AWS Certifications for our customers. To maintain this commitment, we conduct rigorous statistical analyses of our exams through a process called data forensics. This analysis helps us identify unusual patterns in test performance that may indicate irregular testing behavior.

Our AWS Certification team has established baseline performance metrics through extensive research. When we detect significant deviations from normal testing patterns, we take action by invalidating the exam result in question.

Our forensic analysis process runs continuously, which means we may revoke a certification even after it’s issued if we discover anomalies. We’ll notify you if your exam is invalidated through this process.

As outlined in the AWS Certification Program Agreement that all candidates must accept:

• We don’t provide refunds or compensation for forensically invalidated exams.
• If your exam is invalidated, you can’t take future AWS Certification exams through Online Test Delivery until receiving written approval from the AWS Certification Security team.

When We Take Action

If we invalidate your exam, revoke your AWS Certification, or suspend you from the AWS Certification Program based on forensic analysis:

• You’ll receive a notification explaining our actions
• You have 14 calendar days from the notification date to:
  • Review the Data Forensics Policy
  • Submit an appeal request by following the instructions in your notice
• You must respond to any requests for additional information by the specified deadline
• If you miss any deadline or fail to provide requested information, you forfeit your right to appeal

Appeals for Non-Suspended Candidates

When you appeal and are not suspended from the AWS Certification Program:

• We’ll conduct additional forensic analysis on:
  • Your appealed exam
  • All other AWS Certification exams you have taken
• We’ll investigate your exam and account activity for any other policy violations or irregularities
• We’ll deny your appeal if we find:
  • More forensic or statistical anomalies related to your appealed exam
  • Any policy violations connected to your appealed exam
  • Anomalies in your other exams (these will also be invalidated)
  • Links between your testing activity and other invalidated exams
  • False or misleading statements in your appeal
• If we don’t find additional evidence, we may:
  • Maintain the exam invalidation based on the initial forensic analysis
  • Continue restricted Online Test Delivery access
  • Issue you a Security Retake Voucher for the full exam fee (additional costs will not be covered)

Security Retake Vouchers

If we issue a Security Retake Voucher:

• It’s valid only for the specified exam
• You can’t transfer it to another person or AWS Certification account
• You must follow all provided instructions
• Improper use will result in exam invalidation without compensation
• Your retake will undergo forensic analysis and policy compliance checks
• Retake results will be valid if we find no issues

Appeals for Suspended Candidates

If you are suspended from the AWS Certification Program:

• Follow the appeal instructions provided in the suspension notice exactly
• We will inform you of all known anomalous exams and any policy violations or other issues that led to the suspension
• You must submit a comprehensive written statement that:
  • Explains the basis of your appeal
  • Answers all of our questions
  • Explains why we should grant your appeal
  • Includes all supporting evidence

Important:  Provide detailed responses to all of our questions and requests and submit all evidence with your initial written statement. We won’t consider incomplete or later submissions unless we specifically request additional information.

Appeal Review Process (Suspended Candidates)

A Security Agent will:

• Review that the forensic analyses were appropriately performed on your exam history
• Verify reported policy violations
• Evaluate your statement and evidence
• Assess additional available evidence
• Determine if multiple forensic invalidations could have reasonably occurred by chance

The Security Agent may:

• Uphold the original sanctions
• Reduce sanctions
• Overturn sanctions
• Increase sanctions

If sanctions increase, we’ll:

• Explain our findings
• Provide steps to dispute new findings

The appeal decision is final. As specified in the AWS Customer Agreement, arbitration is your only recourse to challenge the decision.

Protecting Our Data Forensics Process

We design our forensic analysis to detect highly unusual exam performance. To maintain process integrity, we don’t share specific details about detected anomalies when invalidating exams or denying appeals.

Protecting Your Privacy

We prioritize your privacy by:

• Communicating only with you about the invalidation and appeals process
• Not discussing your case with employers, managers, or others who do not support the AWS Certification Security team’s operations
• Requiring all inquiries follow our official process