Certifications

AWS Solutions Architect – Associate

Cloud certoification are stariting to be a requirement, the way that the MCSE/MCSA was 15 to 20 years ago. I have done work in both Azure and AWS and honestly Azure makes more sense to me. I had it explained to more that if you come from a sysadmin background, Azure will be logical for you, if you come from a development background you will understand AWS. I choose to focus on AWS for two key reasons. First, pushes me out of my comfort zone. Two, Calgary is one of the next regions for AWS and a lot of companies will be shifting that way I believe as well as full a host of new tech companies that will be building on the AWS platform.

The Exam changes for SAA-02 to 03 on August 29, I am not sure that I will be able to feel ready at that point. So far I have levereaged the AWS partner resources as well as the Ultimate AWS Certified Solutions Architect Associate 2022 on Udemy by Steohane Maarek who delviers wonderful content.

ISC2 CISSP

The ISC2 CISSP is a certification that has been in the back of my mind for many years. It was a long process and by far the hardest thing I have ever studied for. Below is the process I took as well as the resources I used.

  1. Read the ISC2 book and make notes. There are a lot of topics (mile wide, inch deep) so there was a lot new even after 20 years in IT.
  2. Used video training from Thor Teaches. This was by far the best resource I had. The video training is via Udemy and was the bets investment that I have made.
  3. Other free resources on Thor Teaches home page. I worked on making by own “cheat sheet” containing all that I didn’t know well and needed to jam in to my head.
  4. Pracitice questions – ALOT!!! I think i took roughly 4800 practice questions for many different resources. My favorite was the ISC2 pocket addition so that I could take a quick test while waiting for cofee to be made, dogs to come in, etc.

On the day of the test I was incrediably nervous. It is an adaptive test so if you stuggle in an area, thats what you will get a lot of. That Domain for me was Secure application development as I am the fathest thing from a coder.

Once passing you still need to be endorced by a current CISSP holder in good standing with ISC2. You will need there name and ISC member #. Once the endorcement is competed it still needs to be processed by ISC and there is a chance that they will audit your documentation (work history, degrees, etc). Only after all of this do you have the ability to pay your membership fee and become a CISSP.

Microsoft AZ900

I have studied for the AZ900, I have likely spent to much time on it but have found it to be a good base.

I did the video training at https://www.cybrary.it/course/az-900-microsoft-azure-fundamentals/

I also prefer taking practice tests and was driven to whizlabs.com. Questions seem good and I am writing them in a few days so I will do a review of the packages after.