07 October 2024 Newsletter
Hey friend, here's what's been on my mind
In September, I was preparing to sell my house. I put my career development and writing hobby on the back burner.
Now, in early October, my home is ready for viewing. I'm excited to get back into learning and sharing what I've been up to. So, here's what's on my mind:
- AWS Cloud practitioner certification renewal
- SC-200 certification renewal
- Cybersecurity month
These are pretty light goals that introduce some exciting career development ideas. Let me explain.
To renew my AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner, I can recertify through their AWS Cloud Quest game-based recertification. The other recertification option is to pass a higher-level exam like the AWS Solutions Architect Associate or the AWS DevOps Professional. In other words, I can renew what I've got or take another exam and gain a new certification.
I've been sitting on the fence about whether or not it's time for me to go multi-cloud with certifications. There's no reason to touch AWS or GCP in my current role. However, I can prepare for future roles by becoming more familiar with a multi-cloud scenario. On top of that, AWS still has a larger market share than Azure. It feels like the right time to shoot for a new AWS certification.
Every year, when I renew my SC-200 (Security Operations Analyst) certification, I consider whether I should niche down into cloud security. In my current role, I have to handle security-related work like migrating to using private endpoints and acting on Microsoft Defender vulnerability assessments. Aiming for a cloud security role also uses all the cyber security analyst training I underwent at WithYouWithMe.
October is Cyber Security Awareness Month. It is a time when the tech industry works to raise awareness of the importance of cybersecurity. I know the need for cybersecurity from all my training to become a cybersecurity analyst at WithYouWithMe. Every October since I left the military, I reconsider diving deeper into security topics, whether or not I need it for work. It's cool to read about how things get broken.
If I tie together all of the thoughts above, it makes sense to aim for a cloud security certification in the long term. I mapped this out three years ago and remember noting the Certificate of Cloud Security Knowledge (CCSK) from Cloud Security Alliance and the Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP) from ISC2.
I had a game plan to earn both while working through the five-year experience requirement for the CCSP. In the next two years, I can also aim for the Azure Security Engineer (which would help in my current position) and AWS Security Specialty to have more vendor-specific knowledge. It makes sense to go down this road now that I've typed it all out.
Anyhoo, that's what I've been thinking about while I wait for someone to buy my house.
Check this out
AWS Cloud Quest
I mentioned AWS Cloud Quest earlier in this post. It's a learning platform/game where you take on different roles like Cloud Practitioner, Generative AI specialist, Serverless Developer, Solutions Architect, Machine Learning Specialist, Security Specialist, Data Analytics Specialist, or Networking Specialist. This might be a good fit if you're curious about the cloud and prefer a gamified learning experience.
Humble Bundle: Cybersecurity books by O'Reilly
Since it is cybersecurity awareness month, I'd like to share something from Humble Bundle. This year's mega bundle includes a few e-books about cloud security, but all twenty-two books are about cybersecurity. Buying all these books in their physical format would be pretty pricey, but they're reasonably affordable as e-books. If this sounds interesting to you, check them out here:
In case you missed it
Reflecting on my career switch to tech | Part One
This blog post started a lengthy self-reflection on how my career with the Royal Canadian Navy aided in switching careers into tech.
The post focuses on how continuous learning is required to succeed in the military. Embracing continuous education in the tech industry has allowed me to hit the ground running. I attribute much of my early career success to being ready to learn more as needed.
Uncertainty
I joined the tech industry during a booming market. Companies were willing to take more risks with new entry-level talent (like me). This is how I got my foot in the door.
The tech industry suffered massive layoffs about a year into my career switch. In this post, I reflect on all the uncertainty I've experienced as a tech professional. I wrap up the blog post with how I navigate what feels like an overwhelming wave of uncertainty.
That's all for this week's newsletter. Share this with someone who might be interested in these topics. Your recommendation helps grow this newsletter. Thanks!