{"id":50,"date":"2020-08-11T15:25:01","date_gmt":"2020-08-11T03:25:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thecaptainslog.co.nz\/?p=50"},"modified":"2020-08-19T15:56:51","modified_gmt":"2020-08-19T03:56:51","slug":"cloud-training","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thecaptainslog.co.nz\/index.php\/2020\/08\/11\/cloud-training\/","title":{"rendered":"Cloud Training"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Everything is about the cloud these days. It’s everywhere, and so it should be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The cloud as an enabler of modern digital business, the ease of setting up environments and solutions compared to what you had to provision pre-cloud is simply amazing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amazon has the largest market share of all the platforms, followed by Microsoft with their Azure platform. Alibaba and Google are in third and fourth positions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While I’ve been semi-involved in cloud projects before, I didn’t have a full grasp of all the cloud concepts and I decided that I wanted to learn more. So I asked around. Ratan – an ex-enterprise architect from NZ Post recommended I study AWS, and I asked a cloud specialist at our CCM division – Shane, and he suggested I start with AWS first. Both of these people are well-respected experts and I trust their advice, so that was it, a decision made – AWS it is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tech Futures Lab has recognised that cloud computing is becoming a dominant technology platform and they have partnered with AWS academy to offer some courses in cloud technology. They are looking to start with AWS foundations, which is a great start for most people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because of my technical background, I felt that the foundations’ course might be too easy, and I wanted to explore if I could pass the AWS Architect Associate course. An old work colleague recommended A cloud guru<\/a> in one of his Linkedin posts, so I thought maybe I should give that a try. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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So I signed up. They were just putting their prices up, but if I signed up this month, I’d get the lower rate. Marketing 101 – add urgency to your sales pitch. It worked, I signed up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ryan Kroonenburg (one of the founders) leads the AWS Architect Associate course, and he does a great job. Providing extra information where necessary and sharing a little of his background and experience along the way. He’s a big fan of SpaceX, so that’s good – we share that in common – I now follow him on twitter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I did the course which was titled AWS Certified Solutions Architect Associate SAA-CO2 – this one supersedes the older CO1 certificate offered by AWS. The course consists of video training and follow-along labs with multi-choice tests at the end of each section. I watched and followed along with all the videos and made lots of notes in my notebook – which was full by the end of the course.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the end practice tests are offered, which are really good. Lots of questions. I did these until I was getting over 90% each time and booked the exam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I was able to take a proctored exam from the AWS Pearson-VUE provider – they get you to setup a webcam so you can see your desk, remove your apple watch and phone, any notebooks etc – they are quite strict, but that’s fine. I followed all the rules and took the exam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I noticed some differences in the exam from the practice questions, but they were pretty close – the exam took 130 minutes (and I went right up to the end, double-checking my answers) and cost US$150.00. You find out immediately if you passed, which is great. I am quite impatient really.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Did I pass? – YES, First time! – see my digital badge below. I also received a PDF certificate. The certification is valid for 3 years, which is good.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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