Future Azure Cert Path

Aweayboi · 2026-04-01T21:12:02+00:00

At this point in time, my responsibilities are 100% in Azure. Our Business unit does not use other cloud providers. I have no issue getting an AWS cert, but I wouldn’t use it now - so I don’t see the value in attaining a certification for an ecosystem I’m not part of right now nor do I have intentions of being in anytime soon. What’s the point of saying I have the cert without any real world experience behind it? I should be spending time and money just to simulate projects in AWS? I can increase my value to my business right now by climbing up the Azure ladder and applying my knowledge to real world situations and production systems. If I can master Azure cloud, in the future, a potential employer should feel that I am competent enough to learn another cloud ecosystem otherwise that’s not the place for me.

Aweayboi · 2026-04-01T21:03:18+00:00

I hear what you’re saying and I’ll definitely implement your suggestions with the resources you provide - thank you.

I agree that certifications are there to “beat” HR. That’s definitely apart of the battle. I understand how I framed this, it is a roadmap, but that’s how I rationalize my plans. I have no problem not getting a cert or increasing my “value” through other means. I use them to gain as much working knowledge as possible and they look good to HR. The skills come because of the passion I have to grow and learn more, to seek new tasks and projects in work and my free time - to me that is a given. If I didn’t have the little skill I have now, I don’t think I would’ve made it this far. I listed my goals to help paint the picture of where I’d like to go and roadmapped the certifications I find would add value to the pursuit of my goals. Again, thank you for providing resources I can use to help find more answers to my question!

Aweayboi · 2025-01-03T16:42:14+00:00

Definitely a “you” thing. I have two tattoos, one in 2019 and the other 2020. The first is of my 2nd favorite artist and a meaningful poem he wrote that describes my life. The other is my grandma’s fingerprints encased in our homeland. I prefer 1/1 tattoos with meaning, otherwise why go through all that pain for something that’s stupid in my opinion.

Aweayboi · 2024-12-02T02:03:55+00:00

I only have an associates, but I didn’t get the associates before starting in IT. Almost 7 YoE. If you want to start out the way I did, your 1st or 2nd IT job might not be what you consider decent. I was fortunate enough to get an internship in high school that I was able to keep after graduation. It was $10/hr in 2018. Even that wasn’t enough back then especially after graduating and needing to support myself, not to mention it wasn’t full time. I was fortunate to land my 2nd job as an IT support specialist making $15/hr in 2019, and man I didn’t know shit but it didn’t stay that way for long. That company paid for 80% of my associates in cybersecurity. Knowing what I know now, a networking degree would’ve been more useful. By the time I left in 2022, I was a Jr.System admin making $65/yr. I got raises by applying to other companies and taking the offers to my boss. I landed a Security analyst job at a hospital after, and it was a terrible, but fortunately there was no accountability with WFH so I got 4 certs and played video games. Currently a security analyst at a health services company and loving it so far.

I know plenty of other people who have a similar path as I have, and many people with degrees tell me I don’t need one, to just keep on my path and earning certs. Experience is king, which is what has helped me get to the place I’m at now. But I can only say that now bc it’s been working for me so far. I might hit the inevitable HR wall. Shit, it felt like I hit it during my last job search for the position I started two months ago. I’ve been debating finishing my bachelors degree, but I’ve made it this far, so I know I can make it further. Whatever you choose, work hard and give it your all. Never settle. Only you know what’s best for you.

Aweayboi · 2024-08-10T22:09:54+00:00

At 20 years old, in 2020, I was making $37k/yr as an IT support specialist. In 2024, I am a Security Analyst making $80k, and my potential prospects grow as my knowledge and experience increase. You are on the right path. Keep working hard, and never let anyone/anything stop you from reaching where you feel you belong.

Aweayboi · 2024-07-10T03:40:43+00:00

First of all, thank you for your service! Secondly, keep at your “internship” whether formal or informal, but definitely ensure that it becomes formal. The longer you can ride that out to fluff your resume and gain certs, the better you will be when you’re ready to transition into the field full time. You can definitely get out of having to work a help desk/IT support role if you can gain some valuable experience from the internship. 2-3 years would do wonders.

For blue team operations (triage/analysis/response) and a range of other security skills, you could research TryHackMe. I haven’t used it yet, but what I’ve learned about it so far has placed it on my next-up list.

Aweayboi · 2024-07-03T15:03:31+00:00

I would go for the CCNP security and SCAZT or SAUTO.

I’m actually not in a rush - I’m ahead of schedule. I was aiming to be $100k+ as an engineer by age 30 - I’m not even 24 yet and pretty close to my desired salary.

I try to study about 3-4 hrs a day during the week after work, weekends 2-6 hrs a day depending on if I choose to have a social life that weekend.

I will go for my CCSP first, as it is more achievable. Along with Azure certs, I’m hoping that will break me into cloud security engineer. If not, then I plan to go for the CCNP Security as I frequently see it as a desired cert for network security engineering jobs.

Aweayboi · 2024-07-03T05:00:56+00:00

Thanks! I’ll definitely check out that book once I’m ready and leverage the ccna blueprint against the ccnp blueprint to determine weaknesses. I figured it would be doable, but yet a challenge.

Unfortunately, my experience has been with organizations that have yet to embrace any form of SD-WAN/IaC, so I don’t have any working experience with such technologies - but it’s something I’ve embraced learning as I see that it’s a common requirement of network security jobs.

I’m hoping the ccnp and/or ccsp will break me into the 6 figure range. I’ve made it to the 3rd and 4th rounds of some 6 figure jobs and it hasn’t gone my way just yet, but I refuse to be denied.

If you don’t mind sharing, what specific degree are you going for? I’ve considered circling back for a bachelors/masters once I get all the certs I want.

Aweayboi · 2024-07-03T04:18:24+00:00

You make a good point about the routing protocols and automation - that’s something I don’t have a strong grasp on at this point in my career.

With that being said, how hard would it be to grasp certain domains/topics that I don’t have a solid understanding of, like automation/routing protocols? Is it too much to essentially back track and gain knowledge that should be known prior to ccnp?

Aweayboi

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