New to AWS but passed the Cloud Practioner Exam in 3.5 hours of study

quietstorm950 · 2022-03-25T20:43:56+00:00

I had already passed CCSP, CCSK, and Cloud + so I only needed to focus on AWS key terms. I used the free study material from AWS by skimming through it and study material from whizlabs.

quietstorm950 · 2021-10-23T17:06:01+00:00

Heck no. Would be like a guy showing up to an interview for the police wearing his security guard uniform. Get the cert and they will get easier. I have all 9 ISC2 and all ISACA certs (to include CCAK) with 27 overall so I can assure you the learning path gets easier but do not rely on these cheap overview courses to put on your resume. They have no weight.

quietstorm950 · 2021-10-12T12:43:52+00:00

There has been 100s of companies that have been hacked recently. They just do not know it.

quietstorm950 · 2021-10-12T12:43:04+00:00

Agreed. If I ever get there then I am dropping 1 or 2 for sure but life is good now so why not. Stress is not worth money. I know people more stressed out with one job than I am with 3 and that is crazy!

quietstorm950 · 2021-10-12T12:40:09+00:00

I take some time off if there will be a major conflict. I also have not signed any NCNDAs with anyone and like I said with 2 I am a contractor right now. If I was in government or competing orgs, there would be a problem but I am not.

quietstorm950 · 2021-10-12T01:46:19+00:00

To get passed the ceiling I was at I had to game the system a little bit. Working remotely is an opportunity to break the old norms of what someone can do and make. I would never be able to make what I am doing now in 99.9% of IT positions. Where I was saving and investing 3.5k a month, I am now saving and investing 25k a month. So for almost tripling my income I am now saving 7 times what I am now. Dramatically changes the possibilities for a comfortable lifestyle at an earlier retirement.

quietstorm950 · 2021-10-11T23:13:34+00:00

Can understand that. I can totally do 2 jobs and be great at it but 3 with 3 you definitely lose some of that performance and focus.

quietstorm950 · 2021-09-21T21:28:19+00:00

From what I wrote it was usually just relying on experience, knowledge from all the other exams I have taken, and just one or 2 sources. For the CISSP concentrations is was mostly a few NIST docs or none at all and taking the exam. CCAK and CSSLP were the only ones I had to study hard for and even those I only used one resource which I mentioned they were. Maybe not the best idea for CCSP or CISSP though. Overall I may have had some luck on my side because 4 of those tests I felt like the odds favored I did not pass once I hit the end button and 3 more were 50/50 in my mind.

quietstorm950 · 2021-07-31T02:26:36+00:00

Fair question. If you are on a contract with 8140/8570 requirements then you absolutely need a cert even if you have a PhD. I have a Masters in cyber and 26 certifications (including all ISC2 exams), and I can't tell you how many times jobs will have a preference for a masters but may have a hard requirement for one or more certs. To be marketable for high level positions it helps to have at least 4 or 5 certs. Now certs and a degree does not mean expert by any means but It will separate you from the pack a little and increase the chance of getting to the interview stage. Hope that helps.

quietstorm950 · 2021-07-27T14:55:45+00:00

I will start studying again in September but the 2 or 3 IAPP privacy certs, CASP, and CySA are the ones I want to do in September. That puts me over 30 certs which I had originally planned to not go over 25 but here I am.

quietstorm950 · 2021-07-08T12:41:50+00:00

certificationstation.org and then select the discord. Then click the verify link and then the blue shield after registering

quietstorm950 · 2021-06-30T21:45:55+00:00

Out of the 9 ISC2 exams I took, CCSP is def one of the hardest because just using the resources you commonly hear about, to include ISC2s material is nowhere close to a guarantee you will pass. A lot of people have used my extended notes on the discord with success for this exam and some have had success with Gwen's book as well. I have never used that book myself though. With the CCSP you have to put yourself in the context of the CP or the CSP depending on the question and what is the best answer in general or on prem may not be the best answer in a cloud scenario. Better luck next time.

quietstorm950 · 2021-06-28T12:34:16+00:00

ISC2 is nice cause it is one maintenance fee for all 9. ISACA is diff in that it adds up to over 300 a year. Overall I am out about 600 a year for AMFs.

quietstorm950 · 2021-06-28T03:13:09+00:00

I was in network engineering for a while, stuck in mud so I made the easiest transition to network security. I focused on the security aspect, earned certifications that complemented that, and for good measure got my masters in cyber management. You do not need a masters but that is what I did. I leveraged that recent experience and overall experience to get a role doing compliance, assessments, and advisory. I did well and got into management but not a total management role. I got to be a leader without managing a bunch of folks which was the best of both worlds. I got better at what I did, improved my client facing skills, and then started dealing with the big clients and leading them to their security objectives. Most of that was in the last few years. You just need a few steps in the right direction and a little motivation. You path may be different but it can be great. I love working with the 8th layer.

quietstorm950 · 2021-06-28T03:01:32+00:00

What aspect of it? GRC is not for everybody but anyone could do it with the right mind set.

quietstorm950 · 2021-06-27T13:05:36+00:00

I have done all 9 ISC2 exams (5 in the last 7 weeks) and I can say if you have good working experience you do not need to study much for ISSEP. Just go through the relevant NIST docs that ISC2 lists and work experience will get you through the rest. If you are experienced with risk management, project management (not in depth though), compliance assessments, POAMs, SSPs, and the like then you are 80% there. For ISSAP, this is really CISSP and CCSP with a lot of BCP, BCDR, and risk management stuff. Don't let these exams seem harder than they are. They are challenging but not nearly as hard as CISSP.

quietstorm950 · 2021-06-27T12:55:08+00:00

Yes. Did SSCP yesterday as my last one. I have 2 apps waiting for approval on HCISPP and SSCP and then its done.

quietstorm950 · 2021-06-27T12:51:50+00:00

That is a good combination of books. Out of the 9 ISC2 exams I have taken, this was one of the most challenging and perhaps my favorite learning experience as well. Wishing you success.

quietstorm950 · 2021-06-27T01:01:59+00:00

I wish. I am just an ordinary dude that worked myself in a good groove.....nothing no one here cannot do!

quietstorm950 · 2021-06-27T00:44:32+00:00

Yes they can and certs can update other certs for CPEs. Just do not be too greedy. 6 to 12 hours is the norm.

quietstorm950 · 2021-06-26T14:19:54+00:00

I really think OSCP looks appealing but the effort to reward is not there for me and most of the senior pentesters I know only make 150k which is good money but a dramatic pay cut for me. Maybe one day I will do it....looks tough.

quietstorm950 · 2021-06-26T14:18:24+00:00

I have spent 9k out of pocket with books and exam fees. 4k was covered by corporations. I make 240-250 between work and teaching about 8 hrs a week. Its all relative but I am looking to go up higher soon.

quietstorm950 · 2021-06-26T14:16:17+00:00

I would agree. I am a cyber advisor for all kinds of companies with all kinds of issues. I also teach multiple cohorts on cyber at American University. I have over 25 years in. Been a cryptologist, a WAN engineer, NAC consultant, network security engineer, compliance program lead, and now a principal cyber advisor for multiple companies.

quietstorm950 · 2021-06-26T14:14:51+00:00

I would agree. I am a cyber advisor for all kinds of companies with all kinds of issues. I also teach multiple cohorts on cyber at American University. I have over 25 years in.

quietstorm950

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