WGU MSCSIA: Week 23: Another Class Down! (D485 Tips)

I got the results for D485 about a day after I submitted and passed it first try! A lot of folks seems to hate this class and I will say that the PA was kind of tedious but overall it was not that bad especially since I was unfamiliar with Azure Cloud and was able to learn as I go.

I forgot where I saw it but if you are about to take D485 - Cloud Security, I would say try to find the PA template as it gives you tips/notes on what they expect and it helped a lot with writing the PA. I knew what to look for, a hint on where it would be, and screenshots of what needs to be done. The books that they had you read was pretty good, I'm going to pick up a hard copy. The book is called: Cloud security handbook: Find out how to effectively secure cloud environments using AWS, Azure, and GCP which you can grab on Amazon here: https://www.amazon.com/Cloud-Security-Handbook-effectively-environments/dp/180056919X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1DT7UX66TA05K&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.q8wRh-XPeMlnkSYYQ7JEwA.NuGZnT9gFIV07nSi0B67M_igq_5nuvMLD0Uh80hxyho&dib_tag=se&keywords=Cloud+security+handbook%3A+Find+out+how+to+effectively+secure+cloud+environments+using+AWS%2C+Azure%2C+and+GCP&qid=1741757547&sprefix=cloud+security+handbook+find+out+how+to+effectively+secure+cloud+environments+using+aws%2C+azure%2C+and+gcp%2Caps%2C386&sr=8-1

-tips-

I was able to finish this in one sitting so what I would suggest is to find the PA template and read through it as well as the requirements/scenario before starting the lab.

You have 4 hours to finish the lab but I'm not sure if progress resets so I would suggest to try and finish it all in one sitting with no interruptions.

After reading the PA Requirements/Template start the lab and go in order with the PA as they all relate to each other. I would say do the ones that requires screenshots first with the first set requires you to implement what you wrote about in the first part of the PA.

Here are something that I saw from reddit that helped and is useful:

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/role-based-access-control/role-assignments-portal
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/key-vault/general/quick-create-portal
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/backup/quick-backup-vm-portal

Hopefully this helps anyone who is reading. 

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I'm still job searching but I'm recovered from EUIC so now I'm back to being a professor locally with good form. I'm looking to get back into playing some games competitively. I'm thinking of learning MTG and getting back into Starcraft.

I done an interview for an IT Help Desk Position. It's not what I wanted to get into but it will get me a chance to get back into some hands-on work.

Anyways, I started the next class but it looks like I can drop it before the 21st with no repurcussion so if I don't finish it then, we are good. I'm just trying to get a head start for my next term.

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Thanks for reading.

WGU MSCSIA Week 22: It's Too Soon To Start Over

 Just submitted my PA for D485 and now I'm debating if I want to start on the next course to get a head start for the next semester. I'll see how I feel when I wake up the next day.

Once I get a score/status on the PA I'll detail what to look for in the next post but for this week I been working on my homelab while packing to move to Plano.

I'm planning on setting up 3 vms for a simple SOC setup so I can practice working with siem and attacking my own systems.

I'm currently still jobless but at least I have school to fall back on. I'll be busy doing school stuff than worry all the time.

I'm still job searching but it looks like the IT Market (and most of the job market) is not in a good spot.

I have a couple interviews lined up so we will see how that goes.

Just a few more weeks until this term is done. I am on track to finish this program in a year. Let's do this.