Mastering Cloud Certifications: My Journey & Key Takeaways
Certifications have become a vital part of professional growth in the cloud industry. Over the past four months, I successfully earned five cloud certifications from AWS and Microsoft, strengthening my expertise in cloud computing and AI/ML. In this article, I’ll share my journey, preparation strategies, key takeaways, and how I managed to achieve these certifications within a short period.
Why Cloud Certifications Matter?
With businesses increasingly adopting cloud solutions, certified professionals are in high demand. Certifications validate your knowledge and open doors to better job opportunities, salary hikes, and career growth.
Popular certifications include:
- AWS Certified Solutions Architect
- Microsoft Azure Administrator
- Google Professional Cloud Architect
- CompTIA Cloud+
Each of these credentials demonstrates specific expertise that employers seek.
My Certification Journey
I started with AWS, drawn by its dominance in the cloud space. The learning curve was steep, but structured learning paths, hands-on practice, and a community of like-minded individuals helped me stay on track.
Lessons Learned:
- Understand the Fundamentals: Before diving into certifications, grasp the basics of cloud computing, networking, and security.
- Hands-on Labs Are Essential: Use platforms like AWS Free Tier, Microsoft Learn Sandbox, and Qwiklabs.
- Practice Exams Build Confidence: Test your knowledge with mock exams and adjust your study plan accordingly.
- Join a Community: Engage in forums, LinkedIn groups, and study groups to stay motivated.
How to Pass Your Cloud Certification?
If you’re preparing for cloud certifications, follow these key strategies:
Choose the Right Certification**
Assess your career goals and pick a certification that aligns with them. AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud each have unique strengths, so choose wisely.
Use Multiple Learning Resources**
- Online courses (A Cloud Guru, Udemy, Coursera, Pluralsight)
- Official documentation (AWS Docs, Microsoft Learn, Google Cloud Docs)
- Books and Whitepapers
- YouTube tutorials
Apply Your Knowledge**
- Set up cloud environments and deploy real-world projects.
- Work on small cloud-based applications to reinforce concepts.
Take Practice Exams**
Practice tests help identify weak areas. Aim for consistent scores above 85% before attempting the real exam.
. Stay Updated**
Cloud technologies evolve rapidly. Follow blogs, attend webinars, and read official cloud provider updates.
Industry Trends & Future of Cloud Certifications
The cloud landscape is shifting towards automation, security, and multi-cloud expertise. Companies value professionals who can navigate hybrid cloud architectures and implement security best practices.
Emerging Cloud Certifications to Watch:
- AWS Certified Security – Specialty
- Google Cloud DevOps Engineer
- Microsoft Azure AI Engineer
Gaining expertise in AI, cybersecurity, and DevOps will add immense value to your cloud career.
Certification Timeline
| Certification Name | Code | Started | Certified |
|---|---|---|---|
| AWS Cloud Practitioner Foundational | CLF-C02 | Oct | Nov |
| AWS Solutions Architect - Associate | SAA-C03 | Oct | Nov |
| AWS AI Practitioner Foundational | AIF-C01 | Nov | Dec |
| AWS Developer - Associate | DVA-C02 | Dec | Jan |
| Microsoft Azure Fundamentals | AZ-900 | Jan | Feb |
My Learning Pattern and Strategy
Structured Study Plan
With an aggressive timeline, I followed a structured approach, dedicating 2-3 hours daily to studying. I focused on core concepts before diving into practice exams, ensuring a strong foundational understanding.
👉 Tip: Break down complex topics into smaller sections and create a study roadmap. Set daily and weekly goals to stay on track.
Balancing Learning with a Full-Time Job
Managing certification prep alongside a full-time job required strategic time management. Here’s how I optimized my schedule:
- Watched Video Courses While Commuting 🎧: Instead of scrolling social media, I used my travel time to watch or listen to cloud certification content.
- Listened to Video Content During Walks 🚶♂️: Reinforced learning by listening to recorded sessions, treating it like a podcast.
- Dedicated 1-2 Hours for Practice Tests ✅: Strengthened weak areas by analyzing mistakes and improving problem-solving skills.
- Utilized Weekends & Holidays for Deep Learning 📅: Took advantage of free time to set up cloud labs and test real-world use cases.
👉 Tip: If you're short on time, try the "Pomodoro Technique" – 25 minutes of focused study followed by a 5-minute break.
Hands-on Labs & Practical Experience
Reading theory alone isn’t enough. I extensively used AWS Free Tier and Microsoft Learn sandbox environments to gain hands-on experience with real-world scenarios.
👉 Tip: Instead of just watching tutorials, actively build projects like setting up an EC2 instance, configuring IAM policies, or deploying a simple serverless app.
Leveraging Online Resources
To enhance my preparation, I used a combination of:
- AWS Skill Builder & Microsoft Learn – Official training modules with guided exercises.
- Udemy Courses – For in-depth explanations & real-world applications.
- Tutorials Dojo Practice Exams – To simulate real exam formats and refine weak areas.
- Exam Readiness Whitepapers & FAQs – AWS & Azure documentation for conceptual clarity.
👉 Tip: Join cloud study groups or Discord communities. Engaging with others accelerates learning and helps clarify doubts.
Mock Tests & Exam Simulations
I took multiple practice exams to assess my readiness. My goal was to score at least 70%+ before attempting the real test, helping me build confidence and improve time management skills.
👉 Tip: Don't just focus on getting the correct answer; instead, understand why the wrong answers are incorrect to solidify your learning.
Conceptual Over Memorization Approach
Rather than memorizing answers, I focused on understanding why a solution is preferred in specific scenarios. This mindset enabled me to tackle tricky case studies with ease.
👉 Tip: Whenever you learn a new concept, try explaining it to someone else (even if it's just to yourself!). Teaching is the best way to reinforce knowledge.
Key Takeaways
- Start with Fundamentals 🏗️: AWS Cloud Practitioner and Azure Fundamentals provided a strong base before diving into associate-level exams.
- Hands-on Labs are Crucial 🖥️: Practical exposure ensures a deeper understanding of cloud services.
- Mock Tests are Game-Changers 📝: They highlight weak areas and prepare you for the exam environment.
- Stick to Official Documentation 📖: AWS FAQs and whitepapers provide the most relevant, up-to-date knowledge.
- Stay Consistent ⏳: Even with a busy schedule, dedicating daily study hours made certification completion possible.
👉 Tip: Create a study journal or use flashcards to keep track of key concepts and commands.
What’s Next?
Having completed foundational and associate-level certifications, my next goal is to specialize further. I plan to clear professional-level AWS certifications and explore advanced cloud security and AI/ML-related certifications.
👉 Tip: Always set your next goal before completing your current one. This keeps the momentum going and prevents procrastination.
Final Thoughts
If you’re planning to get cloud-certified, set a clear timeline, stay consistent, and focus on hands-on learning. Certifications not only validate your skills but also open doors to exciting opportunities in cloud computing.
Earning a cloud certification is a journey of continuous learning. It requires dedication, practice, and a problem-solving mindset. Whether you’re just starting or aiming for advanced certifications, take one step at a time and stay committed.
If you have any questions about my journey, feel free to connect with me!
🚀 Useful Resources
🎓 Certification Guides
| Category & Topic | Description | Read More |
|---|---|---|
| 🏆 AWS CLF-C02 vs. Azure AZ-900: Which is Best for Beginners? | A comparative analysis of two fundamental cloud certifications to help you choose the right path. | Compare Now |
| 🎯 Why the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner (CLF-C02) Is the Ideal First Step | Understand the benefits of starting your cloud certification journey with AWS CLF-C02. | Find Out Why |
| 📘 How I Passed the Azure AZ-900 Exam – A Practical Study Guide | A firsthand account and study guide to successfully passing the Azure AZ-900 certification exam. | Read Guide |
| 🤔 What Matters More? | Cloud Certification vs. Real-World Experience | Read Guide |
📢 Let’s Connect!
💼 LinkedIn | 📂 GitHub | ✍️ Dev.to | 🌐 Hashnode
💡 Join the Conversation:
- Found this useful? Like 👍, comment 💬.
- Share 🔄 to help others on their journey!
- Have ideas? Share them below!
- Bookmark 📌 this content for easy access later.
- Save this article 📖 for future updates.
Top comments (1)
Hi Devs,
I chose each certification for a specific reason. Find your own reasons and select certifications that align with your needs.
As a Full-Stack Developer, Here’s why I chose each certification:
AWS Cloud Practitioner Foundational (CLF-C02) - I started with this to understand the basics of AWS and how cloud services work. It gave me a strong foundation in cloud technology.
AWS Solutions Architect - Associate (SAA-C03) - After learning the basics, I wanted to dive deeper into how to design and build systems on AWS. This certification helped me learn how to create reliable and scalable solutions.
AWS AI Practitioner Foundational (AIF-C01) - I was exploring AI/ML for one of the development module, so this certification helped me learn the basics of AI and machine learning on AWS.
AWS Developer - Associate (DVA-C02) - As a developer, I was already using some of the Developer focused AWS services, This certification taught me how to build and manage cloud-based applications on AWS, making me better at developing full solutions.
Microsoft Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900) - I have started using Azure as part of a project and *AKS * learning. So I wanted to compare the Azure fundamentals with AWS. This certification helped me understand how Azure works and how it’s different from AWS.