Forem: Stefan Moore

🧠 Leveling Up My Cloud Knowledge ☁️

Stefan Moore — Thu, 25 Sep 2025 00:52:50 +0000

I bought AWS Cloud Projects to help my cloud skills while studying for the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner exam. The purpose of this book is to build up your AWS skills through hands-on projects.
I found Chapter 1: Deploying and Interacting with AWS Services particularly valuable as it made me realize that AWS or any technology – isn’t about memorizing services or configurations. It’s about cultivating a mindset that’s curious, analytical, and adaptable. That foundation of thought is what makes learning stick and innovation possible.

With the chapter being theoretical, it outlined the following topics:
• Architecting on AWS
• Getting started with AWS Console
• Navigating AWS CLI and SDK
• Understanding IaC

As I continue building my cloud expertise, I have a better understanding of what it means to architect on AWS and tools that are available to deploy and interact with its services.

Architecting my tech portfolio

Stefan Moore — Wed, 17 Sep 2025 01:57:33 +0000

There are many reasons that one should create their own tech portfolio, with the number one reason being – Proof of Work. So…here’s mine.

Feedback or insights are welcomed, as they will contribute to further development.

My Project

Stefan Moore — Tue, 15 Jul 2025 11:25:34 +0000

Developing or supporting solutions on the AWS platform involves gaining a thorough understanding of the available tools and approaches. Acquiring the necessary skills is important for addressing potential challenges encountered during this process.

While my exact cloud role has yet to be defined, the primary objective remains clear: to contribute meaningfully to a cloud development or support team, thereby supporting the achievement of broader business objectives.

So, my cloud project will be structured to support continuous development and improve troubleshooting skills. It will be important to consider my current level of understanding and to identify an appropriate balance between underestimating and overestimating my abilities.

My next goal after passing the Cloud Practitioner is the Solutions Architect – Associate. I'll use structured learning labs to build my skills, and once confident, I'll explore alternative services and architectures to meet business needs.

Making an Occupational Change...

Stefan Moore — Tue, 17 Jun 2025 15:15:49 +0000

I am a material expeditor making the transition into the cloud industry. My role involves ensuring the timely delivery of resold goods or integrated systems to our customers.

The company I work for is focused on serving public sector customers within the federal government, as well as private sector defense and aerospace firms. We are a small business with over 20 years of experience in being a systems integrator and reseller. We specialize in the design and integration of edge data recording and computing systems, high-performance computing and AI/ML clusters, data storage, and enterprise systems.

The scope of my role starts when an order is received from the customer. Over the past six years, it has become evident why there is a shift towards cloud solutions when obtaining on-premise systems.

So that leads us to today...

Working on recertifying the AWS Cloud Practitioner

Thanks for taking the time to read.

Late Night Thinking...

Stefan Moore — Sun, 31 Mar 2024 15:52:04 +0000

It has finally occurred to me that I am looking to transition into the cloud industry at a different stage in life.

AWS CloudFormation Assistance

Stefan Moore — Sun, 24 Dec 2023 04:59:16 +0000

I decided to create an infrastructure using CloudFormation. So, right now I came across the following error Template contains errors.: Invalid template resource property 'VPC". I have no idea what it means or how I can find and correct. Can someone lend a hand here and tell what I did wrong?

Thanks 😊

Cloudformation help

Stefan Moore — Thu, 14 Dec 2023 16:55:13 +0000

Since I'm a beginner in this realm of cloud computing, I have to create a project that tells employers why I should take your job...I mean work with you. So, my idea for a project is to do something with Cloudformation. Which means, I'll be back to ask more questions. My first question is how can I add a user data script to my template?

Thanks!

Learning the AWS Cloud (Again)

Stefan Moore — Sat, 25 Nov 2023 18:44:45 +0000

That read exactly as it states Learning the AWS Cloud (Again). Even though I hold both AWS Cloud Practitioner and Solutions Architect – Associate certifications, I don’t feel confident in my skillset. So, I’m starting at the beginning and learning from scratch. Knowing what I know now, I know how to study for a foundational understanding of the AWS Cloud, services, and terminology.

Along the way, I plan on getting my hands dirty and do some projects to have a better idea of the various AWS tools and their business applications.

I won’t be following a linear approach; I’ll be switching up my study routine to stay motivated and to remember why I decided to get into the cloud. Much of this learning won’t just be centered around AWS. I'll also focus on the equally important skills of a business professional and my mental focus and emotional intelligence.

What lead to this…I began to do deep dives and finding out:

I need to know more than just AWS.
🤬 I don’t know 💩 about what I initially need to know.

So, thanks to content creators for helping me realize this and for me to bridge the gap from cloud certification to cloud career.

Posting to LinkedIn

Stefan Moore — Wed, 15 Nov 2023 18:17:09 +0000

When I create post on dev.to should I post the same thing on LinkedIn or post something different?

Why a career in the cloud?

Stefan Moore — Tue, 31 Oct 2023 12:12:19 +0000

The short version is why not? As we develop the cloud we also learn about the cloud. The things that can be done with or within the cloud will go as far as we can take it. Something like that sounds fun and scary at the same time and I want to be a part of that.

Journey into a cloud career

Stefan Moore — Thu, 26 Oct 2023 01:00:23 +0000

The journey into the cloud began with me obtaining my AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner
and Certified Solutions Architect – Associate certifications. At that point I thought I was ready to begin my cloud transition journey. Little did I know the mistake I was making. I was applying for the wrong role and lacked the required experience.

A Solution Architect (SA) is a senior level position that requires years of experience. I had no actual understanding of how multiple applications and services interact with each other. No clue of the knowledge into gathering business requirements to recommend the right solution and work through the trade-offs of the choice between one service over another.

Feeling unmotivated and on the cusp of giving up, I went down the YouTube rabbit hole and lost my way in a sea of pointless videos. I kept coming across cloud content creators. I would watch their lips move and didn’t care to hear what they had to say as I was no longer interested in what they had to say. Then one day, I took a chance and decided to stop using them as a filler for whatever I was doing. As I began to finally listen to them, I found out what mistakes I was making in looking for a cloud role and no knowledge or understanding of Linux, Bash scripting, Python, AWS CLI, CI/CD, and other technologies that seamlessly integrate into the AWS ecosystem.

I continued to listen to them with pen in hand or the use of a text editor and I began creating my roadmap towards my cloud career. I’ve started and stopped several times as I had to continuously revise my plan for various reasons. For whatever those reasons are I can say that I’m learning project management.

Nonetheless, I still have a roadmap that will guide me towards a career working in the cloud. I know I will go through some things along the way. The outcome of this journey is to have that offer letter in my hand.

Inquiring minds need to know...?

Stefan Moore — Tue, 17 Oct 2023 18:53:06 +0000

If you are an AWS Cloud Practitioner or Solutions Architect can I ask you a few questions?