Tale of AWS Security Specialty Exam and Nature's Call !!!!

toshalkhawale — Wed, 01 Feb 2023 18:04:17 +0000

Yesterday I appeared for the AWS Security Specialty Exam and I was able to clear it !!!

Sounds boring, yes it does !!! but there is an interesting story to this success.

2-3 years back when I completed the AWS Solution Architect Associate exam I was fascinated to learn more about the Security aspect of the Cloud and inculcate it in my daily work. But I could not focus on my study for the AWS Security Specialty and appear for the exam. Meanwhile, in between, I did complete all the associate and AWS Solution architect Professional exams and was happy about it.

Finally, I made up my mind to either give AWS Security Specialty or the AWS DevOps Professional exam. but could not pay much attention to studying and give dedicate time for study.

Suddenly one month back I realized, I have a free AWS Specialty Exam Voucher which is unused(thanks to the benefit of the AWS Community Builder Program benefit). Check out more about AWS Community Builder program here https://aws.amazon.com/developer/community/community-builders/

I started focusing on Studying AWS Security Specialty Exam and registered for the exam with 15 days of preparation time. Thanks to my friend Ameya for helping with Udemy and I started going through Zeal Vora course on Udemy and also did checked Chandra Lingam Udemy Course .

Still, I was not able to devote time due to family commitments and work, need to reschedule the exam twice finally with no option to reschedule I appeared for the exam on the last day of the Exam voucher Expiration i.e 31st Jan 2023.

Generally, I schedule my exam early morning at 4:30 AM or 5 AM, as my 2 little princesses can become very curious about what baba is doing closed doors and have high chances to bump in surprisingly.

Finally, the day arrived and with no up-to-mark preparation I appeared for the exam, I kept a good pace to solve the question and flag where I was not sure of the exact answer. In between, the pressure of the morning chores was building, and could not resist taking a bio break, I asked the moderator for it but I could not chat with him and there was only one-way communication on the audio call. The Moderator was also giving a very vague reply and was not giving a definitive Yes or No.

At last , I could not hold and go off the laptop screen by informing the moderator to attain nature's call . The Moderator as observed in the previous chat did not respond to my request. Before going I did complete all 65 Questions and was having almost 30 min at hand to review the flagged question.

I returned after 5 min and saw another message on chat for a new moderator asking why I left the screen, I responded by saying, I did try to inform but no one replied. and I started reviewing my flagged question. As I reviewed a couple of questions, the moderator send me msg saying I violated the norm of the exam and he will revoke the exam and he did that without wasting any time.

I was furious and thought of following up with Pearson or challenging the revocation of the exam. I could not do that on exam day and today when I started to study again, I saw an email from Credly with msg about my AWS Security Specialty badge. I was elated to know, I cleared the exam and was surprised as well since I thought the revocation of the exam means they will not even evaluate my exam, but they did and I was able to clear the exam.

Few learning from this incident

1) Have Discipline in your study and preparation

2) Read all the terms and conditions of the exam, even if it's 4-5 pages of lengthy legal stuff

3) Nature is super powerful, respect it :-)

4) keep up-skilling, it's a never ending journey.

And a quick guide on resources used

1) Zeal Vora Udemy Cource --- https://www.udemy.com/course/aws-certified-security-specialty/
2) Chandra Lingam -- https://www.udemy.com/course/aws-certified-security-specialty-exam/
3) Exam Readiness Digital Course by AWS ----:https://explore.skillbuilder.aws/learn/course/internal/view/elearning/97/exam-readiness-aws-certified-security-specialty
4) AWS Official Practice test : -- https://explore.skillbuilder.aws/learn/course/12473/play/50050/aws-certified-security-specialty-official-practice-question-set-scs-c01-english

An AWS Community Builders Holiday story

toshalkhawale — Tue, 20 Dec 2022 08:00:00 +0000

Hello fellow CBs, today I am going to take you on my holiday story. Calendar year end and Christmas bring lots of found memories of my school day , we use to have lots of decoration in our school for Christmas and party with lots of sweet delicacy .The gift from Santa was main attraction of Christmas as gifts were far and few in childhood .

Now i relieve those moment with my lovely daughters and share the joy with them .

Do watch out for other fellow Community builders on their holiday story

Another wonderful occasion which brings joy to me is to relate with the AWS Community builder program !!!

lets take a shot as some of fascinating thing about being a AWS Community Builder .

What surprises you most about the Community Builders Program?

The Diverse set of people with diverse backgrounds set this Community Builder community apart. The unique dimension each individual brings to the program is the best part of it . And the vast knowledge of AWS that this community offer to the Community is icing on the cake.

What’s your background and your experience with AWS?

I play different roles in different capacities, professionally I work as an Engineering Manager with Tavisca( A JP Morgan Chase Company ). I take pride in supporting the AWS User Group Pune and leading it by example. I am a big fan of how AWS has continuously exceeded the expectation in terms of delivering matured products to its customer I have been using AWS since 2017 and have up-skilled to transition from a UC/CC ( Unified Communication/Contact Center ) Solution Architect to a Cloud Solution Architect after 15 years of my professional career

What’s the biggest benefit you see from the program?

Life is all about Continuous learning, learning and gaining knowledge from your Community builder buddy is the best part of the CB program. You hear so many transformational stories of fellow community builders that push you to give back more to this community.

One more fascinating perk of being a CB is you get first-hand access to the latest document or feature which AWS works on.

and the SWAG you get as part of it makes you feel special and admired !!!!

What are you eating for dinner today? Share the recipe!

Today I am going to feast on the famous "Pani Poori ", one of the most mouth-watering dishes you will ever have. definitely, a must-try if you have never been to India!!!

Check out the recipe here .....

https://www.spiceupthecurry.com/pani-puri-recipe/

Do you have anything else to say about the community builders program in 2022?

The numerous lives this program has touched in the last 2-3 years are tremendous. This year it has scaled new heights by surpassing the excess of 2300 Community Builders. Day by Day the competition and the criterion for selection are getting higher which improves the quality of talent which is absorbed into this program. Do check out the page below for more details on CB and Enrollment,

https://aws.amazon.com/developer/community/community-builders/