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AWS Certified Security Specialty exam – my experience and prep tips

As someone who already held a CompTIA Security+ certification and had earned the AWS Cloud Practitioner certification, I thought I had a solid foundation in security and cloud technologies when I decided to tackle the AWS Certified Security – Specialty exam. Add in a few years of hands-on experience working with AWS, and I felt ready to take on this challenge. However, the journey to passing the exam taught me a few key lessons about focusing on the right resources, study strategies, and mastering the… Read More »AWS Certified Security Specialty exam – my experience and prep tips

How We Won the IMAGINE Grant: Tips for a Successful Nonprofit Application

Having worked on a winning IMAGINE Grant application in the “Go Further, Go Faster” category for a project at Fair Trade USA, I wanted to share a few practical tips that might help others. These insights come from my personal experience navigating the process—from aligning a technical vision with organizational goals to crafting a clear, focused proposal. Whether you’re just getting started with AWS or already building on the platform, I hope this helps you write an application that highlights both your innovation and your… Read More »How We Won the IMAGINE Grant: Tips for a Successful Nonprofit Application

How to Navigate AWS re:Invent Like a Pro

Attending AWS re:Invent is an exciting and immersive experience, but with so much happening across multiple venues, sessions, and tracks, it can quickly become overwhelming. With over 50,000 attendees, more than 2,000 sessions, and dozens of content tracks, planning ahead is essential to making the most out of your time there. Over the years, I’ve developed a set of strategies to navigate the event efficiently and get the most out of its countless offerings. Here’s how you can maximize your re:Invent experience. The Scale of… Read More »How to Navigate AWS re:Invent Like a Pro

Connecting to AWS Aurora database using SQL client

Having a visual way to explore the database, run queries, take backups, view database schema, etc. is oftentimes quite handy. If you have your favorite SQL client and/or if you feel like using a CLI might not be the best choice for your situation, here’s a quick step-by-step guide that on connecting to AWS Aurora using a desktop client. Finding necessary connection info in AWS console Log in to the AWS console Go to RDS Click Database instances Select the instance you want to connect… Read More »Connecting to AWS Aurora database using SQL client