(CCSP Practice Question Video: Live Testing)
Passing the CCSP exam in November 2024 was such an amazing feeling! Coming from a cloud background, mostly working in IAM, I’ve always wanted to dive deeper into the security aspect. After getting my AWS certification, I started thinking about going for the CISSP eventually. But honestly, jumping straight into it felt intimidating. The CCSP seemed like the perfect place to start. It fit well with my cloud experience and felt like a solid introduction to the bigger world of security.
I hit a few roadblocks around the time I was preparing for the CCSP exam. Between family obligations, a demanding job, and the stress of a cloud migration project, things often felt overwhelming. The project was complex, with a lot of moving parts, and managing the cloud migration while trying to balance my personal life was tough. I had to assume the role of a project manager several times while also make sure technical migration aspects were complete. But as you will read further down, it actually all helped me!
During this time, I bought the CCSP AIO and the Sybex CCSP Study Guide first. I was excited to get started, but as time passed, those books just sat there collecting dust. I had them, but I never opened them. It felt like I was collecting them just to have them on hand, as if buying them would somehow make me ready to study. The material seemed daunting, and there never seemed to be a perfect time to start. Then, I bought the CCSP Official Practice Tests and CCSP For Dummies, hoping they would help me get a better grip on the exam content. But again, the cycle repeated—these books were stacked up, gathering dust, and waiting for the right time. I just couldn't find the motivation or the right moment to dive in.
The books were all there, but I just couldn’t seem to get around to reading them. The material seemed dense, and I wasn’t sure where to begin. It wasn’t until I discovered Luke Ahmed and his course that things started to click. His approach, the way he broke things down, and how relatable he made the material were exactly what I needed to spark my motivation. Luke’s has an absolutely beautiful CCSP course that gave me the confidence to push through the delays, and his guidance helped me realize that the key to overcoming the overwhelming wasn’t just rote memorization—it was in finding a way to connect the material to my real-world experience. That’s when things started to change, and I knew I was on the right path to passing the exam. His approach was exactly what I needed to push through the mental block, and it gave me the push to finally open those books and start reading with purpose. Videos are fine and everything, but the real knowledge was in the books.
The exam itself wasn’t easy—I definitely had moments where I second-guessed myself—but thanks to the books, all those practice tests, and the course, I felt prepared walking in. Passing felt like such a win, especially because I’d been building up to this for a while. When I finally received the congratulations from my work, it felt like a huge achievement. My colleagues recognized the effort and dedication I’d put into this journey, and it felt great to have that acknowledgment.
Looking back, I can see that my experience as a temporary cloud project manager actually played a big role! The project management experience, while stressful at the time, gave me a solid foundation in managing multiple priorities and staying organized—skills that were incredibly helpful as I juggled studying, family life, and work. In hindsight, it was definitely a blessing in disguise, as those skills helped me stay focused and persistent, even when the going got tough. One specific issue I encountered as a project manager involved managing a client’s changing IP addresses and creating new accounts for devices. While it was tedious and at times felt like an endless cycle, this challenge indirectly helped me better understand several CCSP concepts. For example, handling dynamic IP addresses is directly related to cloud security, where IP management plays a role in network security controls like whitelisting. As I worked through managing these technical details, I also learned more about cloud architecture.
A note about my CCSP books that I bought: the CCSP AIO was the most comprehensive and probably the best overall resource. It covered all the domains thoroughly, and while it was a bit more dense, it was extremely valuable for deeper understanding and filling in gaps. The Sybex CCSP Study Guide, it was a solid resource, but I found it to be a bit more technical and harder to get through at times. All in all, the CCSP For Dummies book was the most enjoyable to read, followed by the CCSP AIO. I’d say that these, along with videos for extra clarification, would be enough to get through the exam successfully. The other books were helpful, but these two made the biggest impact on my prep journey.
So the question for me now is, what do I do with my career moving forward? The project management aspect was nice, but honestly, it’s not where I see myself long-term. I’ve realized I enjoy working with cloud providers and tools much more. That’s where my passion lies, and I want to keep pushing further into that space. The cloud is moving fast, and I want to be right there in the thick of it, using the latest tools and technologies to solve client requests.
Luke mentioned in his videos that having a technical cloud cert like AWS alongside a high-level cert like CCSP would really enhance my resume and set me up for future success. That advice really stuck with me. Right now, I’m not entirely sure whether I should go for a higher-tier AWS cert first or dive into the CISSP. But either way, I know I’ll be using your course when the time comes, Luke! You’ve been a huge motivator, brother!