I recently took (and passed) the AWS Advanced Networking Specialty exam and hope this quick post may help you prepare. Exam Overview The exam itself consists of 65 multiple choice and multiple response questions and you have 170 minutes to take it. When I completed the exam, and a review of a few questions, I … Continue reading Studying for the AWS Advanced Networking Specialty Exam
Author: David Ball
Intro to Route 53 Resolver DNS Firewall
Use Route 53 Resolver DNS Firewall to help secure egress traffic... What Is Route 53 Resolver DNS Firewall? Route 53 Resolver DNS Firewall is a highly available, fully-managed service/firewall that leverages domain lists and rule groups to provide an additional layer security for outbound DNS traffic. It enables granular control over DNS querying behavior within your … Continue reading Intro to Route 53 Resolver DNS Firewall
Get your AWS Digital Badges
Use AWS Skill Builder Digital Badges to showcase your skills! AWS Digital Badges AWS has introduced Digital Badges as a means for you to enhance, and then showcase your knowledge and skills in specific AWS technologies and services. Digital Badges are obtained within AWS Skill Builder, include a pre-built learning path containing training content relevant … Continue reading Get your AWS Digital Badges
Autogenerate Documentation with terraform-docs and GitHub Actions
Using terraform-docs to limit my exposure to Markdown while also providing updated documentation when I do code commits?!?! Screenshots to Markdown At some point pretty early in my IT career, I started taking screenshots of the work I was doing. Initially, I did this to reinforce in my own mind, the steps required to configure … Continue reading Autogenerate Documentation with terraform-docs and GitHub Actions
Introduction to Amazon WorkSpaces Web
If you need an easy and secure method to provide a hardened browser to your end users, AWS's fully managed WorkSpaces Web may be the service you've been waiting for. What is Amazon WorkSpaces Web? To give the textbook definition, Amazon WorkSpaces Web is "a low cost, fully managed WorkSpace built specifically to facilitate secure, … Continue reading Introduction to Amazon WorkSpaces Web
A Quick and Easy EC2 Inventory using AWS Config
Do you need a quick and easy way to inventory EC2 Instances across your organization? Have you tried an Advanced Query for AWS Config? I can't remember if I was on a call or "heard" this over email but a comment like this was made, "I'm updating the EC2 inventory spreadsheet.".....Not knowing anything beyond this … Continue reading A Quick and Easy EC2 Inventory using AWS Config
Customizing the Amazon WorkSpaces Client
Overview Earlier this month, AWS announced that the Amazon WorkSpaces API could now be used to modify the appearance of the WorkSpaces client to enhance the end user experience. The updated API allows you to add a logo, login message, forgot password, and support links unique to your organization. What aspects of the WorkSpaces client … Continue reading Customizing the Amazon WorkSpaces Client
Adding an Amazon Linux 2 Instance to Veeam using Private Key Credentials
Overview There may come a time when you wish to add an AWS Amazon Linux 2 EC2 instance as a managed server in Veeam Backup and Recovery. In this specific case, I was simply playing around with Veeam backup job settings with a Veeam Backup and Replication Server hosted on a VMware Cloud on AWS … Continue reading Adding an Amazon Linux 2 Instance to Veeam using Private Key Credentials
Deploying Linux Desktops and Applications with Amazon AppStream 2.0
Overview I suppose its impossible to keep up with every AWS announcement, even for some of your favorite services. I can't really even remember how I came across this but on November 16, 2021, AWS announced that, "Amazon AppStream 2.0 adds support for Amazon Linux 2. With this launch, you can now stream Linux applications … Continue reading Deploying Linux Desktops and Applications with Amazon AppStream 2.0
Cloud Field Day 12 coming later this week!
Hey everyone, Cloud Field Day 12 will take place later this week, November 3-5! I’ll be participating as a remote delegate but there will be others back onsite in Silicon Valley as we continue the push for more in-person events. As with other Field Day events, you too can attend sessions and stay up to … Continue reading Cloud Field Day 12 coming later this week!