The CompTIA trifecta is made up of A+, Network+, and Security+.
It's a popular stack when you're new in the IT world, with the hope of getting a job after.

After a decade in IT, seeking certifications can become “just the way it is.” Your motivation may simply be to satisfy interests, keep yourself marketable, and also use them as a tool for strategizing your next pivot.

Learning must be assumed the more senior you get in this field.

For example, a while back I got my AZ-500 certification. I didn't use it to pivot jobs. It was more to satisfy curiosity and keep me marketable.

I'm doing the same now with the SC-300.

Traditionally, people get certifications to get their foot into the role they want.

ie
Step 1 – Get CCNA
Step 2 – Get Network Admin job

It usually doesn't go like this:

Step 1 – Get Network Admin job
Step 2 – Get CCNA

But after years of experience, you can craft your resume to highlight the niche you want to get into without first getting a certification.

ie
Step 1 – Get a job that focuses in IAM
Step 2 – Get SC-300

That's what I've done.

But I do recognize that people feel more comfortable with the traditional way.

So if you're looking to get the SC-300 to get your foot into IAM, just know it is one of many steps. You must also refocus your resume, showcase your skillsets, etc.

But before you get there, let me share how I'm approaching the SC-300.

I'm a kinetic learner. If I don't build labs for what I'm learning, the theory becomes too abstract for me.

But that's not to say I have to build every lab... just enough to get an idea of where to find the tools I need for what I'm studying. It's the same principle that has served me throughout my progression in IT: you don't have to know everything, just enough.

I usually do this at the same time as taking a few crash courses on the material (shout out to John Savill's YouTube channel).

When I'm done with that, I'll book the exam and purchase accompanying flashcards. For the AZ-500, I used MeasureUp because it was recommended at the time I scheduled my exam. There are many out there that will do.

Because the first thing you notice when reviewing with flashcards is that you feel like you learned nothing from the courses and the labs. Because of this, I believe this is where learning actually begins.

You'll have to use ChatGPT and reference Microsoft Learn for every question to get the big picture of what's happening. As you do more flashcard reviews, the more the dots begin to connect—something you couldn't do with just labs or just the course alone.

The trifecta of the noob begins with certifications.
The trifecta of the senior technologist begins with flashcards, courses, and labs.

I've been spending a lot of consistent time on the SC-300 lately. It averages around 1 to 3 hours per day (usually all in the AM). It's not the starting point I advise for people just getting the ball rolling in certification studies. Twenty-five minutes a day is good enough if you have trouble being consistent. Be vigilant about 25 minutes for some time before considering 1 to 3 hours per day.

If you need my help staying accountable while stacking your certs or strategizing your pivot, consider my community. I will be including 1:1 direct monthly calls for all annual members starting in January. The link is below:

​https://www.skool.com/cyberandchill​

Yours truly,
CyberAndChill