Comprehensive Guide to Passing the AWS Advanced Networking Specialty Exam
Tags: networking, aws, community, cloud
Published: 2023-06-18 18:47:40

Becoming an AWS Certified Networking Specialty professional demonstrates your expertise in designing and implementing advanced networking architectures on the AWS platform. This exam reinforces your knowledge skills in hybrid connectivity, DNS resolution and in-depth of AWS cloud networking services.
This certification opens doors to exciting career opportunities and establishes you as a skilled professional in cloud networking. In this article, I will explore valuable resources and links to help you prepare for and pass the AWS Certified Advanced Networking Specialty exam. We'll also dive into the importance of grit and perseverance, showcasing a real-life example of determination and success.

The Power of Grit and Perseverance:
Success rarely comes without challenges and setbacks. One's journey towards certification often involves hurdles that test their commitment and determination. The path to becoming an AWS Certified Networking Specialty professional is no exception. Let me share my personal experience to illustrate the significance of grit and perseverance.

My Story:
When I initially attempted the AWS Certified Networking Specialty exam, I poured countless hours into studying, meticulously reviewing resources, and practicing with sample questions. However, despite my efforts, I received a disappointing score of 722, falling short of the passing mark. It would have been easy to get discouraged and abandon my pursuit of the certification. But instead, I chose to embrace the principles of grit and perseverance.

![First Attempt](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/bg8m2oyz0wsqv2zdoa2a.jpeg)

Undeterred by my initial setback, I took a step back to reflect on my preparation approach. I analyzed my weaknesses, identified knowledge gaps, and sought out additional resources to strengthen my understanding of complex networking concepts. Determined to succeed, I decided to give the exam another try.

Armed with renewed determination and an updated study plan, I dove back into my preparations. I enrolled in the AWS Skill Builder Class led by Julie Elkins, which provided invaluable insights and practical guidance specific to the exam. Additionally, I used the following resources in this pursuit, which further enhanced my understanding of advanced networking concepts.

![Second Attempt](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/fyfo231fphsmtr2z3h5k.jpeg)

- Official AWS Certification Exam Guide:
The first step in your exam preparation journey should be to review the official AWS Certified Networking Specialty Exam Guide. This guide provides an overview of the exam domains, knowledge areas, and the specific topics you need to focus on. Understanding the exam blueprint is crucial for effective study planning.
[Link to AWS Certified Networking Specialty Exam Guide](https://aws.amazon.com/certification/certified-advanced-networking-specialty/)

- AWS Exam Readiness Training:
The AWS Certified Networking Specialty Exam Readiness Training is a valuable resource offered by AWS. It is a self-paced online course designed to help you prepare for the exam. The course covers various networking concepts and technologies relevant to the AWS platform, including Amazon VPC, Direct Connect, VPN, Route 53, and more.. Julie Elkins did a detailed work in the readiness training, explain each of the course curriculum topic and what is expected of you to understand for the exam.

- Udemy Course
Stephen Maarek and Chettan Aggarwal  offers an in-depth Udemy course titled "Ultimate AWS Certified Advanced Networking - Specialty." This course covers all the exam objectives, provides hands-on labs. The course helps me to understand the fundamentals of those services and solidify my knowledge

- Adrian Cantril Course
This is detailed for hands-on practice and configuration, also this course explains the technologies including Direct Connect, VPN connection, Route53 and more.
He also explained basics of networking and security including BGP,DNS,OSI Layers, encryption method and more.

- AWS Twitch videos
This seems like a real life situation for AWS Networking services, AWS Networking experts explains and analyze the services staring with fundamentals, deployment and configuration with best practices.
I really felt more confident after going through those sessions.
[Link for the twitch sessions](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/olubiyisulaiman_after-attempting-aws-advanced-networking-activity-7045024257797439490--gxy?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop)

![Twitch session](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/qq0zq3faz3vjrcpdqjlr.png)

- Whitepapers and Architectural Documentation:
AWS offers a collection of whitepapers and architectural documentation that covers advanced networking topics and best practices. These resources delve into network design considerations, hybrid architectures, security, and more. Reading these documents will not only enhance your knowledge but also provide you with insights into real-world scenarios and solutions.
[Link for AWS Whitepapers](https://aws.amazon.com/whitepapers/)

- Practice Tests
Do as much you can, analyse scenarios and case studies, make inference the most cost efficient, most operational efficient and security perspective.
I used Jon Bonso practice test during my preparation which assisted in some scenario based questions.


Conclusion
Remember, success is not always immediate, but with the right mindset and continuous effort, you can conquer any challenge. Embrace the power of grit and perseverance as you embark on your journey towards becoming an AWS Certified Networking Specialty professional.Conclusion:
My personal journey highlights the significance of grit and perseverance when pursuing the AWS Certified Networking Specialty certification. It is natural to face setbacks and obstacles along the way, but it is through perseverance that we overcome them. By leveraging the resources and links provided in this guide, combined with unwavering determination, you too can achieve success in the AWS Certified Networking Specialty exam.

Remember, success is not always immediate, but with the right mindset and continuous effort, you can conquer any challenge. Embrace the power of grit and perseverance as you embark on your journey towards becoming an AWS Certified Networking Specialty professional.