Prepare for AWS Advanced Networking Specialty Exam
Tags: aws, networking, exam
Published: 2023-12-22 13:28:42

My first blog post here :)

In this short post I will advise you how to prepare for the AWS Advanced Networking Specialty exam.

This is not the first time taking the exam. My previous one expired in October and I didn't plan to recertify. However I thought about it and decided to go for it. 

Passed a few days ago with 904 points.

In order to prepare I suggest you to go through the following:

- Take [Adrian Cantrill's course](https://learn.cantrill.io/p/aws-certified-advanced-networking-specialty). His courses are the best. Why? A lot of useful information on top of what you need for the exam, real life examples, great labs and diagrams.

- Go through the AWS whitepapers for [Networking and Content Delivery](https://aws.amazon.com/whitepapers/?whitepapers-main.sort-by=item.additionalFields.sortDate&whitepapers-main.sort-order=desc&awsf.whitepapers-content-type=*all&awsf.whitepapers-global-methodology=*all&awsf.whitepapers-tech-category=tech-category%23networking-content-dev&awsf.whitepapers-industries=*all&awsf.whitepapers-business-category=*all).

- [AWS blog posts](https://aws.amazon.com/blogs/networking-and-content-delivery/).

- Watch the latest [re:Invent videos in the Networking and Content Delivery](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2yQDdvlhXf-z265uBFVcvoAG-OXy7530) category. I am watching only the 300 and 400 level sessions as they are more technical. 

I also recommend you to watch those from the previous years.

- Practice tests from Stephane Maarek and John Bonso.

- Check the [official exam guide](https://d1.awsstatic.com/training-and-certification/docs-advnetworking-spec/AWS-Certified-Advanced-Networking-Specialty_Exam-Guide.pdf).

- Having real work practice is also VERY important.


Some useful videos, whitepapers, blog posts:

> https://aws.amazon.com/blogs/apn/centralized-traffic-inspection-with-gateway-load-balancer-on-aws/

> https://aws.amazon.com/blogs/networking-and-content-delivery/simplify-sd-wan-connectivity-with-aws-transit-gateway-connect/

> https://docs.aws.amazon.com/whitepapers/latest/aws-vpc-connectivity-options/aws-direct-connect-aws-transit-gateway-vpn.html

> https://aws.amazon.com/blogs/networking-and-content-delivery/improving-availability-and-performance-for-application-load-balancers-using-one-click-integration-with-aws-global-accelerator/

> https://aws.amazon.com/blogs/networking-and-content-delivery/centralize-access-using-vpc-interface-endpoints/

> https://aws.amazon.com/blogs/networking-and-content-delivery/scaling-vpn-throughput-using-aws-transit-gateway/

> https://docs.aws.amazon.com/Route53/latest/DeveloperGuide/resolver-overview-DSN-queries-to-vpc.html#resolver-overview-forward-vpc-to-network-domain-name-matches

> https://aws.amazon.com/blogs/networking-and-content-delivery/secure-hybrid-access-to-amazon-s3-using-aws-privatelink/

> https://docs.aws.amazon.com/prescriptive-guidance/latest/patterns/set-up-dns-resolution-for-hybrid-networks-in-a-multi-account-aws-environment.html

> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GrsWSMiE264&list=PL2yQDdvlhXf-z265uBFVcvoAG-OXy7530&index=5&pp=iAQB

> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRdDCkbE4es&list=PL2yQDdvlhXf-z265uBFVcvoAG-OXy7530&index=22&pp=iAQB


Have fun! :)