My First Month in the SCA Cloud School: A journey of Learning and growth.
Published: 2023-05-01 21:23:48

I've always been fascinated by the field of SRE and the crucial part it plays in maintaining the availability and smooth operation of digital services. Despite the fact that I had no prior expertise in SRE, I had worked in software engineering for a while and had witnessed firsthand the value of having a solid infrastructure.

I came across the [She Codes Africa](https://shecodeafrica.org/) SRE boot-camp sponsored by [Deimos](https://deimos.io/) which was an ideal chance to expand my knowledge of SRE tenets and best practices when I learned about it. The program's focus on practical knowledge and abilities, as well as its reputation for producing excellent SREs, attracted my attention in particular.

The program began on 31st of March and it runs for two months. There are evaluations and projects that are to be covered during this period.I will break down what I have learnt during the first four weeks.

**WEEK ONE**

- We were introduced to cloud computing and AWS fundamentals, including the different cloud deployment models and AWS services such as EC2,S3 and IAM.

- We learned how to set up an AWS account, create an EC2 instance and configure it with appropriate security settings.

- We further explored on security best practices for AWS resources such as access control policy and monitoring.

- I had an opportunity to practice my skills by creating an EC2 instance and writing and article about it, you can check it out [here
](https://dev.to/jeptoo/how-to-create-ec2-instance-ubuntu-2204-on-aws-and-connect-via-ssh-using-pem-492o)

By the end of week one I had a solid understanding of cloud computing and AWS fundamentaals and I had gained practical experience with creating and securing an EC2 instance.


**WEEK TWO**

- We learned about Azure and its concepts including the architectural components of Azure and how to create an Azure account.

- We explored further into Azure core services which included Azure compute services, storage services,Azure analytics, Azure databases.

- We delved into core solutions and management on Azure, where we learnt about IoT services, AI services, serverless technology and management and configuration on Azure environment.

- We finally learned about monitoring services for Azure and how to use them to keep your Azure resources secure and performant.

By the end of the second week I had a full understanding of Azure's services and how to manage them effectively. I then wrote an article on [how to create an Azure App Service to host the web application](https://dev.to/jeptoo/building-your-first-static-web-app-on-azure-a-step-by-step-guide-35d3)

**WEEK THREE**

- Learned about the general security and network security features on Azure, including how to protect against threats and secure network connectivity.

- We explored Identity, governance, privacy, and compliance features on Azure, which are essential for maintaining the security and compliance of your Azure resources.

- We also learned about Azure cost management and service level agreements (SLAs), which are critical for managing your Azure resources effectively and ensuring that you are getting the best value for your money.

- Finally, we deployed a virtual machine on the Azure portal, which gave me hands-on experience with creating and managing Azure resources. I also wrote an article on [How to Deploy a virtual machine on Azure portal](https://dev.to/jeptoo/how-to-create-a-linux-vm-and-install-mysql-server-using-cloudshell-4lhb)

At the end of week three I gained clarity on how to secure Azure resources and manage their cost effectively. I practiced creating and managing a virtual machine on Azure portal.

**WEEK FOUR**

- We were introduces to SQL and learned about its fundamental concepts and how it is used in the context of Azure.

- Learned about deployment and configuration of servers, instances, and databases for Azure SQL, which involved creating and configuring SQL instances and databases on the Azure platform.

- We practiced connecting user-created instances to SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS), which is a crucial tool for managing and querying SQL databases.

- We learned how to backup and restore databases using SSMS, which is essential for ensuring data integrity and recoverability.

- We explored on how to secure data using Azure SQL, including data encryption and access control measures.

- Finally, you learned how to deliver consistent performance with Azure SQL, which is critical for ensuring that your SQL databases are fast and reliable.

By the end of week four I had solid understanding on Azure SQL and how it is used in the context of Azure. 

**CONCLUSION**
The first four weeks of the She Codes Africa SRE boot-camp have been a fantastic experience for me. I have learned a lot about cloud computing, Azure, general security, network security, SQL, and database management, and I have gained practical experience with creating and managing cloud resources on Azure. I am now looking forward to the next phase of the boot-camp, where I will deepen my knowledge of cloud technologies and gain more practical experience with using them.

One of the things that have impressed me the most about this boot-camp is the amazing community of learners and facilitators that I have had the privilege of interacting with. The community is incredibly supportive and always ready to help each other out, which has made the learning process both enjoyable and productive. The facilitators are also knowledgeable and experienced, and they have provided excellent guidance and feedback throughout the boot-camp.

As a woman in tech, I would like to recommend She Code Africa to other women who are interested in cloud computing and want to gain practical experience with using cloud technologies. SCA is a fantastic organization that is committed to increasing the number of women in tech and providing them with the support and resources they need to succeed. I am grateful for the opportunity to be part of this boot-camp, and I am confident that the skills and knowledge that I am gaining will be invaluable in my future career as an SRE.