Engaging in continuous professional development – Keeping Up with Evolving AWS Security Best Practices and Threat Landscape
Engaging in continuous professional development
Continuous professional development is essential for staying current in the rapidly evolving field of cloud computing and AWS security. Engaging in such activities ensures that professionals not only maintain their skills and knowledge but also stay ahead of new AWS technologies and security best practices. Let’s go through strategies for engaging in continuous learning and professional growth.
Participating in webinars
AWS and other reputable platforms frequently host webinars covering a broad spectrum of topics, from unveiling new services to comprehensive explorations of specific security practices. These sessions, which are often led by field experts, present a prime opportunity to stay abreast of the latest trends and best practices in AWS security. The majority of these webinars are offered free of charge, providing an accessible avenue for broadening your knowledge. Engaging in these webinars not only enhances your expertise but also facilitates interaction with professionals and allows for direct questioning. Here’s how to derive maximum benefit from these learning opportunities:
- Select relevant topics: Focus on webinars and courses that align with your career goals and areas where you seek improvement or deeper knowledge.
- Engage with experts: Most webinars offer Q&A sessions. Take advantage of these opportunities to engage directly with AWS experts and gain insights that are not readily available in written content. It is also common to connect with speakers on LinkedIn post-event. Seize the opportunity to expand your professional network and deepen your understanding.
- Dedicate time for learning: Schedule regular slots in your weekly or monthly schedule for attending webinars or progressing through online courses, treating them as essential components of your workweek.
- Apply learned concepts: After attending a webinar, look for AWS workshops or consult the AWS Security Blog for posts that offer hands-on applications related to the topics discussed. This approach helps bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical implementation.
- Become a speaker: Consider sharing your expertise by becoming a webinar speaker. This not only enhances your visibility within the professional community as a thought leader in AWS security but also deepens your understanding of the subject matter as you prepare your presentation.
The following platforms are known to regularly host webinars related to AWS security:
- AWS events and webinars: This page lists all upcoming AWS webinars and events, ensuring access to the latest information directly from the source.
- Securzy: A platform dedicated to security professionals, it offers deep-dive sessions into the latest AWS security technologies and challenges. While most webinars are free, replays may require a subscription.
- BrightTALK and TechTarget: Both platforms offer a wide range of webinars across various topics, including cloud security and AWS-specific sessions. Note that content is often sponsored by vendors, so a degree of marketing material can be expected, yet they remain valuable for educational content.
- Cloud Academy: While primarily known for its comprehensive courses, Cloud Academy also hosts webinars that delve into the latest trends and practices in AWS and cloud security.
- Cloud Security Alliance (CSA): CSA provides webinars focusing on wider cloud security issues, which is ideal for those looking to understand the broader security landscape.
Following webinars, let’s dive into the opportunities offered by AWS conferences.