Daniel Carter

Cloud certifications

Daniel covers the cloud certification ladders — AWS, Google Cloud and the Microsoft Azure role-based track — for Exampractice. He writes the exam guides, the version-change explainers and the "which one first" pieces, and spends most of his editing time on the same question: does the credential still test what the job actually needs?

119 guidesCloud Certifications Microsoft & Azure

Cloud Certifications

Google Cloud Architect Exam Preparation Guide

29 May 2026·9 min read

Prepare for the Google Professional Cloud Architect exam: what the case studies demand, how to train design judgement, and how to benchmark readiness.

Cloud Certifications

AWS Certifications Explained for Beginners

27 May 2026·8 min read

New to AWS certifications? Here is how the four levels work, what each exam costs, how scoring and renewal operate, and what changed recently.

Cloud Certifications

AWS Certification Roadmap for 2026

25 May 2026·11 min read

A role-by-role AWS certification roadmap for 2026 — architect, developer, ops, data, AI and security paths, sequencing logic, renewal strategy and costs.

Cloud Certifications

Best AWS Certification for Beginners

23 May 2026·6 min read

Cloud Practitioner or Solutions Architect Associate first? A decision framework for picking your first AWS certification based on your background.

Cloud Certifications

AWS Cloud Practitioner vs Solutions Architect

21 May 2026·7 min read

CLF-C02 or straight to SAA-C03? Compare cost, scope and renewal, then use a profile-based framework to decide which AWS exam to book first.

Cloud Certifications

AWS Solutions Architect vs Developer

20 May 2026·8 min read

SAA-C03 or DVA-C02? Compare the two AWS associate certifications by role fit, exam focus and career direction so you can pick the right one first.

Cloud Certifications

AWS Solutions Architect vs SysOps Administrator

18 May 2026·7 min read

SysOps became CloudOps Engineer (SOA-C03) in 2025. Here is how it now compares with Solutions Architect Associate for ops-focused candidates.

Cloud Certifications

AWS Solutions Architect Associate vs Professional

16 May 2026·6 min read

Should you sit SAA-C03 first or go straight to SAP-C02? How the two solutions architect exams differ in scope, and who can sensibly skip the associate.

Cloud Certifications

AWS Developer vs DevOps Engineer Certification

14 May 2026·7 min read

DVA-C02 and DOP-C02 compared as a progression — level, cost, exam scope and role fit — so you can pick the AWS certification that matches your job today.

Cloud Certifications

AWS Security Specialty vs Security+

12 May 2026·7 min read

CompTIA Security+ and the AWS Security Specialty sit at opposite ends of a security career. Here is how level, scope and role fit decide which you need.