Pluralsight's top 10 trending hands-on labs

Cloud certifications are a great way to validate your knowledge—and certifications carry serious business value—but nothing replaces hands-on learning in live environments to gain real-world experience. 

Pluralsight Skills and ACG cloud playgrounds provide individual and business learners a safe space in real environments to sharpen their skills without security risks or surprise bills. With over 1,700 hands-on labs from novice to expert, it’s time to get your hands dirty in our cloud playground environment.

Here are the top ten most popular hands-on labs our community is using to learn AWS, Azure, GCP, and other cloud computing technologies. What’s your favorite lab?

1. Create a Static Website Using Amazon S3

In this AWS hands-on lab, you will create and configure a simple static website. We will go through configuring that static website with a custom error page. 

This lab demonstrates how to create cost-efficient website hosting for sites that consist of files like HTML, CSS, JavaScript, fonts, and images. 

2. Creating a Simple AWS Lambda Function 

AWS Lambda allows you to create functions so you only have to worry about managing your code. AWS handles the underlying infrastructure for you.

This *HelloWorld* function will allow you to see just how easy it is to get started. During this lab, you'll have the opportunity to explore the Lambda console, function code, execution roles, test events, and execution results. 

3. Accessing and Using the Azure Portal

This hands-on lab offers an introduction to the Azure portal. During the lab, you’ll review the navigation elements, walk through common activities, learn how to find resources, and discover how to create and modify a custom dashboard.

4. Deploying Your First Azure Virtual Machine

In this hands-on lab, we'll use the Azure Portal to create and use a virtual machine.

We'll log in to the Azure Portal and create a virtual machine, a virtual network, and a network interface card for the virtual machine. Then, we'll connect to the virtual machine via RDP. Finally, we'll use the Azure Portal to turn the virtual machine off.

5. Installing Terraform and Working With Terraform Providers

In this hands-on lab, we'll go through installing and configuring Terraform on a Linux OS. We'll also explore how to select and use a Terraform provider from among the many providers available publicly.

During the labs, we'll download and install the Terraform binary, clone over code for Terraform providers, and deploy the code with Terraform Apply. 

6. Building And Testing a Basic Terraform Module

Terraform modules are a good way to abstract out repeated chunks of code, making it reusable across other Terraform projects and configurations. 

In this hands-on lab, we'll be writing a basic Terraform module from scratch and then testing it out. During the lab, we’ll create the directory structure for the Terraform project.

7. Building a Kubernetes 1.27 Cluster with kubeadm

This lab will allow you to practice the process of building a new Kubernetes cluster with Kubeadm. You'll be given a set of Linux servers, and you'll have the opportunity to turn these servers into a functioning Kubernetes cluster. This lab will help you build the skills necessary to create your own Kubernetes clusters in the real world.

8. Using Init Containers in Kubernetes

Init containers are a great way to customize container startup. This lab will allow you to test your knowledge of init containers by using them to solve problems in an existing Kubernetes cluster.

In this lab, you’ll create a sample pod that uses an Init container to delay startup and then test your setup by creating the service and verifying that the pod starts.

9. Create and Manage IAM Roles on Google Cloud

Google Cloud Identity and Access Management (IAM) service is a critical gateway for the entire platform. 

In this hands-on lab, you'll add a new member to the team with a predefined role of Compute Network Admin. Then, you'll expand that member's responsibilities to administering firewall rules by creating a custom role.

10. Create Our First VPC in Google Cloud

In Google Cloud, we have to start our learning process at the foundation! This is where Virtual Private Cloud networks (VPCs) come into play. Virtual Private Cloud networks help you build the house for all your resources, and help provide the networking for all of your services.

In this hands-on lab, you’ll create a VPC, create a custom subnet, set the IP Address range, and also verify the VPC has been created correctly.

The best way to learn a thing is by doing the thing. That’s why our learning library is loaded with hundreds of courses and thousands of innovative hands-on labs. Our unique, experiential approach lets people safely experiment, make happy little accidents, and develop skills faster. 

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