My Cybersecurity Adventures

My WGU Study Log: BS Cybersecurity and Information Assurance

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I am currently enrolled in the BS in Cybersecurity and Information Assurance program at Western Governors University. This page serves as a professional log, tracking my adventures and documenting certifications I have earned, key takeaways, and any relevant projects.

Current Focus: Term 1 Progress

Course Name Status Key Concepts/Certifications Notes:
Introduction to IT - D322 Passed Data Management, Software and Hardware Components, Networks, Ethical Concerns Yay! Completed in a Week!
Practical Applications of Prompt - D685 Passed Effective Prompts, Prompt Mediums, Prompt Engineering Optimization Yay! Completed in a Week!
Ethics in Technology - D333 Passed Ethical Issues in Data, Interventions, Ethical Decision-Making, Professional Ethical Codes Completed in Less Than 2 Weeks!
IT Foundations - D316 Passed CompTIA A+ Core 1 (220-1201) Completed 11/29/2025 Passed exam on the first attempt!
IT Applications - D317 Passed CompTIA A+ Core 2 (220-1202) Completed 1/10/2026 - Passed exam on the first attempt!
Network and Security - Foundations - D315 Passed Network Systems and Security Concepts Completed in 10 Days!
Networks - D325 Passed CompTIA Network+ (N10 - 009) Certified 3/28/2026 - Passed on the first attempt!

Technical Project Logs

  1. Ethics in Technology Course (October 2025): a. Reviewed a hypothetical scenario with an ethical issue involving a data breach for a healthcare provider. The provider failed to encrypt the PHI and did not sustain its ethical and professional duty to protect patient data. I cited HIPAA regulations and noted the potential harm to patients, public trust, and organizational image. I highlighted the broad impact on all stakeholders, referenced the Association for Computing Machinery’s (ACM) Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct, and applied a deontological framework to address the issue. I also compared the deontological framework against a utilitarian framework. b. Reviewed the ACM Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct and described how professional codes of conduct benefit professions. According to the ACM, codes of ethics guide behavior because they ‘inspire and guide the ethical conduct’, such as when doctors take the Hippocratic oath to do no harm. I also noted that codes of conduct often include procedures for addressing instances where a professional violates the code, which deters individuals from acting unethically. Lastly, I applied ACM code 1.4 to my current role, emphasizing acting without discrimination and acting with fairness, and code 1.6 for respecting privacy by securing data and obtaining consent before sharing information with other agencies.
  2. Completed hands-on practice for hardware troubleshooting with CertMaster for CompTIA A+, including system assembly, network configurations, identifying components, network and PC architecture, connectivity standards, etc. Passed the Core 1 (220-1201) exam the first attempt on 11/29/2025. I studied for it for six weeks. Now, I am working on the study materials for core 2 (220-1202).
  3. Completed coursework on prompt engineering principles (D685), focusing on designing effective prompts for various AI use cases. Key concepts: specificity, context-setting, role assignment, iteration, and understanding how different models respond to prompt structure. In practice, I regularly use multiple AI platforms (ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, Claude, DeepSeek, Grok, etc.) and strategically switch between them depending on task requirements and model strengths, applying prompt optimization techniques to improve response quality and accuracy. 4.Achieved CompTIA A+ certification (220-1201 & 1202) through WGU courses D316 & D317 using CompTIA CertMaster Learn and Practice as primary study resources and supplemental resources with Jason Dion and Professor Messer. This allowed me to embark on a structured journey through the courses with hands-on labs, which deepened my grasp of hardware diagnostics, Windows/macOS/Linux troubleshooting, basic Linux commands, file systems and package management, networking concepts (TCP/IP, DNS, DHCP, etc.), and best practices for malware removal. This milestone transformed theoretical public service problem-solving into certified IT support skills, prepping me for real-world deployments like my upcoming home lab.
  4. Will soon be developing a secure home lab environment to apply skills, featuring pfSense/OPNsense firewall, managed PoE switch(es), wireless access point (WAP), Network Attached Storage (NAS), and more. For now, I have downloaded several VMs for practicing, including Kali Linux, Ubuntu, and Windows 11 Pro for both macOS and Bootcamp Windows. This practical project will bridge certification theory with experimentation, simulating enterprise networks and providing the groundwork for future roles.
  5. Achieved Network+ certification (N10-009) through WGU course D325 passing on the first attempt in March 2026. Course consisted of several different labs utilizing at least three different VM environments. All labs were completed to 100% in the CertMaster Perform LMS.