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This is the study guide for the Acquia Certified Cloud Pro Examination.
This guide explains the exam blueprint, breaks down knowledge domains, and helps you get familiar with the nature of questions asked in the exam. It also provides helpful steps to prepare for the exam and links to further resources for study and preparation.
About the exam
The following is the key information about the exam:
- Exam name: Acquia Certified Cloud Pro
- Exam duration: 60 minutes
- Exam length: 40 questions
- Pass/Fail mark: 65%
- Available languages: English, Japanese
The purpose of this exam is to validate skills and knowledge of a developer in the areas hosting and maintaining a Drupal application on Cloud Platform.
This exam validates a candidate’s ability to:
- Understand the features provided by Cloud Platform
- Configure the Cloud Platform environment for hosting a Drupal-based website
- Implement an optimum development workflow to work with Cloud Platform-based websites
- Understand and implement Cloud Platform development and deployment best practices
Steps to certification
Newcomer: You are absolutely new to Drupal and Acquia products.
Intermediate: You have Drupal development experience but are new to the Acquia platform.
Advanced: You have Drupal development experience, are familiar with the Acquia platform, and wish to get certified.
Take Acquia Academy courses
As a newcomer to the Acquia platform, take the introductory courses in Acquia Academy. This will start you on your journey to certification.
Cloud Platform videos in Acquia Academy
- Cloud Platform Hands-On Demonstration
- Cloud Platform Onboarding: Learning Plan
- Cloud Platform Onboarding: UI Walkthrough
A list of online resources and documentation for each learning domain in the Study Guide section of this study guide.
Gain practical experience
Completing the course may not make you ready to pass the certification exam. You need to have some real-life practical experience to attempt the exam. For this purpose, we recommend that you gain practical experience by working with at least 2-3 real life projects.
Perform self-assessment
Once you decide to take the exam, we recommend that you study the domains and topics covered by the exam and their relative weights. You should also perform a self-assessment of your own areas of strength and weakness against the domains and topics covered by the exam blueprint. This is a recommended starting point for experienced Cloud Platform users.
Use labs and study guide
Based on your self-assessment, you may need to gain knowledge and experience in some domains or topics. The best way to learn is by working or experimenting with the tools. Follow the suggestions given for preparation in the Preparation section and refer to the external resources given in the Study Guide section.
Register for and take the exam
At this stage, you should be ready to take the exam. Follow the instructions for registering for an exam.
Exam domains
Note
This exam blueprint includes topics/domains and test objectives to help guide the test taker. They should not be construed as a comprehensive listing of all of the content in this examination.
| Domain | % of Examination |
|---|---|
| 1.0 Fundamental Web Hosting Concepts | 15% |
| 2.0 Cloud Platform Features and Interface | 35% |
| 3.0 Drupal Development Workflow on Cloud Platform | 35% |
| 4.0 Cloud Platform Best Practices | 15% |
| TOTAL | 100% |
Content
Domain 1.0: Fundamental web hosting concepts
1.1. Demonstrate knowledge of basic web hosting architecture
1.2. Demonstrate knowledge of Drupal development workflows
1.3. Demonstrate knowledge of key security and performance concepts
Domain 2.0: Cloud Platform features and interface
2.1. Demonstrate understanding of key features of Cloud Platform
2.2. Demonstrate ability to configure various aspects of an environment
2.3. Demonstrate ability to configure teams and users
Domain 3.0: Drupal development workflow on Cloud Platform
3.1. Demonstrate ability to install a new Drupal site on Cloud Platform
3.2. Demonstrate ability to set up local development environment for working with Cloud Platform
3.3. Demonstrate ability to deploy code, database, and files to various environments
3.4. Demonstrate ability to manage Drupal site configurations across various environments
3.5. Demonstrate ability to use Cloud API for workflow automation
Domain 4.0: Cloud Platform best practices
4.1. Demonstrate understanding of best practices for performance enhancement
4.2. Demonstrate understanding of security best practices
4.3. Demonstrate understanding of best practices for live deployment
Self-assessment
Experienced Drupal developers will likely know their weaknesses more than they know their strengths. You might have judged your own skill levels while reading through the exam domains. It is quite natural for you to be more experienced and proficient in one domain than another. Also, within a domain, it is likely that you have hands-on experience with some topics but have never touched other areas within the same domain.
How to use self-assessment
We suggest you perform a skills and expertise self-analysis with respect to the domains and topics listed in the blueprint. The blueprint lists test objectives (topics) for each domain. Rank your skills on a scale of 0 to 10 against each test objective (0 for absolutely zero knowledge or exposure and 10 for complete mastery).
- Topics with a score of 8+ are your strengths.
- Topics with a score of 5 to 7 will need some preparation.
- Topics with a score below 5 may require a lot of preparation, or guided instruction.
You may use the following table to carry out your evaluation.
Acquia Certified Cloud Pro self-assessment table
| Domain | Topic | Your Score (1-10) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fundamental web hosting concepts | |
| 1.1 | Demonstrate knowledge of basic web hosting architecture | |
| 1.2 | Demonstrate knowledge of Drupal development workflows | |
| 1.3 | Demonstrate knowledge of key security and performance concepts | |
| 2 | Cloud Platform features and Interface | |
| 2.1 | Demonstrate understanding of key features of Cloud Platform | |
| 2.2 | Demonstrate ability to configure various aspects of an environment | |
| 2.3 | Demonstrate ability to configure teams and users | |
| 3 | Drupal development workflow on Cloud Platform | |
| 3.1 | Demonstrate ability to install a new Drupal site on Cloud Platform | |
| 3.2 | Demonstrate ability to set up local development environment for working with Cloud Platform | |
| 3.3 | Demonstrate ability to deploy code, database and files to various environments | |
| 3.4 | Demonstrate ability to manage Drupal site configurations across various environment | |
| 3.5 | Demonstrate ability to use Cloud API for workflow automation | |
| 4 | Acquia Platform best practices | |
| 4.1 | Demonstrate understanding of best practices for performance enhancement | |
| 4.2 | Demonstrate understanding of security best practices | |
| 4.3 | Demonstrate understanding of best practices for live deployment |
Preparation
Once you have a list of topics you need to review, you will possibly face two challenges:
- Find and study documentation and knowledge resources for the topics.
- Find enough practical case studies covering the topics.
Knowledge resources
Customers and Partners can self-register on the appropriate branch of Acquia Academy and take courses in the relevant domain to refresh their knowledge.
Available courses include:
- Acquia Cloud Platform Onboarding Learning Plan
- Preparing for Launch on Acquia Cloud
- Acquia Cloud Platform Hands-On Demo
A list of online resources and documentation for each learning domain appears in the Study Guide section.
Study guide
General overview of Cloud Platform
This video will provide an overview of the Cloud Platform user interface. The resources within each domain will help you investigate each topic in more depth.
Domain 1.0: fundamental web hosting concepts
1.1 Demonstrate knowledge of basic web hosting architecture
A Cloud Pro understands basic website hosting architecture.
Resources:
1.2 Demonstrate knowledge of Drupal development workflows
A Cloud Pro should know how to set up workflows for Drupal development on Cloud Platform that follow best practices, avoid regression issues, and maintain secure code.
Resources:
- Working with code
- Code workflows with Cloud Platform
- Acquia require line
- Rolling back production deploys
1.3 Demonstrate knowledge of key security and performance concepts
A Cloud Pro should know about basic security and performance concepts in Drupal and Cloud Platform, as well as how to identify when an application does not conform to best practices.
Resources:
Domain 2.0: Cloud Platform features and interface
2.1 Demonstrate understanding of key features of Cloud Platform
A Cloud Pro understands the key features and user interface of Cloud Platform, including basic service levels of Cloud Platform Professional and Cloud Platform Enterprise.
Resources:
- Key concepts in Cloud Platform
- Comparing Cloud Platform hosting environments
- Cloud Platform CD
- Managing applications with Cloud Platform
2.2 Demonstrate ability to configure various aspects of an environment
A Cloud Pro should be able to configure an environment appropriate for team development of an application. For example, a Cloud Pro must be able to modify PHP settings and enable or disable Varnish over SSL.
Resource:
2.3 Demonstrate ability to configure teams and users
A Cloud Pro should be able to set up a team and its users within Cloud Platform, including assignment of roles, creating custom roles, and administering permissions. Also included is the management of an Organization within Cloud Platform.
Resources:
Domain 3.0: Drupal development workflow on Cloud Platform
3.1 Demonstrate ability to install a new Drupal site on Cloud Platform
A Cloud Pro should be able to install a new Drupal site on Cloud Platform by creating a new application, importing an existing application, or installing a Drupal distribution.
Resources:
- Creating an application on Cloud Platform
- Installing a Drupal distribution
- Importing an existing application
3.2 Demonstrate ability to set up a local development environment for working with Cloud Platform
A Cloud Pro can set up a local development environment.
Resources:
3.3 Demonstrate ability to deploy code, database, and files to various environments
A Cloud Pro will be able to deploy code, database, and files to various environments on Cloud Platform, using a workflow that follows best practices.
Resources:
- Working with code
- Code workflows with Cloud Platform
- Working with files
- Backing up your Drupal file system
- rsyncing files on Cloud Platform
- Using Production mode to protect your live application
- Acquia require line
3.4 Demonstrate ability to manage Drupal site configurations across various environments
A Cloud Pro will be able to manage site configurations for a Drupal application across environments.
Resources:
- Configuring an environment
- Managing applications using the command line
- SSL on Cloud Platform
- Developing with the Cloud Platform API
3.5 Demonstrate ability to use Cloud API for workflow automation
A Cloud Pro will be able to use the Cloud Platform API to automate workflows for development, authentication, drush and cloud hooks.
Resources:
Domain 4.0: Cloud Platform best practices
4.1 Demonstrate understanding of best practices for performance enhancement
A Cloud Pro will understand best practices for performance enhancement of Drupal applications, including basic application performance, Drupal performance, and maintaining the required level of performance for your application.
Resources:
4.2 Demonstrate understanding of security best practices
A Cloud Pro will understand security best practices related to access control, managing team members and permissions, and allowlisting.
Resources:
- Controlling access to Cloud Platform
- Managing users, teams, roles, and permissions
- Managing security settings
- Enforcing password strength
- Setting up two-step verification
- Using two-factor authentication with your Acquia user account
- Securing your application with IP address allowlisting
4.3 Demonstrate understanding of best practices for Live Deployment
A Cloud Pro will understand the best practices related to live deployment, including basic tools, live code changes, and workflow.
Resources:
Additional resources
The following are additional resources provided for your supplemental learning and practice.
Cloud Platform infrastructure
The Cloud Platform architecture and key concepts section of the Cloud Platform documentation describes how Cloud Platform works, including information about Cloud Platform’s architecture, security, high availability features, and compliance with standards and regulations.
As indicated in the two diagrams below, there are four main components for both Cloud Platform Enterprise and Cloud Platform Professional applications:
- Reverse proxy caching and load balancing servers - Varnish/nginx
- Web servers - Apache with PHP and Drupal code
- Database servers - MySQL (Percona)
- Network file system - (GlusterFS)
The exact configuration of a Cloud Platform application’s infrastructure depends on several factors, including whether the application is part of Cloud Platform Enterprise or Cloud Platform Professional.
Cloud Platform Enterprise infrastructure diagram
Here is a diagram of a Cloud Platform Enterprise application and how the components interact with one another for different user profiles:
Cloud Platform Professional infrastructure diagram
As a comparison, the following is an example of a Cloud Platform Professional application, and its component interactions:
Site Factory infrastructure diagram
The Site Factory and Cloud Platform sections of the Cloud Platform documentation describes the supported and included features of Site Factory, which is built upon Cloud Platform Enterprise.
The following diagram describes the infrastructure used for the Cloud Platform Site Factory application, and how its components interact with one another:
Caching and Varnish
- Configuring Drupal cache settings for Varnish
- How Drupal page cache works
- Caching overview
- Views caching
- Using Varnish
- Introduction to Varnish
- Bypassing the Varnish cache
- Purging Varnish cache on Cloud Platform
- Simplified VCL for Varnish
- Set max-age headers for specific pages, files, or paths
- Custom Varnish configuration
- Installing Acquia Purge