STEL - SKILL TRAININGCOMPLETED
Skills first. Certs optional.

Skill Training Completed

One home lab and fourteen sprints covering Windows Server, Azure, Linux, cloud and security. Each sprint ends with something you built and someone else can check. Certifications are gates along the way, not the structure.

Plan my calendarDownload the study kit

How it works

01

Skills, not exams

Each skill area is taught once, then mapped to every certification that tests it. That overlap is where the time savings come from.

02

One lab

A VMware Workstation lab with two Windows domain controllers, a file server, a Linux router and two Linux servers. Build it in sprint S0 and keep it for everything after.

03

Prove it

Every sprint ends with a deliverable and a peer review. Book an exam only when the readiness gate is met.

Pick a track

The sprints are the same for everyone. What changes is which ones you do and whether you sit exams. Week counts assume about 8 hours a week.

Track A

Skills only

The capability without the certificate. Every sprint, no exam gates.

44 weeks at 8 hours a week · for: Not interested in exams
Plan this track
Track B

Microsoft

Windows Server and Azure, ending in AZ-802 and AZ-104.

29 weeks at 8 hours a week · for: Windows and Microsoft 365 administration
Plan this track
Track C

Linux

Linux+, then LPIC-1, 2 and 3, with the Linux lane as the main lab.

38 weeks at 8 hours a week · for: Linux server administration
Plan this track
Track D

Security

Hardening, monitoring and security operations, ending in Security+.

26 weeks at 8 hours a week · for: Security or compliance
Plan this track
Track E

Everyone

The full path: all fourteen sprints and every exam gate.

54 weeks at 8 hours a week · for: A mix, or growing into a senior generalist
Plan this track

The fourteen sprints

Windows and Azure first, so the AZ-802 gate lands early, with a short Linux lane in each sprint.

S0Lab and foundations2 weeksA working, snapshotted lab, and comfort with the command line on both operating systems.
S1Networking and name resolution3 weeksDesign and troubleshoot addressing, DNS and DHCP on both platforms.
S2Identity and directory services4 weeksBuild and run an Active Directory environment and apply policy at scale.
S3Hybrid identity and governance3 weeksConnect on-premises identity to the cloud and control access and cost there.
S4Compute and virtualization3 weeksDeploy and manage servers on-premises and in Azure and explain the tradeoffs.
S5Storage and file services3 weeksProvide and protect storage for users and workloads on-premises and in Azure.
S6Security and hardening3 weeksMeasure a server against a baseline and fix the gaps.
S7Monitoring, backup and troubleshooting3 weeksWatch systems, restore them, and find faults methodically.
S8Automation and infrastructure as code3 weeksBuild repeatable environments from code instead of by hand.
S9Cloud architecture and operations3 weeksPick the right cloud design and explain cost, risk and migration.
S10Linux services and advanced administration4 weeksRun the core network services and manage boot, kernel and capacity on Linux.
S11Security operations, governance and risk3 weeksDetect and respond to incidents and explain security in business terms.
S12Containers, virtualization and high availability4 weeksRun and secure containers and design for availability.
S13Capstone3 weeksOne integrated environment that proves the whole skill set.

Certifications covered

Microsoft AZ-802Microsoft AZ-104CompTIA Cloud+CompTIA Security+CompTIA Linux+LPIC-1LPIC-2LPIC-3

Exam versions and retirement dates change. Re-check the official Microsoft, CompTIA and LPI pages before booking. Security+ V8 is expected in late 2026, so study its objectives.

Take it with you

The whole study kit is free to download: sprint plan, track guide, lab layout, skill map, assessment rubric and a progress template.

Get the kit on GitHubOpen the calendar

Use it with your own Claude

  1. Download the files from the repo.
  2. Add them to a Claude Project as knowledge.
  3. Ask Claude to coach you through one sprint at a time and check your deliverables.