Week 3 of Starla Condes’ Security+ Certification Series focuses on one of the most relatable parts of the certification process: the moment when the material stops feeling familiar and starts feeling genuinely challenging. This is the point where many learners question whether they belong in cybersecurity at all. Starla is right in the middle of that experience, and she’s showing what it looks like to push through confusion and build real understanding instead of memorizing terms.

When the Concepts Start to Stretch You

This week, Starla found herself wrestling with a topic that trips up a lot of beginners: the difference between virtualization and cloud computing. In her vlog, she admits she wasn’t fully grasping the distinction. Instead of guessing or moving on, she paused, researched, and broke the concepts down until they made sense.

Her takeaway is exactly right:

• Virtualization is the underlying technology that lets you create virtual versions of hardware like servers, storage, and networks.

• Cloud computing is the delivery of those virtualized resources over the internet as a service.

As defined by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), cloud computing depends on virtualization but adds characteristics like on-demand self-service, resource pooling, and broad network access. Understanding that relationship helps learners frame security risks at both the system level and the service level, which is foundational for the Security+ exam.

Why This Matters for Non-Technical Roles

Starla highlights something important: even in a non-technical position like Talent Acquisition, understanding these concepts has real value. She supports cybersecurity programs and staffing efforts, and deeper understanding helps her connect people, roles, and requirements more accurately.

This is a perfect example of how cybersecurity knowledge extends beyond traditional IT roles. The Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) emphasizes that cyber awareness and foundational skills are increasingly expected across the entire digital workforce, not just engineers or analysts.

Starla’s commitment reflects one of NTI’s core values: Be or Seek the Authoritative Source. She recognizes that guessing is not an option in environments where accuracy and trust matter.

Representing Learners Who Feel Out of Place

One of the strongest parts of Starla’s Week 3 reflection is her acknowledgment that many people studying for Security+ feel like the field was never designed for them. Whether someone is raising kids, switching careers, coming from a non-technical job, or simply balancing too much at once, imposter syndrome is common.

She speaks directly to those learners, saying:

If you are studying while holding everything else together, you are not alone. Every page, every pause, and every question builds something new.

This honesty matters. Research from the Aspen Institute and (ISC) shows that adults entering cybersecurity from non-traditional backgrounds often succeed when the learning environment acknowledges real-life constraints rather than glossing over them.

The Value of Slow, Honest Progress

Starla’s Week 3 wasn’t about flawless studying, but instead sticking with difficult concepts until they make sense and recognizing that this process is what builds true competency.

For anyone Security+ curious, Starla’s Week 3 message is clear:

• You do not need a technical background to understand this material.

• You do need patience and a willingness to slow down and ask the right questions.

• Confusion is normal. Working through it is where confidence comes from.

• Consistency matters more than perfect conditions.

This week captures an essential truth: growth happens in the moments when the material gets uncomfortable.

Stay tuned for Week 4 as Starla continues tackling the domains and shifting from early understanding into deeper application.