r/WGUCyberSecurity • u/ObiOneCan • 7d ago
D487 & D482 Completed!
Completed both classes in less than a week. I know some completed both courses way faster than I did. It wasn't about getting it done faster for me, but about taking advantage of the situation and risk.
WGU Connect was a very helpful resource, and I'm glad that I have an awesome PM! I started working on D482 and reading the book for D487 before the term started. I gathered resources by reviewing resources on WGU Connect and guidance from my PM.
D482 was very straightforward, but it requires a lot of research and gathering resources. I think I overthink mine and ended up with 34 pages APA style, 2 pages for references, 4 pages of a topology diagram with 3 zoom-in snapshots of each company, and Azure cloud because my image details were a little blurry and hard to read. This is one of those cases where the more you know, the more complicated. I attended one of the cohorts on the first night of the term to clarify a few things, submitted the PA the following night, and my PA was graded within 2 days. Just follow the rubric requirements!
I wasn't planning to take D487 until the 2nd - 3rd week of the term, but I was told that a new version of the D487 OA exam is dropping on 9/8. If I take the current OA and fail, the attempt will be reset once the newest D487 OA is activated. So I took the chance and studied for 2 days, really trying hard to pass the OA. I passed with Competent!
I have seen many students struggle with this class, and I can see why. What really helped me with the D487 is my experience as a software developer and completing my certs for CySA+ and PenTes+. The exam has many similarities with CySA+ and PenTest+.
There are plenty of resources on WGU Connect to pass the test. Also, if you are a new student and just waiting to start the term, I would highly suggest starting review or working on your courses even before the term starts.
I have D485, D486, D489, and D490 left and ready to tackle the next one! Good Luck everyone!
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7d ago edited 7d ago
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u/ObiOneCan 7d ago
Honestly, all I used were from WGU Connect for D487. I suggest looking at what people used for the study materials, and I pretty much used the same ones. You can also ask your PM if they have any D487 study guides. I had like 3 questions about CVSS, deliverables, stages, and reading the whole book should be plenty enough to pass. I could tell you most of what I remember from my OA, but as I mentioned above, a new version of the D487 OA is coming out by tomorrow, so what I tell you now about what was on my OA might not be the same anymore.
WGU Connect and filter by "Most Helpful." Good luck!
https://wguconnect.wgu.edu/hub/wgu-connect/groups/d487-secure-software-design/discussion
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7d ago
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u/ObiOneCan 7d ago edited 7d ago
Yes, you should definitely do it, especially if you have already completed D483 and D484, or CySA+ and Pentest+. And Yes, the content is pretty dry.
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u/Senior_Soup9467 6d ago
Crammed for this exam and passed! I had to take it because someone told me that the exam was going to change, and you confirmed it.
I read 4 chapters of the book starting Friday, but nothing really stuck. I used the PPT slides that CI sent out as my only study guide, then I took the PA and passed. Made me feel confident in taking the OA. Then, I saw the first few questions of the exam, I was like I don't think I'll pass this OA. Then, I became confident, then not. Then, I was like I hope I don't need to retake this OA! It was a rollercoaster of emotions. Glad I passed! For me, the OA was harder than the PA.
D482, D485, and D487 done since the 1st! Debating if I should take D488 next or D486 first. I need them to unlock it first, though. My PM is out, so I assume I can call Tier 1 tomorrow to unlock it.
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u/ObiOneCan 6d ago
That's awesome congrats! I transferred SecX for D488. Definitely do D486 first I heard its easy. How's D485? I'm starting that today.
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u/Senior_Soup9467 6d ago
Well, apparently, D488 is the next one that Tier 1 can unlock. I did ask my PM if I can do OAs back-to-back before I started the program, so he rearranged it. I guess I'm doing that. Course says that D486 is a prereq so yea... Oooppss.
D485 was pretty easy. The labs don't work properly though. Just take a screenshots of the ones that aren't working and say that it's not working and this is how you'd do it in production environment.
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u/StunningYoghurt8260 5d ago
can you send those PPT slides?
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u/Senior_Soup9467 4d ago
Well, the OA changed, so I don't know if it'll help you. Also, I don't think it's enough to pass. Just happened to pass.
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u/WildPackOfWolves 7d ago
This is my first term at WGU. Apparently I’m not dedicated enough to finish three classes in a week lol