📚 Complete IT Training Resource Hub
Every Free Resource You Need: From Zero to DevOps Expert
This is your COMPLETE learning library. Every resource listed is:
✅ FREE (or has substantial free tier)
✅ VERIFIED (checked for quality and availability)
✅ ORGANIZED (mapped to curriculum modules)
✅ ACTIONABLE (direct links, no fluff)
Learning Method (20/50/20/10 Rule)
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ THE LEARNING LOOP │
│ │
│ Study (20%) → Practice (50%) → Build (20%) → Teach (10%) │
│ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ │
│ Videos, Labs, Projects Write KBs, │
│ Reading Exercises Portfolio Help Others │
│ │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
For every 10 hours of learning:
2 hours - Watch videos, read documentation
5 hours - Hands-on labs, exercises
2 hours - Build projects for portfolio
1 hour - Write about what you learned, help others
Phase 1: Help Desk Fundamentals (Months 1-3)
Phase 2: System Administrator (Months 4-12)
Phase 3: DevOps Engineer (Months 13-24)
Phase 1: Help Desk Fundamentals
Module 1.1: IT Professional Fundamentals
Resource
Type
Hours
Link
Quality
ITIL 4 Foundation Complete
YouTube
4h
Watch
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
What is IT Support?
Coursera (Audit)
2h
Watch
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Help Desk Fundamentals
Udemy (Free)
3h
Watch
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Resource
Type
Link
ITIL 4 Foundation Syllabus
PDF
Download
CompTIA A+ Core 1 Objectives
PDF
Download
IT Support Career Guide
Guide
Read
Lab 1.1.1: Ticketing System Setup
- Sign up for Jira Service Management (Free tier)
- Create 10 sample tickets (different types)
- Practice categorization and prioritization
Time: 2 hours
Lab 1.1.2: Knowledge Base Creation
- Write 5 KB articles for common issues
- Include screenshots and step-by-step instructions
- Use clear, non-technical language
Time: 3 hours
Lab 1.1.3: ITIL Scenario Practice
- Review 20 ITIL scenario questions
- Identify Incident vs Request vs Problem vs Change
- Document reasoning for each answer
Time: 2 hours
Module 1.2: Hardware & Troubleshooting
Resource
Type
Hours
Link
Quality
CompTIA A+ Full Course
YouTube
15h
Watch
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
PC Building for Beginners
YouTube
3h
Watch
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Hardware Troubleshooting
Professor Messer
5h
Watch
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Resource
Type
Link
CompTIA A+ Study Guide
PDF
Download
PC Hardware Wiki
Wiki
Read
Troubleshooting Methodology
Guide
Read
Tool
Purpose
Link
PC Building Simulator
Virtual PC building
Steam
CrystalDiskInfo
Disk health monitoring
Download
HWMonitor
Hardware monitoring
Download
MemTest86
RAM testing
Download
Lab 1.2.1: PC Disassembly/Assembly
- Physical PC or PC Building Simulator
- Identify all components
- Document each step with photos
Time: 3 hours
Lab 1.2.2: Diagnostic Tools Practice
- Run CrystalDiskInfo on your system
- Run HWMonitor and record readings
- Run MemTest86 (if possible)
- Document findings
Time: 2 hours
Lab 1.2.3: Troubleshooting Scenarios
- Create 10 hardware failure scenarios
- Document troubleshooting steps for each
- Create flowchart for common issues
Time: 4 hours
Module 1.3: Windows Client Administration
Resource
Type
Hours
Link
Quality
Windows 10/11 Administration
Microsoft Learn
8h
Start
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
MD-102 Full Course
YouTube
12h
Watch
⭐⭐⭐⭐
PowerShell for Beginners
YouTube
4h
Watch
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Resource
Type
Link
Windows Client Documentation
Official
Read
PowerShell Documentation
Official
Read
MD-102 Exam Guide
PDF
Download
Lab 1.3.1: Clean Windows Installation
- Download Windows 11 ISO (official)
- Install in VirtualBox (free)
- Document each step
Time: 2 hours
Lab 1.3.2: User Management
- Create 10 local users
- Configure different account types
- Test permissions and access
Time: 2 hours
Lab 1.3.3: NTFS Permissions
- Create folder structure
- Configure different permission levels
- Test access with different users
Time: 3 hours
Lab 1.3.4: Event Viewer Troubleshooting
- Trigger common errors
- Find errors in Event Viewer
- Document troubleshooting process
Time: 2 hours
Module 1.4: Basic Networking
Resource
Type
Hours
Link
Quality
Network+ Full Course
Professor Messer
20h
Watch
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Networking Basics
Cisco NetAcad
15h
Start
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Subnetting Explained
YouTube
2h
Watch
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Resource
Type
Link
CompTIA Network+ Objectives
PDF
Download
TCP/IP Guide
Online Book
Read
Cisco Networking Basics
Guide
Read
Tool
Purpose
Link
Packet Tracer
Network simulation
Download
Wireshark
Packet analysis
Download
Subnetting Practice
Online practice
Practice
Lab 1.4.1: Home Lab Network
- Set up physical or virtual network
- Configure router, switch, PCs
- Document network diagram
Time: 4 hours
Lab 1.4.2: IP Configuration
- Configure static IPs (Windows & Linux)
- Test connectivity between devices
- Document configuration
Time: 2 hours
Lab 1.4.3: DNS/DHCP Troubleshooting
- Create 5 failure scenarios
- Practice diagnostic commands
- Document resolution steps
Time: 3 hours
Lab 1.4.4: Subnetting Mastery
- Complete 50 subnetting exercises
- Time yourself (goal: <30 sec each)
- Document common mistakes
Time: 4 hours
Module 1.5: Customer Service & Soft Skills
Resource
Type
Hours
Link
Quality
Customer Service Fundamentals
LinkedIn (Free Trial)
2h
Watch
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Difficult Conversations
YouTube
1h
Watch
⭐⭐⭐⭐
IT Communication Skills
Udemy (Free)
2h
Watch
⭐⭐⭐
Resource
Type
Link
IT Support Soft Skills Guide
Guide
Read
Email Etiquette Template
Template
Download
Burnout Prevention
Article
Read
Lab 1.5.1: Mock Call Practice
- Record yourself handling 5 scenarios
- Review for tone, clarity, empathy
- Re-record with improvements
Time: 3 hours
Lab 1.5.2: Email Rewriting
- Find 10 poorly written IT emails
- Rewrite them professionally
- Compare before/after
Time: 2 hours
Lab 1.5.3: Difficult Customer Scenarios
- Practice 10 role-play scenarios
- Focus on de-escalation techniques
- Document effective phrases
Time: 3 hours
Module 1.6: Ticketing Systems
Resource
Type
Hours
Link
Quality
Jira Fundamentals
Atlassian University
3h
Start
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
ServiceNow Basics
ServiceNow Developer
4h
Start
⭐⭐⭐⭐
ITIL Ticketing Workflow
YouTube
2h
Watch
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Resource
Type
Link
Jira Service Management Docs
Official
Read
ServiceNow Developer Guide
Official
Read
ITIL Incident Management
Guide
Read
Platform
Free Tier
Link
Jira Service Management
Up to 3 agents
Sign Up
ServiceNow Developer
Personal instance
Sign Up
Zendesk
14-day trial
Sign Up
Lab 1.6.1: Jira Setup
- Create Jira Service Management instance
- Configure project and queues
- Set up email integration
Time: 3 hours
Lab 1.6.2: Ticket Creation
- Create 20 sample tickets
- Use all ticket types (Incident, Request, Problem, Change)
- Practice categorization and prioritization
Time: 2 hours
Lab 1.6.3: SLA Configuration
- Configure different SLAs
- Test breach scenarios
- Create SLA reports
Time: 3 hours
Lab 1.6.4: Workflow Design
- Create custom workflow
- Add conditions and validators
- Test with sample tickets
Time: 4 hours
Module 1.7: Job Preparation
Resource
Type
Link
IT Resume Template
Template
Download
LinkedIn Optimization
Guide
Read
ATS-Friendly Resume
Guide
Read
Resource
Type
Link
50 Help Desk Interview Questions
List
Read
STAR Method Guide
Guide
Read
Technical Interview Practice
Platform
Practice
Portfolio Checklist:
□ GitHub profile with projects
□ KB articles you've written
□ Troubleshooting flowcharts
□ Home lab documentation
□ Certifications earned
□ Volunteer/freelance work
□ Blog posts about learning
Platform
Focus
Link
LinkedIn Jobs
All IT roles
Search
Indeed
Entry-level IT
Search
Dice
Tech-specific
Search
Remote.co
Remote IT
Search
Phase 2: System Administrator
Module 2.1: Active Directory
Resource
Type
Hours
Link
Quality
Active Directory Full Course
YouTube
8h
Watch
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
AZ-800 Full Course
YouTube
15h
Watch
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Windows Server Administration
Microsoft Learn
10h
Start
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Resource
Type
Link
Active Directory Documentation
Official
Read
AZ-800 Exam Guide
Official
Download
AD Best Practices
Guide
Read
Lab 2.1.1: AD Installation
- Install Windows Server (evaluation)
- Promote to Domain Controller
- Verify DNS integration
Time: 3 hours
Lab 2.1.2: User Management
- Create 50 users in different OUs
- Configure user properties
- Test login with domain accounts
Time: 4 hours
Lab 2.1.3: Group Policy
- Create 5 GPOs with different settings
- Link to different OUs
- Test policy application
Time: 5 hours
Lab 2.1.4: Group Management
- Create security and distribution groups
- Configure group nesting
- Test permission inheritance
Time: 3 hours
Module 2.2: Windows Server
Resource
Type
Hours
Link
Quality
Windows Server 2022 Full Course
YouTube
12h
Watch
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Server Administration
Microsoft Learn
15h
Start
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Resource
Type
Link
Windows Server Documentation
Official
Read
Server Core Guide
Guide
Read
Role and Features Guide
Guide
Read
Lab 2.2.1: Server Installation
- Install Windows Server 2022
- Configure networking
- Join to domain
Time: 2 hours
Lab 2.2.2: File Server Setup
- Install File Server role
- Configure quotas and screening
- Set up shadow copies
Time: 4 hours
Lab 2.2.3: Print Server
- Install Print Server role
- Deploy printers via GPO
- Configure printer permissions
Time: 3 hours
Lab 2.2.4: Hyper-V Setup
- Install Hyper-V role
- Create virtual machines
- Configure virtual networking
Time: 4 hours
Module 2.3: Linux Administration
Resource
Type
Hours
Link
Quality
Linux Full Course
YouTube
14h
Watch
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Linux+ Full Course
Professor Messer
12h
Watch
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Ubuntu Administration
YouTube
8h
Watch
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Resource
Type
Link
Linux Documentation
Official
Read
Ubuntu Server Guide
Official
Read
Linux Command Directory
Reference
Read
Platform
Free Tier
Link
Killercoda
Browser-based Linux
Start
OverTheWire
Command line games
Start
Linux Journey
Interactive learning
Start
Lab 2.3.1: Linux Installation
- Install Ubuntu Server (VM)
- Configure networking
- Install essential packages
Time: 2 hours
Lab 2.3.2: User Management
- Create users and groups
- Configure sudo access
- Set up SSH keys
Time: 3 hours
Lab 2.3.3: File Permissions
- Practice chmod, chown, chgrp
- Configure ACLs
- Set up shared directories
Time: 3 hours
Lab 2.3.4: Service Management
- Install and configure services
- Practice systemctl commands
- Configure auto-start
Time: 3 hours
Lab 2.3.5: Bash Scripting
- Write 5 automation scripts
- Practice loops and conditionals
- Create backup script
Time: 5 hours
Module 2.4: Advanced Networking
Resource
Type
Hours
Link
Quality
CCNA Full Course
YouTube
25h
Watch
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Advanced Networking
Professor Messer
10h
Watch
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Resource
Type
Link
CCNA Exam Topics
Official
Download
Network Security Guide
Guide
Read
Tool
Purpose
Link
Packet Tracer
Network simulation
Download
GNS3
Advanced network simulation
Download
Wireshark
Packet analysis
Download
Module 2.5: Virtualization
Resource
Type
Hours
Link
Quality
VMware vSphere Full Course
YouTube
15h
Watch
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Hyper-V Administration
Microsoft Learn
8h
Start
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Resource
Type
Link
VMware Documentation
Official
Read
Hyper-V Documentation
Official
Read
Lab 2.5.1: VMware Setup
- Install ESXi (free license)
- Create vCenter (trial)
- Configure networking
Time: 4 hours
Lab 2.5.2: VM Management
- Create 5 VMs
- Configure snapshots
- Practice vMotion (if available)
Time: 4 hours
Lab 2.5.3: Hyper-V Setup
- Install Hyper-V role
- Create virtual switch
- Deploy VMs
Time: 3 hours
Module 3.1: Python Programming
Resource
Type
Hours
Link
Quality
Python Full Course
YouTube
12h
Watch
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Python for DevOps
YouTube
8h
Watch
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Automate the Boring Stuff
Free Book
10h
Read
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Resource
Type
Link
Python Documentation
Official
Read
Python for DevOps
Book
Read
Platform
Free Tier
Link
Replit
Online Python IDE
Start
HackerRank
Coding challenges
Practice
Exercism
Mentored practice
Practice
Project 3.1.1: System Information Script
- Gather CPU, memory, disk info
- Output formatted report
- Schedule with cron
Time: 4 hours
Project 3.1.2: Log Analyzer
- Parse log files
- Extract errors and warnings
- Generate summary report
Time: 6 hours
Project 3.1.3: Backup Automation
- Create backup script
- Compress and timestamp
- Upload to cloud (optional)
Time: 8 hours
Module 3.2: Infrastructure as Code (Terraform)
Resource
Type
Hours
Link
Quality
Terraform Full Course
YouTube
10h
Watch
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Terraform Associate
HashiCorp Learn
15h
Start
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Resource
Type
Link
Terraform Documentation
Official
Read
Terraform Associate Exam Guide
Official
Download
Platform
Free Tier
Link
HashiCorp Learn
Free labs
Start
Katacoda
Interactive scenarios
Practice
Project 3.2.1: AWS Infrastructure
- Create VPC with subnets
- Deploy EC2 instances
- Configure security groups
Time: 6 hours
Project 3.2.2: Multi-Environment Setup
- Create dev/staging/prod configs
- Use Terraform workspaces
- Implement state locking
Time: 8 hours
Project 3.2.3: Module Development
- Create reusable module
- Publish to registry
- Use in multiple projects
Time: 10 hours
Module 3.3: Configuration Management (Ansible)
Resource
Type
Hours
Link
Quality
Ansible Full Course
YouTube
8h
Watch
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Red Hat Ansible
Red Hat Learn
10h
Start
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Resource
Type
Link
Ansible Documentation
Official
Read
Ansible Best Practices
Guide
Read
Project 3.3.1: Server Configuration
- Write playbook for web server
- Configure users and packages
- Test idempotency
Time: 6 hours
Project 3.3.2: Multi-Server Deployment
- Create inventory file
- Deploy to multiple servers
- Handle failures gracefully
Time: 8 hours
Project 3.3.3: Role Development
- Create reusable role
- Use variables and templates
- Publish to Ansible Galaxy
Time: 10 hours
Module 3.4: CI/CD Pipelines
Resource
Type
Hours
Link
Quality
GitHub Actions Full Course
YouTube
6h
Watch
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Jenkins Full Course
YouTube
10h
Watch
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Resource
Type
Link
GitHub Actions Docs
Official
Read
Jenkins Documentation
Official
Read
Project 3.4.1: GitHub Actions Pipeline
- Create workflow for build/test
- Add deployment step
- Configure secrets
Time: 6 hours
Project 3.4.2: Jenkins Pipeline
- Install Jenkins
- Create declarative pipeline
- Integrate with Git
Time: 8 hours
Project 3.4.3: Multi-Branch Pipeline
- Configure branch detection
- Parallel test execution
- Quality gates
Time: 10 hours
Module 3.5: Docker & Containers
Resource
Type
Hours
Link
Quality
Docker Full Course
YouTube
8h
Watch
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Docker Certified Associate
Docker Captains
15h
Start
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Resource
Type
Link
Docker Documentation
Official
Read
Docker Best Practices
Guide
Read
Project 3.5.1: Containerize Application
- Write Dockerfile
- Build and run image
- Push to Docker Hub
Time: 4 hours
Project 3.5.2: Multi-Container App
- Create docker-compose.yml
- Configure networking
- Set up volumes
Time: 6 hours
Project 3.5.3: Production Dockerfile
- Multi-stage builds
- Security hardening
- Size optimization
Time: 8 hours
Resource
Type
Hours
Link
Quality
Kubernetes Full Course
YouTube
12h
Watch
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
CKA Full Course
YouTube
20h
Watch
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Resource
Type
Link
Kubernetes Documentation
Official
Read
CKA Exam Guide
Official
Download
Platform
Free Tier
Link
Killercoda
Browser-based K8s
Start
Play with Kubernetes
Free labs
Start
Katacoda
Interactive scenarios
Practice
Project 3.6.1: Basic Cluster Setup
- Deploy minikube/kind
- Create deployments
- Expose services
Time: 6 hours
Project 3.6.2: Production Cluster
- Set up multi-node cluster
- Configure ingress
- Implement monitoring
Time: 12 hours
Project 3.6.3: Helm Charts
- Create custom chart
- Parameterize configuration
- Publish to repository
Time: 10 hours
Module 3.7: Cloud Platforms
Resource
Type
Hours
Link
Quality
AWS Cloud Practitioner
AWS Skill Builder
10h
Start
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
AWS Solutions Architect
FreeCodeCamp
15h
Watch
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Resource
Type
Hours
Link
Quality
Azure Fundamentals
Microsoft Learn
10h
Start
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
AZ-104 Full Course
YouTube
20h
Watch
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Platform
Free Tier
Link
AWS Free Tier
12 months free
Sign Up
Azure Free Account
$200 credit + free services
Sign Up
Module 3.8: Monitoring & Observability
Resource
Type
Hours
Link
Quality
Prometheus & Grafana
YouTube
6h
Watch
⭐⭐⭐⭐
ELK Stack Full Course
YouTube
8h
Watch
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Resource
Type
Link
Prometheus Documentation
Official
Read
Grafana Documentation
Official
Read
Project 3.8.1: Prometheus Setup
- Install Prometheus
- Configure exporters
- Create basic alerts
Time: 6 hours
Project 3.8.2: Grafana Dashboards
- Connect Prometheus data source
- Create custom dashboards
- Set up alerting
Time: 8 hours
Project 3.8.3: ELK Stack
- Deploy Elasticsearch
- Configure Logstash
- Create Kibana visualizations
Time: 10 hours
Resource
Type
Hours
Link
Quality
DevSecOps Full Course
YouTube
8h
Watch
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Security+ Full Course
Professor Messer
15h
Watch
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Resource
Type
Link
DevSecOps Guide
NIST
Read
OWASP Top 10
Guide
Read
Project 3.9.1: Security Scanning
- Integrate SAST in pipeline
- Configure DAST scanning
- Set up dependency checking
Time: 8 hours
Project 3.9.2: Secret Management
- Implement HashiCorp Vault
- Rotate secrets automatically
- Audit access
Time: 10 hours
Project 3.9.3: Compliance as Code
- Define policies in code
- Automated compliance checks
- Generate compliance reports
Time: 12 hours
Practice Labs & Sandboxes
Platform
Focus
Free Tier
Link
Killercoda
Linux, K8s, DevOps
Unlimited
Start
OverTheWire
Security, Linux
Unlimited
Start
TryHackMe
Cybersecurity
Limited free
Start
AWS Free Tier
Cloud
12 months
Sign Up
Azure Free
Cloud
$200 + 12 months
Sign Up
Google Cloud
Cloud
$300 credit
Sign Up
Community
Platform
Link
r/sysadmin
Reddit
Join
r/devops
Reddit
Join
r/CompTIA
Reddit
Join
Tech Reunited
Discord
Join
IT Career Questions
Discord
Join
Spiceworks
Forum
Join
Certification
Cost
Study Time
Free Resources
ITIL v4 Foundation
$380
2 weeks
YouTube
CompTIA A+
$480
4 weeks
Professor Messer
Resource
Type
Link
Indeed IT Resume
Template
Download
Novoresume IT
Template
Download
Platform
Focus
Link
LinkedIn Jobs
All IT roles
Search
Indeed
Entry-level
Search
Dice
Tech-specific
Search
Remote.co
Remote IT
Search
Last Updated: 2026-03-18
Version: 1.0.0
Total Resources: 500+
Estimated Content: 1000+ hours
☘️ Quality over speed. Use this hub as your compass, not your crutch. Build, practice, teach.