Becoming a Splunk Core Certified Power User is a valuable credential that demonstrates your ability to search, use fields, create alerts, use lookups, and create basic statistical reports and dashboards in Splunk. This guide provides a detailed step-by-step approach to help you prepare for the Splunk Core Certified Power User exam in 2024.
Understanding the Splunk Core Certified Power User Certification
Splunk is a prominent and conducive platform for searching, monitoring, and analysing machine-generated data via a web-based interface. It helps in gaining insights from data to make informed decisions. The Splunk Core Certified Power User certification is an entry-level exam that validates a candidate’s ability to perform fundamental searches, use fields, and lookups, and create basic statistical reports and dashboards.
Exam Details
- Exam Duration: 57 minutes
- Number of Questions: 65 multiple-choice questions
- Passing Score: 700 out of 1000 points
- Cost: $130 (subject to change)
- Prerequisites: No official prerequisites, but completion of the Splunk Fundamentals courses is recommended.
Splunk Core Certified Power User: Step-by-Step Preparation Guide
Step 1: Understand the Exam Blueprint
The exam blueprint outlines the topics covered in the exam and their respective weightage which gives you an idea about how much to study each topic. Familiarizing yourself with this blueprint is crucial as it guides your study efforts. Key topics include:
a) Basic Searching: 22%
This section covers the fundamentals of searching in Splunk, which is essential for data analysis.
Key Topics:
1) Search Basics:
- How to use keywords and time ranges in searches.
- Understanding the significance of using quotes for exact matches.
- Utilizing time modifiers like earliest and latest.
2) Search Commands:
- Stats: Used for performing statistical operations.
- Chart: Creates visual charts from data.
- Time chart: Similar to chart but over time.
- Top: Lists the most common values of a field.
3) Search Modes:
- Fast Mode: For quick searches with limited details.
- Smart Mode: Balances speed and detail.
- Verbose Mode: Provides the most detailed information but is slower.
4) Using Search Results:
- Creating basic visualizations like bar charts, line graphs, and pie charts.
- Generating reports from search results.
5) Pipes and Commands:
- Chaining multiple commands using pipes to refine search results.
b) Using Fields: 20%
Fields are crucial for filtering and organizing search results. This section tests your ability to work with fields effectively.
Key Topics:
- Field Extraction: Learn how to extract fields from event data using regular expressions and field extraction tools.
- Field Aliases: Understand how to create and use field aliases to rename fields in search results.
- Calculated Fields: Learn how to create calculated fields using the eval command to perform operations on field values.
- Field Transformations: Master the use of field transformations to modify and manage field values.
c) Creating and Managing Alerts: 20%
Alerts notify users when specific conditions are met in the data. This section tests your ability to create and manage alerts.
Key Topics:
- Alert Types: Understand the different types of alerts that are also imperative to make and implement (scheduled and real-time) and their use cases.
- Creating Alerts: Learn how to create alerts based on search criteria and configure their triggers.
- Alert Actions: Explore the various actions that can be triggered by alerts, such as sending emails or running scripts.
- Managing Alerts: Practice managing and monitoring alerts, including viewing triggered alerts and editing alert configurations.
d) Event Types and Tags: 10%
Event types and tags play a significant role as they help categorize and label events for easier searching and reporting.
1) Event Types:
- Creating event types to group similar events.
- Using event types in searches for quick filtering.
2) Tags:
- Adding tags to events for easier searching.
- Applying multiple tags to an event for better categorization.
3) Tagging Best Practices:
- Consistent naming conventions.
- Regular review and cleanup of tags.
e) Creating and Using Lookups: 10%
Lookups enhance the search functionality by enriching event data with additional information.
Key Topics:
- Creating Lookups: Learn how to create lookup tables and populate them with external data.
- Using Lookups: Understand how to use the lookup command to enrich search results with data from lookup tables.
- Automatic Lookups: Learn how to configure automatic lookups to apply lookups to events without specifying them in searches.
- Managing Lookups: Practice managing and maintaining lookup tables, including updating and deleting them.
f) Creating Reports and Dashboards: 18%
Reports and dashboards are essential for visualizing and sharing insights from Splunk data.
Key Topics:
- Report Creation: Learn how to create reports based on search results, including table and chart visualizations.
- Dashboard Panels: Understand how to add and configure panels in dashboards to display search results visually.
- Dashboard Layouts: Familiarize yourself with different dashboard layouts and how to arrange panels for optimal visualization.
- Advanced Visualizations: Explore advanced visualization options, such as choropleth maps and custom visualizations.
- Sharing Reports and Dashboards: Learn how to share reports and dashboards with other users and manage access permissions.
Step 2: Enroll in Splunk Fundamentals Courses
Splunk offers foundational courses that are instrumental in building your knowledge base. These courses are:
a) Splunk Fundamentals 1
- Objective: Introduces the basics of Splunk, including its interface, search commands, creating dashboards, and using fields.
- Content:
- Basic navigation
- Simple searches
- Using the fields sidebar
- Creating reports, dashboards, and alerts
b) Splunk Fundamentals 2
- Objective: Delve deeper into Splunk’s capabilities, covering more advanced features and search commands.
- Content:
- Advanced searching commands (e.g., eval, stats, chart)
- Field extraction and lookups
- Using transforming commands
- Advanced visualizations and dashboards
Step 3: Utilize Splunk Documentation and Online Resources
Splunk’s official documentation is comprehensive and provides detailed explanations of all features and functionalities. Key resources include:
- Splunk Documentation: It presents official guides on Splunk features.
- Splunk Answers: Community-driven Q&A platform.
- Splunk Blogs: Articles on the latest features and best practices.
- Splunk YouTube Channel: Video tutorials and webinars.
Step 4: Hands-On Practice
Practical experience is essential for mastering Splunk. Set up a personal Splunk environment using the free Splunk trial version to practice the following:
a) Practising Searches
- Basic Searches: Get comfortable with simple search commands.
- Using Commands: Practice using commands like stats, table, sort, and rex.
b) Creating Dashboards and Reports
- Dashboards: Create various types of dashboards to visualize data.
- Reports: Generate different reports to understand their creation and customization.
c) Using Lookups and Alerts
- Lookups: Practice creating and using lookup tables.
- Alerts: Set up alerts and understand their configurations and actions.
Step 5: Join Study Groups and Online Communities
Engaging with study groups and online communities can provide additional support, insights, and resources.
- Splunk User Groups: Local user groups often organize meetups and webinars.
- Online Communities: Join LinkedIn and Reddit groups focused on Splunk.
- Study Partners: Partnering with a study buddy can keep you motivated.
Step 6: Use Practice Exams
Utilize official and third-party practice exams to simulate the exam environment. Analyse your mistakes and understand why the correct answers are correct.
Step 7: Review Key Topics in Detail
a) Basic Searching
- Search Syntax: Master the basics of search syntax, including keywords, fields, and booleans.
- Search Commands: Understand and practice commands such as search, stats, table, sort, and rex.
b) Using Fields
- Field Extraction: Learn how to extract fields using regular expressions.
- Field Aliases: Understand what is field aliases and how imperative it is.
- Calculated Fields: Practice creating calculated fields to enhance search results.
c) Creating and Managing Alerts
- Alert Creation: Learn the process of creating alerts based on search results.
- Alert Actions: Explore different actions that can be triggered by alerts.
- Alert Management: Understand how to monitor and manage alerts effectively.
d) Event Types and Tags
- Event Types: Learn to create and manage event types to categorize events.
- Tags: Use tags to add metadata to events for easier searching and reporting.
e) Lookups
- Creating Lookups: Practice creating lookup tables.
- Using Lookups: Understand how to apply lookup commands to enrich data.
- Managing Lookups: Learn how to update and maintain lookup tables.
f) Creating Reports and Dashboards
- Report Creation: Master the creation and customization of reports.
- Dashboards: Practice creating different types of dashboards to visualize data for better understanding.
- Advanced Visualizations: Explore advanced visualization techniques.
Step 8: Develop a Study Plan
A structured study plan is significant for effective learning. Here’s an example of a study plan:
Week 1-2: Basic Concepts and Searching
- Splunk Fundamentals 1 Course
- Basic Searches and Commands Practice
- Review Splunk Documentation
Week 3-4: Advanced Searching and Reporting
- Splunk Fundamentals 2 Course
- Advanced Searches and Reporting Practice
- Create Basic Dashboards
Week 5-6: Field Extraction and Lookups
- Field Extraction Practice
- Creating and Using Lookups
- Review Splunk Answers and Blogs
Week 7-8: Alerts and Event Types
- Creating and Managing Alerts
- Understanding Event Types and Tags
- Join Study Groups
Week 9-10: Comprehensive Review and Practice Exams
- Take Practice Exams
- Review Incorrect Answers
- Revise Key Topics
Step 9: Schedule the Exam
Once you feel confident in your preparation, schedule the exam through the Pearson VUE website or another authorized testing centre. Choose a date that gives you enough time to review your notes and take a few more practice exams.
Step 10: Exam Day Tips
On the day of the exam, make sure you are well-rested and arrive at the testing centre or log in to the online proctored exam session with ample time. Here are a few tips for the exam day:
- Read Questions Carefully: One should read the questions thoroughly to understand them fully.
- Manage Your Time: Maintaining an eye on the clock is substantive as it will keep you on time to complete the full test.
- Stay Calm: Stay focused and composed throughout the exam.
Step 11: Post-Exam Review
After completing the exam, review your performance. If you pass, congratulations! If not, identify the areas where you need some improvement and focus on those topics before retaking the exam so that you get clear result with good marks.
Splunk Core Certified User vs Splunk Core Power User: Difference
– Splunk Core Certified User
This certification is the entry-level credential for individuals who are new to Splunk. It validates the fundamental skills needed to search, use fields, create alerts, use lookups, and create basic statistical reports and dashboards in Splunk.
Knowledge Areas:
- Basic Searching: Understanding the basics of how to run searches, use fields, and work with time ranges.
- Using Fields: Ability to extract, use, and transform fields in searches.
- Creating Alerts: Basic skills in creating alerts based on specific search criteria.
- Lookups: Basic understanding of lookups and how to use them to enrich search results.
- Reports and Dashboards: Creating simple reports and dashboards to visualize data.
Responsibilities:
- Running basic searches to retrieve and analyse data.
- Creating and managing alerts for critical events.
- Using lookups to enhance search results.
- Developing simple reports and dashboards to present data insights as it was very basic.
Target Audience:
- New users of Splunk are the target audience who need to gain foundational skills.
- Professionals who use Splunk in a limited capacity need to understand basic functionalities.
- Teams or departments within an organization that need to run basic searches and reports.
– Splunk Core Certified Power User
This more advanced certification builds upon the foundational skills validated by the Splunk Core Certified User certification. It mainly focuses on the knowledge required to perform in-depth data analysis in any project and advanced Splunk functionalities.
Knowledge Areas:
- Advanced Searching: Proficiency in using advanced search commands, creating complex queries, and utilizing various search modes.
- Field Aliases and Calculated Fields: Ability to create and use field aliases and calculated fields for more sophisticated data manipulation.
- Event Types and Tags: Understanding how to create and manage event types and tags to categorize and organize events.
- Advanced Lookups: Using lookups more effectively, including automatic lookups and complex lookup configurations.
- Advanced Reports and Dashboards: Creating detailed and complex reports and dashboards, including advanced visualizations and sharing options.
Responsibilities:
- Performing advanced searches and data analysis.
- Managing and creating field aliases and calculated fields for enhanced data manipulation.
- Setting up and maintaining event types and tags for better event categorization.
- We are designing and developing comprehensive reports and dashboards to support data-driven decision-making.
Target Audience:
- Experienced Splunk users who need to leverage advanced functionalities for more complex data analysis.
- Professionals are responsible for creating detailed reports and dashboards.
- Teams or departments within an organization need to perform sophisticated searches and analyses.
| Feature | Splunk Core Certified User | Splunk Core Certified Power User |
| Target Audience | Entry-level users and administrators are new to Splunk. | Experienced Splunk users and administrators who want to demonstrate advanced knowledge and skills. |
| Prerequisites | None | Splunk Core Certified User or equivalent knowledge and experience. |
| Exam Format | Multiple-choice questions. | Multiple-choice questions and hands-on practical tasks. |
| Passing Score | Approximately 70% | Approximately 70% |
| Knowledge Areas Assessed | Splunk fundamentals. | All knowledge areas assessed in the Core Certified User exam. |
| Content Emphasis | Fundamentals and basic usage of Splunk | Advanced usage, administration, and optimization of Splunk. |
| Hands-On Experience | Limited practical tasks. | Extensive hands-on practical tasks and scenarios. |
| Recommended Experience | Suitable for beginners or those with minimal Splunk experience. | Recommended for experienced Splunk users and administrators. |
| Certification Path | Entry-level certification. | Intermediate-level certification. |
Splunk Core Certified Power User Growth Opportunities
1. Advanced Certifications:
- Splunk Certified Admin: Focuses on managing and administering Splunk environments, including installation, configuration, and troubleshooting.
- Splunk Certified Architect: Concentrates on designing and implementing complex Splunk environments, including multi-instance deployments and large-scale configurations.
- Splunk Certified Developer: Covers creating advanced searches, dashboards, and custom applications using Splunk’s software development kit (SDK).
Specialization Areas:
- Security Information and Event Management (SIEM): Specialize in using Splunk for security monitoring and incident response. Positions like Security Operations Center (SOC) Analyst and Incident Responder are common.
- IT Service Intelligence (ITSI): Focus on using Splunk for IT service management and operational intelligence. Roles like IT Operations Manager and Service Delivery Manager become viable options.
Leadership Roles:
- Team Lead/Manager: It leads a team of analysts or administrators using Splunk. Team leaders manage projects, oversee operations, and drive strategic initiatives for the project.
- Director/VP of Data Analytics or IT Operations: Move into higher-level leadership roles, guiding the organization’s data strategy and IT operations at an executive level.
Consulting and Training:
- Splunk Consultant: Provide high-level consulting services to organizations implementing Splunk. They offer training and support to all the employees to ensure successful deployments.
- Splunk Instructor: Teach Splunk courses to new and advanced users. Help others achieve Splunk certification and proficiency.
2. Salary Expectations
Salaries for professionals with Splunk Core Certified Power User certification can vary based on location, experience, and specific role. Generally, certified professionals can expect competitive salaries due to the high demand for Splunk expertise. Here are some average salary ranges (these figures can vary widely):
- Data Analyst: $70,000 – $100,000 per year
- Security Analyst: $80,000 – $120,000 per year
- IT Operations Analyst: $70,000 – $110,000 per year
- BI Analyst: $75,000 – $110,000 per year
- System Administrator: $70,000 – $100,000 per year
- Consultant: $90,000 – $140,000 per year
- Splunk Developer: $90,000 – $130,000 per year
3. Industry Demand
Splunk skills are in high demand across various industries due to the increasing reliance on data-driven decision-making and the need for robust security measures. Key industries include:
- Finance and Banking: For fraud detection, risk management, and compliance reporting.
- Healthcare: This is also used for patient data analysis, operational efficiency, and regulatory compliance.
- Retail: For customer behaviour analysis, inventory management, and sales optimization.
- Telecommunications: For network performance monitoring, customer experience analysis, and incident response.
- Government: For cybersecurity, public safety, and operational intelligence.
How difficult is the Splunk Core Certified Power User Exam?
The difficulty of the Splunk Core Certified Power User certification exam can vary based on your prior experience with Splunk, familiarity with data analysis concepts, and the time you invest in studying. Here’s a detailed look at the factors that can influence the difficulty of the exam and how to prepare effectively:
Factors Influencing Difficulty
- Prior Experience:
- Beginners: If you are new to Splunk, the exam may be more challenging as you will need to learn both the basics and advanced functionalities of the platform.
- Experienced Users: Those with experience using Splunk for data analysis and reporting may find the exam easier, as they are likely familiar with many of the concepts and tools covered.
- Study and Preparation:
- Study Time: The amount of time you dedicate to studying and practising will significantly impact your success. A thorough study plan can help mitigate the difficulty.
- Study Materials: Access to high-quality study materials, such as official Splunk training courses, documentation, and practice exams, can make a substantial difference.
- Technical Skills:
- Data Analysis Skills: Strong analytical skills and experience with data manipulation and visualization will be beneficial.
- Technical Proficiency: Familiarity with search processing language (SPL), and knowledge of fields, lookups, event types, tags, and dashboards are crucial.
- Exam Content:
- Depth of Knowledge: The exam covers advanced search techniques, field transformations, event types, tags, and complex reports/dashboards, requiring a deep understanding of these topics.
- Practical Application: The exam tests your ability to apply knowledge practically, not just theoretically. Hands-on experience is vital.
Conclusion
Preparing for the Splunk Core Certified Power User exam requires full dedication, practice, and a structured approach to reach your goal effectively and efficiently. Following this comprehensive guide, you can systematically cover all the necessary topics, gain practical experience, and confidently sit for the exam. Utilize the resources available, engage with the Splunk community, and keep practicing to master the art of using Splunk. Good luck on your journey to becoming a Splunk Core Certified Power User in 2024!
