HashiCorp Certified: Consul Associate Certification

Introduction

Course Introduction

Welcome to the Getting Started with HashiCorp Consul online training course. This hands-on program prepares you for the HashiCorp Certified Consul Associate exam and teaches you how to implement Consul for service discovery, configuration, and secure service mesh in modern architectures.

Beyond the HashiCorp Learn site and official webinars, comprehensive Consul training has been scarce. This course fills that gap, combining expert instruction and real-world labs so you can confidently deploy and manage Consul in your environment.


Instructor Introduction

My name is Bryan Krausen, Principal Technical Consultant based in Central Kentucky. With over 20 years in IT, I blend in-depth hands-on expertise with a passion for teaching.

Bryan Krausen as Principal Technical Consultant and Consul expert

  • 3+ years deploying Consul (including as a Vault backend)
  • First to earn Consul Advanced Partner certification
  • Presented Consul talks at HashiConf 2019

Although not officially on HashiCorp’s payroll, I aim to deliver practical, exam-aligned content that you can apply immediately.

Contact & Social Media

Have questions or feedback? Connect anytime:

Social media and contact information for Bryan Krausen

  • Twitter: @btkrausen
  • GitHub: github.com/BryanKrausen
  • Course Q&A: Use the KodeKloud platform
  • Direct messages: I typically respond quickly

All course code and configurations live at github.com/bryankrausen/HashiCorp. Check for updates anytime.


Course Overview

Course topics at a glance

This training will guide you through:

ModuleDescription
Consul FundamentalsCore architecture, agents, protocols
Datacenter DeploymentSingle-DC install, configuration, server/client management
Service Discovery & MeshService registration, health checks, Consul Connect
Key/Value StoreUsing KV for application configuration
Security & ACLsTLS encryption, access control, gossip security
Backup & RestoreSafe snapshot, restore procedures
Exam PreparationQuizzes, tips, and practice scenarios

Lesson Format

Each section follows a consistent structure to reinforce learning:

  1. Lecture & Slides
    Introduce definitions, architecture diagrams, and key concepts.
  2. Lab Demonstration
    Hands-on CLI, UI, and API examples (primarily CLI).
  3. PDF Resources
    Downloadable slides, mind maps, command lists, and lab manuals.
  4. Quiz
    Short assessments to validate your understanding.

Lesson structure and resources overview

You can run demos on your local laptop using the default .consul domain or spin up AWS clusters when needed.


Course Updates

Course update process and feedback loop

I monitor HashiCorp certification announcements and update this course regularly. New labs, slides, and quizzes will roll out with notifications sent via the course platform. Your feedback drives improvements—feel free to share suggestions anytime.


With the introduction complete, you’re now ready to dive into Consul fundamentals and start your journey toward becoming a HashiCorp Certified Consul Associate. Good luck!

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