Cloud+ is CompTIA's vendor-neutral cloud exam, sitting between Cloud Essentials+ and the deeper vendor certs (AWS, Azure, GCP). It's the area where Messer's free coverage is least mature, and the area where hands-on practice matters most. In 2026, here's the honest read on using Messer for Cloud+.
Cloud+ is the CompTIA cert where Messer's coverage is least complete. His Cloud+ playlist exists but is less mature than his A+, Network+, or Security+ content, and Cloud+ rewards hands-on practice with actual cloud platforms more than any other CompTIA exam. For Cloud+, plan to supplement Messer with hands-on AWS/Azure free-tier practice and a dedicated practice exam pack.
The Current State of Messer's Cloud+ Coverage
Messer publishes Cloud+ content, but compared to his A+/Net+/Sec+ playlists:
- Update cadence is slower - Community pass-report volume is smaller - Depth on hands-on topics (deployment, automation, IaC) is lighter - Some objectives are taught conceptually but not with practical examples
That doesn't make him bad — it makes him insufficient as a standalone resource for Cloud+ in particular.
Why Cloud+ Specifically Needs Hands-On Practice
Cloud+ objectives include deployment, security, troubleshooting, and automation across cloud environments. Reading or watching how to spin up a VM, configure a security group, or write basic IaC is fundamentally different from doing it.
The candidates who pass Cloud+ on the first try almost always have at least 15–20 hours of free-tier AWS or Azure console time, even though Cloud+ is vendor-neutral. The muscle memory transfers.
The Minimum Stack for Cloud+
| Resource | Cost | Role | |---|---|---| | Messer free Cloud+ videos | $0 | Concept coverage | | AWS or Azure free tier console time | $0 | Hands-on practice | | One Udemy Cloud+ practice pack | $15–25 | Practice volume | | Free adaptive practice questions | $0 | Daily reinforcement | | Cloud+ study guide (optional) | $30 | Written reference |
Total: $15–55. Time: 80–120 hours over 10–14 weeks. Cloud+ is denser than the other CompTIA mid-level certs.
How to Know You're Ready for Cloud+
Three checks:
1. You can deploy a basic web tier (VM + storage + security group) in AWS or Azure free tier without referring to documentation. 2. You can explain the difference between IaaS/PaaS/SaaS responsibility models in 30 seconds. 3. You can score 80%+ on a 90-question timed practice exam from a source you haven't taken before.
If any of those is false, you're not ready.
Cloud+ vs Vendor-Specific Cloud Certs
Cloud+ is vendor-neutral — it covers concepts across AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud at a conceptual level without going deep on any single platform. That's its strength (broad foundation) and weakness (no platform employer is specifically hiring for). Most candidates pursuing cloud careers find AWS Cloud Practitioner or Azure Fundamentals more directly hireable. Cloud+ earns its place when your role spans multiple clouds, when your employer specifically asks for it, or as a CompTIA pathway certification leading into CySA+/CASP+.
Why Hands-On Practice Is Non-Negotiable
Cloud+ tests practical understanding of cloud deployment, scaling, security, and troubleshooting. Watching Messer videos teaches the vocabulary but doesn't build the intuition needed for scenario questions. Sign up for AWS free tier (12 months) or Azure free tier (always-free + initial credit) and actually deploy resources: spin up a VM, attach storage, configure a security group, deploy a load balancer. Even 10–15 hours of hands-on work dramatically improves pass-rate. The free tier costs nothing if you remember to tear down resources after exercises.
Where Messer's Cloud+ Coverage Stops
Messer's Cloud+ playlist exists but is less comprehensive than his Security+ or Network+ content. Some objectives — particularly around hybrid cloud, advanced automation, and vendor-specific service catalogs — get lighter coverage. Supplement with the official CompTIA Cloud+ study guide ($35) or with AWS/Azure free-tier learning paths to fill the gaps. The official CompTIA Learn+Labs bundle ($499) also covers Cloud+ if labs matter to you.
Cloud+ Career Value Honestly Assessed
Cloud+ on a resume signals general cloud literacy without committing to a vendor. For roles in cloud-agnostic consultancies, MSPs, or organizations with multi-cloud strategy, it's genuinely useful. For roles at AWS-only, Azure-only, or GCP-only shops, vendor certs are more directly valuable. Most candidates earn the highest career ROI from a vendor cert (AWS Cloud Practitioner first, then Solutions Architect Associate). Cloud+ slots in as a complement rather than a primary differentiator.
Hands-On Cloud Practice Beyond Messer
Cloud+ tests automation, scripting, and vendor-agnostic deployment concepts that benefit massively from hands-on time. Messer's videos give you the conceptual scaffolding but no interactive practice. Fill the gap with free-tier accounts on AWS and Azure — both offer 12 months of free service for core compute, storage, and networking primitives. Pair Messer's videos with AWS's free Cloud Quest game or Azure's free Learn paths to translate concepts into clicks. The combined Messer + free-tier approach produces stronger retention than Messer alone, costs nothing, and builds genuinely transferable skills for any post-Cloud+ vendor cert path you choose next.
Cloud+ vs Vendor Cert Sequencing
If you're early-career and unsure which cloud vendor your future employer uses, Cloud+ is a reasonable hedge — vendor-agnostic, broadly transferable. If you already know your employer's cloud (or your career target requires one), skip Cloud+ and go directly to the vendor cert. AWS Cloud Practitioner ($100) or Azure Fundamentals AZ-900 ($99) cover similar ground with stronger employer recognition. Messer's Cloud+ playlist can still serve as free background reading even if you ultimately pursue a vendor cert. Sequence intelligently: don't pay for and pass Cloud+ if your next 12 months' job search will only weight vendor-specific credentials.
Pro Tips
Spin up an AWS or Azure free-tier account in week 1 — hands-on time compounds.
Don't treat Cloud+ as easier than Security+ — pass rates are typically lower.
Use Messer for concept coverage and a vendor sandbox for practical reinforcement.
Watch a couple of vendor-specific (AWS or Azure) intro videos alongside Messer's vendor-neutral content.
Take at least one full-length timed practice exam before booking.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Using Messer's Cloud+ playlist as a single resource.
Skipping all hands-on practice because Cloud+ is vendor-neutral.
Treating Cloud+ as a beginner cert — it sits above Network+ and Security+ in depth.
Booking the exam after passive video-only study.
Believing one practice exam pack is enough — variety matters more on Cloud+.
Cloud+ is the CompTIA cert where Messer's "video-only" approach hits its biggest ceiling. Hands-on cloud platform time is the single highest-impact addition for first-try passers — even if the exam itself is vendor-neutral.
Frequently Asked Questions
Possible but uncommon. Hands-on console time and a practice exam pack are the typical additions.
Yes, but coverage is less mature than his A+/Net+/Sec+ courses.
You don't need to, but free-tier hands-on time with either dramatically helps comprehension.
Generally yes — pass rates are lower and the content is denser, especially for non-cloud-experienced candidates.
About 80–120 hours over 10–14 weeks for someone with basic networking and security background.
If available, useful as a final check — but pair them with at least one other practice source.
AWS Cloud Practitioner is more directly hireable for cloud-specific roles. Cloud+ is more vendor-neutral and a CompTIA pathway cert. Choose based on target employer.
Yes — 10-15 hours on free tier dramatically improves intuition for scenario questions. Watching videos alone is insufficient for Cloud+.
Less complete than Security+ or Network+. Supplement with the official CompTIA study guide or AWS/Azure free-tier paths for full objective coverage.
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