The Best ELK Training Courses

What is ELK?

ELK is an acronym for the popular open-source software stack used for log management and data analysis. It consists of three main components:

Elasticsearch: A distributed search and analytics engine that stores, indexes, and searches large volumes of data in real time. Logstash: A data processing pipeline that ingests, processes, and enriches data from multiple sources before sending it to Elasticsearch for indexing. Kibana: A data visualization and exploration tool that allows users to interactively explore, visualize, and analyze data stored in Elasticsearch.

Together, Elasticsearch, Logstash, and Kibana form a powerful stack that operates as a collective to assist organizations in various industries.

Why Should You Opt For ELK Training?

Choosing to invest in ELK training can be beneficial for both the individual participating in the training and the organization as a whole. Firstly, regarding the individual, ELK certification or training completion demonstrates proficiency in utilizing ELK stack tools, making individuals more attractive to potential employers. It opens up career opportunities in fields such as data engineering, DevOps, cybersecurity, IT operations, and business intelligence. As well as this, ELK training keeps users up to date with the most recent developments, features, and updates in the ELK stack ecosystem. It guarantees that individuals are equipped to utilize new capabilities and enhancements to derive maximum value from ELK stack implementations.

Concerning the benefits to an organization having ELK-trained professionals, by investing in ELK training for employees, organizations can lessen their reliance on external consultants or support services for log management and analytics tasks. This results in cost savings over the long term and greater control over the organization's data analytics infrastructure. Additionally, ELK training allows organizations to employ robust log management and security monitoring practices using ELK stack tools. This aids in locating and reacting to security threats, guaranteeing compliance with regulatory requirements, and safeguarding sensitive data.

Types of ELK Training Courses

ELK training courses are typically split into two different types, self-paced and instructor-led. With self-paced training, you work through the materials (videos, articles, etc.) in your own time. Instructor-led training involves participating in (often online) live and time-specific classes where an instructor will take you through and teach you the content of the course.

Self-Paced Training: Pros

1. Expert Guidance: Instructors offer expertise, guidance, and support throughout the training, offering insights, answering questions, and clarifying concepts in real time.
2. Interactive Learning: Instructor-led courses regularly include interactive elements such as live demonstrations, group discussions, and hands-on exercises, optimizing engagement and understanding.
3. Immediate Feedback: Learners receive immediate feedback on their progress, performance, and understanding of course material, allowing for timely adjustments and corrections.

Self-Paced Training: Cons

1. Lack of Structure: Without a set schedule or deadlines, learners may procrastinate or struggle to stay motivated, leading to incomplete courses.
2. Limited Interaction: Self-paced courses may lack opportunities for direct interaction with instructors or peers, reducing opportunities for asking questions or collaborating on projects.
3. Self-Discipline Required: Learners must be self-motivated and disciplined to stay on track and complete the course without the accountability of regular class sessions.

Instructor-Led Training: Pros

1. Expert Guidance: Instructors offer expertise, guidance, and support throughout the training, offering insights, answering questions, and clarifying concepts in real time.
2. Interactive Learning: Instructor-led courses regularly include interactive elements such as live demonstrations, group discussions, and hands-on exercises, improving engagement and understanding.
3. Immediate Feedback: Learners receive immediate feedback on their progress, performance, and understanding of course material, allowing for timely adjustments and corrections.

Instructor-Led Training: Cons

1. Fixed Schedule: Instructor-led courses have set schedules and timelines, which may not accommodate learners with busy schedules or conflicting commitments.
2. Limited Flexibility: Learners must adhere to the predetermined schedule and pace of the course, with limited flexibility to customize the learning experience.
3. Higher Cost: Instructor-led training is typically more expensive than self-paced options due to the costs associated with hiring instructors and conducting live sessions.

Certification Programs

Alongside ELK instructor-led and self-paced training courses, there are certification programs. These programs help you to stand out in your industry and highlight your expertise.

Elastic

Elastic provides three certification programs for the ELK stack, Elastic certified engineer, Elastic certified analyst, and Elastic certified observability engineer. These certifications are widely recognized and can significantly help your career prospects as a result of this. To attain certification you will need to pass the exam which is extensive, taking up to 3 hours to complete. It’s worth noting that these are some of the most expensive certifications, costing up to $500.

Edureka

Edureka's ELK Stack course with certification empowers you to master the ELK Stack, enabling you to manage and operate your own search cluster utilizing Elasticsearch, Logstash, and Kibana. Through this certification program, you will develop the skills to utilize Logstash for data ingestion into Elasticsearch, perform diverse search operations, and conduct data visualization using Kibana. The course costs £159 but is currently on sale at £143.

The Knowledge Academy

The Knowledge Academy ELK Stack course with certification is tailored for individuals seeking to elevate their expertise in utilizing the ELK Stack, comprising Elasticsearch, Logstash, and Kibana. This certification program has numerous learning options including onsite, online self-paced, and online instructor-led, enabling you to choose the best method for you to succeed. It’s important to know that there are significant differences in prices depending on the learning style you choose. For example, self-paced learning is £1995 and onsite training is £2995.

Pluralsight - Elastic Stack: Getting Started

This course is described as an introductory course on the Elastic stack and the basics of how to use it for security operations, the difficulty level is beginner making it a great option for individuals who have little to no experience with ELK. As the course is more of an overview that aims to provide participants with a solid foundation regarding ELK, it takes under two hours to complete. The course has acceptable reviews, rated at 3.5 stars from 103 views. Lastly, to enroll on a course with Pluralsight you will need to subscribe, subscriptions start from £24p/m but there is a 10-day trial for new users.

Udemy - Complete Elasticsearch Masterclass with Logstash and Kibana

If you’re looking for a more extensive and thorough ELK training course then the Udemy Complete Elasticsearch Masterclass with Logstash and Kibana may be the best option for you. This course covers a broad variety of aspects of the ELK including showing you how to build an Elasticsearch 6 cluster from scratch, perform various searches using the query DSL, and execute powerful real-time analytics using the Aggregations DSL. The course was last updated in November 2023 and will take almost 7 hours to complete. It has received almost 8,000 reviews and averages a rating of 4.5 out of 5. You can choose to buy this course for £50 or opt for a monthly subscription at £14.99.

LinkedIn Learning - Learning the Elastic Stack

Continuing with our list of the leading ELK training courses next is Learning the Elastic Stack from LinkedIn Learning. This is a similar course to the Pluralsight course in that it is a beginner-level course aimed at individuals who have relatively little experience working with the ELK stack and it can be completed in under 2 hours. This LinkedIn Learning ELK course has received great reviews, from almost 500 reviews it averages 4.6 out of 5 stars and it can be purchased for £23. Lastly, it’s important to note that this course is from 2020 but it has been included due to its excellent reviews.

MindMajix - ELK Stack Training

MindMajix offers a comprehensive ELK Stack Training course that has had over 5000 learners and will provide you with the knowledge of how to configure and manage Elasticsearch clusters, as well as develop solutions to search and analyze data using ELK Stack. With this MindMajix course, you can choose between working through 15 hours of self-paced videos or 15 hours of live online remote classes. The course has received over 4500 reviews and averages a rating of 4.5, as well as this the course comes with 24/7 support. To find pricing you will have to sign up and choose a training option.

Pluralsight - Centralized Logging with the Elastic Stack: Getting Started

The final ELK training course in our guide is Centralized Logging with the Elastic Stack from Pluralsight. With this course, you'll learn how to leverage tools like Elasticsearch, Kibana, and the Beats tools to conduct centralized logging. As this course is more specific rather than offering a general overview, its skill level is outlined as intermediate and will take just over 2 hours to complete. It has received over 150 reviews and has a rating of 4.5 out of 5. As mentioned previously, if you want to enroll in this course you will need to subscribe to Pluralsight for £24 per month.

The Best ELK Books

If you’re looking to enhance your understanding of the ELK stack but aren't convinced that training is the best option for you or you are simply wishing to supplement your learning then these books may be a great solution for you.

If you've enjoyed this article why not read How To Harness The Full Potential of ELK Clusters or The Best ELK Dashboard Examples next?