Accessing Course Media, Resources, and Platform Updates

Welcome to the Practical DevSecOps training hub! Whether you’re navigating video lessons, searching for reference materials, or adapting to new collaboration tools, this guide consolidates everything you need to make the most of your learning experience. Below you’ll find clear instructions, troubleshooting tips, and answers to the most common questions about course media, resources, and platform changes.

Table of Contents

1. Can I Download Slides or Videos?

2. Where to Find Course References and Supporting Materials

3. Video Playback Blocked? How to Restore Access

4. Transition from Mattermost to Chat with support

5. Quick FAQ & Helpful Tips

Can I Download Slides or Videos?

Short answer: No, slides and video files are not downloadable from the platform.

The content is streamed directly within the learning portal to protect intellectual property and ensure that you always view the most up‑to‑date material. If you need to revisit a concept, you can:

• Bookmark the exercise in the portal. Open the exercise and click the bookmark button on the right side of the title. Your saved items are listed at https://portal.practical-devsecops.training/bookmarked-exercises.

• Re‑watch the video as many times as required while you have an active internet connection.

• Take your own notes in a notebook or app of your choice. The portal does not offer an “Add to My Notes” feature on slides.

Where to Find Course References and Supporting Materials

All external references, articles, whitepapers, and tool documentation used throughout a course are centrally listed in the References section of that course in the portal.

Access the references:

1. Log in to the training portal.

2. Open your course and go to Introduction to the Course.

3. Click the “References Used Throughout the Course” lesson. On most courses it follows this URL pattern:
   https://portal.practical-devsecops.training/courses/<your-course-slug>/introduction-to-the-course/references-used-throughout-the-course/

The page is organized by module, making it easy to locate a source that aligns with a specific lesson. Feel free to download the linked PDFs or visit the external sites for deeper reading.

Video Playback Blocked? How to Restore Access

If a video refuses to load, it’s usually a network or security restriction rather than a problem with the platform itself. Follow these step‑by‑step solutions:

1. Check Your Device

• Use a personal laptop or desktop instead of a corporate‑issued machine. Company firewalls often block streaming services.

• Ensure your operating system and browser are up to date.

2. Verify Your Network

• Test the connection on a different Wi‑Fi network (e.g., home, café, or mobile hotspot).

• If you’re on a corporate network, ask your IT department whether video streaming ports are restricted.

3. Bypass Provider Restrictions

• Switch to an alternate ISP if possible (e.g., use mobile data).

• Use a reputable VPN to route traffic through a region where the video stream is allowed. Choose a server close to your location for optimal performance.

4. Review the Built‑In Troubleshooting Lesson

• Inside the course, locate the “Troubleshooting Video – Unable to Load” lesson. It includes screenshots and additional tips specific to our streaming setup.

5. Contact Support

• If none of the above steps work, request a real agent through the Chat with support button in the portal. Provide:

  • Your device type and OS version

  • Browser name and version

  • A screenshot of the error message

Our support team will investigate and get you back on track quickly.

Transition from Mattermost to Chat with support

Why the Change?

We're moving to Chat with support to deliver a richer, more integrated support experience that aligns with the DevSecOps learning journey. This transition enhances accessibility and response times while maintaining the secure collaboration environment you need.

Key Advantages

Questions? Click the chat widget now and ask our AI assistant, or request to speak with a human support agent anytime.

Quick FAQ & Helpful Tips

Q1: Can I view the videos offline?
No. All videos stream from our secure CDN. Lesson transcripts are not available to download. Bookmark the exercise in the portal so you can find it again, re-watch it while you have an internet connection, or take your own notes for offline review.

Q2: I need a specific reference that isn’t listed.
Submit a request via the “Suggest a Resource” form on the References page. Our curriculum team reviews submissions each month.

Q3: My VPN slows down video playback.
Try connecting to a VPN server geographically closer to the training CDN (e.g., Europe for EU users). If performance remains poor, switch to a wired Ethernet connection.

Tips for a Smooth Learning Experience

• Bookmark exercises you want to revisit. Open the exercise, use the bookmark button to the right of the title, then open them later from https://portal.practical-devsecops.training/bookmarked-exercises.

• Enable “Picture‑in‑Picture” mode (available in Chrome/Edge) to take notes while the video continues playing.

• Leverage the community – ask questions or request a real agent in the Chatbot.

Q4: What is the mattermost link

A: Now we use "Chat widget" and no longer use Mattermost. To contact support, you can use the Chat widget in the bottom corner of every platform page and request a real agent to help you.

By following this guide, you’ll be equipped to access all course media, locate essential references, troubleshoot video issues, and adapt to our new collaboration platform with confidence. Happy learning, and welcome to the future of DevSecOps education