Home Lab Access & Prerequisites Managing Course and Lab Access: Timelines, Pausing, Resuming, and Resetting

Managing Course and Lab Access: Timelines, Pausing, Resuming, and Resetting

Last updated on Jan 29, 2026

Managing Course and Lab Access: Timelines, Pausing, Resuming, and Resetting

Understanding how and when you can access your Practical DevSecOps training material is essential for staying on track and getting the most out of your investment. This guide walks you through everything you need to know about course start deadlines, lab countdowns, pausing and resuming labs, and resetting lab environments. Whether you’re a new learner or returning after a break, the step‑by‑step instructions below will help you manage your learning experience with confidence.

Table of Contents

  1. When Does the Lab Countdown Begin?

  2. Course Start Deadline – What’s the Time Limit?

  3. Pausing a Lab: How and When

  4. Resuming a Paused Lab

  5. Resetting Your Lab Environment

  6. Practical Scenarios & Tips

  7. Frequently Asked Questions

When Does the Lab Countdown Begin?

  • Immediate Activation – As soon as you purchase a course extension, our platform automatically re‑activates the associated labs.

  • Countdown Starts at Reactivation – The moment the system restores access, the lab timer begins to run. There is no additional waiting period.

Example:
You buy a 90‑day lab extension on March 5th at 10:00 AM. The system re‑activates the labs instantly, and the 90‑day countdown starts at 10:00 AM on March 5th.

Course Start Deadline – What’s the Time Limit?

  • One‑Year Rule – You must start the course within 12 months of the date you first received access.

  • Why It Matters – This policy ensures that course content remains current and that you benefit from the latest DevSecOps best practices.

Scenario:
If you were granted access on January 1, 2025, you have until January 1, 2026 to launch the first module. Starting after that date will require a new enrollment.

Pausing a Lab: How and When

Sometimes life gets in the way, and you need a short break from hands‑on work. Our platform allows a single pause per lab purchase.

Steps to Pause

  1. Log in to the Members Portal: https://members.practical-devsecops.training/pause-course

  2. Click the Pause button next to the lab you wish to suspend.

  3. Confirm the action in the pop‑up dialog.

Important Limits

  • One‑time pause only – After you resume, the pause option disappears permanently for that lab.

  • Pause duration – The clock stops while the lab is paused, preserving your remaining time.

Resuming a Paused Lab

When you’re ready to get back to work, resuming is straightforward.

Resumption Process

  1. Return to the same Members Portal link used for pausing.

  2. The Resume button will now be visible. Click it.

  3. Confirm the resume action; the lab timer will restart from where it left off.

Tip: Take a screenshot of the “Resume” button location before you pause, so you can find it quickly later.

Resetting Your Lab Environment

Resetting gives you a clean slate—useful when you want to start an exercise over or troubleshoot a broken environment. Warning: Resetting erases all data in the lab, so back up any important files first.

Reset Procedure

  1. Navigate to the lab’s exercise page.

  2. Click the Reset my environment button.

  3. A confirmation pop‑up appears. Read the warning, then click Yes, Reset my environment.

  4. The system provisions a fresh instance; this usually takes a few minutes.

Best Practices

  • Backup before resetting – Download scripts, logs, or configuration files you may need later.

  • Document your steps – Keeping a short notebook of commands run before a reset helps you reproduce the setup quickly.

Practical Scenarios & Tips

Situation Recommended Action
You bought a 30‑day lab extension but can’t start right away Pause the lab immediately; you’ll retain the full 30 days once you resume.
Your lab environment crashes and you’re stuck Use the Reset feature after backing up any work you need to keep.
You’re nearing the one‑year start deadline Prioritize launching the first module; consider contacting support for a possible extension if extenuating circumstances exist.
You need to review a previous exercise Resetting gives you a fresh environment, but you can also clone the repository of the exercise (if provided) to keep a local copy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Does the lab timer start when I purchase the extension or when I first open the lab?
A: The timer starts immediately after the system re‑activates the lab, which occurs right after purchase.

Q2: Can I pause a lab more than once?
A: No. Each lab can be paused only one time. After you resume, the pause option disappears.

Q3: What happens to my remaining lab time if I reset the environment?
A: Resetting does not affect the remaining time on your lab subscription; only the data inside the environment is cleared.

Q4: I missed the one‑year start deadline. Can I still access the course?
A: Typically, access is locked after 12 months. Contact support with your enrollment details; they may offer a re‑enrollment option.

Q5: Is there a way to extend the lab duration beyond the purchased period?
A: Yes. You can buy additional extensions at any time through the https://portal.practical-devsecops.training/pricing. The new period adds to your existing remaining time.

Final Thoughts

Managing your course and lab access efficiently ensures you stay on schedule, avoid unnecessary data loss, and make the most of your DevSecOps training. Keep this guide handy, follow the step‑by‑step instructions when pausing, resuming, or resetting labs, and always back up critical work before making changes. Happy learning!