Practical Guide — How to Write for CloudDefense.AI and Earn (Step-by-step)

Does it solve a concrete security problem?

Good: “How to detect exposed secrets in GitHub Actions using open-source scanners and a CI policy” — this is specific and actionable. Bad: “What is cloud security?” — too broad and likely rejected.

Can you show a demo, snippet, or sanitized log?

Editors prefer reproducible steps: a small repo, a CI YAML snippet, commands to run, or before/after screenshots. If you can include a tiny demo on GitHub or CodeSandbox, your chance of acceptance rises.

Is your angle unique and timely?

Make the angle narrow: security for Node-based serverless functions, securing Terraform secrets, or runbooks for incident triage. Tie ideas to standards or reports when possible (e.g., OWASP Top 10 or SANS trends) to show relevance. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}

Pick a narrow task

Example: “Preventing leaked AWS keys in commit history using a GitHub Action + pre-commit hook.”

Create a tiny repo

Include a README, a script or workflow YAML, and a short demo README showing expected output. Host it on GitHub.

Sanitize sensitive data

Never publish real secrets, IP, or PII. Replace secrets with placeholders and label any simulated data clearly.

Document commands

Write the exact commands a reader should run (or a sample CI run). Include expected outputs and short troubleshooting notes.

Capture screenshots / logs

Take clear screenshots of the important steps. Add alt text and short captions for editors.

Publish a sample elsewhere first

Before pitching CloudDefense.AI, publish the full tutorial on your blog, DEV, or Medium. This gives editors a live writing sample. See Dev.to’s “writing your first post” guide for quick formatting tips. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}

Prepare your materials

• One-paragraph pitch (topic + why it helps readers).
• Bulleted outline (4–7 sections).
• Link to writing sample (published tutorial) and demo repo.
• Short author bio (50–100 words) and headshot optional.
• Attach article as Google Doc or Word doc when ready. CloudDefense.AI asks for Word or Google Doc submission. :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}

Use a clear subject line

Example subject lines:

• Guest Post Submission: Detecting Exposed AWS Keys in CI/CD — [Your Name]
• Guest Post Proposal: GitHub pre-commit + Action to block secrets — [Your Name]

Short pitch email template (proposal)

Use this when you have an outline and sample but haven’t written the full article.

To: gtm@clouddefense.ai
Subject: Guest Post Submission: [Short topic headline] — [Your Name]

Hi CloudDefense editorial team,

I'm [Your Name], a [role — e.g., "security engineer"] at [company or independent]. I'd like to propose a practical article for CloudDefense.AI titled:

"[Short headline — e.g., Prevent Exposed AWS Keys in CI/CD: pre-commit + GitHub Action]"

Why this helps your readers:
• Engineers and DevOps teams frequently ship secrets in commits; this article shows a reproducible pattern to detect and block leaked keys in CI using open-source tooling, with a small demo repo and sample GitHub Action.

Outline (short):
1) Problem: how leaked keys happen in real projects
2) Quick detection: scan history + pre-commit
3) Prevent: GitHub Action + PR checks (YAML + commands)
4) Recovery & rotate keys (playbook)
5) Summary & recommended config

Writing sample: [link to demo article or GitHub]
Demo repo: [link to GitHub]

If this sounds useful, I can send a full draft (800–1500 words), images, and a short author bio. Thanks for considering it.

Best,
[Your Name] — [Twitter / LinkedIn] — [short bio link]

Full submission template (when the draft is ready)

To: gtm@clouddefense.ai
Subject: Guest Post Submission: [Exact article title] — [Your Name]

Hi CloudDefense editorial team,

Please find attached my article titled:
"[Exact article title]"

Attached: Google Doc (or Word doc), images (separate)
Byline: [Your Name — 50–100 word bio + social links]
Estimated length: ~[e.g., 1,200 words]

Short description:
[One-sentence summary for editors / social]

Links included in article:
• Demo repo: [GitHub link]
• Supporting docs: [OWASP / SANS / vendor pages]

I confirm this article is original and not published elsewhere.

Thank you,
[Your Name]

Note: CloudDefense.AI asks for Word or Google Doc attachments and promises a response in ~3 business days on their page (editorial timelines may vary). :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}

What to expect after submission

Editors typically review submissions and may reply asking for edits, code verification, or clarification. CloudDefense.AI’s page indicates they will review and respond (they state a ~3-business-day response window). If you don’t hear back within that period, a single polite follow-up is fine. :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}