Setting up my own home lab started as a weekend curiosity. I wanted more control over my network, a better grasp on backend systems, and maybe an excuse to tinker with something beyond Netflix and backups.

What I didn’t expect? It would teach me more about enterprise IT than most online courses ever did.

If you’re serious about leveling up your tech skills — especially in system administration, cybersecurity, or DevOps — there’s no better playground than your own home lab.

Self-hosting services teaches you:

How things actually break (and how to fix them).

Real-world troubleshooting in a risk-free environment.

The ins and outs of system performance, networking, and security.

Most people use Linux for their lab servers because it’s free, powerful, and endlessly customizable. But if you’re aiming for enterprise IT roles, there’s one big elephant in the room you can’t ignore: