AWS: Journey to Cloud ☁️

Table of Contents
What is Cloud Computing? 3

Benefits of Cloud Computing 4

Types of Cloud Computing 4

What is Amazon Web Services? 5

Overview of AWS 6
Essential AWS Services 8
How does AWS Pricing Work? 9

I have no IT background. Is it possible for me to make a career shift to AWS? 12

Which AWS Certification is Right for Me? 13

Foundational 14
Associate 16
Professional 20
Specialty 22

What to Expect from the Exam? 31

Exam Preparation Guide 32

AWS Certification Costs 33
Types of Questions 34
Test Environment 34

Are AWS Certifications Enough to Land Me A Job? 35

Unique Ways to Build AWS Credentials 36

Summary 38
End Quote 39
Tutorials Dojo 40
About the Authors 41

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What is
Cloud Computing?
The first time you hear the term Cloud Computing, you probably have asked yourself these
questions: “What exactly is the Cloud in Cloud Computing?” and “Why do so many
companies use it?”

Basically, cloud computing is an on-demand computing service that you can avail over the
Internet to host and run your applications. The “cloud” in cloud computing simply refers to
the underlying network or servers that run your web applications, database, and many
others. Of course, the term “cloud” does not allude to that white, puffy, and cotton-looking
thing in the sky. The physical servers are not hovering above the troposphere either. These
servers are actually hosted on data centers around the world and possibly could be situated
in one of the buildings in the city that you live in.

In the past, before you could launch a website or an enterprise application, you needed to
procure and set up your own physical servers first to deploy your applications. You are also
responsible for managing, patching, and troubleshooting your servers and network devices.
The problem here is that it takes a lot of time, effort and money just to make your solutions
available online.

But with cloud computing, all you need to do is avail of the computing services over the
Internet and the cloud service provider will be responsible for managing the underlying
infrastructure that runs your websites. It’s like you are ‘renting’ a server and after you are
done using it, you have the option to end your subscription to stop accumulating
unnecessary costs. This empowers you, as well other businesses, to focus on building
solutions rather than spending a lot of time setting up and managing servers.

Cloud Computing provides a plethora of helpful services that small and big companies can
leverage on. Its services include domain registration, Internet of Things (IoT), data analytics,
machine learning, gaming, mobile development, Desktop-as-a-Service (DaaS), quantum
computing and many more. This is why there are so many companies and even startups
leveraging its power to launch their products faster, save on operating costs, and scale
globally with ease.

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Benefits of Cloud Computing

Agility
1 You have the ability to quickly adapt and deploy services in the most cost-
effective way in response to changes in business requirements.

Elasticity
2 In the case of varying workloads, it allows your resources to adjust quickly and
to scale back and forth as the business capacity and needs change.

Cost Savings
Instead of building and managing your own data center and physical servers,
3 you can trade your Capital Expenses for Operational Expenses and pay only
1 the amount you consume.

Deploy globally in minutes

4 With just a few clicks, you can quickly deploy your application to different
locations and enhance the experience of your users with reduced latency.

Types of Cloud Computing

Infrastructure as a Service
Platform as a Service Software as a Service
Full control of your
In this model, you can focus on The software is ready to be
infrastructure without the
the deployment and used and operated by the
maintenance and operating
management of your service provider. SaaS is also
costs of the servers. IaaS
applications. PaaS eliminates known as end-user
provides access to servers,
the need to manage the applications.
storage, networking, and
underlying infrastructure.
operating systems.

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What is
Amazon Web Services?
In 2006, Amazon launched its own IT Infrastructure Services called Amazon Web Services.
AWS is a cloud platform where you can create, build, and deploy applications. The different
AWS services can be accessed over the Internet and it provides premium support plans to
help companies run their business applications and workloads on the cloud.

Amazon Web Services also has the biggest market share in the cloud industry and has the
most extensive global cloud infrastructure in the world.

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Overview of AWS

Global Infrastructure

The Cloud Infrastructure of AWS is built around:

Regions - provide multiple, physically separated, and isolated Availability Zones which are
connected with low latency, high throughput, and highly redundant networking.
Availability Zones - consist of one or more discrete data centers, each with redundant
power, networking, and connectivity, housed in separate facilities.

Local Region - is a single datacenter designed to complement an existing AWS Region.

Local Zone - places AWS compute, storage, database, and other select services close to
large populations, industry, and IT centers where no AWS region exists today.
Edge Locations - where end users access services located at AWS.

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Well-Architected Framework: Five Pillars

Having well-architected systems greatly increases the plausibility of business success

which is why AWS created the AWS Well-Architected Framework. This framework is
composed of five pillars that help you understand the pros and cons of decisions you
make while building cloud architectures and systems on the AWS platform.

Operational Excellence
Run and monitor systems to deliver business value and to continually improve supporting
processes and procedures.
Security
Protect information, systems, and assets while delivering business value through risk
assessments and mitigation strategies.
Reliability
Recover the system from infrastructure or service disruptions, dynamically acquire
computing resources to meet demand, and mitigate disruptions such as misconfigurations
or transient network issues.
Performance Efficiency
Use computing resources efficiently to meet system requirements, and to maintain that
efficiency as demand changes and technologies evolve.
Cost Optimization
Avoid or eliminate unneeded cost or suboptimal resources.

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Essential AWS Services

Compute is the processing power required by applications and

systems to carry out computational tasks.
Services: EC2, Lightsail, Lambda, and Elastic Beanstalk

Storage in the cloud is used to store different types of data such as

objects, files, and backups.
Services: S3, EBS, EFS, and FSx

Database is a system to store and manage structured and

unstructured information.
Services: RDS, DynamoDB, ElastiCache, and Redshift

Security, Identity, & Compliance allows you to authenticate and

authorize users and services to access your applications.
Services: IAM, KMS, ACM, WAF, and Shield

Network & Content Delivery provides a global link to distribute the

application all over the world.
Services: VPC, CloudFront, and Route 53

Management & Governance is a tool to control and monitor your

infrastructure services.
Services: CloudWatch, Organizations, and Trusted Advisor

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How does AWS Pricing Work?

With AWS, you can estimate your monthly cost using the Pricing Calculator and compare
your on-premises environment to Amazon Web Services with the TCO Calculator.

This includes the following pricing model:

Pay-as-you-go Save when you reserve Pay less by using more

Pay only for the services Let’s you provision your Offers users volume
and resources you need. resources in advance for discounts on AWS
1 or 3 years of services.
commitment.

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With Reserved Instances, you can save up to 75% over equivalent on-demand capacity.
When you buy Reserved Instances, the larger the upfront payment, the greater the
discount.

All Upfront lets you pay for the entire Reserved Instance term with one upfront
payment. This option provides you with the largest discount compared to On-Demand
instance pricing.

Partial Upfront allows you to make a low upfront payment and are then charged a
discounted hourly rate for the instance for the duration of the Reserved Instance term.

No Upfront does not require any upfront payment and provides a discounted hourly
rate for the duration of the term.

For new accounts, AWS Free Tier is available for limited usage of AWS products at no
charge for 12 months since the account was created.

Support Plans

With hundreds of services and features, AWS provides a combination of various tools,
technologies, programs, and human resources to proactively help their customers. AWS
offers various support plans that customers can choose from based on their needs.
AWS has 4 different Support Plans:
1. Basic
2. Developer
3. Business
4. Enterprise
The Basic Support Plan is already available to all AWS customers by default and is free of
charge. It also offers support for account and billing questions including requests for service
limit increases.

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Comparison of AWS Support Plans

You can also choose a type of AWS Support Plan based on your production workload. If
you are only experimenting, testing, or doing a Proof of Concept (POC) in AWS, it is
recommended that you choose the Developer plan. If you have production workloads
running in AWS, it is suitable to opt for the Business plan. Lastly, if you have mission-critical
workloads, it is better to stick with an Enterprise plan because it provides the most efficient
response times to support your systems.

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I have no IT background.
Is it possible for me to
make a career shift to
AWS?
We understand that it’s quite hard to enter the market, especially the cut-throat IT industry,
if you don’t have any tech background. However, with the right strategy and steps, you can
successfully jump to a new and exciting career in cloud computing.
AWS provides a ton of free educational materials that you can use to get started with cloud
computing. There is also a free AWS Tier that you can utilize to build simple projects that
you can add to your online portfolio. Start first by setting a goal for yourself, and focus on
learning a new concept every day. This will help you break an entire AWS service (such as
EC2, S3, or DynamoDB) into small pieces. In addition, you can take the AWS Certified Cloud
Practitioner certification to validate your knowledge and acquire the basic credentials.
These small steps will build your background and reputation in the cloud computing space,
which can help you make a successful career shift.
Everyone starts as a beginner, you just need to have the proper mindset in order to be
successful on your chosen path. In the last section of this eBook, we will also discuss some
unique ways for you to build your AWS credentials, to help you make a successful career
transition to AWS or cloud computing.
It's a very rewarding decision that you're going to make and all your effort is going to be
worth it in the end.

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Which AWS Certification

is right for me?
In cloud computing and the IT industry in general, one way to prove that you know what
you’re talking about is through certifications. If you are new to cloud or AWS, you might be
wondering which AWS certification exam is suitable for you.

The first thing you need to do before you start is to write down your purpose in getting
certifications. Is it for career growth, financial growth, or personal growth? Your purpose
will be your driving factor in determining which certification exam is right for you.

We've listed the 12 different certificates that AWS is currently offering. These certificates
are classified on the basis of two factors: role and difficulty.

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Foundational

If you are coming from a non-technical background. The foundational level will be a good
start for you to learn and understand the concepts of cloud computing.

Cloud Practitioner

Purpose

This certification path is intended for those who want to gain a high-level understanding of
the AWS Cloud Platform. The people that benefit the most from this certification are those
working in technical, managerial, sales, purchasing, marketing or financial roles. This is the
easiest exam among all of the certification exams, and an individual who wants to establish
a cloud career with or without IT experience can easily make the transition as a Cloud
Practitioner.

Tip: If you are just starting out, you may opt to get this exam first before you aim for the other
certificates. However, if you already have some IT experience then it might be better to go
straight for either of the three Associate level certification exams.

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Knowledge

If you have a basic understanding of how the Cloud operates, then the Cloud Practitioner
Exam will help validate your knowledge. By now, you should be able to identify what are
the benefits of using the AWS Cloud Platform, understand the principles of architecting and
operating in the Cloud at a high level, and be aware of the services that are available in the
AWS Cloud.

AWS offers a free online course for this and there are also some well-regarded practice
tests which can help you simulate the actual exam environment. Along with the official AWS
exam guide for Cloud Practitioner, we also have a free study guide to help you prepare for
this foundation-level exam.

Domain 1: Cloud Concepts

o Define the AWS Cloud and its value proposition

o Identify aspects of AWS Cloud economics
o List the different cloud architecture design principles

Domain 2: Security and Compliance

o Define the AWS shared responsibility model

o Define AWS Cloud security and compliance concepts
o Identify AWS access management capabilities
o Identify resources for security support

Domain 3: Technology

o Define methods of deploying and operating in the AWS Cloud

o Define the AWS global infrastructure
o Identify the core AWS services
o Identify resources for technology support

Domain 4: Billing and Pricing

o Compare and contrast the various pricing models for AWS

o Recognize the various account structures in relation to AWS billing and pricing
o Identify resources available for billing support

Exam Details

The exam consists of 65 questions, with a period of 90 minutes to complete the exam and
a passing score of 700 out of 1000.

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Associate

AWS offers three role-based learning paths at the associate level. To get certified, you need
to pass the exam with a score of at least 720 within 130 minutes.

Solutions Architect Associate

Purpose
AWS Certified Solutions Architect Associate is the most popular associate level certificate
and the most common entry point for those who want to learn and start a career on AWS
cloud. This is for individuals who design systems and deploy effective solutions on the
Amazon Web Services platform. If you want to show to your customers and your employers
that you have the knowledge and the skills to architect solutions in AWS, then this should
be the next exam in your lineup. This exam will also measure your preparedness for the
Professional level of the AWS Solutions Architect path.

Tip: Even though it's no longer a prerequisite to take the Solutions Architect Associate exam
before taking the Solutions Architect Professional test, we still highly recommend that you go
for the SA-Associate exam first, and if time permits, the SysOps exam as well, before taking the
SA-Professional exam.

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Knowledge

A Solutions Architect Associate focuses more on architecting solutions using commonly

used tools such as EC2, RDS, S3, and the likes. Be sure to have a solid understanding of the
fundamentals of AWS, such as networking, security, cost optimization, designing scalable
and highly available solutions and the best practices in architecting in AWS. Being an AWS
Solutions Architect is all about knowing how to apply the best practices in the industry to
help meet your customer’s needs.

You can check out the official AWS Certified Solutions Architect Associate exam guide here.
For additional learning materials, check out our recommended free study guide. Also go
through some online courses, labs, and verify your knowledge with our up-to-date practice
exams.

Developer Associate

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Purpose
The Certified Developer Learning Path is designed for candidates who want to develop and
maintain AWS-based applications. This is an associate level certification exam, so you can
start your journey as an AWS developer through this certification path. Having experience
in software development is a plus in preparing for this exam. If you have responsibilities that
require you to engineer cloud-based applications and deployments, then this should be the
next certificate that you should aim for.
Knowledge

Naturally, you should already have some knowledge in software development. Cloud-based
development is a bit similar to how you develop applications locally. The only major
differences are the tools that you will use to build your applications, as well as the manner
on how you build them so you can utilize the advantages of the cloud. You should be able
to demonstrate an understanding of the core AWS tools, as well as how to use the APIs
and how to apply the best practices in your operations. Understand what resources are
there to help you build your applications quickly, how to make deployments and changes in
a swift and controlled manner, and how to debug them when you encounter bugs and
errors.

To know more, check out the official AWS Certified Developer Associate Exam Guide here.
We have also prepared a very handy exam study guide for you. Our study guide, along with
our AWS Cheat Sheets and practice exams are here to help you pass (and maybe even
perfect!) your next AWS Certified Developer exam.

SysOps Administrator Associate

Purpose
The Operations Learning Path is designed for candidates who want to learn how to create
automatable and repeatable deployments of applications, networks, and systems on the
AWS platform. This path is commonly pursued by those working as Systems Administrators,
IT Administrators, or DevOps Engineers. If your responsibility is to take care of your
company’s AWS environment, from operational management to handling data flow, then
this is the certification you should take next. Since this is another associate-level
certification, you can start off your SysOps career with this certificate and level up your
AWS knowledge in preparation for more difficult certification exams.

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Knowledge
The main focus of this exam is provisioning, operating, and maintaining systems running on
AWS, deployment, management, orchestration, and general operations of AWS services.
You must also be able to demonstrate a good understanding of the monitoring, network,
and security services in AWS. Having prior experience as a systems administrator will
benefit you greatly, since a good intuition in operational management is required for this
role.
Read more about the SysOps exam in the official AWS Certified SysOps Administrator
Associate exam guide here. We have also prepared a number of resources to help you
prepare ace this exam, such as a free study guide, our widely known AWS Cheat Sheets,
and our highly recommended practice exams.

Tip: Majority have found SysOps to be the hardest among all the Associate level exams.
Therefore, if you are planning to acquire all three Associate certifications before jumping to the
Professional-level exams, it might be a good idea to take either the Solutions Architect
Associate or Developer Associate exams first before taking the SysOps exam.

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Professional

The good thing about AWS certifications is there are no prerequisites in taking the exam. If
you already have experience and want to start at the professional level, you have to finish
the test in 180 minutes, with a score above 750.

Solutions Architect Professional

Purpose

When it comes to enterprises and large corporations, employers prefer hiring people who
hold a professional-level certificate. This is more commonly suited for senior level or
managerial positions in the company, which requires a lot of experience in architecting large
scale solutions. Some customers may also require you to have this certification before they
can confidently give you a high stakes project. Having a professional certificate in your
portfolio demonstrates your capability in fulfilling the responsibilities of an AWS Solutions
Architect. Furthermore, the certification opens up a lot of opportunities for you - career-
wise, and your company - market-wise.

Knowledge

This is a professional level exam, so expect it to be difficult. A high degree of technical

knowledge and experience in designing AWS-based applications is required for this
certification exam. There is an ongoing debate whether the Solutions Architect Professional
or the DevOps Professional exam is the hardest exam of them all. So if you have taken the
DevOps Pro exam but not this one yet, this might be the time to stop wondering because
the answer is: it really depends on your previous work experience and background.

This exam validates the candidate’s ability to design and deploy enterprise-wide scalable
operations on AWS and implement cost-control strategies. We highly recommend you to
take the associate exam first as the professional level exam is super tough. The official AWS
exam guide can be found here. We have also prepared a free study guide that will help you
prepare for the exam. There are a bunch of resources available online for study materials.
Afterwards, you should take our recommended practice exams to validate your knowledge.

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DevOps Engineer Professional

Purpose

One of the most in demand and searched job titles nowadays is the DevOps Engineer
position. Forming as a link between development and operations in tech, a DevOps
engineer’s duty is to facilitate these two groups to make everything work as smoothly and
as efficiently as possible. Key terms that are commonly associated with DevOps include
cloud and automation.

A DevOps engineer requires an extensive amount of knowledge and experience in almost

all areas to be able to work effectively. Therefore, they rely on the tools and services offered
by the cloud to simplify their work. By taking the AWS Certified DevOps Engineer
certification exam, you are showing to your peers and employers that you are equipped
with the skills to maximize the AWS platform and bring value to your company and your
customers. This value can be quantified through smoother operations, faster deployments
processes, or larger cost-savings.

Knowledge

This is the professional level certification for both the AWS Certified Developer and AWS
Certified SysOps Administrator associate certification, so we recommend taking at least one
of these first as the DevOps Pro exam is also super tough. This exam validates your
knowledge in provisioning, managing, operating and security of AWS solutions and covers
advanced development topics such as architecting for a cloud-native environment, and
deconstructing on-premises, legacy applications and repackaging them into cloud-based,
cloud-native architectures.

Knowing and understanding the different AWS services is not enough. You should also be
able to solve problems that would make the most sense to your customer’s needs. This is
why AWS recommends that you should first have experience solving problems in AWS
before tackling this exam. You should also be able to take advantage of automation and
reusable code to reduce errors and increase work efficiency and agility. Services such as
CloudFormation, OpsWorks, Systems Manager and CI/CD tools are some of the services
you should be very familiar with.

Check out the official AWS Certified DevOps Engineer Professional exam guide here as
well as our free exam study guide. We also have our community-recommended AWS Cheat
Sheets and practice exams that will help you prepare for this very difficult test.

Tip: Just like in the Architecture path, taking one or more Associate exams first (preferably
Developer Associate and SysOps) is recommended before going for the much tougher DevOps
Pro exam.

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Specialty

If you wanted to have an advanced skill in a specific technical area using the AWS platform.
AWS offers 6 specialty certifications with a passing score of 750 out of 1000 within 170
minutes.

Advanced Networking Machine Learning Database

Data Analytics Security Alexa Skill Builder

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Advanced Networking

Purpose

The advanced networking specialty certification is built for individuals whose jobs are to set
up and maintain network solutions in their organizations. Managing a corporate network is
a very tough but rewarding job. You carry the responsibility of making sure your
infrastructure network is working 24/7 and all its components are running efficiently. If
even one router suddenly malfunctions or gets misconfigured, it could mean disaster to
your operations, which could translate to huge financial losses.

Network engineers benefit the most from this certification, especially if they handle
networking in the AWS Cloud. If this is your career path and you have a passion for
performing complex network tasks, you should aim to have this certification under your
belt. For some companies, certifications are a must if you are applying as a network
engineer. You need to have an industry-recognized level of knowledge and skills before
they onboard you for this role.

Knowledge

You should have mastery over networking fundamentals and have a strong understanding
of AWS network concepts and their underlying components. These include different
network architectures and models, common network technologies, monitoring and security
solutions, and application of best practices in AWS. It is also recommended that you first
get experience in designing and implementing network solutions in both AWS and a hybrid
setup. Get exposed to different use cases and approaches, either by reading about them or
trying them out yourself.

Do you know the OSI model by heart? Have you configured an IP VPN solution before?
Can you list down the components involved in setting up a highly available and secure
connection between AWS and your corporate network? Do you understand how routing

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works (e.g. local route tables, BGP routing, failover routing)? How do you monitor faults in
the network? How do you handle security intrusions and attacks like packet sniffing, DDoS,
phishing attempts, etc? These are just some of the questions that you should be able to
confidently answer before you take this certification exam.

Since this certificate validates your expertise on Advanced Networking, expect the exam to
be very challenging. To know more about the AWS Advanced Networking Specialty exam,
visit the official AWS exam guide here. Use this together with our free study guide on the
Tutorials Dojo website, our widely known AWS Cheat Sheets, and our highly-acclaimed
practice exams.

Machine Learning

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Purpose

Machine learning is a part of almost every business nowadays. Utilizing computers to

perform complex tasks with agility and precision has allowed industries to increase their
overall productivity and revenue. Furthermore, machine learning and cloud technology are
two inseparable partners, since the cloud offers you the compute and storage capacity you
need to run your solutions cost-effectively. If you are working in this field such as a role in
data science or if you have a passion for machine learning, deep learning, and AI
development, be sure to add this certification to your portfolio. This certificate will indicate
that your capabilities meet the qualifications for building and deploying quality ML/AI
solutions for businesses using AWS.

Knowledge

The exam will validate your knowledge of utilizing different ML approaches to resolve
specific problems. Therefore, you should already possess a strong grasp of basic ML
algorithms and frameworks such as TensorFlow and PyTorch. You should also be familiar
with the services in AWS that will allow you to implement these algorithms and frameworks.
A good example would be Amazon SageMaker, which would enable you to build, train, and
deploy machine learning (ML) models. Lastly, since this is a specialty exam, you should
already have a fair amount of experience in machine learning and AI prior to taking this
certification exam. This is because the exam will also quiz you on the best practices for
different ML deployments and operations, and it would be an advantage if you have some
experience with these situations.

To know more about the AWS Machine Learning Specialty exam, visit the official AWS exam
guide here. Use this together with our free study guide (coming soon!) on the Tutorials Dojo
website, and our AWS Cheat Sheets to prepare for this certification exam.

Database

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Purpose

If you are a database administrator, a database architect, or a developer with a large focus
on database programming then you should consider taking the AWS Certified Database
Specialty for your next certification exam. If you are a professional with tons of experience
in databases and are looking to transition to a database-related role in the AWS cloud, this
specialty exam should also serve as a good starting point for your journey. This certificate
is primarily designed for people who want to validate their skills in AWS database
technologies and display their expertise in the area to potential future employers and
customers.

The AWS Database Specialty will also demonstrate how to maximize the different AWS
database services and how to manage them in a secure and efficient manner. This will prove
useful if you are working in an industry that is heavy on databases and data warehousing.
By having trained personnel along with the innovations of AWS, these two factors will allow
you to improve your own operations and in turn, allow you to innovate faster.

Knowledge

AWS offers a range of types of databases in their catalog, from commonly used industry
ones such as Amazon RDS for relational databases, Amazon DynamoDB for non-relational
databases, Amazon Redshift for data warehousing, to more complex, specific offerings such
as Amazon Neptune for graph databases, Amazon Elasticache for in-memory caching,
Amazon DocumentDB for document databases and Amazon QLDB for ledger-type
databases. You should have a strong background in database management using Amazon
RDS, Amazon DynamoDB, and Amazon Redshift. You should also be familiar with different
design principles that emphasize security, high availability, fault tolerance, and/or scalability.
Lastly, you should also have comprehensive knowledge of database migration, monitoring,
and troubleshooting common database issues.

To know more about the AWS Database Specialty exam, visit the official AWS exam guide
here. Use this together with our free study guide (coming soon!) on the Tutorials Dojo
website and our AWS Cheat Sheets to prepare for this certification exam.

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Data Analytics

Purpose
There is no doubt that everything we do now and every decision we make is driven by data.
The market demand for data scientists is increasing rapidly since they help drive strategic
decision-making to boost profits. The AWS Data Analytics Specialty certification is aimed at
these types of people who work with data each day. They manage data lakes and use
different technologies to transform data into something more meaningful for stakeholders,
such as predictions on market trends. If you use AWS data analytics services or similar tools
in your work, then you should also aim for this certificate. It will demonstrate and validate
your expertise in using these services.

Knowledge
Since this is a specialty certification, having prior experience in data analysis and data
lifecycle management is recommended before taking on the exam. You should already
possess the knowledge and techniques needed to produce outputs and gather insight from
different data sources. You should also have hands-on experience with AWS Analytics
Services such as Amazon Kinesis and Amazon Redshift. Understand which services integrate
with one another to allow you to construct an end-to-end analytics solution ― from
ingestion to storage, retrieval, and visualization.

The exam will include tricky scenarios where you’ll need to implement different solutions
using a combination of AWS services. Additionally, some scenarios will ask for specific
requirements such as choosing the most cost-effective and secure solution or optimizing an
existing system using automation, so you need to be able to determine which among your
options is the most appropriate answer. To know more about the AWS Data Analytics
Specialty exam, visit the official AWS exam guide here. Use this together with our free study
guide (coming soon!) on the Tutorials Dojo website, and our AWS Cheat Sheets to prepare
for this certification exam.

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Security

Purpose

Managing security is one of the most challenging yet fulfilling responsibilities that an
individual can undertake. It is (and always should be!) every organization’s priority. For each
step in the workflow, there is bound to be a vulnerability which is why nowadays, there are
a variety of roles in the market that target individuals with specific skill sets in the security
domain. We have titles like: InfoSec Engineer, InfraSec Engineer, IT Security Consultant,
Risk and Compliance Analyst, DevSecOps Engineer, etc. If your main role focuses on
security and your company engages in Cloud technologies, then this specialty certification
is a must-have on your portfolio. If you deal with security in some form but is not your main
role, then this certification is still worth taking to reinforce your skills… and maybe land that
promotion too.

With the number of security attacks increasing each day and the industry losing millions of
dollars because of it, companies are now allocating resources to hire capable security
engineers to protect their products and services. Having a certificate to prove that you have
that capability will give you an edge. AWS also acknowledges the importance and severity
of the matter, especially on its platform. Since multiple customers rely on AWS and each of
them interacts with different services each day, they will need certified knowledgeable
people who know how to implement proper security in the cloud.

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Knowledge

As a security engineer, you should be aware of your options and knowing when to use each
of them. Each organization has its own set of requirements that needs to be fulfilled, and it
is your responsibility to meet these requirements. Beyond knowing what native security
tools are available in AWS, you should also be aware of common security tools OUTSIDE
of AWS. What I mean by this is, for example, in S3 you can encrypt your objects using KMS
or S3 Encryption. But what you can also do is encrypt your objects using a third-party tool
before placing them in your S3 bucket.

Knowing how to implement the best practices in security can only be achieved through
experience, so it is recommended that you have some industry experience first before taking
this specialty exam. You don’t need to learn how to secure every service in AWS, but it is
important to have a concrete understanding of fundamental security practices for core AWS
services (i.e. EBS volume encryption, least privilege access controls in IAM, network
protection using security groups, monitoring and incident response using CloudTrail). These
are just some of the general tasks that apply to almost any AWS environment.

To know more about the AWS Security Specialty exam, visit the official AWS exam guide
here. Use this together with our free study guide in the Tutorials Dojo website, our AWS
Cheat Sheets, and our Security Specialty practice exams.

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Alexa Skill Builder

Purpose

The AWS Certified Alexa Skill Builder Specialty is a very unique kind of certification. As the
name suggests, it is centered around Amazon’s AI-powered virtual assistant application
known as Amazon Alexa. If you are pursuing this certification, then it means that you’re
working as an Amazon Alexa Skill Builder or are planning to work as one. An Amazon Alexa
Skill Builder is an individual who develops new skills for Alexa’s AI capabilities. Generally,
these capabilities include, but are not limited to, building smart devices and smart
technologies. If you think working with Alexa to produce smart solutions is for you, then
have a go at this certification exam.

Knowledge

AWS recommends having at least 6 months of hands-on experience building Alexa skills
using the Alexa Skills Kit, and incorporating services from the AWS Cloud in your solutions.
Additionally, you should also be comfortable with handling JSON data. It would be best to
broaden your knowledge in building Alexa Skills by taking on more projects and extending
them to AWS. Try to build Alexa skills that rely on processing speech, video, image, audio,
and text. Also take note of the errors that you encounter along the way, and how to properly
troubleshoot them. Lastly, you should be familiar with the best practices in using the Alexa
Skills Kit. The exam will include scenarios that will require you to meet specific conditions
such as security and compliance, appropriate storage selection, and proper use of physical
interfaces and devices.
To know more about the AWS Alexa Skill Builder Specialty exam, visit the official AWS exam
guide here. Use this together with our free study guide (coming soon!) on the Tutorials Dojo
website to help you prepare for this certification exam.

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What to
Expect from the Exam?
If you’re now preparing to take your first AWS Certification Exam, there are several things
you need to consider before appearing on the actual exam.

Explore AWS Products:

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Exam Preparation Guide

AWS Exam Readiness Videos are designed for people who are visual
learners. The course has self-paced labs to help you learn the concepts
of different AWS services.

AWS Whitepapers & Documentation are alternatives if you prefer to

read documents rather than watching training videos. AWS regularly
updates the outdated information in its technical content.

AWS FAQS helps you grasp every service briefly. The responses you will
find here are commonly asked questions, use cases, and comparison of
various AWS services.

AWS Cheat Sheets on the Tutorials Dojo site can help you better
understand the lengthy concepts that are found in the AWS FAQs.

Official AWS Certification Prep Page contains the official exam guides,
sample questions, and other exam preparation resources.

Tutorials Dojo Practice Exams on the Tutorials Dojo Portal. This is the
bestselling and highest-rated out of all the practice test courses in the
market, which provide a comprehensive reviewer with complete and
detailed explanations to help you pass your AWS exams on your first try.

For a list of other free AWS review materials, check this article: Top 5 Free AWS Review
Materials.

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AWS Certification Costs

These are the available AWS Certification exams:

CLF SAA DVA

AWS Certified AWS Certified AWS Certified
Cloud Practitioner Solutions Architect - A Developer - A
Certification: $100 Certification: $150 Certification: $150
Official AWS Practice Exam: $20 Official AWS Practice Exam: $20 Official AWS Practice Exam: $20

SOA SAP DOP

AWS Certified AWS Certified AWS Certified
SysOps Administrator - A Solutions Architect - P DevOps Engineer - P
Certification: $150 Certification: $300 Certification: $300
Official AWS Practice Exam: $20 Official AWS Practice Exam: $40 Official AWS Practice Exam: $40

The six AWS Specialty Certifications: Advanced Networking, Machine Learning,

Database, Data Analytics, Security, and Alexa Skill Builder cost 300 USD.

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Types of Questions

AWS certification exams will include questions that will test your knowledge on the best
practices through different scenarios.

There are two types of questions on the examination:

Multiple Choice: Select the best response from four given options.

Multiple Response: Select two or three responses from five or more options.

Lastly, read the questions carefully and be on the lookout for "key terms" that will help you
figure out the answer. Time management is very important when taking AWS certification
exams, so be sure to monitor the time you consume for each question.

Test Environments

AWS offers two options in taking their certification exams:

Online Proctoring
Everyone can now take all AWS Certification exams at the comfort of their home or
office with Pearson Vue via online proctoring. Before you book your AWS exam online
with Pearson Vue, you must do a system check of your computer or laptop first. Refer to
this article for more tips and information.
Testing Center
If you don’t have a stable Internet connection at home, you can schedule your exam in
your AWS Certification Account and choose the date, time, and test center location.
Remember to double-check the information you’ve entered before booking your exam.

After the test is completed, the system will automatically display the results on your screen.
If you need to view your detailed exam results, you’ll need to wait three to five business
days for it to be available in your AWS Certification Account.

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Are AWS Certifications

Enough to Land Me A
Job?
AWS Certifications are a great way to validate your knowledge. It shows that the applicant
has invested time and money into improving their skillset. But if you want to pursue a career
in cloud computing, you need to have relevant skills and experience to demonstrate your
expertise to employers.
Acquiring a certificate gives you leverage for job opportunities and that will be your first
step towards advancing your career. Through commitment and progressive effort, you will
be able to achieve your dream AWS job.
In the next section, we will discuss some ways to help you build AWS credentials if you
don’t have any formal AWS work experience yet.

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Unique Ways to
Build AWS Credentials
Here are some ways to increase your qualifications and build your AWS credentials:

Build Projects Using the AWS Platform

One way to improve your current skill set is to challenge yourself in creating various AWS-
related projects. It can be in the form of Blogs, Web and Mobile Applications, Serverless
Architecture, and a lot more. If you could show your portfolio to your employers, you're
going to have a higher chance of getting the job.

Share your Knowledge About AWS with the Community

By answering user questions in the AWS community, you can build your reputation as a
subject matter expert. These opportunities will help you build a strong foundation and
show your future employers that you are a highly qualified professional.

Join and participate in AWS Webinars, Events, and Hackathons

If you’re new to cloud computing and want to start your career in AWS, you should attend
online workshops and webinars provided by AWS. This event will build your cloud skills
and help you grow your network in the cloud. You can also take part in the AWS
Hackathon and work with a group of programmers to solve problems using AWS
technology and solutions. This is another avenue for you to be known globally as a high
caliber IT professional.

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Develop Good Communication Skills

To become an effective cloud architect, you need to know how to interact with customers
with little or no technical expertise, while at the same time aligning your ideas with business
strategies. Being able to effectively communicate across all levels in the organization is a
must especially if you are in a role that designs solutions which constantly interact with your
organization’s internal and external stakeholders.

Raise Pull-Request to the Official AWS Documentation

You might stumble upon some incorrect information in the AWS Documentation. For
instance, you might be following a step-by-step procedure on how to migrate an Amazon
RDS database to another AWS Region. If you see that there's something off, feel free to
raise a pull-request by clicking the "Edit this page on Github" link on the page footer.
This is an opportunity for you to become an active participant in the AWS community. You
can also include the AWS pull-requests you've raised in your Linkedin or CV for added
credentials.

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Summary
In today’s ever-changing business climate, most in-demand jobs right now require
knowledge in Cloud Computing. Amazon Web Services (AWS) is one of the many cloud
service providers that offer this platform to help businesses scale globally and save on
operating costs. With just a click of a button, you can set up your own compute and storage
resources for your applications. It eliminates the need for businesses to allocate upfront
capital in setting up their physical infrastructure, saving them valuable time and money.
AWS Certifications are consistently among the top-paying IT certifications in the world,
considering that Amazon Web Services is the leading cloud services platform with almost
50% market share. You can earn over $150,000 per year with an AWS Certification.
If you’re now ready to take this challenge, check the AWS resources in the Tutorials Dojo
site and always remember that haste makes waste. Don’t rush and take your time when
reviewing, so you can pass your AWS exam on your first try!

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The Best Time to START

is Always NOW

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Tutorials Dojo

Who Are We?

Trusted by over 140,000 IT Professionals around the world, Tutorials Dojo is a fast-growing
EdTech startup that provides educational materials on various tech topics, particularly in
the cloud computing space. We provide high-quality courses and practice tests for AWS,
and soon, we will expand our offering to Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud Platform (GCP).

Founded in Manila, Philippines

Tutorials Dojo is your one-stop learning portal for technology-related topics, empowering you
to upgrade your skills and your career.

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About the Authors

Jon Bonso is the Co-Founder of the leading EdTech startup, Tutorials Dojo, that provides
high-quality educational materials in the cloud computing space. He has over a decade of
diversified experience in Banking, Financial Services, and Telecommunications industries.
He holds several certifications including AWS Certified Solutions Architect Professional,
AWS Certified DevOps Engineer Professional, AWS Certified Advanced Networking
Specialty, and many more.

Gerome Pagatpatan is certified in AWS, Azure, and Oracle. After graduating from college
with a degree in Electronics Engineering, he decided to pursue the field of Information
Technology through self-study. He is passionate about education, and now it's his turn to
share his knowledge, experiences, and passion in Cloud Computing.

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