What is AWS Certification Syllabus?

Cloud computing has become a lucrative space for IT graduates and tech-savvy students to develop a career in. With data at the forefront of the modern-world, Cloud tech plays an important role in the development of businesses. AWS is among the biggest platforms offering a selection of 11 top-notch cloud certifications to professionals, setting a new yardstick of quality and efficiency in the industry. Getting certified by AWS is a sure-shot way for professionals to make them stand out among peers.

Need for AWS Certificates

Having an  AWS certification adds a degree of authenticity to your cloud computing skills, widening your web visibility, and generating better earning opportunities. Most companies are looking for reliable and professional cloud support to speed up their projects. AWS certification increases your credibility in the IT sector, it also enhances your chances of getting hired by the top companies and corporate houses around the world. To learn more about Cloud Computing, check out online Cloud Computing courses.

Choosing the Right AWS Certificate

Most enterprises have switched over to cloud-based platforms, tweaking their marketing strategies to suit the needs of their customers. Cloud storage, sharing, and services have been in vogue for a few years now, gaining more popularity and business with each passing year. AWS has over a million customers at present, changing the prejudice that people have against multi-cloud strategies. The top cloud provider in 2018 is AWS, according to the 2018 RightScale State of the Cloud Report. The future of cloud-based platforms and services looks very promising with the likes of AWS gaining increasing popularity among clients. Also, with investments pouring in and a gradual yet consistent expansion to international markets, AWS is slowly but surely growing and will soon become a leading cloud-based service provider in the industry.

Candidate Certificate

AWS certifications help validate the applicant’s technical skills and overall practical knowledge. It is, therefore, a very sought-after platform for both newbies and established professionals in the tech sector. AWS is equipped with the latest tech developments, upgrading the coursework regularly to keep up with the changing trends of the industry. AWS also provides candidates with the necessary practical skills and hands-on experience in cloud architecture, data management, and web security.

Employee Certificate

AWS cloud platform is not only useful to independent candidates and tech-savvy engineers but also employees looking for new ways to improve their skills and get better promotional opportunities within the organization. Some companies are also developing their own cloud certificate programs to customize the skills and coding knowledge of the employees to suit their needs.

Getting Started- how long does it take to get certified?

Candidates who are planning to opt for AWS certification need not devote their entire time to studying. You can easily manage the coursework along with the various professional and personal commitments. Usually, it takes about two months for professionals to complete the AWS curriculum. And this is when you are devoting approx. 80 hours of study. Candidates who are new to the AWS framework might need more time to get used to the system. We would recommend 120 hours of study or a minimum of three months of preparation before you opt for the exam. Start with the basics, and then move on to the more complex topics to get a thorough understanding of the subjects.

Which is the Best AWS Certificate?

AWS at present offers eleven certifications: an introductory certification, three associate-level certifications, two professional-level certifications, and three specialty certifications.

• AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner
• AWS Certified Developer – Associate
• AWS Certified SysOps Administrator – Associate
• AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate
• AWS Certified DevOps Engineer – Professional
• AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional
• AWS Certified Big Data – Specialty
• AWS Certified Advanced Networking – Specialty
• AWS Certified Security – Specialty
• AWS Certified Alexa Skill Builder – Specialty
• AWS Certified Machine Learning – Specialty

The Process- Steps to Prepare For AWS Exams

Getting an AWS certificate is not an easy task. For starters, you have to put in a lot of time and effort into mastering the fundamental and core concepts of AWS and cloud computing. Next, you have to clear the certification exam and then undergo rigorous training to get some on-site job experience. Here are some of the steps that aspiring candidates can follow to study for the AWS certificate test:

1. Pick an AWS training institute and get yourself enrolled to get an understanding of the syllabus and overall curriculum of AWS certification exam.
2. Go through all the study guides and other reference materials that you can get your hands on.
3. Read numerous AWS whitepapers, as these contain crucial information about the kind of questions asked in the evaluation test and how to answer them.
4. Now that you have an idea about the theory, it is time to put it to practice. Take practice tests and work on sets to learn to execute technical skills.
5. Once you are certain of your preparation, schedule the exam. Most candidates take about 80-120 hours of practice/studying to prepare for the exam.

• Foundational Certification

AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner is the latest certification offered by AWS and is an entry-level course which is designed to evaluate the candidate’s understanding of the core concepts of cloud computing. People opting for this course need at least six months experience in AWS cloud services from either the technical, managerial or marketing sector.

The foundational AWS course includes the basic AWS features and the common uses of the cloud services. It also teaches students about the core cloud architectural principles, security functions, and operations offered here as well.

• Associate Certification:

Getting an AWS certification can work wonders for your IT career. It helps learners build credibility in the market, and also boost their confidence about their own programming skills. Most IT-based organizations and companies from other sectors prefer candidates who have cleared their AWS exams and received a high-level certification for the same. Listed below are some of the top AWS certifications available.

• AWS Solutions Architect Associate

AWS Solutions Architect Associate certification is for the experienced candidates who have already mastered the basic features and concepts of AWS. It covers the technical aspects of cloud-based applications- particularly the designing and advertising part of it. Candidates have to answer a set of multiple-choice questions in 130 minutes. The questions will be based on networking technologies of AWS, AWS applications, hybrid systems, AWS data protection measures, etc.

• AWS Developer Associate

The AWS developer associate exam lasts for a duration of 80 minutes in which candidates have to answer a set of multiple choice questions. The main topics would be from AWS services and databases. There might also be questions from AWS architecture and other practical topics.

• AWS SysOps Administrator Associate

This AWS Certified SysOps Administrator Associate exam is suited for system administrators. It is taken only by industry professionals who have substantial experience in AWS concepts as well as the practical experience to back it up. Knowledge in Linux or Windows administrator will be an added perk. The exam format is the same.

Professional Certification:

• Solution Architect Professional

An AWS Architect Professional is an advanced position, involving a wider set of responsibilities and greater flexibility. Candidates should have a deeper understanding of AWS framework, come up with better actionable solutions and offer effective architectural recommendations. Only applicants who have 2 years of work experience are eligible for this exam.

• AWS DevOps Engineer professional 

The DevOps Engineer certification involves detecting, delegating, operational, and supervising applications on the AWS platform. This exam concentrates on the two fundamental concepts of the DevOps movement- continuous delivery (CD) and the automation of processes.

• Specialty Certifications

AWS offers Specialty certifications, including Big Data Speciality, Networking Speciality, Security Speciality, Alexa Skill Builder Speciality, and Machine Learning Speciality.

• AWS Big Data Speciality 

This courseware is perfect for data analysts and engineers looking for better opportunities in the cloud computing sector. It allows the applicant to explore the numerous big data concepts and its execution on the AWS platform. It even tests the person’s coding skills, automation data analysis using AWS. Minimum five years hands-on experience in a data analytics field is recommended.

• AWS Networking Speciality

The networking specialty certification is intended to check a candidate’s networking skills and ability to implement them on the AWS framework. It even validates your cross IT architectural skills at figuring out innovative solutions for real-time issues. Advanced knowledge of AWS networking concepts and technologies is recommended.

• AWS Security Speciality

This certification covers topics necessary for assuring the safety and security of the AWS platform. Hence, it is a field that requires a sense of responsibility, sincerity and deep knowledge of programming. The exam tests the applicant’s knowledge on a variety of topics including infrastructure development, data security, encryption, incident response, and access management. At least two years of hands-on experience securing AWS workloads is recommended.

• AWS Alexa Skill Builder Speciality

This certification is necessary to authenticate your practical know-how in generating, testing, and organizing Amazon Alexa. Candidates basically have to be good at coding, building applications and have six-months experience in creating Alexa skills by means of the Alexa Skills Kit.

• AWS Machine Learning Speciality

This certification exam tests the candidates coding skills, technical knowledge and also ML skills. The applicant should be able to identify, create and implement ML concepts in basic AWS platforms and cloud-based programs. Also, note, only people with a minimum of 2 years’ experience in Ml or big data can apply.

AWS Exam Topics

AWS Exams are not limited to a few select topics or set coursework. In fact, candidates have to be well versed in almost all the areas concerning the IT sector from basic coding to complicated concepts like big data and machine learning. Also, we would suggest the aspiring candidates have some practical experience with AWS before applying for the exam. Cloud-based architectures, cloud developing services, Networking skills, and data security are some of the core areas one can focus on.

Preparing for AWS Certificate Exams 

AWS certifications, as discussed earlier, are a series of exams which aim at preparing and validating aspiring candidates by honing their programming skills and other technical skills and optimize it for the AWS platform. AWS is a cloud computing interface, which is intuitive and reliable enough to allow clients to save, manage, monitor and share their information in a quick, protected and hassle-free way. Aspiring candidates who are planning to prepare for the AWS certificate exams must already be aware of the intense competition. There are various candidates trying for these exams every year. AWS offers a set of 11 certifications: a foundational certification, three associate-level certifications, two professional-level certifications, and three specialty certifications.

There are several online courses and tutorials available online where one can log in to know all about the various areas one can explore and learn about via the AWS platform. The AWS exam includes multiple-choice questions and lasts for a duration of 130 minutes. These questions check the candidate’s comprehension skills as well, as you have to carefully read and understand the question to comprehend what is asked and which AWS concept should be applied to solve the issue.

What’s New In AWS Certification

AWS has recently expanded its test centers and is now accessible in 5000 locations spread across 180 countries. Other than that, AWS now also offers candidates better courseware and updates syllabus for the latest exams. This curriculum is detailed, comprehensive, easy and freely accessible. Now, all there is left to do is sign up and take a class that piques your interest and best suits your caliber. Best of luck!