Cloud computing has evolved from a nice-to-have to an enterprise core competence as businesses migrate more and more workloads to the public cloud. To create, implement, and maintain applications in cloud computing, this transition necessitates the development of new skills.
Analysts like Gartner view AWS as a thought leader and point of reference for all of its rivals since it is the market leader and most experienced supplier in the cloud computing industry. The public cloud adoption market is still being led by AWS in 2024, and it presently provides 12 certifications that cover both fundamental and specialized cloud computing issues.
Why pick the appropriate AWS certification? Here is why it's important.
What is the significance of choosing the proper AWS certification?
Obtaining an AWS certification demonstrates that you possess some of the most in-demand (and lucrative) abilities, as attested to by one of the most well-known names in cloud computing. In the workplace, certification shows a shared vocabulary, a certain degree of cloud competence, and a shared understanding of a platform, all of which can shorten the time to value cloud initiatives.
What are the benefits of AWS certification?
Even while businesses are using multi-cloud strategies, this has no negative impact on how important it is to have an AWS certification. According to the 2018 RightScale State of the Cloud Report, where 64% of corporations and 68% of SMBs are running apps, AWS is still the provider of choice for public cloud adoption with more than one million users. A dedicated intelligence community area was announced in 2017, and ongoing good financial performance, a steady stream of new services, and continued geographic development all point to much more to come.
Certificates for candidates
The rigor and completeness with which AWS certifications evaluate a candidate's abilities, with a focus on practical application and industry best practices, sets them apart from other certification programs. If you're already familiar with AWS, getting ready for certification might improve your understanding by outlining important ideas. It can give you the fundamental information and abilities you'll need to work with AWS services and solutions in the future if you're new to using AWS. AWS certifications confirm a candidate's familiarity with and understanding of best practices in cloud design, administration, and security for businesses wanting to hire new employees.
Occupational certificates
The core training resources required to prepare for AWS certifications are an important part of an organization's internal training program in the enterprise. A growing number of businesses are creating their certification programs as IT environments become more specialized and the need for new skills increases. Many of them are setting up certification tracks specifically for their business requirements by combining internal training resources with vendor certification training pathways.
How much time does it take to earn an AWS certification?
It typically takes two months to devote 80 hours of study time to a full-time job and other responsibilities. We advise spending around 120 hours or three months getting ready if you are completely new to AWS. Before beginning the Solutions Architect - Associate Learning Path, review the foundations.
AWS presently provides 12 certifications: one fundamental, three associate-level, two professional-level, and six specialty-level. On the AWS Certifications page of the Cloud Academy, you can discover a comprehensive list of all Learning Paths to be ready for the certifications.
(CLF-C01) AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner
(DVA-C01) AWS Certified Developer Associate
AWS Certified Associate SysOps Administrator (SOA-C02)
Associate in AWS Certified Solutions Architecture (SAA-C03)
AWS Professional Certified DevOps Engineer (DOP-C01)
Professional AWS Certified Solutions Architect (SAP-C01)
Advanced Networking Specialty AWS Certified (ANS-C01)
AWS Specialty Certified Security (SCS-C01)
MLS-C01, AWS Certified Machine Learning - Specialty
Database Specialty AWS Certified (DBS-C01)
Data Analytics - Specialty AWS Certified (DAS-C01)
SAP on AWS - Specialty (PAS-C01) AWS Certified
How can I obtain AWS certification?
These are the simplest procedures, while there are no hard-and-fast rules for studying for the AWS certification.
Enroll in an AWS training course, like one of the ones this post has listed. They will undoubtedly broaden your understanding of AWS and cloud computing.
Review any accessible study or exam guides.
Check out some AWS whitepapers. These include some priceless knowledge that might provide the answers to a lot of your queries.
Practice your skills repeatedly. You may reduce your anxiety and concern about the certification exam by taking practice tests.
Once you are prepared, schedule the exam. Depending on your expertise and the certification you're pursuing, you'll need between 80 and 120 hours of practice and study to be ready for the test.
Let's examine each exam in more detail.
Certificate of Foundation
AWS Cloud Practitioner certified
An entry-level certification called AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner is meant to verify a candidate's comprehensive knowledge of the AWS cloud.
A minimum of six months of general AWS cloud experience in any capacity (technical, administrative, sales, etc.) is advised.
Multiple-choice and multiple-response formats
90 minutes long
Cost: US$100
Areas Included:
Understanding the fundamental architectural tenets of AWS
The AWS cloud's value proposition
Key AWS services and typical use cases for them
The shared responsibility paradigm for security, basic security, and compliance
Core operational and deployment concepts
Costs, economies, and billing procedures in the cloud
Certifications at the Associate Level
Associate in AWS Certified Solutions Architecture (SAA-C03)
For people with some background in developing distributed applications, the AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Associate exam is intended. Candidates must be able to show that they can develop, manage, and implement applications utilizing the AWS platform's tools and services. To incorporate new AWS services and best practices, this test was revised in August 2022. Here is where you may find more details on this.
Multiple-choice, multiple-response format
Thirty-three minutes
Cost: USD 150
Areas Included:
Networking technology and how AWS uses them
How AWS-based apps operate and connect to the AWS platform using client interfaces
How to create dependable, secure apps on the AWS platform
Deploying hybrid systems, or those that combine elements of an on-premises data center and AWS,
The design of highly available, scalable, and performant systems is one of the test areas. Other domains include implementation and deployment in AWS, practices for AWS-related data security, and cost-saving strategies.
Associate AWS Certified Developer
The Associate test for the AWS Certified Developer certification is all about creating and managing AWS-based applications. For your bespoke business apps to use AWS applications, you must be able to develop code that uses the AWS services.
Multiple-choice, multiple-response format
Thirty-three minutes
Cost: USD 150
Areas Included:
Knowing the fundamental AWS architecture and the essential AWS services
Experience designing, developing, deploying, troubleshooting, and maintaining applications on a practical level
Working understanding of applications that make use of essential AWS services such as AWS databases, alerts, workflow services, and services for storage and change management
Associate AWS Certified SysOps Administrator
The only credential that is exclusively targeted toward system administrators is the AWS Certified SysOps Administrator - Associate exam. Technical proficiency and conceptual understanding of the operational facets of the AWS infrastructure are both required to pass this test. An advantage would be prior Linux or Windows administration knowledge.
Multiple-choice, multiple-response, and exam lab formats are available. In exam labs, there is a scenario with a list of activities to complete using the AWS Management Console or AWS CLI.
Cost: USD 150
Areas Included:
Deploying apps across disparate architectures to the AWS platform
Data transfer across data centers and multi-VPC architectures
choosing the best AWS services to fit an organization's requirements
In an AWS environment, provisioning, maintaining, and securing systems.
Certifications at the Professional Level
Professional AWS Certified Solutions Architect
An organization's requirements can be assessed by a professional AWS architect, who can then offer architectural suggestions for creating and deploying applications on AWS. Designing AWS-based applications takes a high level of technical proficiency, as does the Certified Solutions Architect Professional credential. In November 2022, this test will be upgraded to cover further AWS services and best practices. Here is where you may find more details on this.
Recommendations: It is suggested that you have two years of practical experience developing and delivering cloud architecture on AWS, as well as a best-practice understanding of multi-application architectural design.
Multiple-choice, multiple-response
Price: $300
Areas Included:
AWS best practices for building and architecting scalable apps
Choosing the appropriate AWS service for an application's needs will ensure that it is highly available, fault-tolerant, and dependable.
Migration of sophisticated application platforms via a multi-tier architecture design to AWS
Knowledge of cost-saving techniques
Professional AWS Certified DevOps Engineer
The provisioning, running, and management of applications on the AWS platform are the main topics covered by the DevOps Engineer certification. Continuous delivery (CD) and process automation, two core ideas of the DevOps movement, are prominently emphasized in this test.
Recommendations: It is advised that candidates have a solid knowledge of contemporary application development practices, such as the agile development methodology, as well as experience providing and administering AWS-based applications.
Multiple-choice, multiple-response
Price: $300
Areas Included:
The fundamentals of current CD methods
How to set up and run CD systems
Setting up, observing, implementing security measures, and logging systems on AWS
How to set up self-healing, scalable, and highly available systems on AWS
How to create and maintain technologies that allow manufacturing processes to be automated
Certifications in Particular
Specialty AWS Certified Data Analytics
For those with a background in data analytics and expertise utilizing AWS services for building and architecting big data solutions, the AWS Certified Data Analytics - Specialty certification is available. It is intended to verify a candidate's knowledge of data extraction utilizing AWS services.
Multiple-choice, multiple-response
Price: $300
Areas Included:
Implementing basic AWS big data services using the best architectural approaches
Data design, upkeep, and visualization
AWS tools for data analysis automation
Security recommended practices for solutions utilizing data analytics
Advanced Networking - Specialty AWS Certified
The AWS Certified Advanced Networking - Specialty certification, which was most recently updated in July 2022, is intended to verify a candidate's knowledge and expertise concerning handling difficult networking jobs on AWS and hybrid IT networking architecture on a large scale. Candidates should have an extensive understanding of networking on AWS as well as experience in architecting and executing network solutions.
Multiple-choice, multiple-response
Price: $300
Areas Included:
Using AWS to build, test, and deploy cloud solutions
Implementing core services in line with recommended architectural approaches
Automation of AWS network deployment tasks
Design and execution of security and compliance
Network troubleshooting and optimization
Specialty AWS Certified Security
The AWS Certified Security - Specialty certification addresses subjects that security professionals and teams need to grasp security foundations, adhere to best practices, and develop in-depth knowledge of critical services that are specific to the AWS platform. It is intended to test your understanding of AWS security concepts including identity and access management, infrastructure security, monitoring, and logging, as well as data protection and encryption.
Multiple-choice, multiple-response
Price: $300
Areas Included:
Choose the right level of security for your deployments and the sensitivity of your data by using a range of AWS services.
Choose the most effective data protection strategies, such as encryption approaches
Implement logging and monitoring tools to identify and assess infrastructure security flaws and vulnerabilities.
AWS services include Amazon GuardDuty, Amazon CloudWatch, AWS CloudTrail, AWS Config, Amazon Inspector, AWS Trusted Advisor, and AWS Identity and Access Management.
Specialty AWS Certified Machine Learning
Your ability to develop, implement, and manage machine learning solutions for a variety of business challenges is confirmed by the AWS Certified Machine Learning - Specialty certification. Anyone who plays a development or data science position should take this test. Candidates ought ideally to have between one and two years of expertise utilizing ML and/or deep learning on the AWS Cloud.
Multiple-choice, multiple-response
180 minutes
Price: $300
Areas Included:
selecting and justifying the optimal machine learning strategy for a certain business problem
Finding the appropriate AWS solutions to build and deploy your machine learning solution
Making cost-effective, scalable, dependable, and secure machine-learning solutions
Specialty AWS Certified Database
The AWS Certified Database - Specialty certification attests to your comprehensive knowledge of all the database services provided by AWS, as well as your understanding of how to provide value to your company through effective database integration and architecture. Anyone who implements DB solutions and works closely with databases should take this test. Candidates should have at least two years of experience working with relational and databases that are both on-premises and cloud-based through AWS.
Multiple-choice, multiple-response
180 minutes
Price: $300
Areas Included:
Designing databases
Implementation and Migration
Operations and Management
Troubleshooting and Monitoring
Security
AWS SAP on AWS - Specialty Certified
The AWS Certified SAP on AWS - specialist certification, which was introduced in April 2022, is the most recent AWS specialist credential. People who wish to show essential knowledge of SAP systems and workloads operating in the AWS Cloud should take this test.
Multiple-choice, multiple-response
180 minutes
Price: $300
Areas Included:
Designing an SAP solution that operates on AWS following AWS's Well-Architected Framework and SAP's certification and maintenance criteria
Introducing fresh SAP workloads to AWS
transferring current SAP workloads to AWS
SAP workloads running on AWS
