30-day plan to master AWS Cloud for beginners
The only plan you need to get started in AWS Cloud.
Hey there 👋 - Amrut here!
Happy Saturday to all working hard towards meta-skills mastery!
I went from Senior Software Engineer to Cloud Software Architect in 2 years while earning 3 AWS certifications.
Along the way, I spent a lot of time learning things that were not important, eventually feeling overwhelmed and frustrated.
I realized what if a structured plan existed for someone getting started in AWS.
In today’s newsletter issue, I will share a 30-day actionable plan for someone who is a beginner in AWS.
I will cover the fundamental topics you need to understand well, along with helpful learning resources.
Let’s dive in.
30-day plan
Day 1-3: Introduction to AWS Cloud
Read AWS documentation and understand the basics of AWS services.
Create an AWS free tier account and launch an EC2 instance.
Learn about the different AWS services and their use cases.
Day 4-6: Storage and Databases
Learn about AWS storage services such as S3 and EBS.
Understand database services such as RDS for relational and DynamoDB for NoSQL databases.
Learn how to use the AWS Management Console to create, manage, and scale databases.
Day 7-10: Networking and Security
Understand the basics of AWS networking and security, including VPCs and security groups.
Learn how to create and manage networking resources using the AWS Management Console.
Explore AWS security services such as IAM, KMS, and AWS Shield.
Day 11-15: Compute and Scaling
Learn about EC2 instances and how to launch and manage them.
Understand auto-scaling and load-balancing techniques.
Explore other AWS compute services such as Lambda, Fargate, and ECS.
Learn AppSync for quickly implementing GraphQL-based APIs.
Day 16-20: DevOps and Automation
Learn how to use AWS services for DevOps, such as CodeCommit, CodeBuild, and CodeDeploy.
Understand how to use AWS CloudFormation for infrastructure as code (IaC).
Explore automation techniques using AWS Lambda and EventBridge.
Day 21-24: Analytics and Machine Learning
Learn about AWS services for analytics and big data, such as Redshift and Athena.
Understand machine learning concepts and explore AWS services such as SageMaker and Comprehend.
Learn how to use AWS QuickSight for business intelligence and data visualization.
Day 25-28: Deployment and Monitoring
Learn about deployment techniques using AWS CodePipeline, CodeBuild, and CodeDeploy.
Understand AWS monitoring services such as CloudWatch and CloudTrail.
Explore logging and alerting using AWS services such as Elasticsearch and SNS.
Day 29-30: Review and Certification
Review all the topics covered in the previous 28 days
Prepare for an AWS certification exam, such as AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate or AWS Certified Developer – Associate (See my recommendations in learning resources below)
Take practice exams, and study guides to prepare for the certification exam.
Learning Resources
I used the following resources to get started and certified.
Courses by Adrian Cantrill (Certified + Job Ready - Personal favorite!)
This is the best AWS course out there. Period.
Adrian not just prepares you for AWS certifications but also focuses on the fundamentals and skills you need to get a job ready.
Here are the course links:
AWS Solutions Architect Associate (link)
AWS Developer Associate: (link)
ALL THE THINGS Bundle: (link)
(Hint: I bought this as it covers all courses he teaches or plans to teach without raising the price EVER!
I have been using this for the last 2 years. Also because I plan to do more AWS certifications 😃 )
Note: These are affiliate links. That means I get paid a small commission with no additional cost to you. It also helps support this newsletter. 😃
Tutorials Dojo Practice Tests
If you decide to get AWS certified, these are the best practice tests to use. I used them for all my certifications.
Tweet of the week
Microsoft Build 2023 event
Quote of the week
❝
The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.
Nelson Mandela
Thank you for taking the time to read this newsletter.
I would greatly appreciate your letting me know what topics you want me to cover by replying to this email.
Rest assured; I read every email that comes my way.
Additionally, I value your opinions on this issue, so please do not hesitate to share your comments, praise, criticism, feedback, or suggestions.
I believe this will be an enjoyable journey together, and it would mean a lot if you could take a few minutes to share this newsletter with your loved ones, friends, or anyone who might benefit from it.