From ABCs to AWS

How I Went from Knowing Nothing to AWS Certified Solutions Architect

First Bite: Tasting the AWS Journey

Cooking Up Cloud Skills from Scratch

Think of learning AWS like learning to cook. You wouldn’t start cooking a gourmet meal without first learning the basics like chopping vegetables, boiling water, and understanding spices. Similarly, when diving into AWS, you shouldn’t start directly with advanced courses for Cloud Practitioner or Solutions Architect. Instead, build a solid foundation by understanding the basics of networking, computing, and storage. This step-by-step approach ensures you have a strong grasp of fundamental concepts before moving on to more advanced topics.

Hello, I’m Mohiddin. Before embarking on this journey, I had no experience in cloud computing and didn’t even know how a website works. Today, I’m proud to say I’m an AWS Certified Solutions Architect.

My Recipe for Certification Success

My reason for pursuing this certification was to validate my knowledge and skills in solution architecture. Achieving this certification provides:

• Credibility: It serves as proof of my expertise in AWS and solution architecture.
• Career Advancement: It opens doors to more job opportunities and potential career growth.
• Practical Knowledge: The certification process itself equipped me with hands-on skills and a deeper understanding of AWS services.

Understanding the Exam Structure

Exam Format: The AWS Solutions Architect — Associate exam consists of multiple-choice and multiple-response questions. You have 130 minutes to complete the exam. The exam is structured around the AWS Well-Architected Framework, which emphasizes the importance of following best practices to achieve the six pillars of a well-architected system. These pillars are operational excellence, security, reliability, performance efficiency, cost optimization, and sustainability. Understanding and applying these principles are essential for designing robust and efficient AWS architectures.

Key Domains: The exam covers several key domains, each focusing on different aspects of AWS architecture:

• Design Resilient Architectures: This domain tests your ability to design highly available and fault-tolerant architectures.
• Design High-Performing Architectures: This domain focuses on performance optimization and efficient use of AWS resources.
• Design Secure Applications and Architectures: This domain covers best practices for securing AWS applications and infrastructure.
• Design Cost-Optimized Architectures: This domain emphasizes cost management and optimization strategies.

Official Exam Guide: Reviewing the official AWS exam guide is crucial. It provides a comprehensive overview of the exam domains, subdomains, and objectives, helping you understand what topics to focus on and how the exam is structured.

Preparation Phase

Mise en Place: Prepping for AWS Mastery

Just like you wouldn’t learn to cook just to pass a cooking exam, you shouldn’t learn AWS just to pass a certification test. The goal is to understand the concepts and their underlying logic so that you can see how these technologies and services are helping any website or app you use while learning.

Daily Cooking Schedule: Balancing Study and Practice

I planned my study routine by dedicating four hours each day to learning the theoretical aspects of AWS and applying everything in practical labs for the next two hours. I primarily used a platform called KodeKloud and AWS free tier account, which offers lab sections designed specifically for AWS concepts. If you prefer free resources to learn the basics, you can follow multiple YouTube videos for each concept and install VMs (virtual machines) using open-source OS images for Linux.

Networking Ingredients: Understanding the Basics

Imagine networking in the kitchen as if you’re setting up a well-organized pantry. You need to know where all your ingredients are and how they are connected. I started off by understanding computer networking. I learned from a YouTube playlist called Networking Fundamentals by Practical Networking. This series explains everything behind networking, which is crucial to understand why we need a Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) in AWS.

Linux Essentials: The Operating System Pantry

Think of Linux as your kitchen’s operating system. It’s like learning the basic functions of your kitchen appliances before you start cooking. Next, to understand how a website works, I learned the basics of Linux programming. Linux is easy, open-source, and used almost everywhere. I learned it from a paid platform recommended by a friend. If you want to learn it for free, there are plenty of resources on YouTube for the basics of Linux programming.

Application Basics: The Programming Spice Rack

Understanding applications is like knowing the recipes you’ll be cooking. You need to know the top programming languages like Java, Python, and Node.js. You don’t have to master them but understand where and how they are used and how they make an application work.

Source Control (Git): Versioning Your Recipes

Source control management is like keeping track of all your recipes and ingredients. Imagine having a system that records every change you make to a recipe so you can collaborate with others or go back to previous versions. Learn what source control management is, why Git is powerful, and how it helps with collaboration and Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) automation.

Web Server: Hosting Your Dishes Online

A web server is like the oven in your kitchen. It’s where your website (or dish) is made available. Learn how a website is hosted on a web server, how to configure it, how to connect it to a database, and how to manage ports and firewalls.

• Understand what a web server does
• Learn to configure a web server
• Connect the web server to a database
• Manage ports and firewalls for security

Database Basics: Storing Recipe Data

Think of a database as your pantry. It’s where all your ingredients (data) are stored and accessed. Learn how data is stored, accessed, and managed through the web server.

• Understand how data is stored in databases
• Learn to manage database access
• Configure open ports and firewalls for database security

Security: Keeping Your Kitchen Safe

Security in cloud computing is like food safety in cooking. You need to ensure everything is safe to consume (use). Understand the difference between HTTP and HTTPS, what SSL/TLS is, how it works, what encryption is, and how to manage keys. Learn to authorize the database with the web server.

• Learn about HTTP and HTTPS
• Understand SSL/TLS and how it works
• Learn about encryption and key management
• Authorize the database with the web server

Infrastructure as Code: Automating Your Kitchen Setup

Infrastructure as Code (IaC) is like having a detailed cooking script for your kitchen setup. It automates the setup of your kitchen environment. Understand YAML and JSON formats, and how to set up everything with automation using shell scripting.

• Learn YAML and JSON coding formats
• Automate infrastructure setup with shell scripting

Bonus: Learn About Docker and Kubernetes

Understanding Docker and Kubernetes is like mastering the use of different cooking stations and ensuring they work together seamlessly. Docker helps in packaging applications, and Kubernetes helps in managing them.

• Why Docker and Kubernetes?: They simplify the deployment and management of applications across different environments.
• Easy Understanding: Docker containers are like individual meal prep containers, and Kubernetes is the kitchen manager ensuring all meals are prepared and served efficiently.

Cloud Practitioner: The Beginner’s Cookbook

Think of the Cloud Practitioner role as learning basic cooking techniques and understanding the kitchen layout. Start with the Cloud Practitioner course. You may or may not have to take the exam, but I recommend saving some money and not taking the exam. Instead, focus on the course. I used Stephane Maarek’s Udemy course, which is a great introduction to AWS. Additionally, AWS offers a free game called AWS Cloud Quest, which is a fun way to learn cloud concepts.

AWS Solutions Architect: The Main Course

Moving on to the main course, the AWS Solutions Architect role is like cooking a gourmet meal. This course is also available on Udemy by Stephane Maarek, who explains everything clearly with hands-on videos that help with experimenting on the AWS console. You can get a free tier account for most services for one year. I highly recommend doing hands-on exercises, as they offer significant benefits:

• Practical Experience: Applying what you learn helps solidify your understanding.
• Confidence Building: Hands-on practice builds confidence in using AWS services.
• Problem-Solving Skills: Working through real-world scenarios enhances your problem-solving skills.

If you have time, work on some projects as well. Search for “AWS Solutions Architect projects” online, and you’ll find many guided, free projects available.

Practice Exams: Testing Your Culinary Creations

After completing the course, use practice questions available on Udemy, also by Stephane Maarek. These questions are more than enough to understand the concepts. The exams have excellent explanations for the answers, and there are six tests in this course, plus one in the main course.

Challenges and How You Overcame Them

Burnt Dishes: Overcoming Technical Challenges

Understanding complex AWS services and integrating them into solutions was challenging. To overcome this, I relied on multiple resources, including YouTube tutorials, Udemy courses by Stephane Maarek, and AWS documentation. Practicing hands-on labs on KodeKloud and AWS helped solidify my understanding of these services.

Time Management: Perfecting Your Cooking Schedule

Balancing study time with other responsibilities was difficult. I created a strict study schedule and used tools like calendars and reminders to keep track of my progress. Breaking down the study material into manageable chunks and setting daily goals made the workload more manageable.

Tips for Future Aspirants

Cooking Tips: Study Strategies

• Consistency is Key: Study regularly and consistently. Small, daily study sessions are more effective than cramming.
• Hands-On Practice: Use the AWS Free Tier to practice. Hands-on experience is invaluable and reinforces theoretical knowledge.
• Utilize Multiple Resources: Don’t rely on a single source. Use videos, courses, AWS documentation, AWS Well-Architected Framework and practice exams to get a well-rounded understanding.

Staying Motivated: The Chef’s Mindset

• Stay Positive: Keep a positive mindset. Believe in your ability to learn and succeed.
• Set Small Goals: Break your study plan into smaller, achievable goals. Celebrate small victories to keep yourself motivated.
• Find a Study Buddy: If possible, find someone to study with. Discussing concepts and teaching each other can enhance your understanding and make studying more enjoyable. If you don’t have a friend to start with, use online platforms like Reddit, or the comments section on Medium or LinkedIn to find one.

Remember, you might not be able to start with four hours of studying each day. Start slow and gradually increase your study time. Don’t worry about differentiating between weekends and weekdays; every day is valuable. Take breaks when needed to avoid exhaustion, but remain disciplined and consistent. Setting small goals for each section or course you complete will help you feel accomplished and stay motivated.

Final Taste Test: My Practice Exam Strategy and Exam Day

After completing the courses, my approach to practice exams was structured and disciplined:

Daily Practice Exams: For one week, I took one practice exam each day in the morning, simulating the actual exam conditions. I dedicated 2 hours and 10 minutes in a calm environment to complete each exam in one sitting.

Review and Learn: After finishing each practice exam, I took a break, had lunch, and then reviewed the questions. I marked all the questions I was unsure about or needed to understand better. During the review process, I focused on understanding the concepts behind these questions. If you feel stuck somewhere, use AI tools like ChatGPT to understand the concept. You can use the following template to get clear explanations

“Explain [concept] like a one-year-old can understand and give examples, real-world scenarios, and use cases.”

I also used AWS service FAQs, which are incredibly helpful when you’re confused between two similar services.

Time Management: I kept track of how quickly I was completing the exams and how much time I had left for reviewing the questions before submitting the exam. This practice helped me manage my time effectively during the actual exam.

Comprehensive Review: After completing all 7 practice exams, I spent two days revising everything and reviewing all the marked questions, both wrong and right answers. This thorough review process ensured I had a solid grasp of the concepts and was well-prepared for the exam.

Exam Day: On the day of the exam, I remained calm and treated it like another practice exam. The familiarity with the exam format and the practice sessions helped me stay focused and confident.

By following this structured approach, I was able to ace the AWS Certified Solutions Architect exam.

Lessons from the Kitchen: Reflecting on My Journey

Reflecting on my journey to becoming an AWS Certified Solutions Architect — Associate, I realize how much I have grown both personally and professionally. Starting from scratch and gradually building my knowledge base was a rewarding experience. I learned the importance of consistency, hands-on practice, and using multiple resources to understand complex topics. This certification has not only validated my skills in cloud architecture but also opened up new opportunities for me in my career. I now feel more confident in my ability to design and implement scalable, secure, and cost-effective cloud solutions.

In the future, I plan to leverage this certification to take on more challenging projects at my company, contribute to cloud strategy discussions, and possibly pursue advanced AWS certifications. For those considering a similar path, I highly encourage you to start your journey. With the right mindset, resources, and support, you can achieve your certification goals too.

To continue with my journey, next, I am aiming to complete the AWS Certified Data Engineer - Associate. I will post another blog after completing that exam. If you have any questions or need guidance, feel free to reach out to me. I’m always happy to help fellow learners on their journey to AWS certification.

Continuous Learning: The Secret Ingredient for Success

Connect with Me: Join My Network

I invite you to connect with me on LinkedIn and follow me on Medium for more insights and articles related to AWS and cloud computing. I plan to share additional resources and tips, as well as my experiences with other AWS certifications and cloud technologies. Stay tuned for upcoming content that will help you in your cloud computing journey.

Thank you for taking the time to read about my journey to becoming an AWS Certified Solutions Architect — Associate. I hope my experiences and insights will inspire and guide you in your own learning and professional development. Remember, continuous learning and staying updated with the latest technologies are key to success in the tech industry. Keep pushing your limits, stay curious, and never stop learning. Good luck on your certification journey!