Cloud computing has become a very popular technology that is dominating the Fourth Industrial Revolution. The advancements in cloud space have been a major reason why artificial intelligence and machine learning are witnessing such impressive growth. Cloud services are common of these types – Platform as a Service (PaaS), Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), and Software as a Service (SaaS). One of the leading and first of its kind cloud computing platforms is Amazon Web Services (AWS). The same company (Amazon) that you have lately known as the eCommerce giant now draws a huge chunk of its profit from its subsidiary AWS.
AWS has significantly grown since its inception and now has a presence in over 190 countries. It offers different tools and solutions for enterprises located in any location, including the UK. There are over a million active customers that use AWS Cloud Solutions in the UK to deliver reliability, scalability, and flexibility. Transport for London, Inmarsat, EDF Energy, Dunelm, Adstream, OakNorth Bank, and Centrica Connected Home are some of the top companies leveraging AWS in the UK. In line with this trend, professionals are even seeking AWS certification in London to step into this promising career option.
You may have decided to take an AWS course, but do you know what skills should be covered in it? Well, we have listed down some of the top skills that should be a part of any AWS basics course.
What Skills are Needed to Learn AWS?
AWS is a vast cloud services platform and you are not expected to gain expertise in all of its fully functional services. Amazon has made things easier for aspiring cloud practitioners by offering different role-based AWS certifications. So, if you are interested in becoming a cloud developer, there is AWS Certified Developer Associate certification, and if you are interested in becoming a cloud architect, then there is AWS Certified Solutions Architect Associate certification. Evidently, the skills required and the services to be aware of varies for both the roles and you will have to learn only those that are specific to your role.
Skills for a Beginner
If you are a beginner, it is better to take the AWS Technical Essentials training (which spans one day). It will give you a clear understanding of the AWS products, terminology, services, and common solutions. You will learn how to navigate the AWS management console and important concepts of AWS security measures and AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM). This fundamental proficiency in AWS will help you make informed decisions about IT solutions based on your business requirements and leverage the best from this cloud platform.
Skills for a Solutions Architect
After you have learned the basics, it is time to decide what role you want to pursue in the cloud space. Suppose you select the solutions architect role, then Architecting on AWS is the training you should opt for. It will help you learn the fundamentals of building IT infrastructure on AWS and how to optimize the AWS cloud. You will explore the AWS Cloud best practices and design pattern for architecting optimal IT solutions on AWS and build a variety of infrastructure in guided, hands-on activities. You will also acquire knowledge of creating fledging architectures and building them into robust and adaptive solutions.
Skills for a Cloud Developer
For professionals willing to pursue the AWS Developer role, the foremost skill needed is the understanding of core AWS services, uses, and basic AWS architecture best practices. They need to be familiar with developing, deploying, and debugging cloud-based applications using AWS. Such developers use the AWS service APIs, AWS CLI and SDKs to write applications and apply a basic understanding of cloud-native applications to write code. They also understand the use of containers in the development process and have expertise in writing code for serverless applications.
Skills for a system administrator
System administrators are expected to deploy, manage, and operate highly available, scalable and fault tolerant systems on AWS. For this responsibility, they need to be familiar with AWS tenants – architecting for the cloud, AWS CLI and SDKs/API tools, and network technologies as they relate to AWS. Proficiency in security concepts with experience in implementing security controls and compliance requirements is also expected. Such professionals should have skills in virtualization technology, monitoring and auditing systems, networking concepts, and translating architectural requirements.
Will an AWS Course Help?
Now that we have mentioned the skills you need for different kinds of roles, it’s your time to select which one best suits your career needs. It is recommended that you achieve an AWS certification and validate the skills you have developed. Most of the certifications require you to pass the associated exam. While self-study is always an option, there are online AWS training courses as well that help clear those exams in a single try. You will get a chance to learn from industry experts, practice your skills in virtual labs, solve interactive quizzes, work on industry-oriented projects and become ready for the exam. It is a wise decision that will definitely pay off in the future.
