AWS Roadmap Decoded: A Beginners Guide

Are you a newbie to Amazon Web Services (AWS) and the world of Cloud Computing? Then, you might wonder where to begin. Fear not! In this detailed guide, we will discuss the AWS Roadmap, explore various certification options, and equip you with the knowledge needed to kickstart your AWS journey with confidence. 

AWS Roadmap is a virtual compass that can guide you through the vast landscape of cloud computing. Whether you are a tech enthusiast or a business owner, understanding this Roadmap is crucial for navigating the digital world efficiently. Therefore, unlock the secrets behind AWS's power, versatility, and potential to revolutionise your digital endeavours through this blog. 

Table of Contents

1) What is AWS?  

   a) Fundamentals  

   b) Frontend  

   c) Backend  

   d) DevOps  

   e) Data Engineering  

2) What exactly is an AWS certification?  

3) Conclusion  

What is AWS?  

AWS is a cloud computing platform provided by Amazon. It offers various services like computing power, storage choices, databases, and more, all accessible through the Internet. In simpler terms, AWS allows individuals and businesses to access and utilise computing resources without investing in and maintaining physical infrastructure.   

Read more to learn more about the five AWS Roadmaps. That includes Fundamentals, Frontend, Backend, DevOps and Data Engineering. Learning about all these will help you identify the available options and choose what fits your needs. 

1) Fundamentals  

The Fundamentals Roadmap serves as the entry point for beginners diving into AWS. It includes the fundamental elements and critical services that make up the basis of AWS Cloud Computing. Key components include:  

a) Region and availability zones 

Understanding this concept is crucial. Regions are different parts of the world where AWS has its data centres. Each region has several Availability Zones. These zones are separate data centres with backup power and network connections located in different places. 

b) Identity and Access Management (IAM) 

IAM is a tool for securely managing who can use AWS services and resources. It helps control who or what can access different parts of AWS.  

c) Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) 

VPC is like having your own private network in the AWS cloud. It lets you control your network environment, including IP addresses, subnets, and how data moves in and out. You can learn about private and public clouds, gateways, access controls, and more with VPC.
 

2) Frontend  

The Frontend Roadmap focuses on services and tools for building user interfaces and client-side applications deployed on AWS. Key components include:  

a) CloudFront 

This is an excellent service to start with if you're new. CloudFront is a kind of service called a Content Delivery Network (CDN). It uses servers spread out in different places to make websites load faster for users all around the world. 

b) Simple Storage Service (S3) 

Also suitable for beginners, S3 is one of AWS's first services. It gives developers and IT teams a safe and scalable way to store lots of different kinds of data.  

c) Amplify 

This is a handy tool for web and mobile developers. It makes it easy to build, launch, and host entire applications on AWS without needing to be an expert in cloud stuff.  

d) Cognito 

This service helps manage who can use your apps. With Cognito, you can let users sign up and log in to your apps securely. It can handle millions of users, connect with different login methods, and keep everything safe.  

e) Elastic beanstalk 

This service makes it easy to put your web apps online and make sure they can handle lots of users. You can choose the best AWS resources for your app, like different types of servers, storage, and tools for watching how your app is doing. 

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3) Backend  

The Backend Roadmap focuses on services and tools for building scalable and reliable backend systems and APIs on AWS. It offers virtual server instances and storage that help users migrate workloads to virtual machines. There are three main subsections under this. They are:  

a) Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2) 

These are virtual servers in the cloud. EC2 provides a wide range of computing options, with over 500 instances available. You can choose from various processors, storage options, networking features, and operating systems and purchase models to best suit your workload needs. EC2 also offers Autoscaling through Auto Scaling Groups, allowing you to maintain application availability and automatically adjust the number of EC2 instances based on scaling policies.  

b) Lambda 

This service operates without servers and runs your code in response to events. Lambda automatically handles the underlying compute resources for you, making it easy to run code without managing servers. 

c) Lightsail 

This is a provider of virtual private servers (VPS) and is designed to simplify AWS for developers, small businesses, students, and other users. Lightsail provides everything needed to quickly launch projects on the cloud, including virtual machines, containers, databases, content delivery networks (CDNs), load balancers, and DNS management. 

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4) DevOps  

AWS offers a bunch of helpful tools to help companies build and deliver products using AWS and DevOps methods. These tools make it easier to set up and manage infrastructure, deploy application code, automate software updates, and keep an eye on how your apps and systems are doing.  

a) Cloud Development Kit (CDK) 

This is a valuable tool for developers. It lets you speed up cloud development by using familiar programming languages to design your applications.  

b) CodeBuild 

This is a classic DevOps tool. It's a fully managed service that handles tasks like compiling code, running tests, and preparing software packages for deployment.  

c) CodeDeploy 

This tool automates the deployment of code to keep your applications running smoothly. It works with various AWS services like EC2, ECS, Lambda, and even your own servers.  

d) CodePipeline 

This service helps you automate the process of releasing updates to your applications and infrastructure. It's fully managed and ensures your updates are fast and reliable.  

5) Data Engineering  

AWS Data Engineering helps you analyse vast amounts of data quickly and feed it into different tools and apps for things like Business Intelligence. Here are some services in this section:  

a) Athena: This lets you quickly analyse data stored in Amazon S3 using standard SQL.  

b) Kinesis: This helps you collect and analyse real-time data streams so you can react quickly to new information.  

c) Redshift: This service uses SQL to analyse different types of data across data warehouses, databases, and data lakes, giving you good performance at any scale.  

d) Glue: This service helps you integrate data from different sources for things like analytics and Machine Learning. 

e) Lake Formation: This makes it simple to create secure data lakes for comprehensive analytics.  

What exactly is an AWS certification?  

An AWS certification is an official validation of an individual's expertise and proficiency in AWS, the leading cloud computing platform offered by Amazon. AWS certifications are recognised globally and are highly regarded in the IT industry.  

This valuable certification confirms someone's skills in AWS cloud services and shows they can create, launch, and handle scalable and trustworthy cloud solutions. Getting certified like this can really help you move up in your career and succeed in the ever-changing field of cloud computing. 

The AWS certification program provides a complete range of credentials tailored to people with different levels of expertise, from newcomers to seasoned experts. These certifications encompass diverse subjects, such as cloud architecture, development, operations, security, Machine Learning, and more. 

The AWS certification program is structured into multiple tiers, each targeting specific roles and skill sets. The primary tiers include:
 

1) Foundational Level  

This entry-level certification, known as AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner, is designed for individuals who have basic knowledge of AWS cloud services and seek an understanding of AWS Cloud fundamentals.  

2) Associate Level  

The Associate-level certifications include AWS Certified Solutions Architect, AWS Certified Developer, and AWS Certified SysOps Administrator. These certifications validate proficiency in designing, developing, and operating applications and systems on AWS.  

3) Professional Level  

The Professional-level certifications, such as AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Professional and AWS Certified DevOps Engineer - Professional, are intended for experienced professionals with extensive hands-on experience in designing and implementing complex AWS architectures and solutions.  

4) Specialty Certifications  

AWS offers a range of speciality certifications targeting specific domains, such as security, Machine Learning, advanced networking, and database management. Examples include AWS Certified Security - Specialty, AWS Certified Machine Learning - Specialty, and AWS Certified Database - Specialty.  

Each AWS certification exam is rigorously designed to assess the candidate's knowledge, skills, and abilities in the respective domain. The exams typically consist of multiple-choice questions, multiple-response questions, and hands-on lab exercises, depending on the certification level and specialty. 

Achieving an AWS certification demonstrates not only technical proficiency but also a commitment to continuous learning and professional development. It can enhance an individual's career prospects, improve job opportunities, and lead to higher salaries.  

Furthermore, AWS certifications can benefit organisations by validating the skills of their employees, improving team performance, and ensuring the successful implementation of AWS solutions. 

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Conclusion  

Learning the AWS Roadmap is really important because it helps you understand how to use Amazon Web Services effectively. Whether you're just starting out or you've been working with AWS for a while, knowing the Roadmap can make a big difference. It gives you the skills and knowledge you need to do things smarter and grow in your career. It can help make your apps run faster, save money, and be more productive. So, take the time to learn it, and you'll be better prepared for success in the tech world. 

Don't miss our handpicked AWS Interview Questions and Answers from our Expert team to crack Interviews Easily.