The Perfect Way to Get Started with AWS: A Step-by-Step Guide
Tags: aws, cloud, cloudpractitioner, cloudskills
Published: 2023-09-13 05:57:33

## **Introduction:**
Are you new to Amazon Web Services (AWS) and feeling overwhelmed by the sheer number of services and options available? Starting your journey with AWS can be intimidating, but fear not. In this article, we will provide you with three essential tips to help you kickstart your AWS learning adventure.

By the end of this guide, you will have a solid understanding of AWS's core services, know how to structure your learning path around these core services, and even get hands-on experience.

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**1. Participate in AWS Game Days**
Last week, I had the opportunity to attend an AWS Game Day, a fun and interactive event designed for hands-on learning of AWS services. During the event, various AWS accounts with different pre-configured services were provided to teams. The goal was simple: build services and use other teams' services.

One valuable lesson from Game Days is understanding how services can be built on top of one another. For example, AWS offers a service called Elastic Container Service (ECS), allowing you to run container-based services. ECS can be configured to run on Elastic Cloud Compute (EC2), another core AWS service. Understanding these relationships is key to mastering AWS.

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**2. Dive into Core AWS Services**

Let's start with two fundamental AWS services:
**Amazon EC2 (Elastic Compute Cloud):** This is AWS's flagship product and a major revenue generator. EC2, despite its slightly puzzling name, offers scalable compute capacity in the cloud.

**AWS IAM (Identity and Access Management):** IAM is your gateway to managing permissions and access in AWS. To launch an EC2 instance, you need a user with the appropriate permissions, and that's where IAM comes in.

IAM can be deceptively complex, as it not only grants human users access but also allows machines to communicate securely within your AWS environment.

**Amazon S3 (Simple Storage Service):** S3 is a versatile service for storing data and files in the cloud. Its flexibility and scalability make it a core component of many AWS services. You'll encounter S3 when dealing with data storage, backups, hosting static websites, and more.

**Amazon RDS (Relational Database Service):** RDS is a managed database service that simplifies database setup, scaling, and maintenance. While EC2 can host databases, RDS offers a managed solution, reducing the administrative burden. It's a core service for anyone working with databases in AWS.

**Amazon VPC (Virtual Private Cloud):** VPC allows you to create isolated network environments within AWS. It's fundamental for network security, connectivity, and segmentation. Understanding VPC is crucial for setting up secure and well-connected AWS architectures.

**AWS Lambda:** Lambda is a serverless compute service that lets you run code without provisioning or managing servers. It's a core service for building event-driven and serverless applications.

**Amazon SNS (Simple Notification Service):** SNS is a messaging service that enables you to send notifications and messages to a distributed set of recipients. It plays a vital role in event-driven architectures and communication between AWS services.

**Amazon SQS (Simple Queue Service):** SQS is a fully managed message queuing service. It's essential for decoupling the components of your applications, improving reliability and scalability.

**Amazon R53 (Route 53):** R53 is AWS's scalable domain name system (DNS) web service. It's the go-to service for domain registration, DNS routing, and health checking.

**Amazon CloudWatch:** CloudWatch provides monitoring and observability for your AWS resources and applications. It helps you gain insights into your infrastructure's performance and health, making it a critical tool for operational excellence.

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**3. Structure Your AWS Learning Path**
Without a structured learning plan, you might find yourself overwhelmed by the vast amount of AWS knowledge. Here's how to bring some order to your learning journey:

**AWS Exams:** Consider starting with the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner exam, which provides a solid foundation in AWS concepts. Afterward, you can explore associate-level exams based on your interests, such as Architect, SysOps, or Developer.

**Specialize:** If you're passionate about a specific area, like Networking or Security, consider diving deep into that domain.

**Online Learning Resources:** Platforms like ACloudGuru offer structured courses for AWS certification preparation. They provide concise and consistent content.

In conclusion, embarking on an AWS learning journey can be challenging, but with the right approach, you can navigate the cloud landscape successfully. Focus on core services, get hands-on experience, and structure your learning. Soon, you'll be well on your way to mastering AWS.