AWS Essentials for Getting Started Training Courses

Are you new to Amazon Web Services? Begin learning with our 1-day Essentials introductory training classes. Technical Essentials is designed for anyone in a technical role who wants to learn about AWS products, services and common solutions. Take this course so you can make informed decisions about IT solutions based on your business requirements. The Cloud Practitioner Essentials class is a great entry point for anyone new to the cloud and helps to prepare for the foundational Cloud Practitioner certification.

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Get a Technical Foundation and Understanding of AWS Cloud Solutions

The AWS Essentials training courses will help you make better decisions whether you're in the IT field or in a related role. If you're new to the AWS Cloud Platform, start with the fundamentals and then learn more about what learning path is right for you. To learn more or get started view our AWS Training and Certification Path.

Amazon Web Services (AWS) Essentials Training is a curriculum that introduces the fundamental concepts, services, and benefits of cloud computing and the AWS platform. AWS Essentials is not purely technical content and focuses on the advantages of cloud computing, cost management, security, compliance, and the value proposition of AWS. AWS Essentials training is aimed at business professionals, executives, decision-makers, and non-technical individuals who want to understand the basics of cloud computing and how AWS can benefit their organization. 

There are a few different kinds of AWS essentials training, each with its own focus.

AWS Cloud Practitioner Essentials – This is an AWS Essentials certification prep course. AWS Cloud Practitioner is specifically for individuals intending to take the Cloud Practitioner certification exam. This certification covers the fundamentals of cloud computing, AWS services, benefits of the AWS cloud, pricing, and much more. This is one of the most comprehensive AWS Essentials courses, as it is often used as a starting point for individuals looking to begin a career in tech. 

AWS Business Essentials – also called AWS Cloud Essentials for Business Leaders, this training is meant specifically for business leaders, IT leaders, and executives. It explains the role of IT in an organization to facilitate business transformation. It explains the basics of cloud computing and the cloud business model. It also helps leaders identify key security practices of cloud computing. 

AWS Technical Essentials – Technical Essentials can be useful to individuals who are beginning in IT with prior knowledge as well as more experienced professionals who need a deeper understanding of AWS solutions in order to make informed decisions regarding business processes. This training can help individuals learn how to build, compare, and apply cloud solutions. AWS Essentials training is often used as a starting point to gain new skills, knowledge, and skill validation through certification. Becoming AWS certified can open new career paths, resulting in higher salaries and new opportunities.

AWS Technical Essentials

AWS Technical Essentials is a course curriculum for individuals with IT experience, that may be developers, SyOps administrators, or Solutions architects – with or without prior AWS experience. So you may be wondering, what’s the difference between the AWS technical essentials vs. cloud practitioner courses?

The biggest differences between the two curriculums are target audience and objective. The AWS Cloud Practitioner Essentials courses are aimed at individuals who do not have any prior experience in IT. The objective of the Cloud Practitioner course is to prepare individuals to take and pass the Cloud Practitioner certification exam. On the other hand, there is no specific AWS technical professional certification that is directly tied to the AWS Technical Essentials course. Information learned from AWS Technical Essentials notes can be applied broadly across the spectrum of AWS interactions and skill-building in the IT field. Additionally, the target audience of the AWS Technical Essentials course is individuals with prior IT experience, unlike the Cloud Practitioner course. 

If you’re looking for more specific AWS Technical Essentials questions and answers, check out our info page on ExitCertified! We are an AWS Partner, so our Technical Essentials curriculum has been vetted by AWS. Our Technical Essentials course is built to empower IT professionals in cloud computing. The Technical Essentials course also provides very specific information that other higher-level courses do not offer at this level. For example, we teach learners to distinguish between several AWS compute services.

Some of the AWS services we cover are Amazon EC2, AWS Lambda, Amazon Elastic Container Service, Amazon Elastic Kubernetes Service, Amazon Regional Database Service, Amazon DynamobDB, and Amazon Simple Storage Service. Learners also gain a more comprehensive understanding of cloud security and how systems can be built and deployed efficiently. Our vendor-approved training materials are of the highest quality and offered in multiple formats for the convenience of the learner.

AWS Cloud Practitioner Essentials

AWS Cloud Practitioner training is meant to prepare individuals for the AWS Cloud Practitioner Certification exam. Prior IT knowledge or experience is not necessary for people interested in the AWS Cloud Practitioner Essentials course. It’s often taken by marketers, salespeople, project managers, and other professionals who interact with cloud computing in any capacity. The AWS Cloud Practitioner course provides individuals with a high-level understanding of AWS and cloud computing in general. Learners are taught to differentiate between on-premises solutions, hybrid clouds, and all-in clouds. 

There are a lot of benefits to pursuing an AWS Cloud Practitioner Essentials Certification. Certification provides a skill validation that is globally recognized so that employers all over the world can recognize that you’ve put a lot of effort into learning how to be proficient in AWS. Certification can also provide skills and information that may have been traditionally found in a two or even four-year university degree in a much shorter time frame. 

Many individuals also find that after becoming a certified AWS cloud practitioner, salary goes up. Some workplaces provide incentives to becoming certified, such as raises, while other individuals enter new career paths that pay more after passing the AWS Cloud Essentials certification. Additionally, 56% of individuals surveyed in the 2022 IT Skills and Salary Report responded that the quality of their work improved after becoming certified. 19% reported that they got a raise, and 18% reported that they got a new job. The report also found that individuals with certifications make almost $10,000 more per year than those who are not certified.

Studying for the AWS Cloud Practitioner certification is an integral part of ensuring you pass. The certification is meant for entry-level individuals, but that doesn’t make it easy! It’s important to select trusted study guides, especially from the AWS Partner Network, if you can. Our AWS Cloud Practitioner Essentials prep course is offered often for individuals looking to study for the exam efficiently and effectively. 

AWS Security Essentials

The AWS Security Essentials course is meant to give an overview of fundamental cloud security concepts, including AWS access control, data encryption methods, and how network access to your AWS infrastructure can be secured. This course is intended for IT professionals who have prior experience and knowledge of cloud infrastructure and are interested in cloud security practices. It can also serve as preparation for the AWS Security Essentials certification, which is a specialty-level certification. 

Because this course is intended for learners who have an in-depth understanding of cloud computing concepts, AWS Technical Essentials is a required prerequisite. The intricate level of detail included in the AWS technical essentials questions and answers of the course provides the learner with the necessary context for understanding the AWS security training and certification exam. The information provided is more specific and in-depth in the AWS technical essentials vs. cloud practitioner certifications. 

In the ExitCertified AWS Security Essentials certification prep course, there are six modules. The first module is Exploring the Security Pillar, where learners are introduced to basic cloud security concepts and how they are applied. The second module is Security of the Cloud, which is specific to AWS systems. The third module is Identity and Access Management, where individuals can learn how to verify users and set up access to protect sensitive information. That leads learners to the fourth module, Protecting Infrastructure and Data. The fifth module, Detection and Response, walks learners through how to identify data breaches and how to respond. The sixth module revisits the information that came before wrapping up the course, preparing students for the certification exam.

One of the most important aspects of becoming certified is choosing verified study guides and materials. AWS Security is a specialty-level certification, which expects previous knowledge of IT systems and AWS systems. ExitCertified is a premier learning partner for AWS certifications, providing proven and trusted materials to help learners prepare for certifications. 

AWS Certification Paths 

AWS was named a Leader as an IaaS & PaaS provider in the 2021 Gartner Magic Quadrant Cloud IaaS report.

Being AWS certified means that you have successfully demonstrated your proficiency in Amazon Web Services through a formal evaluation process. You can find a range of AWS certifications that validate different levels of skills, from foundational knowledge to specialized technical proficiency. Credible certifications like those from ExitCertified or Amazon’s own AWS training and certification program are widely recognized by employers in the information technology industry. 

The typical path to AWS certification is designed to help you progress from foundational knowledge to advanced expertise in AWS services as efficiently as possible. One of the initial certifications on this path is the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner, which serves as an entry point for beginners. The foundational knowledge gained from this certification is essential for understanding the core concepts and terminology used throughout the AWS ecosystem, such as AWS global infrastructure, security, billing, and best practices. After you’ve become an AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner, you can then choose from a variety of AWS learning paths based on your interests and goals. For example, you could pursue the AWS Solution Architect - Associate certification path, which focuses on designing and deploying scalable and reliable AWS solutions. Alternatively, you could explore the AWS Certified Developer - Associate path to learn about developing and maintaining AWS-based applications. There are also paths for AWS Certified SysOps Administrators and AWS Certified DevOps Engineers - Professional that cater to the unique needs of careers in system administration and automation. These paths include in-depth training, hands-on exercises, and practical projects to help you reinforce your knowledge.

AWS Certification Benefits

Getting AWS certified is beneficial for several reasons. First of all, certification enhances your career prospects by making your skill set more marketable to potential employers. Many organizations value AWS-certified professionals highly, and possessing a certification can lead to increased job opportunities and potential salary advancements. Additionally, holding an up-to-date AWS certification demonstrates your commitment to continuous learning and staying in-the-know about the latest AWS advancements.  Start validating your AWS Cloud expertise by downloading our training and certification guide.

Which AWS Certification Is Best for Developers? 

The best AWS certification for developers depends on their specific roles and career goals. If you’re interested in designing and deploying scalable solutions on AWS, the AWS Certified Solutions Architect Associate may be the right starting point for you. On the other hand, if your role focuses on application development and maintenance, the AWS Certified Developer Associate is probably a better fit for you. 

No matter which courses are right for you, each different certification represents a unique opportunity for you to showcase your expertise and enhance your career prospects in the rapidly growing cloud computing industry.

Foundational

Foundation certification is intended for individuals who demonstrate an overall understanding of the AWS Cloud.

Specialty

Specialty certifications validate technical knowledge for AWS experts who also possess expertise in specific technical areas. They’re designed for individuals with at least one associate-level AWS Certification plus deep proficiency and real-world experience in an area of specialization.

Whether your team is new to the cloud, experienced builders, or you have an organization that is looking to innovate at scale, a Skill Builder subscription can help deepen your team's knowledge. Go beyond our 600+ free digital courses to prepare for an AWS Certification, stay current, and unlock hands-on training in an AWS Console environment without the risk of additional fees. The minimum group size for a Team Subscription is 5.

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