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【Introduction to AWS】Summary of AWS Certifications to Become an AWS Engineer - PrismScaler

1. Introduction

Hello! We are a writer team from Definer Inc. AWS (Amazon Web Services) certifications are a valuable and recognized credential for IT professionals looking to advance their careers in cloud computing. As AWS continues to be a leading provider of cloud services, organizations seek skilled professionals who possess the knowledge and expertise to design, implement, and manage AWS solutions effectively. To become an AWS Engineer, obtaining relevant AWS certifications is a crucial step towards demonstrating proficiency in AWS technologies and best practices. In this issue, you are wondering about the use of AWS certification for becoming an AWS engineer. Let's take a look at the actual screens and resources to explain in detail.

2. Purpose/Use Cases

The purpose of this summary is to provide an overview of the key AWS certifications that aspiring AWS Engineers should consider pursuing. Each certification is designed to validate specific skills and competencies related to AWS services and solutions. By earning these certifications, individuals can showcase their expertise in cloud computing and become proficient in architecting, deploying, and managing AWS infrastructure.

3. List of AWS Certifications

AWS offers a comprehensive range of certifications that cater to individuals at different levels of expertise and in various specialized domains. As of November 2022, there are 12 AWS certifications that cover a wide spectrum of cloud computing skills. Let's dive deeper into each certification level and domain: (1) Introductory Level: AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner: Target Audience: Individuals new to AWS or those seeking a foundational understanding of cloud concepts. Purpose: Validates knowledge of basic AWS services, architectural principles, and cloud security. It serves as a starting point for other AWS certifications.   (2) Basic Level: AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate: Target Audience: Solution architects, developers, and individuals involved in designing and deploying AWS applications. Purpose: Validates the ability to design and deploy scalable and cost-effective AWS solutions using best practices. AWS Certified SysOps Administrator – Associate: Target Audience: System administrators, operations professionals, and those responsible for managing AWS environments. Purpose: Validates the ability to manage, deploy, and operate AWS applications and infrastructure effectively. AWS Certified Developer – Associate: Target Audience: Developers and software engineers working with AWS applications. Purpose: Validates proficiency in developing, deploying, and debugging AWS applications using AWS services and tools.   (3) Advanced Level: AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional: Target Audience: Experienced solutions architects with a deep understanding of AWS services. Purpose: Validates advanced skills in designing and deploying complex and scalable AWS solutions, considering architectural best practices. AWS Certified DevOps Engineer – Professional: Target Audience: Experienced DevOps engineers working with AWS applications and continuous delivery. Purpose: Validates expertise in implementing and managing DevOps practices on the AWS platform, including automation and optimization.   (4) Domain-specific Advanced Level: AWS Certified Security – Specialty: Target Audience: Security professionals responsible for securing AWS environments. Purpose: Validates expertise in implementing security measures and best practices on AWS. AWS Certified Database – Specialty: Target Audience: Database administrators and architects working with AWS databases. Purpose: Validates expertise in designing, deploying, and managing AWS database solutions. AWS Certified Machine Learning – Specialty: Target Audience: Data scientists and ML practitioners leveraging AWS machine learning services. Purpose: Validates expertise in building, training, and deploying ML models on AWS. AWS Certified Advanced Networking – Specialty: Target Audience: Network professionals and architects designing and implementing complex networking solutions on AWS. Purpose: Validates advanced networking skills and knowledge of AWS networking services. AWS Certified Data Analytics – Specialty: Target Audience: Data analysts and engineers working with data analytics on AWS. Purpose: Validates expertise in designing and implementing AWS data analytics solutions. AWS Certified SAP-C01 – Specialty (SAP on AWS): Target Audience: IT professionals involved in deploying and managing SAP workloads on AWS. Purpose: Validates skills in deploying and managing SAP applications on AWS infrastructure. AWS continuously updates its certification offerings to keep up with the evolving cloud landscape. The addition of the "SAP on AWS" certification underscores the growing importance of cloud computing for mission-critical systems like SAP, as organizations increasingly migrate their workloads to the cloud for enhanced scalability, cost-efficiency, and agility.

4. AWS certifications you should aim to obtain

To become an AWS Engineer, it's important to choose the right certifications based on your level of experience and expertise. Here are the recommended AWS certifications for each engineering level: (1) No Experience in Cloud Computing & IT: Aim for the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner certification. The Cloud Practitioner exam focuses on basic AWS cloud knowledge and industry concepts. It serves as an excellent starting point for individuals with no prior cloud or IT experience. (2) No Cloud Experience & IT Background: If you have IT experience/knowledge but no cloud computing experience, consider taking the AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate (SAA) exam. The Solutions Architect (Associate) certification is one of the foundational certifications in the AWS ecosystem, and it is widely recognized and respected. Many professionals begin their AWS journey with this certification, and it is considered advantageous in the IT job market. (3) Cloud Development Experience: If you already have cloud development experience, the next step is to aim for the AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional (SAP) certification. The Solutions Architect (Professional) certification is a more advanced level certification that tests your ability to design and deploy complex AWS solutions. It is suitable for individuals with substantial AWS experience and a deep understanding of AWS services. (4) Specialty Certifications for Specific Domains: Once you have a strong foundation in AWS, you may consider pursuing specialty certifications based on your area of expertise and interest. These certifications are suitable for professionals with specific skill sets. Some of the specialty certifications available are AWS Certified Security – Specialty, AWS Certified Advanced Networking – Specialty, AWS Certified Database – Specialty, AWS Certified Machine Learning – Specialty, AWS Certified Data Analytics – Specialty, and AWS Certified SAP-C01 – Specialty (SAP on AWS). Regarding exam fees, AWS certifications have different pricing based on their levels:
  • Introductory Level: $100 USD
  • Basic Level: $150 USD
  • Advanced and Specialty Certifications: $300 USD
Preparing for the exams is crucial to increase your chances of passing on the first attempt. AWS offers official practice exams that simulate the real exam environment, providing you with valuable practice and insights into the exam format. Utilizing these resources will help you prepare effectively and confidently.

5. Cited/Referenced Articles

6. About the proprietary solution "PrismScaler"

・PrismScaler is a web service that enables the construction of multi-cloud infrastructures such as AWS, Azure, and GCP in just three steps, without requiring development and operation. ・PrismScaler is a web service that enables multi-cloud infrastructure construction such as AWS, Azure, GCP, etc. in just 3 steps without development and operation. ・The solution is designed for a wide range of usage scenarios such as cloud infrastructure construction/cloud migration, cloud maintenance and operation, and cost optimization, and can easily realize more than several hundred high-quality general-purpose cloud infrastructures by appropriately combining IaaS and PaaS.  

7. Contact us

This article provides useful introductory information free of charge. For consultation and inquiries, please contact "Definer Inc".

8. Regarding Definer

・Definer Inc. provides one-stop solutions from upstream to downstream of IT. ・We are committed to providing integrated support for advanced IT technologies such as AI and cloud IT infrastructure, from consulting to requirement definition/design development/implementation, and maintenance and operation. ・We are committed to providing integrated support for advanced IT technologies such as AI and cloud IT infrastructure, from consulting to requirement definition, design development, implementation, maintenance, and operation. ・PrismScaler is a high-quality, rapid, "auto-configuration," "auto-monitoring," "problem detection," and "configuration visualization" for multi-cloud/IT infrastructure such as AWS, Azure, and GCP.