AWS Solutions Architect in Three Weeks

Here's a step-by-step guide to help you get ready:

1. Understand the Exam Structure and Objectives

The AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate exam tests your ability to design secure and robust solutions using AWS services. Key domains include:

• Domain 1: Design Secure Architectures (30%)

• Domain 2: Design Resilient Architectures (26%)

• Domain 3: Design High-Performing Architectures (24%)

• Domain 4: Design Cost-Optimized Architectures (10%)

• Domain 5: Design Operationally Excellent Architectures (10%)

You’ll need to be familiar with AWS services like EC2, S3, RDS, VPC, Lambda, IAM, and more, as well as best practices for security, scalability, and cost management.

2. Three-Week Study Plan

Here’s a weekly breakdown to ensure you cover all essential topics:

Week 1: Build Foundation and Core Services

• Day 1-2: Get Familiar with AWS Basics

  • Review the AWS Well-Architected Framework (security, reliability, performance efficiency, cost optimization, operational excellence).

  • Study core services: EC2 (compute), S3 (storage), RDS/Aurora (databases), VPC (networking), and IAM (identity and access management).

  • Use the AWS documentation and free AWS training resources (e.g., AWS Skill Builder).

• Day 3-4: Dive into Architecture Design

  • Learn about high availability, fault tolerance, and scalability (e.g., Auto Scaling, Elastic Load Balancers, Multi-AZ deployments).

  • Understand storage options (S3, EBS, EFS) and when to use each.

• Day 5-7: Hands-On Practice

  • Sign up for the AWS Free Tier and create a few resources (e.g., an EC2 instance, S3 bucket).

  • Watch video tutorials or take a free course on platforms like A Cloud Guru, Linux Academy, or Udemy.

  • Start practicing with sample architecture scenarios (e.g., designing a web application).

Week 2: Deep Dive and Security Focus

• Day 1-2: Security and Compliance

  • Study IAM policies, roles, and best practices for securing AWS environments.

  • Learn about encryption (KMS, SSL/TLS), network security (security groups, NACLs), and compliance standards.

• Day 3-4: Advanced Services and Optimization

  • Explore serverless (Lambda, API Gateway), caching (ElastiCache), and content delivery (CloudFront).

  • Understand cost optimization strategies (e.g., Reserved Instances, Savings Plans, tagging).

• Day 5-7: Practice Exams and Weak Areas

  • Take your first practice exam to identify weak areas. Use resources like Whizlabs, Jon Bonso’s practice exams, or AWS’s official practice questions.

  • Review incorrect answers and revisit those topics.

Week 3: Final Review and Mock Exams

• Day 1-2: Refine Knowledge

  • Revisit challenging topics and review AWS whitepapers (e.g., Well-Architected Framework, Security Best Practices).

  • Focus on real-world scenarios, such as disaster recovery, load balancing, and hybrid cloud architectures.

• Day 3-4: More Practice Exams

  • Take at least 2-3 more practice exams under timed conditions.

  • Analyze your performance and ensure you’re consistently scoring above 80% (the passing score is typically around 720/1000).

• Day 5-6: Final Review

  • Skim through flashcards or cheat sheets for quick recall of services, limits, and best practices.

  • Watch summary videos or attend a last-minute webinar.

• Day 7: Rest and Relax

  • Light review if needed, but avoid cramming. Get a good night’s sleep before the exam.

3. Resources to Use

• Official AWS Resources:

  • AWS Training and Certification page (free digital training).

  • AWS Whitepapers and FAQs.

• Books:

  • “AWS Certified Solutions Architect Study Guide” by Ben Piper and David Clinton.

  • “AWS Certified Solutions Architect Official Study Guide” by Amazon.

• Online Courses:

  • A Cloud Guru, Linux Academy, or Udemy courses by Stephane Maarek or Ryan Kroonenburg.

• Practice Exams:

  • Whizlabs, Jon Bonso, or AWS’s official practice exams.

• Hands-On Labs:

  • Qwiklabs or AWS’s own labs to gain practical experience.