What is AWS? A Beginner's Guide to Cloud Computing & AWS Services

Hi again 😊

So, if you’ve been following along, you know I am currently honing my skills in networking and cloud engineering, and cybersecurity. This byte will be focused on my cloud engineering journey, specifically, AWS.

So… What exactly is the cloud?

To be honest, I’ve always known what cloud is. I took a cloud computing course during my undergrad but never bothered to dig deeper. Sometimes I wish I had shown more interest back then, but hey, it’s never too late to give it another shot.

Here’s what I have learned:

The cloud is just someone else’s computer that you rent. Instead of setting up your own servers, you borrow Amazon’s (or Google’s, or Microsoft’s). You only pay for what you use (isn’t that cool?).

💡

Think of it like renting a car instead of buying one. You don’t have to own one if you only need it for a while. You pay when you need to use it, and when you’re done, you simply return it.

Why AWS?

There are other cloud providers out there like Azure and Google Cloud but I chose to start with AWS for a few reasons:

It’s the most widely used cloud platform.
There’s a lot of beginner-friendly material.
It's a huge plus for careers in cloud security, cybersecurity, and networking.

And honestly, it feels like a great starting point for me.

What exactly does AWS offer?

At the core, AWS gives you tools to build, store, run, and secure apps or services on the internet.

Here is a quick breakdown of some services I have learned so far:

Service	What it does
EC2	Lets you create virtual computers (servers) in the cloud.
S3	Object storage. You can store files, images, backups and access them anytime.
IAM	It helps manage who can access what (very important for security).
RDS	Lets you set up and manage databases without all the complicated setup.

There’s a lot more, but as usual, let’s take it one byte at a time.

How I’m learning AWS

I am currently in a Cloud Engineering program with Azubi Africa, and it has been an incredible journey. We’ve covered everything from core AWS services to real-world use cases, and it’s helping me connect the dots.

I am also using a few extra resources to reinforce my learning:

AWS Skill Builder - Super packed with guided learning paths
AWS Educate - Great for complete beginners

Right now, my goal is not to become a cloud expert overnight, but to get a solid understanding of the basics. That way, I won’t be left scratching my head when I hear “IAM role” or “S3 bucket policy”😅.

Final Thoughts

This byte is just me saying:

I’m not scared of heights, I’m jumping into the cloud 😂, and I’m excited to see where it takes me.

If you’re on a similar path, I’d love to share every win, every confusion, and every “Aha!” moment with you. Let’s connect and grow together.

Until the next byte,

Bye! 💜

Byte #001: What is AWS?

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