7 Favorite AWS Training Resources
When it comes to AWS training resources, there’s no shortage of information out there. Considering the wide range of videos, tutorials, blogs, and more, it’s hard knowing where to look or how to begin. Finding the best resource depends on your learning style, your needs for AWS, and getting the most updated information available. Whether you’re just getting started in AWS or consider yourself an expert, there’s an abundance of resources for every learning level. With this in mind, we came up with our 7 favorite AWS training resources, sure to give you the tools you need to learn AWS:
1. AWS Self-Paced Labs
What better way to learn that at your own pace? AWS self-paced labs give you hands-on learning in a live AWS environment, with AWS cloud services, and actual scenarios you would encounter in the cloud. There are two different ways to learn with these labs. You can either take an individual lab or follow a learning quest. Individual labs are intended to help users get familiar with an AWS service as quickly as 15 minutes. Learning quests guide you through a series of labs so you can master any AWS scenario at your own pace. Once completed, you will earn a badge that you can boast on your resume, LinkedIn, website, etc.
Whatever your experience level may be, there are plenty of different options offered. Among the recommended labs you’ll find an Introduction to Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2), and for more advanced users, a lab on Maintaining High Availability with Auto Scaling (for Linux).
2. AWS Free Tier
Sometimes the best way to learn something is by jumping right in. With the AWS Free Tier, you can try AWS services for free. This is a great way to test out AWS for your business, or for the developers out there, to try services like AWS CodePipeLine, AWS Data Pipeline, and more. While you are still getting a hands-on opportunity to learn a number of AWS services, the only downside is that there are certain usage limits. You can track your usage with a billing alarm to avoid unwanted charges, or you can try ParkMyCloud and park your instances when they’re not in use so you get the most out of your free tier experience. In fact, ParkMyCloud started its journey by using AWS’s free tier!
3. AWS Documentation and Whitepapers
AWS Documentation is like a virtual encyclopedia of tools, terms, training, and everything AWS. You’ll find case studies, tutorials, cloud computing basics, and so much more. This resource is a one-stop-shop for all of your AWS documentation needs, whether you’re a beginner or advanced user. No matter where you are in your AWS training journey, AWS documentation is always a useful reference and certainly deserves a spot in your bookmarks.
Additionally, you’ll find whitepapers that give users access to technical AWS content that is written by AWS and individuals from the AWS community, to help further your knowledge of their cloud. These whitepapers include things from technical guides, reference material, and architecture diagrams.
4. YouTube
So far, we’ve gone straight to the source for 3 out of 7 of our favorite AWS training resources. Amazon really does a great job of providing hands-on training, tutorials, and documentation for users with a range of experience. However, YouTube opens up a whole new world of video training that includes contributions from not only Amazon, but other great resources as well. Besides the obvious Amazon Web Services channel, there are also popular and highly rated videos by Edureka, Simplilearn, Eli the Computer Guy, and more.
5. Bloggers
As cloud technology usage continues to expand and evolve, blogs are a great way to stay up to speed with AWS and the world of cloud computing. Of course, in addition to aws labs, a free-trial, extensive documentation, and their own YouTube channel, AWS also has their own blog. Since AWS actually has a number of blogs that vary by region and technology, we recommend that you start by following Jeff Barr — Chief Evangelist at Amazon Web Services, and primary contributor. Edureka was mentioned in our recommended YouTube channels, they also have a blog that covers plenty of AWS topics. The CloudThat blog is an excellent resource for AWS and all things cloud, and was co-founded by Bhaves Goswami — a former member of the AWS product development team. Additionally, AWS Insider is a great source for all things AWS. Here you’ll find blogs, webcasts, how-to, tips, tricks, news articles and even more hands-on guidance for working with AWS. If you prefer newsletters straight to your inbox, check out Last Week in AWS and Inside Cloud.
6. Online Learning Platforms
As public cloud computing continues to grow — and AWS continues to dominate the market — people have become increasingly interested in this CSP and what it has to offer. In the last 8–10 years, two massive learning platforms were developed, Coursera and Udemy. These platforms offer online AWS courses, specializations, training, and degrees. The abundance of courses that these platforms provide can help you learn all things AWS and give you a wide array of resources to help you train for different AWS certifications and degrees.
7. GitHub
GitHub is a developer platform where users work together to review and host code, build software and manage projects. This platform has access to a number of materials that can help further your AWS training. In fact, here’s a great list of AWS training resources that can help you prepare for an Amazon Cloud certification. The great thing about this site is the collaboration among the users. The large number of people in this community brings together people from all different backgrounds so they are able to provide knowledge about their own specialties and experiences. With access to everything from ebooks, video courses, free lectures, and sample tests, posts like these can help you get on the right certification track.
There’s plenty of information out there when it comes to AWS training resources. We picked our 7 favorite resources for their reliability, quality, and range of information. Whether you’re new to AWS or consider yourself an expert, these resources are sure to help you find what you’re looking for.
Originally published at www.parkmycloud.com on February 6, 2020.
