My journey into tech began two years ago through the AWS Hapori Wahine program, which supports women in tech here in New Zealand. I started with Cloud Practitioner certification and later became Solutions Architect Certified. Although I had these certifications, I realised I lacked practical experience, so I decided to change that.
I enrolled in an intensive bootcamp for software developers, which prepared me to fully understand the potential of the cloud. Now, I’m excited to share my approach with you. Remember, everyone’s journey is unique, so feel free to take what resonates with you from this article.
In This Article, You Will Find:
Why Cloud?
There are countless reasons why individuals and companies choose cloud computing, but here are some of my favourites:
- High Demand for Cloud Skills
- Cost Savings
- Pay-as-You-Go Pricing
- On-Demand Access
- Scalability
- Global Reach
Why AWS?
It was easy for me! I didn't know any other cloud provider before I started my tech journey, and then I simply fell in love with AWS. I love the community, the services, and the customer obsession.
First Steps
To kick off your AWS journey:
Create Your Account: If you haven't already done so, set up your AWS account.
Set Up Billing Alerts: This helps you avoid unexpected charges.
Learn the Core
Ok, we set up the basics but what to do now? AWS has more than 200 services! It can be a bit overwhelming. My advice? Learn the core AWS services first.
Core services are building blocks, essential for most cloud applications. Here are the key ones to focus on:
EC2 (Elastic Compute Cloud)
- What it does: Provides scalable virtual servers (compute capacity) in the cloud.
- Why start here: It introduces you to concepts like regions, availability zones, instances, and security groups.
S3 (Simple Storage Service)
- What it does: Scalable object storage for any type of data, from images and videos to backups.
- Why start here: S3 is crucial for learning about storage solutions, data durability, and security.
RDS (Relational Database Service)
- What it does: Allows users to run relational databases in the cloud.
- Why start here: You learn about backups, scaling, performance optimisation, and how cloud databases differ from traditional setups.
IAM (Identity and Access Management)
- What it does: Manages user access and permissions in AWS - who should be seeing what.
- Why start here: Security is a priority in cloud services. Learning IAM teaches you about user roles, permissions, and best practices for securing your AWS resources.
Explore Free Tier
Take advantage of the AWS Free Tier, which allows users to explore and experiment with various AWS services at no cost, within certain usage limits.
Get Certified
This is the point I would approach differently next time, and I would recommend it to anyone. I started with the certifications and then focused more on hands-on experience. Believe me, everything in the exams makes much more sense when you have built something beforehand; learning becomes more meaningful, and it is easier to prepare for the exam! Certifications look great on LinkedIn and in your CV, but real skills, are essential!
My favourite resources
Summary
- Understand the value of cloud computing
- Choose AWS and familiarise yourself with its ecosystem
- Set up your account and billing alerts
- Focus on core services (EC2, S3, RDS, IAM)
- Utilise the Free Tier for hands-on practice
- Consider certifications to validate your knowledge
Remember, the key to success in AWS is continuous learning and hands-on experience. Embrace the journey, and don't be afraid to build and experiment along the way.
Good luck on your AWS journey! ☁️
Feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn 😊
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