AWS Cloud Foundations (Certified)

Complete syllabus

Every chapter and lesson

1. 01

   Chapter 1 · 3 lessons

   Cloud Concepts

   1. 1.1

      What “the cloud” really means

      8 min · Quick check

      Lesson goal: By the end you can define what 'the cloud' means and its key characteristics.

      • Understand the definition of cloud computing.
      • Identify the different types of cloud services: Infrastructure as a Service, Platform as a Service, and Software as a Service.
      • Recognize the deployment models of cloud computing: public, private, and hybrid.
   2. 1.2

      Benefits & the AWS global infrastructure

      9 min · Quick check

      Lesson goal: By the end you can explain the benefits of cloud computing and describe the AWS global infrastructure.

      • List the benefits of using cloud computing, such as scalability, cost-effectiveness, and flexibility.
      • Describe the components of the AWS global infrastructure, including regions and availability zones.
      • Understand how the AWS global infrastructure supports high availability and disaster recovery.
   3. 1.3

      The Well-Architected mindset

      8 min · Quick check

      Lesson goal: By the end you can articulate the principles of the Well-Architected Framework.

      • Define the Well-Architected Framework and its importance in cloud architecture.
      • Identify the five pillars of the Well-Architected Framework: Operational Excellence, Security, Reliability, Performance Efficiency, and Cost Optimization.
      • Explain how to apply the Well-Architected Framework to evaluate and improve cloud architectures.
2. 02

   Chapter 2 · 3 lessons

   Core Compute & Storage

   1. 2.1

      EC2 & the compute family

      9 min · Quick check

      Lesson goal: By the end you can explain the Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2) and its role in the AWS compute family.

      • Define Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2) and its purpose in cloud computing.
      • Identify the different instance types available in EC2.
      • Explain the concept of scaling and load balancing in EC2.
      • Discuss the pricing models associated with EC2 instances.
   2. 2.2

      S3 & object storage

      9 min · Quick check

      Lesson goal: By the end you can describe Amazon Simple Storage Service (S3) and its use for object storage.

      • Define Amazon Simple Storage Service (S3) and its primary function.
      • Explain the concept of objects and buckets in S3.
      • Discuss the durability and availability of S3 storage.
      • Identify common use cases for S3 in cloud applications.
   3. 2.3

      Block & file storage

      8 min · Quick check

      Lesson goal: By the end you can differentiate between block storage and file storage in AWS.

      • Define block storage and file storage and their characteristics.
      • Explain the use of Amazon Elastic Block Store (EBS) for block storage.
      • Discuss the use of Amazon Elastic File System (EFS) for file storage.
      • Identify scenarios where each storage type is most appropriate.
3. 03

   Chapter 3 · 3 lessons

   Networking & Databases

   1. 3.1

      VPCs & networking basics

      9 min · Quick check

      Lesson goal: By the end you can explain the fundamentals of Virtual Private Clouds and networking in AWS.

      • Define Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) and its purpose in AWS.
      • Describe the components of a VPC, including subnets, route tables, and internet gateways.
      • Explain the concept of security groups and network access control lists (ACLs).
      • Discuss the importance of IP addressing and CIDR notation in VPCs.
   2. 3.2

      Managed databases

      9 min · Quick check

      Lesson goal: By the end you can identify and describe the managed database services offered by AWS.

      • Define managed databases and their advantages over self-managed databases.
      • List the types of managed databases available in AWS, such as Amazon RDS and Amazon DynamoDB.
      • Explain the key features of Amazon RDS, including automated backups and scaling.
      • Discuss the use cases for different types of managed databases.
   3. 3.3

      Content delivery & DNS

      8 min · Quick check

      Lesson goal: By the end you can understand the role of content delivery networks and Domain Name System in AWS.

      • Define Content Delivery Network (CDN) and its purpose in improving web performance.
      • Explain how Amazon CloudFront works as a CDN and its integration with other AWS services.
      • Describe the function of the Domain Name System (DNS) and its importance in web applications.
      • Discuss the features of Amazon Route 53 as a scalable DNS web service.
4. 04

   Chapter 4 · 3 lessons

   Security & the Shared Responsibility Model

   1. 4.1

      The shared responsibility model

      9 min · Quick check

      Lesson goal: By the end you can explain the shared responsibility model in cloud security.

      • Define the shared responsibility model and its significance in cloud security.
      • Identify the responsibilities of the cloud provider versus the customer.
      • Discuss examples of shared responsibilities in AWS services.
   2. 4.2

      IAM: users, roles & policies

      10 min · Quick check

      Lesson goal: By the end you can describe how to manage users, roles, and policies in AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM).

      • Define users, roles, and policies in the context of IAM.
      • Explain how to create and manage IAM users and roles.
      • Discuss the importance of policies in controlling access to AWS resources.
   3. 4.3

      Encryption & compliance

      8 min · Quick check

      Lesson goal: By the end you can understand the importance of encryption and compliance in cloud security.

      • Define encryption and its role in protecting data.
      • Identify compliance requirements relevant to AWS services.
      • Discuss best practices for implementing encryption in AWS.
5. 05

   Chapter 5 · 3 lessons

   Pricing, Billing & Passing the Exam

   1. 5.1

      Pricing models & the free tier

      9 min · Quick check

      Lesson goal: By the end you can explain the various pricing models and the AWS Free Tier.

      • Define the different AWS pricing models including On-Demand, Reserved, and Spot Instances.
      • Explain the benefits and limitations of the AWS Free Tier.
      • Identify services included in the Free Tier and their usage limits.
   2. 5.2

      Billing, budgets & support plans

      9 min · Quick check

      Lesson goal: By the end you can describe AWS billing practices, budgeting, and support plans.

      • Define AWS billing and how it is calculated based on usage.
      • Explain how to set up budgets and monitor spending in AWS.
      • Describe the different AWS support plans and their benefits.
   3. 5.3

      Exam strategy & practice questions

      10 min · Quick check

      Lesson goal: By the end you can develop an effective exam strategy and practice answering questions.

      • Identify key topics to focus on for the AWS certification exam.
      • Explain strategies for managing time during the exam.
      • Practice answering sample questions to familiarize yourself with the exam format.