This certification Learning Path is specifically designed to prepare you for the AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Associate (SAA-C02) released in March 2020. This learning path covers the knowledge required to master the domains outlined in the exam blueprint. Throughout this learning path, you will be guided via our courses, hands-on labs including some lab challenges, blog posts, webinars, and a preparation exam at the end, all of which are focused on areas that will be assessed within the exam.   

Intended Audience

This learning path is suitable for anyone wanting to pass the AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Associate SAA-C02 exam. As defined in the exam blueprint, which can be found here, the exam has been designed for individuals wanting to master the solutions architect role. The AWS SAA-C02 certification can verify and validate your knowledge within this area by effectively demonstrating your ability to architect solutions using best practice design principles, in a secure and robust way. 

This learning path is curated specifically to prepare you for passing the AWS Solution Architect Associate exam. We only cover the aspects and services likely to feature in the exam.
Once you have passed the exam we suggest completing the Cloud Architect Role Personal Training Plan. In that Training Plan, we go into more depth on architecture concepts and services. That content is designed to equip you for being performant in the Cloud Architect role.

Learning Objectives

The aim of the certification is to validate your knowledge across a number of different key areas, which have been defined by AWS as being able to:

• Effectively demonstrate knowledge of how to architect and deploy secure and robust applications on AWS technologies
• Define a solution using architectural design principles based on customer requirements
• Provide implementation guidance based on best practices to the organization throughout the life cycle of the project

As a means of demonstrating this knowledge, you will be tested across 4 different domains, with each domain contributing to a total percentage of your overall score. These domains are broken down as:

Domain 1: Design Resilient Architectures 30% 

Domain 2: Design High-Performing Architectures 28% 

Domain 3: Design Secure Applications and Architectures 24% 

Domain 4: Design Cost-Optimized Architectures 18%

As you progress through the learning path, you will gain all the information and knowledge required to fulfill the domain expectations, gaining a deep understanding within each area.

AWS Architecture Lab Challenges
There's no better way to prepare for an AWS certification than working in the AWS console!
These SAA-C02 lab challenges provide real-world scenarios for you to solve, you can select any of the challenges in this learning path.

AWS Architecture Playgrounds
These playgrounds enable you to try out anything in the safety of a sandbox. The perfect way to get more familiar with the AWS services before sitting the SAA-C02 exam.
AWS Cloudformation Playground
Amazon Simple Storage Service (Amazon S3) Playground
Virtual Private Cloud (Amazon VPC) Playground
AWS Lambda Functions Playground 

Prerequisites

To get the most out of this learning path, you should already have some basic work knowledge of building cloud solutions on the AWS platform. If you are just starting out with AWS, we recommend taking our Fundamentals of AWS learning path first.

Feedback

We welcome all feedback and suggestions - please contact us at support@cloudacademy.com if you are unsure about where to start or if you would like help getting started.