AWS SysOps Administrator Associate 2020 (PASS THE EXAM!)

Introduction

This tutorial provides a comprehensive guide to preparing for the AWS SysOps Administrator Associate exam (SO1-C01). It is designed for individuals pursuing a career in DevOps and covers essential topics such as configuration, automation, patching, and monitoring of cloud services and virtual servers. By following these steps, you will build the knowledge and skills necessary to ace the exam.

Step 1: Understand Exam Objectives

Familiarize yourself with the key domains covered in the AWS SysOps Administrator Associate exam. This includes:

• Monitoring and Reporting
• High Availability, Backup, and Recovery
• Deployment, Provisioning, and Automation
• Security and Compliance
• Networking and Content Delivery

Practical Advice

• Review the official AWS exam guide for detailed objectives.
• Create a study plan that allocates time to each domain based on your familiarity and confidence level.

Step 2: Set Up Your AWS Environment

Before diving into more complex topics, set up an AWS account to gain hands-on experience.

Steps to Set Up Your AWS Account

1. Visit the AWS Free Tier page.
2. Create a new account by providing necessary information.
3. Verify your identity via a phone number.
4. Enter payment information (you won’t be charged if you stay within Free Tier limits).
5. Log in to the AWS Management Console.

Practical Advice

• Take advantage of the AWS Free Tier to explore different services without incurring costs.
• Familiarize yourself with the AWS Management Console interface.

Step 3: Explore Key AWS Services

Gain familiarity with core AWS services relevant to the SysOps Administrator role. Focus on:

• EC2 (Elastic Compute Cloud)
• S3 (Simple Storage Service)
• RDS (Relational Database Service)
• CloudWatch (Monitoring Service)
• IAM (Identity and Access Management)

Practical Advice

• Experiment with creating and managing instances in EC2.
• Set up an S3 bucket and practice uploading, managing, and securing data.

Step 4: Learn Automation and Configuration Management

Understand the tools and processes for automating deployment and configuration management.

Key Tools to Explore

• AWS CloudFormation: For creating and managing AWS resources.
• AWS OpsWorks: For configuration management.
• AWS Systems Manager: For operational data management.

Practical Advice

• Create a simple CloudFormation template to launch a basic application stack.
• Use Systems Manager to automate tasks across your AWS resources.

Step 5: Implement Monitoring and Security Best Practices

Monitoring and security are critical components of the SysOps role.

Monitoring Best Practices

• Set up CloudWatch Alarms to monitor resource usage.
• Use CloudTrail to log account activity for auditing.

Security Best Practices

• Implement IAM roles and policies to enforce the principle of least privilege.
• Regularly review security groups and network access control lists (NACLs).

Practical Advice

• Create alerts for unusual activity or resource limits being reached.
• Conduct regular security audits of your AWS environment.

Step 6: Prepare for the Exam

Utilize study materials and practice exams to reinforce your knowledge.

Recommended Resources

• AWS Training and Certification: Explore free resources and training.
• Practice exams from platforms like ExamPro and Whizlabs.
• Join online study groups or forums for peer support.

Practical Advice

• Schedule your exam once you feel confident in your knowledge.
• Take multiple practice tests to identify areas needing improvement.

Conclusion

By following these steps, you will be well on your way to mastering the skills required for the AWS SysOps Administrator Associate exam. Focus on hands-on practice, understanding key services, and implementing best practices in monitoring and security. Good luck on your journey to certification, and remember to review the AWS exam guide for the most up-to-date information.