Architecting Solutions on AWS from Coursera

Are you looking to get more technical? Are you looking to begin working in the cloud, but don’t know where to go next? Are you looking to up your game by prepping for the AWS Solutions Architect Associate Exam? Do you see yourself as a cloud consultant, but can’t quite envision how your days would be? Are you puzzled how to match a customer’s requirements with the right AWS services/solutions? If so, you are in the right place!! You’ll learn how to plan, think, and act like a Solution Architect in a real-life customer scenario.

In this course, you’ll get prepared to begin your career architecting solutions on AWS. Through a series of use case scenarios and practical learning, you’ll learn to identify services and features to build resilient, secure, and highly available IT solutions in the AWS Cloud. Each week, a fictional customer will present a different need. We will then review the options, choose the best one for the use case and walk you through the architecture design on a whiteboard. You’ll learn about event-driven architectures with a focus on performance efficiency and cost. You’ll then gain knowledge on how to architect a solution using many purpose-built AWS services. With this understanding, you’ll get a sense of hybrid architectures with a refined focus on reliability and operational efficiency. Finally, you’ll wrap up your learning by understanding a multi-account strategy centered on security and cost.

What's inside

Syllabus

Designing a serverless web backend on AWS

The first week in this course follows a customer use case where an ecommerce company needs to migrate a backend web service to AWS. You will first hear from the customer about their requirements and the problems that they are trying to solve with this migration. Then, you will learn how to design the solution for this use case, step by step, by using services such as Amazon API Gateway, AWS Lambda, Amazon Simple Queue Service (Amazon SQS), Amazon Simple Notification Service (Amazon SNS), and Amazon DynamoDB.

Designing a serverless data analytics solution on AWS

The second week in this course follows a customer use case where a software company needs a data analytics solution in AWS so that they can derive insights from clickstream data. You will first hear from the customer about their requirements and the problems that they are trying to solve with this solution. Then, you will learn how to design the solution for this use case, step by step, by using services such as Amazon Simple Storage Service (Amazon S3), Amazon Kinesis Data Firehose, Amazon Athena, Amazon QuickSight, and more.

Designing a hybrid solution for container based workloads on AWS

The third week in this course follows a customer use case where an enterprise insurance company needs to migrate some of their container workloads to AWS by using a hybrid model. You will first hear from the customer about their requirements and the problems that they are trying to solve with this migration. Then, you will learn how to design the solution for this use case, step by step, by using services such as AWS Direct Connect, Amazon Elastic Container Service (Amazon ECS), Amazon ECS Anywhere, Amazon Relational Database Service (Amazon RDS), AWS Systems Manager, and more.

Designing a solution following account governance and management best practices

The fourth week in this course follows a customer use case where a startup company needs guidance about how to set up an account-management strategy that follows best practices for account governance and standards. You will first hear from the customer about their requirements and the problems that they are trying to solve with this strategy. Then, you will learn how to design the solution for this use case, step by step, by using services such as AWS Organizations, AWS IAM Identity Center (successor to AWS Single Sign-On), AWS CloudTrail, and more.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Examines architecture design from a real-world perspective, which aligns with industry best practices

Develops skills in serverless technologies, which are in high demand in the cloud computing industry

Taught by instructors with extensive experience in AWS architecture, which ensures high-quality content

Covers how to design solutions for hybrid cloud environments, which is becoming increasingly common in enterprise IT

Requires familiarity with AWS services and concepts, which may be a barrier for complete beginners

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Architecting Solutions on AWS with these activities:

Review serverless architecture

Show steps

Strengthen your understanding of serverless architecture principles to prepare for course content on building solutions using AWS services.

Browse courses on Serverless architecture

Show steps

Identify the key concepts and benefits of serverless architecture.
Explore different types of serverless services, such as functions, containers, and databases.
Review best practices and considerations for designing and implementing serverless applications.

Volunteer for an AWS Community Project

Show steps

Give back to the community and apply your AWS skills for a good cause by volunteering for an AWS Community Project.

Browse courses on AWS

Show steps

Find an AWS Community Project that aligns with your interests.
Contact the project organizers and offer your assistance.
Collaborate with other volunteers to contribute to the project goals.
Share your experiences and promote the project to others.

Attend an AWS community meetup

Show steps

Connect with other AWS professionals, share knowledge, and stay updated on the latest trends by attending an AWS community meetup.

Browse courses on AWS

Show steps

Find an AWS community meetup in your area.
Register for the event.
Attend the meetup and engage with other attendees.
Follow up with any connections you make.

Five other activities

Expand to see all activities and additional details

Show all eight activities

Walkthrough an example solution on AWS

Show steps

Gain practical experience by following a guided tutorial that demonstrates the implementation of a solution on AWS.

Browse courses on AWS Best Practices

Show steps

Choose a tutorial that aligns with your interests or learning goals.
Follow the step-by-step instructions provided in the tutorial.
Experiment with different settings and configurations to observe the impact on the solution.
Document your findings and insights.

Participate in an AWS workshop

Show steps

Gain hands-on experience and learn directly from AWS experts by participating in an AWS workshop.

Browse courses on AWS

Show steps

Identify an AWS workshop that aligns with your interests or learning goals.
Register for the workshop.
Attend the workshop and actively participate in the exercises and discussions.
Apply what you learn in the workshop to your own projects.

Design solutions using AWS services

Show steps

Sharpen your problem-solving skills and gain confidence in designing solutions by practicing with AWS services.

Browse courses on AWS Services

Show steps

Identify a real-world problem or use case.
Research and select appropriate AWS services to address the problem.
Design a solution architecture using the chosen AWS services.
Evaluate the solution for scalability, reliability, and cost-effectiveness.
Document your solution and share it with others.

Mentor a junior AWS professional

Show steps

Share your knowledge and experience by mentoring a junior AWS professional.

Browse courses on Mentoring

Show steps

Identify a junior AWS professional who would benefit from your guidance.
Set up regular meetings to provide support and advice.
Share your experiences and insights on AWS best practices and career development.
Help your mentee navigate challenges and achieve their goals.

Write a blog post on AWS architectural patterns

Show steps

Deepen your understanding and share your knowledge by writing a blog post on AWS architectural patterns.

Show steps

Research and identify common AWS architectural patterns.
Choose a specific pattern to focus on.
Write a detailed explanation of the pattern, including its benefits and use cases.
Provide real-world examples of how the pattern can be applied.
Publish your blog post and share it with others.

Career center

Learners who complete Architecting Solutions on AWS will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Cloud Architect

A Cloud Architect designs, builds, and manages cloud computing systems. This course can help you become a Cloud Architect by teaching you how to design and implement solutions on AWS. You will learn about the different AWS services and how to use them to build secure, scalable, and reliable applications. This course will also help you prepare for the AWS Solutions Architect Associate Exam.

See salaries and explore the career path for Cloud Architect

Solutions Architect

A Solutions Architect designs and implements IT solutions for businesses. This course can help you become a Solutions Architect by teaching you how to design and implement solutions on AWS. You will learn about the different AWS services and how to use them to build secure, scalable, and reliable applications. This course will also help you prepare for the AWS Solutions Architect Associate Exam.

See salaries and explore the career path for Solutions Architect

Data Scientist

A Data Scientist uses data to solve business problems. This course can help you become a Data Scientist by teaching you how to design and implement data solutions on AWS. You will learn about the different AWS data services and how to use them to build scalable, reliable, and cost-effective data pipelines. This course will also help you learn about the data science methodology and how to apply it to your work.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Scientist

Machine Learning Engineer

A Machine Learning Engineer designs and builds machine learning models. This course can help you become a Machine Learning Engineer by teaching you how to design and implement machine learning solutions on AWS. You will learn about the different AWS machine learning services and how to use them to build scalable, reliable, and cost-effective machine learning models. This course will also help you learn about the machine learning methodology and how to apply it to your work.

See salaries and explore the career path for Machine Learning Engineer

Data Engineer

A Data Engineer designs and builds data pipelines. This course can help you become a Data Engineer by teaching you how to design and implement data solutions on AWS. You will learn about the different AWS data services and how to use them to build scalable, reliable, and cost-effective data pipelines. This course will also help you learn about the data engineering methodology and how to apply it to your work.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Engineer

DevOps Engineer

A DevOps Engineer builds and maintains software systems. This course can help you become a DevOps Engineer by teaching you how to design and implement solutions on AWS. You will learn about the different AWS services and how to use them to build secure, scalable, and reliable applications. This course will also help you learn about the DevOps methodology and how to apply it to your work.

See salaries and explore the career path for DevOps Engineer

Site Reliability Engineer (SRE)

A Site Reliability Engineer (SRE) ensures the reliability and performance of software systems. This course can help you become an SRE by teaching you how to design and implement solutions on AWS. You will learn about the different AWS services and how to use them to build secure, scalable, and reliable applications. This course will also help you learn about the SRE methodology and how to apply it to your work.

See salaries and explore the career path for Site Reliability Engineer (SRE)

Cloud Security Engineer

A Cloud Security Engineer secures cloud computing systems. This course can help you become a Cloud Security Engineer by teaching you how to design and implement secure solutions on AWS. You will learn about the different AWS security services and how to use them to protect your applications and data. This course will also help you prepare for the AWS Certified Security – Specialty exam.

See salaries and explore the career path for Cloud Security Engineer

Cloud Consultant

A Cloud Consultant helps businesses adopt and use cloud computing. This course can help you become a Cloud Consultant by teaching you how to design and implement solutions on AWS. You will learn about the different AWS services and how to use them to build secure, scalable, and reliable applications. This course will also help you learn about the cloud consulting methodology and how to apply it to your work.

See salaries and explore the career path for Cloud Consultant

IT Manager

An IT Manager plans and manages the IT infrastructure of an organization. This course can help you become an IT Manager by teaching you how to design and implement solutions on AWS. You will learn about the different AWS services and how to use them to build secure, scalable, and reliable applications. This course will also help you learn about the IT management methodology and how to apply it to your work.

See salaries and explore the career path for IT Manager

Security Analyst

A Security Analyst protects computer systems from security threats. This course may be useful for you if you want to become a Security Analyst. You will learn about the different AWS security services and how to use them to protect your applications and data. This course will also help you learn about the security analysis methodology and how to apply it to your work.

See salaries and explore the career path for Security Analyst

Software Engineer

A Software Engineer designs and builds software applications. This course may be useful for you if you want to become a Software Engineer. You will learn about the different AWS services and how to use them to build secure, scalable, and reliable applications. This course will also help you learn about the software engineering methodology and how to apply it to your work.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Engineer

Network Engineer

A Network Engineer designs and builds computer networks. This course may be useful for you if you want to become a Network Engineer. You will learn about the different AWS networking services and how to use them to build secure, scalable, and reliable networks. This course will also help you learn about the network engineering methodology and how to apply it to your work.

See salaries and explore the career path for Network Engineer

Systems Engineer

A Systems Engineer designs and builds complex systems. This course may be useful for you if you want to become a Systems Engineer. You will learn about the different AWS services and how to use them to build secure, scalable, and reliable systems. This course will also help you learn about the systems engineering methodology and how to apply it to your work.

See salaries and explore the career path for Systems Engineer

Business Analyst

A Business Analyst analyzes business processes and develops solutions to improve them. This course may be useful for you if you want to become a Business Analyst. You will learn about the different AWS services and how to use them to build scalable, reliable, and cost-effective solutions for businesses. This course will also help you learn about the business analysis methodology and how to apply it to your work.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Analyst