Automation in the AWS Cloud from Coursera

What's inside

Syllabus

Why Automate?

This module starts by defining what the concept of automation means, before moving on to cover some of the basic components that you can use for automation in the cloud. Module 1 is divided in two parts: Introduction to Automation and Automation with Scripting. During the first part of the module (Introduction to Automation), the you learn about the context of automation in the course and explore how cloud computing facilitates automated tasks. You also learn more about APIs and the basics of how to use the AWS Command Line Interface (AWS CLI). In the second part of this module (Automation with Scripting), you get an introduction to the basics of scripting languages, learn about best practices for writing scripts, and receive a crash course in the Bash scripting language. This module also offers a hands-on lab focused on using the AWS CLI for Automation so you can gain practical experience with scripting tasks.

Infrastructure as Code

In the second module of the course, you focus your learning on a relevant industry topic: automating things by using code, which is also known as infrastructure as code (IaC). Understanding IaC is crucial for operationalizing automation. With proper IaC, you can start automating how you provision infrastructure in a declarative way, instead of writing scripts for every task. This module is designed so that you gain a solid understanding about AWS CloudFormation and its importance for automation. This module is also subdivided into two major topics: Infrastructure as Code and Configuration as Code. First, you learn about the difference between IaC and configuration as code before exploring the details of each modality. IaC focuses on provisioning architectures by using a declarative language. In contrast, configuration as code focuses on using automation to configure fleets of servers that are currently running. This module also provides readings and hands-on activities that focus on AWS CloudFormation, so that you can learn about CloudFormation by using it.

AWS Services and Features Used for Automation

Similar to the previous modules, the final module in this course is divided in two segments: Resource Management Best Practices and Scaling Resource Management. In Resource Management Best Practices, you start by learning some techniques for provisioning Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (Amazon EC2) instances. You learn about and compare different methods of instance bootstrapping, and learn about EC2 instance metadata—a dedicated layer where instances can get information about themselves. You also explore ideas about how to combine these features to create automation solutions, and best practices on how to for organizing AWS resources by using tags for compliance and access control. In Scaling Resource Management, you learn how to use AWS Systems Manager and AWS Config to set up automation for maintenance and continuous compliance. This module includes readings and a hands-on activity with Systems Manager.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Strengthens an existing foundation for intermediate learners of cloud automation concepts and practices

Useful for personal growth and development of professionals who work with cloud computing technologies

Introduces students to AWS CloudFormation, a popular industry tool for infrastructure as code

Provides practical experience with scripting tasks through hands-on labs featuring the AWS CLI

Covers resource management best practices in cloud computing environments, which are essential for efficient cloud utilization

Requires students to come in with some background knowledge of cloud computing concepts

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 Automation in the AWS Cloud with these activities:

Organize and review course materials

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Organizing and reviewing course materials can help you stay on top of the course content and identify areas where you need additional support.

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Create a system for organizing your notes, assignments, and other course materials.
Review your notes and assignments regularly.
Identify areas where you need additional support.
Seek out additional resources such as online tutorials, articles, or books.

Follow an online tutorial on automation

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Following an online tutorial can provide a structured and guided approach to learning about automation and practicing your skills.

Browse courses on Automation

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Find an online tutorial that focuses on a specific automation topic.
Follow the tutorial step-by-step.
Practice the concepts you learn in the tutorial.
Apply the concepts you learn to a real-world project.

Practice writing bash scripts

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Practice writing Bash scripts to solidify your understanding of scripting and how it can be used for automation.

Browse courses on Scripting

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Find a tutorial or resource on Bash scripting.
Follow the tutorial or resource to write a few simple Bash scripts.
Try to automate a simple task using a Bash script.

Three other activities

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Experiment with AWS CloudFormation

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Experiment with AWS CloudFormation to gain hands-on experience with IaC and how it can be used to automate infrastructure provisioning.

Browse courses on AWS CloudFormation

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Create an AWS account if you don't already have one.
Follow the AWS CloudFormation documentation to create a stack.
Modify the stack to add or remove resources.
Delete the stack when you are finished.

Build an automated CI/CD pipeline

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Build an automated CI/CD pipeline to gain practical experience with how automation can be used to streamline the software development process.

Browse courses on Continuous Integration

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Choose a CI/CD tool such as Jenkins, Travis CI, or CircleCI.
Set up the CI/CD tool to build and test your code.
Configure the CI/CD tool to deploy your code to a staging environment.
Configure the CI/CD tool to deploy your code to a production environment.
Test the CI/CD pipeline to ensure that it is working correctly.

Participate in an automation hackathon

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Participating in an automation hackathon can provide a challenging and collaborative environment to apply your automation skills and learn from others.

Browse courses on Automation

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Find an automation hackathon that interests you.
Form a team or work independently.
Develop an automation solution to the hackathon challenge.
Present your solution to the hackathon judges.

Career center

Learners who complete Automation in the AWS Cloud will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Cloud Architect

Cloud Architects design, build, and manage cloud computing systems. They ensure that these systems are secure, scalable, and cost-effective. Architects may also develop and implement strategies for migrating applications and data to the cloud. They may also work with customers to develop cloud-based solutions that meet their specific needs. This course may be useful for those who want to become Cloud Architects because it provides a foundation in cloud computing concepts and technologies.

See salaries and explore the career path for Cloud Architect

Cloud Engineer

Cloud Engineers design, build, and maintain cloud computing systems. They work with cloud architects to develop and implement cloud-based solutions. They may also work with customers to migrate applications and data to the cloud. This course may be useful for those who want to become Cloud Engineers because it provides a foundation in cloud computing concepts and technologies.

See salaries and explore the career path for Cloud Engineer

DevOps Engineer

DevOps Engineers work with developers and operations teams to ensure that software is developed and deployed quickly and efficiently. They may also work with cloud architects and engineers to develop and implement cloud-based solutions. This course may be useful for those who want to become DevOps Engineers because it provides a foundation in cloud computing concepts and technologies.

See salaries and explore the career path for DevOps Engineer

Data Scientist

Data Scientists use data to solve business problems. They may work with cloud architects and engineers to develop and implement cloud-based solutions for data storage, processing, and analysis. This course may be useful for those who want to become Data Scientists because it provides a foundation in cloud computing concepts and technologies.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Scientist

Machine Learning Engineer

Machine Learning Engineers develop and deploy machine learning models. They may work with cloud architects and engineers to develop and implement cloud-based solutions for machine learning. This course may be useful for those who want to become Machine Learning Engineers because it provides a foundation in cloud computing concepts and technologies.

See salaries and explore the career path for Machine Learning Engineer

Software Engineer

Software Engineers design, develop, and maintain software applications. They may work with cloud architects and engineers to develop and implement cloud-based solutions. This course may be useful for those who want to become Software Engineers because it provides a foundation in cloud computing concepts and technologies.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Engineer

Systems Administrator

System Administrators install, configure, and maintain computer systems. They may work with cloud architects and engineers to develop and implement cloud-based solutions. This course may be useful for those who want to become System Administrators because it provides a foundation in cloud computing concepts and technologies.

See salaries and explore the career path for Systems Administrator

Database Administrator

Database Administrators design, implement, and maintain databases. They may work with cloud architects and engineers to develop and implement cloud-based solutions for data storage and management. This course may be useful for those who want to become Database Administrators because it provides a foundation in cloud computing concepts and technologies.

See salaries and explore the career path for Database Administrator

Network Engineer

Network Engineers design, build, and maintain computer networks. They may work with cloud architects and engineers to develop and implement cloud-based solutions for networking. This course may be useful for those who want to become Network Engineers because it provides a foundation in cloud computing concepts and technologies.

See salaries and explore the career path for Network Engineer

Security Engineer

Security Engineers design, implement, and maintain security systems. They may work with cloud architects and engineers to develop and implement cloud-based solutions for security. This course may be useful for those who want to become Security Engineers because it provides a foundation in cloud computing concepts and technologies.

See salaries and explore the career path for Security Engineer

IT Manager

IT Managers plan, implement, and manage information technology systems. They may work with cloud architects and engineers to develop and implement cloud-based solutions. This course may be useful for those who want to become IT Managers because it provides a foundation in cloud computing concepts and technologies.

See salaries and explore the career path for IT Manager

Cloud Security Analyst

Cloud Security Analysts identify and mitigate security risks in cloud computing environments. They may work with cloud architects and engineers to develop and implement cloud-based security solutions. This course may be useful for those who want to become Cloud Security Analysts because it provides a foundation in cloud computing concepts and technologies.

See salaries and explore the career path for Cloud Security Analyst

Cloud Solutions Architect

Cloud Solutions Architects design and implement cloud-based solutions for businesses. They may work with cloud architects and engineers to develop and implement cloud-based solutions. This course may be useful for those who want to become Cloud Solutions Architects because it provides a foundation in cloud computing concepts and technologies.

See salaries and explore the career path for Cloud Solutions Architect

Data Architect

Data Architects design and implement data management solutions. They may work with cloud architects and engineers to develop and implement cloud-based solutions for data storage and management. This course may be useful for those who want to become Data Architects because it provides a foundation in cloud computing concepts and technologies.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Architect

DevOps Architect

DevOps Architects design and implement DevOps solutions. They may work with cloud architects and engineers to develop and implement cloud-based solutions for DevOps. This course may be useful for those who want to become DevOps Architects because it provides a foundation in cloud computing concepts and technologies.

See salaries and explore the career path for DevOps Architect

Automation in the AWS Cloud

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