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AWS Instructor

In this course, you will learn essential data engineering concepts such as what does a data engineer do, how to perform data discovery, and which AWS data services are available for running, automating, and securing your data solutions and projects. The course introduces you to data engineering tools for continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD), infrastructure as code (IaC), serverless applications, cost optimization, and authentication. You will also learn what networking concepts should be taken into consideration for data engineers.

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In this course, you will learn essential data engineering concepts such as what does a data engineer do, how to perform data discovery, and which AWS data services are available for running, automating, and securing your data solutions and projects. The course introduces you to data engineering tools for continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD), infrastructure as code (IaC), serverless applications, cost optimization, and authentication. You will also learn what networking concepts should be taken into consideration for data engineers.

The course is divided into different modules. With the learning modules, you will learn new concepts and get introduced to AWS services to build your solution.

In this course you will learn to:

- Describe the data engineering role and personas they work with.

- Identify how to perform data discovery to help define requirements and review considerations.

- Identify common data architectures and appropriate AWS services.

- Recognize how to orchestrate and automate data pipelines using AWS services.

- Identify AWS security and monitoring services.

- Identify common CI/CD tools used by data engineers on AWS.

- Identify IaC tools used by data engineers on AWS.

- Describe AWS Serverless Application Model (AWS SAM).

- Identify AWS cost optimization tools.

- Identify different AWS security mechanisms.

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What's inside

Syllabus

Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Introduces essential data engineering concepts for professionals with various backgrounds
Suitable for individuals seeking to enhance their understanding of AWS services for data engineering
Covers fundamental topics, serving as a strong foundation for aspiring data engineers
AI and ML are not explicit focuses of this course

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Reviews summary

Solid foundation in aws data engineering

Learners say this course provides a solid foundation in data engineering on AWS, especially for beginners. Many highlight the well-structured content and clear explanations that make complex AWS services accessible. The hands-on labs and practical examples are frequently praised for solidifying understanding and offering valuable real-world application. While the course covers a broad range of essential AWS data services, some learners with prior experience note that it maintains a foundational level and could benefit from more in-depth coverage for intermediate or advanced topics.
Well-organized with clear and accessible explanations.
"The content is well-structured and easy to follow, making complex topics accessible."
"The logical flow of modules, from data discovery to CI/CD, was very intuitive."
"The explanations are clear, and the real-world examples given truly help in grasping the concepts."
Labs offer valuable hands-on experience and solidify learning.
"The labs were particularly helpful, providing hands-on experience that solidified my understanding."
"The labs were practical and guided me through setting up real AWS services."
"The practical labs are excellent for learning by doing."
An excellent starting point for AWS data engineering.
"This course is an excellent starting point for anyone interested in data engineering on AWS."
"Absolutely brilliant! As someone new to AWS, this course demystified so many concepts."
"The best foundational course for AWS Data Engineering! Covers all the essentials from discovery to CI/CD."
Minor issues with some older labs requiring adjustments.
"My main critique is that some of the older labs or demos seemed slightly outdated, requiring minor adjustments to follow along..."
Some sections could be more engaging and less theoretical.
"I found some sections to be quite dry and theoretical. The delivery could be more engaging."
"My main critique is that sometimes the pace felt uneven, and some sections could use more practical applications."
"Some parts felt a bit rushed, though."
May lack depth for intermediate or advanced learners.
"I felt some topics could have gone into more depth, especially for intermediate learners."
"I was looking for more advanced use cases and practical problem-solving scenarios, but it stayed mostly at a foundational level."
"If you have any prior experience, you might find it superficial. The hands-on parts were okay, but not challenging enough."

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 Data Engineering on AWS - Foundations with these activities:
Organize Course Materials
Enhance your learning experience by organizing course materials, notes, and assignments to improve your retention and recall.
Show steps
  • Create a system for organizing notes, assignments, and quizzes.
  • Review and summarize key concepts from each module.
  • Identify areas where additional research or practice is needed.
Seek Guidance from Experienced Data Engineers
Enhance your learning by connecting with experienced data engineers who can provide valuable insights and mentorship.
Show steps
  • Attend industry events or conferences to meet data engineers.
  • Reach out to data engineering professionals on LinkedIn or other networking platforms.
  • Request informational interviews to learn from their experiences and advice.
Explore AWS Data Services
Supplement your learning by exploring tutorials on AWS data services to enhance your understanding of their functionality.
Browse courses on AWS Cloud Services
Show steps
  • Search for tutorials on AWS S3, Redshift, and Athena.
  • Follow step-by-step guides to create and manage data pipelines using AWS services.
  • Experiment with different AWS data services to gain practical experience.
Two other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all five activities
Solve Data Engineering Challenges
Sharpen your data engineering skills by solving real-world challenges to reinforce your understanding of the course material.
Browse courses on Data Transformation
Show steps
  • Find online platforms or resources that provide data engineering challenges.
  • Attempt to solve challenges related to data ingestion, transformation, and analytics.
  • Analyze your solutions and identify areas for improvement.
Mentor Junior Data Engineers
Reinforce your understanding by mentoring junior data engineers, answering their questions, and sharing your knowledge.
Show steps
  • Volunteer to mentor junior data engineers through online forums or organizations.
  • Provide guidance on data engineering concepts, tools, and best practices.
  • Review and critique their work, offering constructive feedback.

Career center

Learners who complete Data Engineering on AWS - Foundations will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Reading list

We've selected 50 books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Data Engineering on AWS - Foundations.
If you read a book about DevOps, read this one. It combines research and case studies to provide a compelling argument that DevOps is essential for the success of technology organizations.
Provides a comprehensive overview of authentication systems, from the basics to the most advanced topics. It is an excellent resource for anyone who wants to learn more about this complex and challenging field.
Directly addresses the concept and implementation of data catalogs, a primary tool for enabling data discovery. It covers how to organize, search, and manage data within a catalog, making it highly relevant for anyone involved in building or using data discovery solutions. It's a contemporary look at a key technology in the field.
Considered a modern classic, this book delves into the fundamental trade-offs and concepts behind building robust, scalable, and maintainable data systems. While not exclusively about data engineering, its in-depth coverage of distributed systems, databases, and data processing patterns is essential for any data professional looking to deepen their understanding. It is highly valuable for undergraduate and graduate students, as well as working professionals.
The latest edition of the seminal book on Infrastructure as Code, this version updates the concepts and practices to reflect the evolution of cloud and IaC over the past few years. It provides a broader context for infrastructure and how to design and implement it to support strategic organizational goals. This is the most current comprehensive guide to IaC from a leading author in the field.
From the DevOps pioneers must-read for anyone who wants to understand the benefits of DevOps and how to implement it in their organization.
Foundational text for understanding IaC principles and practices. It covers the core concepts of managing infrastructure through code, applying software engineering practices to infrastructure, and working with dynamic systems in the cloud age. It's highly recommended for anyone new to IaC and serves as a great starting point before diving into specific tools.
This classic book popularized the concept of CI/CD and provides a comprehensive overview of the practice. It covers everything from building and testing to deployment and monitoring, and it includes case studies from real-world companies.
Metadata is the backbone of effective data discovery, and this book provides a thorough understanding of metadata concepts, standards, and applications. It is essential reading for anyone who needs to understand how data is described and organized to facilitate finding and retrieving it. is valuable for students and professionals in information management and data roles.
This guide offers a detailed exploration of implementing and scaling data governance, emphasizing the combination of people, processes, and technology. It provides practical guidance for ensuring data trustworthiness, which is fundamental for reliable data discovery. strong reference for professionals and advanced students.
Another comprehensive guide to Apache Spark, co-authored by one of its creators. definitive resource for learning Spark for big data processing, covering its various components and APIs. It's a must-read for anyone serious about using Spark in their data engineering work, suitable for undergraduate, graduate, and professional levels.
Covers the latest AWS certification exam blueprint and provides comprehensive coverage of all exam topics. It is an excellent resource for anyone preparing for the AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Professional exam.
Provides a comprehensive overview of CI/CD and DevOps. It covers everything from the basics of CI/CD to the cultural and organizational changes that are necessary to adopt DevOps.
Provides a comprehensive overview of identity and access management in cloud computing, including authentication and authorization. It is an excellent resource for anyone who wants to learn more about this important topic.
Provides a comprehensive overview of authentication protocols for wireless networks. It is an excellent resource for anyone who wants to learn more about this critical topic.
Provides a comprehensive overview of biometric authentication methods, including fingerprint, face, iris, and voice recognition. It is an excellent resource for anyone who wants to learn more about this rapidly growing field.
Considered a foundational text in the field, this book offers a practical guide to establishing and maintaining a data governance program. A strong data governance framework is crucial for organizing and understanding data, which directly supports data discovery efforts. valuable resource for both students and professionals looking to implement governance practices.
Delves into the foundational concepts of metadata management, explaining its importance beyond just describing data. It discusses the coordination of metadata repositories, which is key to creating a unified view of data for discovery purposes. It's a valuable resource for those looking to deepen their understanding of metadata's role in data management.
Provides a strong foundation in serverless architectures specifically on the AWS platform. It covers the principles of serverless design and explores real-world case studies. It's an excellent resource for those looking to gain a broad understanding of serverless concepts within the context of a major cloud provider.
Covers the latest AWS certification exam blueprint and provides comprehensive coverage of all exam topics. It is an excellent resource for anyone preparing for the AWS Certified DevOps Engineer - Professional exam.
This concise guide to all things data pipelines. Starting with the basics, it covers a wide range of topics, including data connectors, data integration, data quality, orchestration, and monitoring.
A classic in network security, this book provides a foundational understanding of cryptographic principles and secure communication protocols. It delves into the theoretical underpinnings of network security, essential for anyone specializing in this area.
Offers an in-depth exploration of Terraform, including its open-source fork OpenTofu. It covers advanced topics like testing, deployment, and CI/CD with Terraform, making it suitable for those who want to go beyond the basics and master the tool.
Apache Spark widely used engine for big data processing. provides a comprehensive introduction to Spark, covering its core concepts and APIs. It's essential for anyone working with big data pipelines and aligns with courses mentioning Spark. The 3rd edition, published in 2020, covers recent features and improvements.
Security critical aspect of serverless applications. provides a hands-on guide to understanding and implementing security best practices across major cloud providers. It's essential for anyone building or managing serverless systems and useful reference tool.
Delves into contemporary networking topics such as Software-Defined Networking (SDN), Network Functions Virtualization (NFV), Internet of Things (IoT), and cloud networking. It provides a good overview of the evolving landscape of modern networks.
Aligning with the Google Cloud focused course titles, this book provides guidance on performing data engineering tasks on GCP. It's a valuable resource for those preparing for the Google Cloud Professional Data Engineer exam or working with GCP data services. It covers the relevant tools and services offered by Google Cloud.
For those specifically focusing on Terraform across multiple cloud providers, this book offers a more in-depth look at advanced Terraform concepts and patterns. It's a practical guide for building and deploying complex infrastructure on AWS, Azure, and GCP, making it valuable for professionals working in multi-cloud environments.
Delves into architectural patterns specifically for serverless systems, covering event-driven microservices and micro frontends. It's aimed at software architects and experienced developers looking to understand how to design anti-fragile serverless applications. The second edition includes updated topics on security, observability, and multi-regional deployment.
Presents an approach to data governance that focuses on integrating governance into existing processes rather than imposing new ones. This perspective is highly relevant to the practical implementation of data discovery initiatives within organizations. It provides actionable insights for professionals and a pragmatic view for students.
Challenges traditional approaches to data governance, advocating for more agile and user-centric methods. This perspective is valuable for those involved in modern data discovery initiatives that require flexibility and collaboration. It offers a thought-provoking view for professionals and students considering the evolution of data governance.
Explores various patterns and practices for implementing IaC effectively. It goes beyond the basics of tools and focuses on architectural patterns, testing strategies, and collaboration workflows for managing infrastructure as code at scale. It's suitable for those who have a basic understanding of IaC and want to deepen their knowledge of best practices.
Python fundamental language in data engineering. focuses on using Python for various data engineering tasks, including building data pipelines and working with large datasets. It is particularly useful for those whose background is in Python and want to apply their skills to data engineering, aligning with courses mentioning Python for Data Engineering. Published in 2020, it's a relatively recent resource.
This practical guide focuses on real-world networking scenarios and configurations, particularly relevant for those working with Cisco equipment. It bridges the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application, making it highly useful for network administrators and engineers.
Provides a practical guide to designing and implementing continuous delivery pipelines. It covers a wide range of topics, from source control and build automation to testing and deployment.
Understanding how databases work internally is crucial for data engineers. provides a detailed look into the design and implementation of databases and distributed data systems. It's a highly technical book, best suited for graduate students and experienced professionals who want to deepen their understanding of the foundational technologies they work with.
Dbt (data build tool) popular tool in the modern data stack for transforming data in the warehouse. focuses on using dbt for data engineering workflows, aligning with courses mentioning dbt. It's particularly relevant for professionals and graduate students working with cloud data warehouses and ELT processes.
Data privacy critical consideration in modern data discovery. addresses the practical aspects of integrating privacy and security into data workflows. Understanding these concepts is essential for responsible data discovery, particularly when dealing with sensitive information. It highly relevant read for anyone working with data in any capacity.
Data stewardship key role in data governance and plays a vital part in ensuring data is understood and managed correctly for discovery. focuses on the practical aspects of data stewardship. It's a valuable resource for understanding the human element in making data discoverable and usable.
Practical guide to building data pipelines with Kafka, a distributed streaming platform. It covers everything from basic concepts to advanced topics like stream processing and data integration.
This practical guide focuses on using Java and popular tools like Jenkins, Docker, Maven, TestNG, and Selenium to implement CI/CD. It's a great choice for developers who want to get started with CI/CD in Java.
Focuses on Ansible, another popular open-source tool for configuration management and automation. While not strictly an IaC provisioning tool like Terraform, Ansible is crucial for configuring and managing servers and applications on top of the provisioned infrastructure. This book provides practical examples and is valuable for understanding the configuration management aspect of IaC and DevOps workflows.
While not exclusively about serverless, this book is fundamental for understanding the architectural style that pairs well with serverless computing: microservices. It provides a comprehensive overview of designing, building, and evolving microservice architectures. This is crucial prerequisite knowledge for anyone serious about serverless at scale.
Dives into the combination of event-driven architectures and serverless microservices on AWS. It's suitable for those looking to deepen their understanding of designing scalable and resilient systems using AWS serverless services in an event-driven manner.
Provides a hands-on approach to building event-driven serverless applications using AWS Lambda. It explores how to integrate Lambda with other AWS services to create responsive and scalable systems. It's a good resource for developers focusing on event-driven patterns on AWS.
Provides a strong foundation in the core concepts of managerial accounting, which are essential for understanding cost behavior, cost analysis, and cost control within organizations. It is widely used as a textbook in undergraduate and graduate programs and serves as a valuable reference for professionals needing to grasp the fundamentals of cost management.
Presented as a business novel, this classic introduces the Theory of Constraints, a management philosophy focused on identifying and managing bottlenecks to improve overall system performance and reduce costs. While not a traditional textbook, it offers valuable insights into operational efficiency and is considered a must-read for understanding process improvement.

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