Shape effective cloud architectures with AWS

Cloud architecture is about choosing the right combination of services and design patterns to meet real technical and business requirements.

On this course, you’ll explore the fundamentals of architecting on AWS and the decisions that shape secure, resilient, scalable, and cost-conscious cloud environments.

You’ll examine how core AWS services across compute, storage, networking, databases, and identity fit into broader architecture patterns, while learning to assess trade-offs between performance, availability, security, and cost.

Translate requirements into cloud architecture

Explore how solutions architects interpret business and technical needs before selecting appropriate AWS services and design approaches.

You’ll consider factors such as availability, scalability, performance, security, and future growth when shaping cloud solutions.

Connect AWS services into effective designs

See how compute, networking, storage, database, and identity services work together within an architecture.

You’ll examine how service choices and dependencies influence the reliability and performance of the wider environment.

Weigh architecture trade-offs with confidence

Develop your judgement by comparing different approaches to common architecture challenges.

You’ll consider how AWS design principles and Well-Architected thinking can help you identify strengths, limitations, and opportunities for improvement.

By the end, you’ll have a stronger foundation in AWS architecture and be ready to apply these principles to more complex application, security, governance, and serverless design scenarios.

Syllabus

Week 1
AWS Solutions Architect - Fundamentals of Architecting on AWS
- Foundations of AWS Solution Design
  In this activity, you will explore the AWS Well-Architected Framework, master solution design best practices, and learn the core responsibilities of an AWS Solutions Architect to build secure, scalable cloud systems.
- Introduction to the AWS Global Infrastructure
  In this activity, you will explore about the AWS Global Infrastructure, the Shared Responsibility Model, networking basics, compute, storage, and database services.
- Walkthrough of the AWS Well-Architected Tool
  In this activity, you will use the AWS Well-Architected Tool to create a workload, perform an architectural review, save progress milestones, and view reports to improve workload reliability and security.
Week 2
AWS Solutions Architect - Fundamentals of Security on AWS
- Fundamentals of Security on AWS
  In this activity, you will explore essential AWS security best practices, master the Shared Responsibility Model, and discover overlooked security strategies to safeguard your cloud architecture effectively.
- Introduction to AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM)
  In this activity, you will learn AWS IAM fundamentals, including authentication, authorisation, policies, and roles. Explore real-world use cases and practise creating IAM users and groups, attaching policies, and managing access.
- Lab - Introduction to AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM)
  Practice managing AWS IAM users, groups, passwords, and permissions. Add users to groups, log in with IAM users, and observe how IAM policies control access to specific AWS services.

Prove you're job ready

Highlight the new, job-relevant skills you’ve gained and supplement existing qualifications with a hard-earned, industry-specific digital certificate – plus one for every course within your Professional Certificate.

Learn the latest in your chosen industry or subject.
Complete each course and pass assessments.
Receive certificates validated by the educating organisation.
Impress employers with learning outcomes you can add to your CV.
Make your career dreams a reality.

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Learning on this course

On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

Identify core AWS services across compute, networking, storage, database, and identity components.
Discuss how business and technical requirements shape appropriate AWS service choices.
Describe the relationships and dependencies between interconnected AWS services in a cloud design.
Explain fundamental AWS Well-Architected principles and architectural trade-offs regarding performance, security, and cost.
Explore key factors that influence cloud scalability, availability, and overall system reliability.

Who is the course for?

This course is for technical professionals and aspiring solutions architects with existing AWS knowledge who want to strengthen their understanding of cloud architecture principles, service selection, and design trade-offs.

Who developed the course?

Amazon Web Services (AWS)

AWS is the world’s most comprehensive cloud, enabling organizations to accelerate innovation, reduce costs, and scale more efficiently.

About this Professional Certificate

Progress from AWS architecture fundamentals to secure, scalable, serverless solutions and focused certification preparation.

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Start learning today - free 2-day trial

After your free trial you can:

Pay $49 per month to keep learning online
Have complete control over your subscription; you can cancel any time
Work at your own pace and set your own deadlines at every stage
Only pay while you’re learning; the subscription will cancel automatically when you finish
Complete online assessments to test your knowledge and prove your skills
Earn digital course certificates and a final award that you can share online, with potential employers, and your professional network

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Learning on FutureLearn

Your learning, your rules

Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores

Join a global classroom

Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others

Map your progress

As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate

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