AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner Exam

Author: Pass Yourcert

All journeys start somewhere. AWS's starting point is the only Foundational-level certification, AWS certified cloud practitioner exam.

AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner is a high-level introduction to AWS. This course doesn't focus on any specific service, but rather focuses on AWS's general structure and some basic knowledge about the major services.

Who should take the AWS CCP exam?

The AWS Cloud Practitioner exam targets absolute beginners in the technical aspect, as well business professionals (project and product managers, finance resource specialists, executives) who want to gain familiarity with AWS, but don't have to obtain an associate-level AWS certification. This means that people who work in the cloud but are not involved with implementation or deployment.

AWS recommends at least six months of experience in AWS in any role and a basic understanding of IT services and how they are used in the AWS Cloud platform.

This is probably a risky approach. Consider the six months of previous experience as a recommendation and not a requirement. We recommend the Introduction to AWS course for those who are just starting to get into the cloud. This course is a great way for you to quickly grasp basic cloud concepts.

You are not eligible for this exam if you have an AWS certification at the Professional or Associate level. The CCP is a great way to get started with AWS if you are already proficient but not certified. It is intended for beginners.

Note: We have a course that will help you understand cloud computing and build a cloud strategy for your business. The AWS Business Essentials course can help you become a professional AWS business person.

AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner Guide:

This exam covers the following domains

Cloud Concepts - 28%

Define AWS Cloud and its value proposition -- Identify AWS Cloud economics aspects -- List various cloud architecture design principles

Security 24%

Define AWS Shared Responsibility -- Define AWS Cloud security concepts and compliance concepts -- Identify AWS Access Management capabilities -- Identify resources to support security.

Technology - 36%

Define AWS Cloud Deployment and Operation Methods -- Define AWS Global Infrastructure -- Identify Core AWS Services -- Identify resources to support technology

Pricing and Billing - 12%

Compare and contrast different pricing models for AWS. Recognize and compare various account structures for AWS billing. Identify resources for billing support.

This breakdown is consistent with our experience sitting the exam. However, Billing and Pricing seem more important than the indicated 12%.

We've been asked questions about in the exams that we took.

  • AWS Global Infrastructure (AWS regions, Availability zones, Edge locations)

  • AWS architectural principles

  • AWS value proposition

  • Key AWS Services and Common Use Cases

  • AWS Shared Responsibility Model

  • The AWS Console

  • IAM Identity Access Manager

  • AWS storage services (S3, Glacier and etc.) and use cases )

  • EC2 Use Cases, Comparison of EC2 vs. On-Premise Servers, AutoScaling. The use of On-Demand Instances vs.. Spot Instances vs. Reserved Instances

  • AWS Relational Database Service (RDS)

  • AWS Cost Control (AWS Organizations and Consolidated Billing using Alarms and Resource tagging)

  • TCO and Cloud Economics (data centre migrations, etc. )

  • Trusted Advisor

  • AWS support resources

  • Security best practices (IAM, S3)

  • AWS Marketplace

How to Prepare: The Nuts and Bolts

AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner exam is composed of 65 multiple-choice and multiple-answer questions that can be completed in just 90 minutes. The exam is USD 100 (or the regional equivalent) and can be taken in English, Japanese Korean, Korean, or Simplified Chinese.

Register at the AWS Training & Certification portal and click "Schedule New Examination."

What's next for AWS CCP?

After passing your AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner exam what's next?

First, upload your certificate to your cloud profile. It's easy and a great way for you to show your cloud proficiency.

Most students begin the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner certification -- Solutions architect, developer, and SysOps administrator.

One of our Learning Paths can take you from beginner to expert in your chosen career path. You just need to choose the path that best suits your career goals, and then follow the instructions.