How Difficult is it to Learn AWS?

Are you curious about learning AWS but worried it might be too hard? Of course, the difficulty that comes with learning a new skill is somewhat subjective. The challenges of learning AWS depend on which AWS tools you’ll be using, how much experience you have in computer science, and how many different tools you plan on using.

No matter your current schedule or comfort level with AWS, plenty of tools are available to help make learning easier than you might think.

What is AWS?

Released to the public in 2002, Amazon Web Services is the most commonly used Cloud Computing Platform among individuals, corporations, and public-sector organizations. AWS encompasses a wide range of services. As of 2022, this includes more than two hundred distinct services, including cloud data storage, database management, data analytics, machine learning, and distributed computing services, and the number of services available is only set to continue growing as Amazon expands its computing capabilities. At the time of writing, Amazon Web Services is the leader in Cloud infrastructure services with a 33% market share, more than its two primary competitors (Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud) combined.

Amazon Web Services is an incredibly trusted Cloud computing service and counts among its clients NASA, Netflix, the Department of Defense, and Bloomberg. Amazon Web Services is such a trusted network in terms of reliability and security that the UK’s Ministry of Defense and the MI:5 and MI:6 intelligence agencies have contracted AWS to host classified information. This level of security and coverage means that learning AWS will also be a vital part of a cybersecurity curriculum, as many organizations and institutions use the service to store sensitive data and information. Regardless of what aspect of the world of computer science you work in, it is very likely that you will interact with AWS in a meaningful capacity.

Read more about what AWS is and why you should learn it. 

What Can You Do with AWS?

Given that AWS is a collection of over two hundred different cloud computing services, there are an almost endless number of different things you can do through AWS. On an enterprise level, AWS allows organizations and businesses to host and store huge amounts of data and utilize Amazon’s various data analysis tools to interpret, catalog, and use that data. AWS also allows groups to take advantage of Amazon’s computer infrastructure to train machine learning programs or assist in web development. AWS is also a common-hosting platform for web applications.

AWS is also used in a wide variety of different contexts outside of the world of business. It is such a versatile service that companies and organizations have found ways to tailor AWS services to their needs. The NFL uses AWS for advanced statistical analysis and data-driven sports science, and MI:6 uses the same platform to store classified information of vital national security interest. The versatility of the services offered by AWS lets the same users building machine learning algorithms host those tools for companies wanting to perform significant data analytics projects. As the AWS cloud computing platform grows, so does the scope of projects it can handle.

What Are the Most Challenging Parts of Learning AWS?

For most students, the most challenging aspect of learning AWS will be learning the necessary skills to start working on more advanced AWS projects. Since it is a cloud computing tool, AWS is about optimizing workflow and efficiency by letting users take advantage of Amazon’s vast resources. Thus, students interested in machine learning projects will find it much more challenging to learn Python and other database program languages than they will learn how to take advantage of Amazon’s databases. This will make training programs, such as the ones offered through Noble Desktop, ideal ways to pick up the requisite skills while also learning AWS’s platform-specific requirements.

How Does Learning AWS Compare to Other Platforms?

AWS’s primary competitors are the two other major cloud computing providers, Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud. These three companies currently control upwards of 70% of the market share for cloud computing service providers, so anyone working in a computer or data-related field will likely utilize one or more of these providers. Each provider offers different advantages and disadvantages, but the ultimate difference lies mostly in industry adoption and what industries a student hopes to work in.

AWS is the oldest cloud computing platform and therefore has a significant head start in terms of features and adoption. As of the time of writing, AWS offers about 200 unique services, whereas Azure offers a bit under 100 and Google Cloud offers only about 60. While the other two platforms are consistently expanding their service offerings, there are very few features offered by other cloud providers that AWS doesn’t offer. The price of each service will vary based on what it is used for and how much data is being used, but in general, Azure is slightly cheaper for data storage and AWS is slightly cheaper for distributed computing. However, the difference can be measured in fractions of a cent, so the differences will only become visible for the highest volume users.

Each service has been adopted by major corporations and public-sector organizations, meaning that no matter what skill you learn, you can expect that many prospective employers will already be using the platform. Students won’t be restricted to a specific platform if they have professional aspirations. However, AWS is the most commonly used of these platforms since it is both the most expansive and has been on the market the longest. 

Students interested in learning more about Azure and Google Cloud should consider exploring the Noble Desktop Learn pages for those platforms

Specific Skills Training

Once you know what kinds of projects you plan to use AWS to optimize, you can make a more informed decision about the training options you will need. For some cases, such as learning how to use AWS to build enterprise-level networks or how to host webpages, you’ll be able to jump right into a professional skills training course with no additional background. Students who want to learn how to use AWS for machine learning or cybersecurity purposes will likely need additional training in skills like Python or SQL. The requisite training will vary from skill to skill, but in general, any advanced AWS function will require students to have a fairly robust background in computer science.

Learn AWS with Hands-on Training at Noble Desktop

Those interested in learning how to utilize AWS and the various computing processes available through the service may want to receive guidance on using these tools. Anyone looking for this guidance can find it through the professional training services offered by Noble Desktop. These classes are available in-person at Noble’s Manhattan campus or online in private digital classrooms. Regardless of how you take these classes, students will be taught by expert instructors who have years of experience working with AWS. Class sizes, even those online, are kept small so students won’t have to worry about competing with their classmates for their instructor’s attention. Plus, anyone enrolling in a Noble training course can retake the class any time within a calendar year for free. This will ensure that students have even more time to practice their AWS skills.

People who are interested in an overview of the tools offered by Amazon and their basic functions will want to enroll in Noble’s Cloud Computing with AWS course. This class will teach participants how to build enterprise-level cloud computing environments for various professional purposes. Students will learn how to use cloud infrastructure for building networks and databases and receive practical, hands-on training in these skills to be ready to apply their training once they enter the professional world. This is an excellent course for those who want to work with AWS tools but aren’t sure that they want to specialize in a specific aspect of the program suite.

AWS is vital to modern cybersecurity infrastructures because many major institutions and organizations utilize the platform. If you’re interested in entering this important and growing career field, you will want to enroll in Noble’s Cybersecurity Bootcamp. In this immersive, career-focused training program, students will learn how to analyze and engineer cybersecurity systems for Python, Linux, and cloud computing databases like AWS. As more important and sensitive data is stored on cloud systems, businesses will become more invested in their cybersecurity infrastructure. In this class, students will learn techniques for monitoring, analyzing, and planning cybersecurity systems, how to discover weaknesses and potential exploits in a system, and how to recognize attackers and security breaches. This is an ideal course for any student who wants to enter into a new career in the in-demand field of cybersecurity. You may also wish to explore their other options for cybersecurity classes and bootcamps through Noble Desktop.