Free online courseAWS basics

Course Description

Step into cloud computing with a practical introduction to AWS that helps you go from curiosity to confidence. This free online course is designed for learners who want to understand what AWS is, why it powers so many modern applications, and how to start using its core services in a hands-on way. Instead of staying in theory, you will focus on the everyday decisions that make cloud projects work: how you deploy, connect, secure, automate, and scale.

You will work with EC2 from the start, learning how to launch instances, configure access, and connect safely. Along the way, you will see how bootstrapping with user data can automate setup, and why creating custom AMIs can save time and keep environments consistent. You will also address a common real-world challenge: storing data correctly so it persists beyond a single server, exploring options like block and shared storage that fit different needs.

As your architecture grows, networking and security become essential. You will learn the purpose of building a VPC, understand CIDR blocks, and use security groups thoughtfully so services can communicate without exposing what they should not. The course also highlights why Auto Scaling matters for reliability and cost control, so your application can handle traffic changes without manual intervention.

To round out a well-balanced foundation, you will explore managed databases and compare approaches such as relational engines and DynamoDB. You will also learn how IAM roles and instance profiles enable secure access between services, reducing risky key management. Finally, you will see how CloudFront improves content delivery globally and how AWS Lambda can react automatically to events like file uploads to S3. By the end, you will have a solid mental model of AWS fundamentals and a clearer path toward building and operating real cloud workloads.