AWS for Beginners 2026: Hands-On Labs & Essential Skills

Welcome to the "AWS EC2 Overview" course! In this video, you'll explore Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2), a key component of Amazon Web Services that provides scalable computing capacity in the cloud.

What You’ll Learn:

• Introduction to EC2: Understand what EC2 is and how it fits into the AWS ecosystem

• EC2 important components like AMI, Key Pairs etc.

Welcome to the "AWS EC2 Hands-On Labs" course! In this video, you'll gain a comprehensive understanding of Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2) while engaging in practical, hands-on labs.

What You’ll Learn:

• Introduction to EC2: Understand the role of EC2 in the AWS ecosystem.

• Instance Types: Explore various EC2 instance types and their applications.

• Launching an Instance: Step-by-step instructions to launch and configure your first EC2 instance.

  
  

Welcome to the "AWS EC2 Web App Hosting Labs" course! In this engaging video, you’ll learn how to leverage Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2) to host a web application, alongside practical, hands-on labs.

What You’ll Learn:

• Introduction to EC2: Understand EC2’s role within the AWS ecosystem and its capabilities.

• Instance Types: Explore different EC2 instance types and their suitable use cases.

• Launching an Instance: Follow step-by-step instructions to launch and configure your first EC2 instance.

• Hands-On Labs: Participate in guided labs, including:

  • Setting up a web server (e.g., Apache or Nginx) on your EC2 instance.

  • Deploying a simple web application.

  • Configuring security groups and access controls for your app.

Welcome to the "Introduction to AWS S3" course! In this video, you’ll dive into Amazon Simple Storage Service (S3), a scalable storage solution that is essential for cloud computing.

What You’ll Learn:

• Overview of S3: Understand what AWS S3 is and its role in cloud storage.

• Key Features: Explore the key features of S3, including durability, scalability, and security.

• Storage Classes: Learn about the different storage classes available and when to use each.

• Basic Operations: Get familiar with essential operations, such as creating buckets, uploading files, and managing permissions.

• Use Cases: Discover common use cases for S3, including static website hosting, backup solutions, and big data analytics.

Welcome to the "AWS S3 Bucket Creation Lab" video! In this hands-on session, you’ll learn how to create and configure an Amazon S3 bucket, one of the core components of AWS cloud storage.

What You’ll Learn:

• Creating an S3 Bucket: Step-by-step guidance on how to create your first S3 bucket.

• Configuring Bucket Settings: Learn how to set permissions, versioning, and lifecycle policies.

• Uploading Files: Discover how to upload and manage files within your bucket.

• Setting Access Controls: Understand how to configure access permissions for your bucket and its contents.

By the end of this lab, you’ll have practical experience in creating and managing S3 buckets, equipping you with essential skills for working with AWS cloud storage

Welcome to the "AWS S3 Static Website & Versioning Lab" video! In this hands-on session, you’ll learn how to host a static website on Amazon S3 and implement versioning for your stored files.

What You’ll Learn:

• Hosting a Static Website: Step-by-step guidance on configuring an S3 bucket to serve as a static website.

• Uploading Website Files: Learn how to upload HTML, CSS, and JavaScript files to your S3 bucket.

• Configuring Bucket Settings: Discover how to set up bucket policies and enable website hosting.

• Implementing Versioning: Understand how to enable versioning for your S3 bucket and manage different versions of your files.

• Accessing Your Website: Find out how to access and test your hosted static website.

By the end of this lab, you'll have practical experience in setting up a static website on AWS S3 and managing file versions, empowering you to leverage cloud storage for web hosting effectively.

In this hands-on lab, you will master the key concepts and practical skills needed to configure Cross-Region Replication (CRR) in Amazon S3. CRR is an essential feature for ensuring data redundancy, compliance, and disaster recovery in multi-region environments.

By the end of this course, you will have a thorough understanding of AWS S3 Cross-Region Replication and the expertise to implement it for your own projects.

What You’ll Learn:

• Understand Cross-Region Replication: Learn the importance of CRR for data availability, durability, and regulatory compliance.

• Set Up and Configure S3 Buckets: Create source and destination buckets across different AWS regions, ensuring they are properly set up for replication.

• Enable Versioning: Discover why versioning is a requirement for CRR and how to enable it on both source and destination buckets.

• Create a Cross-Region Replication Rule: Step-by-step guidance on setting up a replication rule using prefixes, tags, and storage classes.

In an AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM) Theory video, you will learn the following:

1. Core Concepts of IAM

• What IAM is: A detailed explanation of IAM’s role in securing access to AWS resources.

• Key Terminologies: Understanding authentication, authorization, and permissions as they relate to cloud security.

2. IAM Users

• Creating and Managing Users: How to create individual IAM users and assign appropriate permissions.

• User Authentication Methods: Exploring various authentication methods, such as passwords, access keys, and multi-factor authentication (MFA).

• Security Best Practices for Users: Recommendations for securing user credentials and rotating access keys.

3. IAM Groups

• Grouping Users: How to organize multiple users into groups to simplify permissions management.

• Assigning Group Permissions: Learn how to assign policies to groups to manage access at scale.

4. IAM Roles

• What IAM Roles Are: Understanding roles as a way to provide temporary access to AWS resources.

• When and Why to Use Roles: Key use cases, such as delegating permissions to AWS services (e.g., EC2, Lambda), cross-account access, and granting temporary access to external users.

• Assuming Roles: How to configure and assume IAM roles across different accounts or services.

5. IAM Policies

• Understanding Policies: What IAM policies are and how they work as JSON documents that define permissions.

• Types of Policies: Explanation of AWS-managed, customer-managed, and inline policies.

• Writing and Applying Policies: How to create custom policies with conditions, actions, and resources, and how to attach these policies to users, groups, and roles.

6. Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

• MFA Configuration: How to set up and enforce MFA for users to add an extra layer of security.

• Security Benefits of MFA: Why multi-factor authentication is critical for securing high-privilege accounts and AWS root users.

In an AWS IAM User Creation Lab video, you will learn the following practical skills and concepts:

1. Introduction to IAM Users

• What is an IAM User?: Overview of IAM users and their role in providing individual access to AWS services.

• Why Create IAM Users?: The importance of using IAM users instead of root accounts for managing AWS resources securely.

2. Navigating the IAM Console

• Accessing the IAM Dashboard: How to navigate to the IAM console from the AWS Management Console.

• Understanding the IAM Dashboard: Brief overview of the dashboard components, including users, groups, roles, and policies.

3. Creating a New IAM User

• Step-by-Step User Creation:

  • Navigate to the Users section in the IAM dashboard.

  • Click the Add user button to start the process.

  • Assign User Details: Enter the username and choose AWS Management Console access (for web console access), or both.

• Assign Permissions:

  • Select how to assign permissions (add user to a group, copy permissions from an existing user, or attach policies directly).

  • For the lab, you'll assign policies like AdministratorAccess.

In an AWS IAM Group Creation Lab video, students will learn the following concepts and skills step-by-step:

1. Introduction to IAM Groups

• What is an IAM Group?: Understanding the purpose of IAM groups, which allow you to manage permissions for multiple users at once.

• Benefits of Using Groups: Explanation of how groups simplify the assignment and management of permissions for teams (e.g., developers, administrators) by allowing permissions to be managed centrally.

2. Navigating the IAM Console

• Accessing the IAM Dashboard: Learn how to navigate to the IAM dashboard from the AWS Management Console.

• Understanding the Dashboard: Quick overview of where users, groups, roles, and policies are located in the IAM dashboard.

3. Creating a New IAM Group

• Step-by-Step Group Creation:

  • Navigate to the Groups section in the IAM dashboard.

  • Click the Create New Group button.

  • Naming the Group: Provide a meaningful group name (e.g., "Developers", "Admins") to make it easier to identify its purpose.

• Assigning Permissions to the Group:

  • Attach Permissions Policies: Choose the appropriate policies (such as AmazonS3FullAccess, EC2ReadOnlyAccess, or AdministratorAccess) to assign to the group.

  • Demonstrate how to search for and select predefined AWS managed policies or custom policies created for specific use cases.

• Review and Create Group: Review the group details and click the Create Group button.

4. Adding Users to the Group

• Assigning Users to the Group:

  • Once the group is created, navigate to the Users section in the IAM dashboard.

  • Select one or more users and click on Add to Group to assign them to the newly created group.

  • Confirm that the users are now part of the group and inherit the group's permissions.

5. Verifying Group Permissions

• Testing Permissions:

  • Demonstrate logging in as a user assigned to the group and accessing the AWS Management Console.

    
    

In an AWS IAM Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) Lab video, You will learn how to add an extra layer of security to their AWS accounts by enabling and configuring Multi-Factor Authentication for IAM users. Below are the key steps and concepts that will be covered in the lab:

AWS Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

• What is MFA?: Explanation of Multi-Factor Authentication as a security measure that requires both a password and an additional verification method (a second factor, such as a mobile app-generated code).

• Why Use MFA?: Overview of the importance of enabling MFA for sensitive AWS accounts, particularly for administrative roles, to prevent unauthorized access.

2. Navigating the IAM Console

• Accessing IAM Users: Walk students through accessing the AWS Management Console and navigating to the IAM dashboard.

• Selecting a User for MFA: Demonstrate how to go to the Users section and select an IAM user for whom MFA will be enabled.

3. Enabling MFA for an IAM User

• Security Credentials Tab: Show how to navigate to the selected user's Security credentials tab.

• Manage MFA: Click on the Manage button next to the Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) section to start configuring MFA.

4. Choosing the Type of MFA Device

• Virtual MFA Device: Explain that the most common type of MFA is a virtual device (like Google Authenticator or Authy). This is typically used because it is free and easy to set up.

• Hardware MFA Device: Mention that AWS also supports hardware MFA devices, though this is less commonly used in practice and might not be covered in the lab.

5. Configuring a Virtual MFA Device

• Installing an MFA App: Instruct students to install a compatible virtual MFA app on their smartphone, such as Google Authenticator or Authy.

• Scan the QR Code: Show how to scan the provided QR code from the AWS console using the MFA app on the phone.

• Entering MFA Codes: After scanning, the app will generate 6-digit codes. Students must enter two consecutive codes into the AWS console to complete the configuration.

• Confirm Setup: Explain the confirmation process and show how the MFA status changes to "Assigned."

6. Testing the MFA Setup

• Logging in with MFA: Log out and demonstrate how the newly configured MFA user logs in.

• Entering MFA Code: After entering the username and password, the AWS Management Console will prompt for the MFA code. Show how to enter the code generated by the mobile app to complete the login process.

In an AWS VPC (Virtual Private Cloud) Introduction Theory video, students will learn the following core concepts and fundamental networking components of VPC. This video will provide an overview of VPC, its importance in AWS, and how it enables control over cloud networking.

1. What is a VPC?

• Definition of a VPC: Explain that a Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) is a logically isolated network in the AWS cloud where you can launch AWS resources such as EC2 instances, RDS databases, and more.

• Purpose of VPC: Highlight the primary use of VPC—providing a secure, customizable environment for running cloud applications.

• Why Use a VPC?: Discuss the importance of using VPCs for greater control over security, networking, and resource isolation.

2. VPC Components Overview

• Subnets:

  • Definition: A subnet is a segment within a VPC that groups resources based on public or private access.

  • Public vs. Private Subnets: Explain how public subnets have internet access while private subnets are isolated.

• IP Addressing:

  • CIDR Blocks: Define CIDR (Classless Inter-Domain Routing) notation and how it is used to define IP ranges within a VPC.

• Route Tables:

  • Explain how route tables control the traffic routing between subnets and the internet.

  • Discuss the role of main route tables and custom route tables.

• Internet Gateways:

  • Definition: An Internet Gateway is a horizontally scaled, redundant, and highly available VPC component that allows communication between your VPC and the internet.

  • How it works: Describe how attaching an Internet Gateway to a VPC enables internet access for public subnets.

• NAT Gateways:

  • Purpose: Explain how NAT Gateways allow instances in private subnets to connect to the internet while keeping them secure from inbound connections.

• Security Groups:

  • Explain how security groups act as virtual firewalls to control inbound and outbound traffic to instances.

  • Highlight the stateless vs. stateful aspects of security groups.

• Network Access Control Lists (NACLs):

  • Explain how NACLs provide another layer of security at the subnet level, allowing or denying specific IP traffic based on rules

In an AWS VPC Scenario Lab video, you will apply their knowledge of AWS VPC components to solve a real-world networking problem. This lab will simulate a scenario where students need to design and implement a secure and efficient VPC architecture based on specific requirements. Below are the key topics and steps that will be covered in the lab video:

1. Introduction to the Scenario

• Scenario Overview: Present a business case where a company needs a secure VPC setup to host a web application. The application must be accessible to the public while securely storing sensitive data in private subnets.

• Requirements:

  • Public-facing web servers in a public subnet.

  • Private application servers that connect to a database in a private subnet.

  • A secure connection to an on-premises data center.

  • Use of NAT Gateways for outbound internet access from private subnets.

2. Designing the VPC Architecture

• Architecture Diagram: Display a diagram that outlines the proposed VPC architecture, including:

  • Public and private subnets.

  • Route tables, Internet Gateway, NAT Gateway, and security groups.

• Discuss Design Decisions: Explain the reasoning behind each architectural choice, such as subnet sizes, IP addressing, and security configurations.

3. Setting Up the VPC

• Create a New VPC: Walk through the steps to create a new VPC with a specified CIDR block.

• Create Subnets:

  • Set up at least one public subnet and one private subnet.

  • Define subnet CIDR ranges and explain the importance of subnetting in VPC design.

• Create an Internet Gateway:

  • Attach the Internet Gateway to the VPC to enable internet access for the public subnet.

4. Configuring Route Tables

• Public Subnet Route Table:

  • Create and configure a route table for the public subnet, directing internet traffic (0.0.0.0/0) to the Internet Gateway.

• Private Subnet Route Table:

  • Create a route table for the private subnet, directing outbound internet traffic to the NAT Gateway (once it is created).

• Launching EC2 Instances

  • Public EC2 Instances:

    • Launch EC2 instances in the public subnet to serve as web servers.

    • Assign public IPs and configure security groups to allow inbound traffic on HTTP (port 80) and HTTPS (port 443).

  • Private EC2 Instances:

    • Launch EC2 instances in the private subnet to act as application servers.

    • Configure security groups to allow communication with the public instances and access to the database.

  7. Configuring Security Groups

  • Security Group for Public Instances:

    • Create and configure security groups for the public EC2 instances to allow inbound HTTP and HTTPS traffic while restricting other ports.

  • Security Group for Private Instances:

    • Create and configure security groups for the private EC2 instances to allow traffic from the public instances and deny all external traffic.

In an AWS VPC NAT Gateway Lab Video, students will learn how to set up and configure a NAT (Network Address Translation) Gateway in an AWS VPC. This lab will focus on enabling instances in private subnets to access the internet securely while preventing inbound traffic from the internet. Below is a detailed outline of the video, including key topics, steps, and explanations:

1. Introduction to the Lab

• Objective: Explain the purpose of the lab—setting up a NAT Gateway to allow instances in a private subnet to access the internet.

• Importance of NAT Gateways: Discuss how NAT Gateways enable private instances to retrieve updates, access external APIs, or download packages while keeping them secure from incoming traffic.

2. Prerequisites

• AWS Account: Ensure students have access to an AWS account.

• Existing VPC: Mention that the lab will use a pre-existing VPC that includes at least one public subnet and one private subnet. If needed, briefly describe how to create a simple VPC setup.

3. Lab Environment Overview

• Architecture Diagram: Present a diagram showing the setup, including:

  • Public and private subnets.

  • NAT Gateway placement.

  • EC2 instances in both subnets.

• Components: Highlight the roles of each component (e.g., Internet Gateway, Route Tables).

4. Creating a NAT Gateway

• Access the VPC Dashboard:

  • Navigate to the VPC section in the AWS Management Console.

• Create NAT Gateway:

  • Select Public Subnet: Choose the public subnet where the NAT Gateway will be located.

  • Allocate Elastic IP: Explain the process of allocating an Elastic IP address and associating it with the NAT Gateway.

• Create the NAT Gateway: Confirm the creation of the NAT Gateway.

5. Updating Route Tables

• Identify the Route Table for the Private Subnet:

  • Navigate to the route tables in the VPC console and select the route table associated with the private subnet.

• Edit Route Table:

  • Add a new route that directs all outbound traffic (0.0.0.0/0) to the NAT Gateway.

  • Save the changes.

6. Launching EC2 Instances

• Launch EC2 Instances:

  • Public Subnet: Launch an EC2 instance in the public subnet (e.g., a web server).

  • Private Subnet: Launch an EC2 instance in the private subnet (e.g., an application server).

• Configuration: Assign appropriate security groups that allow necessary traffic (e.g., SSH from the public instance to the private instance).

7. Testing NAT Gateway Functionality

• Access the Private EC2 Instance:

  • Use SSH from the public EC2 instance to connect to the private instance.

• Testing Internet Access:

  • On the private instance, run commands (e.g., ping google.com or curl http://example.com) to verify internet access through the NAT Gateway.

This lab video will teach how to set up VPC peering between two separate Virtual Private Clouds (VPCs), enabling secure and private communication. The session covers the complete process—from creating a peering connection to configuring route tables and verifying connectivity. Below is the structured outline of the video, highlighting key topics, steps, and explanations:

In an AWS Route 53 Theory Video, students will learn about Amazon Route 53, AWS's scalable and highly available Domain Name System (DNS) web service. This video will cover the fundamental concepts of Route 53, its features, and its integration with other AWS services. Below is a detailed outline of the video, including key topics and explanations:

1. Introduction to AWS Route 53

• What is Route 53?: Define Amazon Route 53 as a highly available and scalable DNS web service designed to provide domain registration, DNS routing, and health checking of resources.

• Purpose and Importance: Explain the role of DNS in translating domain names into IP addresses and the importance of reliable DNS services for web applications.

2. Key Features of Route 53

• Domain Registration:

  • Discuss how Route 53 allows users to register new domain names directly through AWS.

  • Explain the benefits of managing DNS and domain registration in one place.

• DNS Routing:

  • Explain the different routing policies available in Route 53:

    • Simple Routing: Basic routing for a single resource.

    • Weighted Routing: Distributing traffic across multiple resources based on defined weights.

    • Latency-Based Routing: Directing traffic to the resource that provides the lowest latency to the user.

    • Failover Routing: Automatically redirecting traffic to a backup resource if the primary resource fails.

    • Geolocation Routing: Directing users to resources based on their geographic location.

    • Multi-Value Answer Routing: Returning multiple IP addresses for a single DNS query.

• Health Checks and Monitoring:

  • Describe how Route 53 can monitor the health of resources and automatically redirect traffic if a resource is unhealthy.

In an AWS Route 53 Lab Video, students will gain hands-on experience setting up and configuring Amazon Route 53 for domain registration and DNS management. This lab will walk through the process of registering a domain, creating hosted zones, adding DNS records, and configuring routing policies. Below is a detailed outline of the video, including key topics, steps, and explanations:

1. Introduction to the Lab

• Objective: Explain the purpose of the lab—setting up and managing a domain using AWS Route 53.

• Overview of Route 53 Features: Briefly recap the key features of Route 53 that will be utilized in the lab, including domain registration and DNS management.

2. Prerequisites

• AWS Account: Ensure students have access to an AWS account.

• Familiarity with AWS Console: Recommend some basic familiarity with the AWS Management Console.

3. Registering a Domain

• Access Route 53:

  • Navigate to the AWS Management Console and select Route 53.

• Domain Registration:

  • Select "Domain Registration" and click on "Register Domain."

  • Enter the desired domain name and select a domain extension (TLD).

  • Domain Details: Fill in the required contact information for domain registration.

4. Creating a Hosted Zone

• Create Hosted Zone:

  • In the Route 53 dashboard, select "Hosted Zones" and click on "Create Hosted Zone."

  • Enter the domain name and choose the type as "Public Hosted Zone."

  • Tags: Optionally add tags for organization purposes.

  • Click "Create" to finalize the hosted zone.

• Hosted Zone Overview: Briefly describe the components created (e.g., NS and SOA records).

5. Adding DNS Records

• Access the Hosted Zone:

  • Click on the newly created hosted zone to access its details.

• Create A Record:

  • Click on "Create Record" to add an A record.

  • Configure A Record:

    • Set the record name (e.g., www for www.yourdomain.com).

    • Enter the IP address of an EC2 instance or another resource you want to point to.

    • Set TTL (Time to Live) value and click "Create records."

  
  

In an AWS Database Intro & RDS Theory Video, students will learn about the fundamental concepts of databases and explore Amazon RDS (Relational Database Service) as a managed database solution on AWS. The video will cover the different types of databases, key features of RDS, and its benefits. Below is a detailed outline of the video, including key topics and explanations:

1. Introduction to Databases

• What is a Database?: Define a database as an organized collection of structured information or data, typically stored electronically in a computer system.

• Types of Databases:

  • Relational Databases: Explain that these databases use tables to store data and SQL for querying (e.g., MySQL, PostgreSQL).

  • NoSQL Databases: Briefly introduce NoSQL databases, which are designed for unstructured data and offer flexible schemas (e.g., MongoDB, DynamoDB).

• Importance of Databases: Discuss the role of databases in applications for storing, retrieving, and managing data efficiently.

2. Introduction to AWS Database Services

• Overview of AWS Database Offerings: Briefly mention the various database services offered by AWS, including:

  • Amazon RDS for relational databases.

  • Amazon DynamoDB for NoSQL databases.

  • Amazon Aurora for high-performance relational databases.

  • Amazon Redshift for data warehousing.

• Managed vs. Self-Managed Databases: Explain the difference between managed database services (like RDS) and self-managed databases (where users manage the infrastructure).

3. Introduction to Amazon RDS

• What is Amazon RDS?: Define Amazon RDS as a managed relational database service that simplifies the setup, operation, and scaling of relational databases in the cloud.

• Supported Database Engines: List the database engines supported by RDS, such as:

  • Amazon Aurora (MySQL and PostgreSQL compatible).

  • MySQL.

  • PostgreSQL.

  • MariaDB.

  • Oracle.

  • Microsoft SQL Server.

4. Key Features of Amazon RDS

• Automated Backups: Explain how RDS provides automated backups and point-in-time recovery for data protection.

• Scaling:

  • Vertical Scaling: Describe how users can easily scale up the instance type to handle more load.

  • Read Replicas: Explain how to create read replicas for load balancing read traffic.

• High Availability: Discuss Multi-AZ deployments for automatic failover and redundancy.

• Performance Optimization: Highlight features like provisioned IOPS for fast storage and performance insights.

• Security: Discuss built-in security features, including encryption at rest and in transit, IAM roles, and VPC integration.

  
  

In an AWS DynamoDB Lab Video, students will gain hands-on experience setting up and using Amazon DynamoDB, AWS's fully managed NoSQL database service. This lab will walk through the process of creating a DynamoDB table, performing CRUD (Create, Read, Update, Delete) operations, and querying data using the AWS Management Console. Below is a detailed outline of the video, including key topics, steps, and explanations:

1. Introduction to the Lab

• Objective: Explain the purpose of the lab—setting up and interacting with a DynamoDB table.

• Overview of DynamoDB: Briefly recap what DynamoDB is and its key features, such as scalability, high availability, and managed service.

2. Prerequisites

• AWS Account: Ensure students have access to an AWS account.

• Familiarity with AWS Console: Recommend basic familiarity with navigating the AWS Management Console.

3. Creating a DynamoDB Table

• Access DynamoDB:

  • Navigate to the AWS Management Console and select DynamoDB from the Services menu.

• Create Table:

  • Click on "Create table."

  • Table Name: Enter a name for the table (e.g., Users).

  • Primary Key: Define the primary key. Choose a partition key (e.g., UserId) and optionally a sort key (e.g., LastName).

  • Set Read and Write Capacity: Choose between on-demand or provisioned capacity. If using provisioned, set the read and write capacity units.

  • Configure Additional Settings: Optionally enable features such as auto-scaling, encryption, and stream settings.

  • Click "Create" to finalize the table creation.

• Table Overview: Explain the table status and the attributes created.

4. Inserting Data into DynamoDB

• Access the Table:

  • Click on the created table to view its details.

• Insert Items:

  • Navigate to the "Items" tab and click on "Create item."

  • Use the DynamoDB Document Client to enter item attributes (e.g., UserId, FirstName, LastName, Email).

  • Click "Save" to insert the item.

• Repeat for Additional Items: Insert a few more sample items to demonstrate data insertion.

5. Reading Data from DynamoDB

• Querying Data:

  • Explain the difference between querying and scanning.

  • Use the "Query" feature to retrieve items based on the partition key (e.g., find a user by UserId).

  • Demonstrate using the "Scan" operation to retrieve all items in the table.

• Viewing Results: Show how to view the returned items and their attributes.

In an AWS ElastiCache Lab Video, students will gain hands-on experience setting up and using Amazon ElastiCache, a fully managed in-memory caching service that supports Redis and Memcached. This lab will walk through the process of creating an ElastiCache cluster, connecting to it from an application, and performing basic caching operations. Below is a detailed outline of the video, including key topics, steps, and explanations:

1. Introduction to the Lab

• Objective: Explain the purpose of the lab—setting up an ElastiCache cluster and using it for caching data.

• Overview of ElastiCache: Briefly recap what ElastiCache is and its key features, including performance improvements, data retrieval speed, and support for Redis and Memcached.

2. Creating an ElastiCache Cluster

• Access ElastiCache:

  • Navigate to the AWS Management Console and select ElastiCache from the Services menu.

• Create Cluster:

  • Click on "Get Started" or "Create" to begin setting up a new cluster.

  • Select Cache Engine: Choose either Redis or Memcached as the caching engine.

• Configure Cluster Settings:

  • Name: Enter a name for the cluster (e.g., MyRedisCluster).

  • Node Type: Select the appropriate node type based on expected load and performance requirements.

  • Number of Nodes: Define the number of nodes for the cluster (for Redis, this might be a primary node with replicas; for Memcached, this could be multiple nodes).

  • Subnet and Security Group: Choose the appropriate VPC and subnet group, and select or create a security group that allows access to the ElastiCache cluster.

  • Advanced Settings: Optionally configure parameters like backups, maintenance windows, and notification settings.

  • Click "Create" to finalize the cluster creation.

• Cluster Overview: Explain the status of the created cluster and its configuration.

4. Connecting to the ElastiCache Cluster

• Create a Sample Application:

  • Explain the purpose of creating a simple application (using a programming language like Python, Node.js, or Java) to connect to the ElastiCache cluster.

• Install Required Libraries:

  • Demonstrate how to install the necessary libraries for Redis or Memcached (e.g., redis-py for Python or node-redis for Node.js).

• Connect to the Cluster:

  • Write code to connect to the ElastiCache cluster using the cluster endpoint and appropriate port.

  • Show how to handle connection errors and ensure connectivity.

5. Performing Basic Caching Operations

• Set Data in Cache:

  • Demonstrate how to use the SET command (or equivalent) to store a key-value pair in the cache.

  • Example: cache.set('user:1001', 'John Doe')

• Retrieve Data from Cache:

  • Use the GET command (or equivalent) to retrieve the stored value.

  • Example: username = cache.get('user:1001')

  • Print the retrieved value to verify it was successfully cached.

    
    

AWS Application Services provide managed solutions to help developers build, deploy, and scale applications more efficiently. These services abstract the complexity of underlying infrastructure, allowing businesses to focus on delivering high-quality software quickly and reliably.

In an AWS SNS Lab Video, students will gain hands-on experience setting up and using Amazon Simple Notification Service (SNS), a fully managed messaging service that enables the pub/sub messaging paradigm. This lab will walk through the process of creating an SNS topic, subscribing to the topic, and publishing messages. Below is a detailed outline of the video, including key topics, steps, and explanations:

1. Introduction to the Lab

• Objective: Explain the purpose of the lab—setting up SNS to create a topic, subscribe to it, and send notifications.

• Overview of SNS: Briefly recap what Amazon SNS is, its key features, and its role in decoupling applications and enabling real-time messaging.

2. Prerequisites

• AWS Account: Ensure students have access to an AWS account.

• Familiarity with AWS Console: Recommend basic familiarity with navigating the AWS Management Console.

3. Creating an SNS Topic

• Access SNS:

  • Navigate to the AWS Management Console and select Amazon SNS from the Services menu.

• Create Topic:

  • Click on "Topics" in the left navigation pane, then click on "Create topic."

  • Choose a Type: Select "Standard" for most use cases or "FIFO" for ordered message delivery.

  • Configure Topic Settings:

    • Name: Enter a name for the topic (e.g., MyNotificationTopic).

    • Display Name (optional): Specify a display name for SMS messages.

    • Access Policy (optional): Adjust the access policy as needed for the use case.

  • Click "Create topic" to finalize the creation.

• Topic Overview: Explain the topic ARN (Amazon Resource Name) and its significance.

4. Subscribing to the Topic

• Add Subscription:

  • Click on the newly created topic to view its details.

  • Click on "Create subscription."

  • Protocol: Choose a protocol for the subscription (e.g., Email, SMS, HTTP/HTTPS, or Lambda).

  • Endpoint: Enter the corresponding endpoint (e.g., an email address for email subscriptions or a phone number for SMS).

  • Click "Create subscription."

• Confirm Subscription:

  • If using an email endpoint, check the email inbox for a subscription confirmation message.

  • Click on the confirmation link in the email to confirm the subscription.

5. Publishing Messages to the Topic

• Publish Message:

  • In the topic details page, click on "Publish message."

  • Message Details:

    • Enter a subject (optional) and the message body.

    • Optionally configure message attributes, such as setting a message type.

  • Click "Publish message" to send the notification.

• Verify Receipt:

  • Check the subscribed endpoint (e.g., email or SMS) to confirm receipt of the message.

  • Discuss how messages can be received through different protocols based on the subscriptions.

In an AWS SQS Lab Video, students will gain hands-on experience setting up and using Amazon Simple Queue Service (SQS), a fully managed message queuing service that enables the decoupling of components in distributed applications. This lab will walk through the process of creating an SQS queue, sending messages, receiving messages, and deleting them. Below is a detailed outline of the video, including key topics, steps, and explanations:

1. Introduction to the Lab

• Objective: Explain the purpose of the lab—setting up an SQS queue and demonstrating how to send and receive messages.

• Overview of SQS: Briefly recap what Amazon SQS is, its key features, and its role in enabling message queuing for reliable communication between distributed systems.

2. Prerequisites

• AWS Account: Ensure students have access to an AWS account.

• Familiarity with AWS Console: Recommend basic familiarity with navigating the AWS Management Console.

3. Creating an SQS Queue

• Access SQS:

  • Navigate to the AWS Management Console and select Amazon SQS from the Services menu.

• Create Queue:

  • Click on "Create queue."

  • Queue Type: Choose "Standard" for high throughput.

  • Queue Name: Enter a name for the queue (e.g., MyMessageQueue).

  • Configure Queue Settings:

    • Set visibility timeout, message retention period, and other configuration options as needed.

    • Optionally enable server-side encryption or dead-letter queues.

  • Click "Create Queue" to finalize the creation.

• Queue Overview: Explain the queue URL and its significance for accessing the queue programmatically.

4. Sending Messages to the Queue

• Access the Queue:

  • Click on the created queue to view its details.

• Send Message:

  • Click on the "Send and receive messages" tab.

  • Message Body: Enter a message (e.g., Hello, SQS!) and any message attributes you want to add.

  • Click "Send message" to place the message in the queue.

• Verify Message Count: Discuss how to check the message count and status in the queue.

5. Receiving Messages from the Queue

• Receive Messages:

  • In the "Send and receive messages" tab, click on "Poll for messages."

  • Explain that SQS uses long polling to retrieve messages.

  • Show how to view the received message and its attributes.

• Process Message: Discuss how to process the message, emphasizing that it will remain in the queue until explicitly deleted.

6. Deleting Messages from the Queue

• Delete Message:

  • After processing the message, demonstrate how to delete it from the queue.

  • Select the message and click "Delete."

  • Confirm the deletion action.

• Verify Deletion: Re-poll for messages and explain that the deleted message will no longer be in the queue.

In an AWS Lambda Lab Video, students will gain hands-on experience setting up and using AWS Lambda, a serverless compute service that lets you run code in response to events without provisioning or managing servers. This lab will walk through the process of creating a Lambda function, triggering it with an event, and viewing the results. Below is a detailed outline of the video, including key topics, steps, and explanations:

1. Introduction to the Lab

• Objective: Explain the purpose of the lab—setting up an AWS Lambda function to process events and execute code.

• Overview of AWS Lambda: Briefly recap what AWS Lambda is, its key features, and its benefits in serverless architectures, including automatic scaling and pay-as-you-go pricing.

2. Creating an AWS Lambda Function

• Access Lambda:

  • Navigate to the AWS Management Console and select AWS Lambda from the Services menu.

• Create Function:

  • Click on "Create function."

  • Author from Scratch: Choose the "Author from scratch" option.

  • Function Name: Enter a name for the function (e.g., MyLambdaFunction).

  • Runtime: Select the programming language for the Lambda function (e.g., Python, Node.js).

  • Permissions: Choose or create an execution role that grants the function permission to access other AWS services if needed (e.g., using a basic Lambda execution role).

  • Click "Create function" to finalize the creation.

• Function Overview: Explain the function configuration page, including the code editor, environment variables, and basic settings.

3. Writing the Lambda Function Code

• Code Editor:

  • Use the built-in code editor to write a simple Lambda function. For example, a function that returns a greeting message:

    python

• Testing the Lambda Function

  • Create a Test Event:

    • Click on "Test" to create a test event.

    • Choose "Configure test event" and provide a name (e.g., TestEvent) and any sample payload (can be a simple JSON object like {}).

    • Click "Create" to save the test event.

  • Run the Test:

    • With the test event selected, click "Test" to invoke the function.

    • Review the results in the output pane, including the status code and returned body

AWS CloudTrail is a service that provides detailed logging and monitoring of actions taken within your AWS environment. It records events related to API calls and other activities across AWS services, offering a comprehensive view of user and service interactions.

Key Features

1. Event Logging:

   • Tracks all API calls made via the AWS Management Console, AWS SDKs, CLI, and other services.

   • Logs include details such as the caller identity, timestamp, source IP, and changes made to resources.

2. Security and Compliance:

   • Enhances security by enabling visibility into user and system activity.

   • Helps meet compliance requirements by storing logs securely and offering insights into resource access patterns.

3. Integration with AWS Services:

   • Works seamlessly with services like Amazon S3, CloudWatch, and AWS Lambda to store, analyze, and react to logged data.

4. Multi-Region Tracking:

   • Supports tracking of events across multiple AWS regions.

   • Ensures global visibility into your account activity.

Use Cases

1. Auditing and Compliance:

   • Generate reports to demonstrate adherence to organizational policies and industry regulations.

2. Security Monitoring:

   • Detect unauthorized access or suspicious activities by analyzing logs.

3. Troubleshooting:

   • Identify and resolve issues by tracing the sequence of actions taken within the AWS environment.

AWS Elastic Beanstalk is a fully managed service that simplifies the deployment and scaling of web applications and services. It provides an easy-to-use platform for developers to quickly deploy applications without worrying about the underlying infrastructure. Elastic Beanstalk automatically handles provisioning, load balancing, scaling, and monitoring while allowing users to retain full control of the resources it creates.

AWS CloudFormation is an Infrastructure-as-Code (IaC) service that enables you to model, provision, and manage AWS resources and third-party applications in an automated and repeatable way. With CloudFormation, you define your infrastructure using declarative templates written in JSON or YAML, ensuring consistency and reducing manual errors when deploying resources.

AWS CloudFront is a Content Delivery Network (CDN) service designed to deliver content—such as websites, APIs, videos, and applications—securely, efficiently, and at low latency. It uses a globally distributed network of edge locations to cache and deliver content closer to users, ensuring fast and reliable performance.

Amazon Elastic File System (EFS) is a fully managed, scalable, and highly available file storage service designed for use with AWS cloud services and on-premises resources. It provides a simple and flexible solution for workloads that require shared access to a file system, enabling multiple EC2 instances and other AWS services to read and write data concurrently.

AWS API Gateway is a fully managed service that enables developers to create, publish, maintain, monitor, and secure APIs at any scale. It supports both RESTful APIs and WebSocket APIs, allowing you to build robust applications that communicate securely with backend services. With API Gateway, you can expose AWS services, microservices, or serverless architectures as APIs, making it easy to integrate and scale your applications.

In the video, you'll likely learn about:

1. What AWS EKS is: A fully managed service for running Kubernetes clusters.

2. Key Concepts: Basic Kubernetes terminology like pods, nodes, and clusters, with specific focus on how EKS integrates with these elements.

3. Benefits of EKS: How EKS simplifies Kubernetes operations, scalability, and integrates with other AWS services.

4. How to Use EKS: High-level steps to set up and manage clusters on EKS, security considerations, and best practices.

In the video, you'll likely learn about:

How to Use EKS: High-level steps to set up and manage clusters on EKS, security considerations, and best practices.

AWS offers a suite of monitoring services that help you track and manage the health, performance, and operational efficiency of your cloud infrastructure, applications, and services. These services provide real-time insights, automated alerts, and data-driven analytics to help you optimize resources, identify issues, and maintain a secure and compliant environment. Below are the key AWS monitoring services: