Cloud computing might have been somewhat of a fairy tale a few decades ago. However, the present times have witnessed a large-scale rise in the dominance of cloud computing. Simultaneously, many notable cloud computing service providers have established their identity as pioneers in this field. One of the dominant players in the existing public cloud computing market is AWS. What emerged as a subsidiary of the world’s biggest retail giant, Amazon, for providing cloud services, has turned into the mammoth it is today!
Amazon Web Services came into existence in 2006, and the rest is history. Today, millions of aspiring cloud-computing professionals want to build their career with AWS, and AWS hands-on labs are one of the mandatory requirements for them. How? The following discussion serves you the best, reasonable answer to this question. However, the primary theme of the following discussion is an outline of the top platforms to access hands-on labs for AWS.
Also check: How to Jumpstart a Career in Cloud Computing?
Why Do You Need Hands-on Labs for AWS?
One of the first questions that a beginner might ask about AWS hands-on labs is- why do I need hands-on labs? The most basic answer to this question points to the need for practical experience. AWS professionals have to deal with many services and their applications in different use cases. Therefore, you have to achieve fluency in selecting AWS services that can fit a specific business use case.
Furthermore, it is also important for AWS professionals to identify the best possible way to leverage a selected AWS service for achieving desired objectives. For example, AWS provides different services for cloud storage such as Amazon S3 and Glacier. AWS experts can tell the difference between these two services and identify the use cases that suit them.
Even though this particular scenario may appear to be well within the grasp of a professional with conceptual knowledge about AWS storage services, the job of an AWS professional will inevitably present complicated use cases and scenarios. In such cases, it is reasonable to look for practical experience in using AWS services.
Let us take the AWS storage example once again. You can decide which AWS storage service to use for your data based on access requirements and type of data. However, how do you load your data on the desired storage service? This is where you would need practical experience in using AWS storage services such as S3 and Glacier.
AWS hands-on labs offer credible assistance for learning how to use AWS services in different common use cases and real-world scenarios. They are also crucial instruments for understanding the ideal workflow for the implementation of AWS services. Candidates preparing for AWS certifications need hands-on labs for practicing with AWS services and tools. Why?
AWS certifications evaluate the capabilities of candidates for addressing role-specific responsibilities in the real world. Therefore, candidates have to use various AWS services, tools, and technologies for answering questions in AWS certification exams. In this case, hands-on labs serve as a vital tool in strengthening your expertise and confidence for taking on performance-based questions.
With the formidable significance of hands-on labs for AWS certifications, it is reasonable to look for platforms that provide hands-on labs. Aspiring candidates and AWS professionals would also search for the credibility factor in hands-on labs provided by different platforms.
Here is an outline of the top websites providing AWS hands-on labs recognized by millions of aspiring AWS certification candidates and AWS professionals.
AWS opens a new era of career development for cloud professionals. Read out this article to start your AWS career now!
Top AWS Hands-on Labs Providers
1. CloudAcademy
CloudAcademy provides a wide assortment of hands-on labs for AWS. The primary objective of the hands-on labs is to help learners gain real experience with AWS services. The hands-on labs on CloudAcademy provide a safe, sandboxed environment for practice. Also, learners get guidance on best practices to leverage AWS services in a live AWS environment.
The interesting feature of hands-on labs on CloudAcademy for AWS is that learners don’t have to create new accounts or clean up test instances. The simple and detailed instructions with each AWS hands on lab exercise on CloudAcademy also serve prolific learning benefits. Learners could use the hands-on labs for learning about an AWS service or prepare for AWS certifications.
Learners can also improve their practice for a specific use case with the hands-on labs. CloudAcademy also provides a 7-day free trial for unlimited access to its library of AWS hands-on labs. The organization of different AWS hands on lab exercises on CloudAcademy improves the ease of navigation. Learners could find the recently added and most popular AWS labs easily on CloudAcademy.
Furthermore, CloudAcademy also provides the “Validation for Hands-on Labs” feature. It can help in gaining real-life, hands on experience in a live AWS environment. Most importantly, CloudAcademy provides broad coverage of AWS services and tools in its hands-on lab offerings.
2. Qwiklabs
Many candidates preparing for AWS certifications always focus on credible learning resources. Therefore, it is reasonable for them to look for trustworthy platforms to showcase their AWS expertise. Qwiklabs is one of the foremost platforms for AWS hands-on labs for reliable development of hands-on expertise. Qwiklabs provides temporary credentials for Amazon Web Services that can help in using real AWS services.
The interesting thing about hands-on labs on AWS is the lack of depending on any simulations. The comprehensive hands-on labs on AWS include individual labs with a duration of 30 minutes and hands-on training spanning multiple days. Also, the organization of hands-on labs, according to the expertise level of learners on Qwiklabs, delivers ease of navigation. Learners could also choose self-paced or instructor-led hands-on training courses according to their learning preferences.
Additionally, the hands-on labs for AWS on Qwiklabs also cover multiple specializations such as security, infrastructure, DevOps, and machine learning. With more than 100 AWS hands-on lab exercises, Qwiklabs can promise a holistic learning experience for every aspiring learner. Most important of all, Qwiklabs is a member of the AWS Partner Network or APN, thereby establishing its credibility profoundly.
3. ACloudGuru
ACloudGuru is also one of the prominent names that come to mind when you are looking for AWS hands-on labs. The primary objective of hands-on labs for AWS on ACloudGuru is to help students ‘learn AWS by Doing’. The hands-on labs on AWS are tailored specifically for learning the core AWS services and functionalities. The hands-on labs for AWS on ACloudGuru are selected by expert training architects.
The hands-on lab exercises on ACloudGuru are tailored specifically for leveraging a comprehensive hands-on experience to help learners. Learners need a fundamental understanding of the AWS platform and the services for using hands-on labs on ACloudGuru. Furthermore, candidates are also recommended to have basic experience in the Linux operating system and its basic functions. The striking highlight of hands-on labs for AWS on ACloudGuru is the facility of simple guidelines for using the labs.
Conclusion
On a concluding note, you can observe that the best sites offering AWS hands-on labs have unique highlights. While some platforms offer wide-ranging coverage of different AWS services and tools, learners can also find platforms that focus on simpler organization of hands-on labs. Candidates could find easy and flexible guidance on using the hands-on labs on the platforms mentioned above.
The importance of hands-on labs for career development is one of the formidable reasons for every AWS professional to look for the best websites to access hands-on labs. However, the choice of the right platform ultimately depends on you. So, go ahead and improve your hands-on experience with the best platform that suits your preferences.
