AWS Certified SysOps Administrator - Associate Study Guide

April 23, 2023

Discover the best study materials, including books, video courses, and practice exams, to ace the AWS Certified SysOps Administrator - Associate (SOA-C02) exam.

AWS

Our readers support this site. We may use affiliate links when recommending certification training.

Welcome to the Ultimate AWS Certified SysOps Administrator - Associate (SOA-C02) Study Guide! In this comprehensive guide, we'll explore the best resources, including books, video courses, and practice exams, to help you prepare and pass the exam with confidence. We'll also discuss the exam objectives and details, the benefits of getting certified, and answer some frequently asked questions.

What is the AWS Certified SysOps Administrator - Associate?

The AWS Certified SysOps Administrator - Associate is a certification offered by Amazon Web Services (AWS) that validates your knowledge and skills in deploying, managing, and operating scalable, highly available, and fault-tolerant systems on AWS. This certification is intended for IT professionals with at least one year of experience in managing or maintaining applications on the AWS platform.

How to Pass the AWS Certified SysOps Administrator - Associate (Recommended Study Materials)

AWS Certified SysOps Administrator - Associate Study Materials

Books

One of the best ways to prepare for the exam is by diving into the official study guide, which provides in-depth knowledge and insights into the exam domains.

AWS Certified SysOps Administrator - Associate Study Guide: Exam SOA-C02 by Ben Piper and David Clinton:

This study guide, tailored for the latest version of the exam, covers all the exam objectives and provides practical, real-world examples. It includes quizzes and exercises to test your understanding of the subject matter.

https://www.amazon.com/Certified-SysOps-Administrator-Study-Guide/dp/11 19813107

Video Training

Video training courses can be an excellent supplement to your study plan, offering visual explanations and demonstrations of key concepts. You can choose a course that suits you best.

Ultimate AWS Certified SysOps Administrator - Associate 2023

This comprehensive course on Udemy, created by Stephane Maarek, provides over 16 hours of video content, quizzes, and practical exercises. It covers all the exam domains and helps you gain hands-on experience with AWS services.

https://www.udemy.com/course/ultimate-aws-certified-sysops-administrator-associate/

AWS Certified SysOps Administrator Associate 2023 [SOA-C02]

This hands-on course, also available on Udemy and created by Andrew Brown, focuses on providing practical experience and in-depth knowledge of AWS services. It includes over 20 hours of video content, hands-on labs, and quizzes to test your understanding.

https://www.udemy.com/course/aws-certified-sysops-administrator-associate-training/

Practice Exams

Taking practice exams is essential for identifying your strengths and weaknesses, and simulating the actual exam environment.

AWS Certified SysOps Administrator Associate Practice Exams

This Udemy course, designed by Jon Bonso and Tutorials Dojo, includes six full-length practice exams with over 390 unique questions. Each question is accompanied by detailed explanations and reference links to help you understand the correct answers and learn from your mistakes.

https://www.udemy.com/course/aws-certified-sysops-administrator-associate-practice-exams-soa-c01/

By utilizing these recommended study materials and dedicating time to practice, you'll be well-prepared to pass the AWS Certified SysOps Administrator - Associate exam with confidence.

AWS Certified SysOps Administrator - Associate Exam Objectives

The AWS Certified SysOps Administrator - Associate (SOA-C02) exam is divided into six domains, each focusing on a specific aspect of AWS administration. Below is a more in-depth overview of each domain:

Domain 1: Monitoring, Logging, and Remediation (20%)

This domain focuses on implementing metrics, alarms, and filters using AWS monitoring and logging services. Topics include:

Identifying, collecting, analyzing, and exporting logs
Collecting metrics and logs using the CloudWatch agent
Creating CloudWatch alarms, metric filters, and dashboards
Configuring notifications
Remediation based on monitoring and availability metrics

Domain 2: Reliability and Business Continuity (16%)

This domain assesses your knowledge of implementing scalability, elasticity, high availability, and resilient environments, as well as backup and restore strategies. Topics include:

Creating and maintaining AWS Auto Scaling plans
Implementing caching and Amazon RDS replicas
Configuring Elastic Load Balancer and Amazon Route 53 health checks
Implementing fault-tolerant workloads and Route 53 routing policies
Automating snapshots, backups, and restoration

Domain 3: Deployment, Provisioning, and Automation (18%)

This domain focuses on provisioning and maintaining cloud resources and automating manual or repeatable processes. Topics include:

Creating and managing Amazon Machine Images (AMIs)
Creating, managing, and troubleshooting AWS CloudFormation
Provisioning resources across multiple AWS Regions and accounts
Selecting deployment scenarios and services
Identifying and remediating deployment issues

Domain 4: Security and Compliance (16%)

This domain assesses your ability to implement and manage security and compliance policies, as well as data and infrastructure protection strategies. Topics include:

Implementing IAM features
Troubleshooting and auditing access issues
Validating service control policies and permissions boundaries
Implementing secure multi-account strategies
Enforcing data classification and implementing encryption

Domain 5: Networking and Content Delivery (18%)

This domain focuses on implementing networking features and connectivity, configuring domains, DNS services, content delivery, and troubleshooting network connectivity issues. Topics include:

Configuring a VPC
Configuring private connectivity and AWS network protection services
Configuring Route 53 hosted zones, records, and routing policies
Configuring DNS and Amazon CloudFront
Troubleshooting network connectivity issues

Domain 6: Cost and Performance Optimization (12%)

This domain assesses your ability to implement cost and performance optimization strategies. Topics include:

Implementing cost allocation tags
Identifying and remediating underutilized or unused resources
Configuring AWS Budgets and billing alarms
Assessing resource usage patterns to qualify workloads for EC2 Spot Instances
Recommending compute resources based on performance metrics

Please note that the information provided in this article serves as an overview of the AWS Certified SysOps Administrator - Associate (SOA-C02) exam objectives. For the most accurate and up-to-date exam objectives, it's essential to refer to the official AWS exam guide, which can be found here:

AWS Certified SysOps Administrator – Associate (SOA-C02) Exam Guide

AWS Certified SysOps Administrator - Associate Exam Details

The AWS Certified SysOps Administrator - Associate (SOA-C02) exam evaluates a candidate's ability to deploy, manage, and operate scalable, highly available, and fault-tolerant systems on AWS. Here's an overview of the exam details:

Exam Format: Multiple-choice and multiple-answer questions.
Exam Duration: 130 minutes.
Exam Language: English, Japanese, Korean, and Simplified Chinese.
Delivery Method: Testing center or online proctored exam.
Passing Score: 720 (on a scale of 100-1000).
Exam Fees: $150 for registration.

Why Should You Get AWS Certified SysOps Administrator - Associate Certified?

Earning the AWS Certified SysOps Administrator - Associate certification offers numerous benefits for IT professionals, including:

Industry recognition: The certification is widely recognized and respected in the IT industry, showcasing your expertise in AWS services and best practices.
Career advancement: As an AWS Certified SysOps Administrator - Associate, you can unlock new career opportunities, such as SysOps Engineer, Cloud Engineer, or DevOps Engineer, and increase your chances of getting promoted or securing a higher-paying job.
Increased credibility: The certification validates your skills and knowledge in AWS, enhancing your credibility among employers, clients, and colleagues.
Expanded professional network: Becoming AWS certified connects you with a global community of AWS professionals, providing opportunities for networking, collaboration, and knowledge-sharing.
Continuous learning: Pursuing the certification encourages you to stay updated with the latest AWS services, tools, and best practices, fostering continuous learning and professional growth.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is AWS Certified SysOps Administrator Associate?

AWS Certified SysOps Administrator - Associate is a certification offered by Amazon Web Services (AWS) that validates your knowledge and skills in deploying, managing, and operating scalable, highly available, and fault-tolerant systems on AWS. The certification is designed for professionals responsible for managing and maintaining AWS infrastructure and applications.

How difficult is AWS Certified SysOps Administrator Associate?

The difficulty of the AWS Certified SysOps Administrator Associate exam depends on your background, experience, and familiarity with AWS services. The exam covers a wide range of topics, and hands-on experience with AWS services is crucial for success. With proper preparation, including studying recommended materials and gaining practical experience, you can increase your chances of passing the exam.

Is AWS Certified SysOps Administrator Associate worth it?

Yes, the AWS Certified SysOps Administrator - Associate certification is worth pursuing for IT professionals who want to demonstrate their expertise in AWS services and cloud computing. The certification can lead to better job opportunities, increased salary potential, and enhanced professional credibility.

What does an AWS SysOps administrator do?

An AWS SysOps Administrator is responsible for deploying, managing, and maintaining applications and infrastructure on the AWS platform. Their responsibilities include monitoring system performance, implementing backup and recovery strategies, ensuring high availability and fault tolerance, automating processes, and maintaining security and compliance policies.

Does AWS SysOps require coding?

While coding skills can be beneficial for an AWS SysOps Administrator, they are not a strict requirement for the role. However, understanding scripting languages (such as Python, Bash, or PowerShell) and Infrastructure as Code (IaC) tools like AWS CloudFormation can help automate tasks and improve efficiency in managing AWS resources.

Does SysOps require coding?

SysOps, in general, may not require extensive coding skills. However, having knowledge of scripting languages and automation tools can be beneficial in managing and maintaining systems more efficiently.

What is the hardest AWS certification to get?

The AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Professional and AWS Certified DevOps Engineer - Professional are often considered the most challenging AWS certifications due to the depth and breadth of knowledge required. However, the difficulty of any certification depends on an individual's experience, background, and familiarity with AWS services.

How long does it take to study for AWS SysOps?

The time required to prepare for the AWS Certified SysOps Administrator - Associate exam varies depending on your experience, familiarity with AWS services, and the amount of time you can dedicate to studying. On average, it may take 2-4 months of consistent study and hands-on practice to adequately prepare for the exam. It's essential to create a study plan, utilize recommended study materials, and gain practical experience to increase your chances of success.