AWS-Data-Engineer-A-Complete-Guide

How to Become an AWS Data Engineer: A Complete Guide [2023]

AWS has recently launched the AWS Certified Data Engineer – Associate certification. Taking this certification helps to validate your expertise in fundamental AWS data-related services. It also assesses your capacity to set up data pipelines, effectively handle monitoring and troubleshooting, and optimize performance while adhering to industry best practices.

If you’re keen on utilizing AWS technology to harness data for analysis and actionable insights, this AWS Data Engineer Certification beta exam provides you with the chance to become one of the initial recipients.

Let’s dig in!

AWS Recent Update: AWS Certified Data Engineer Associate(DEA-C01) Certification Coming Soon!

Amazon Web Services (AWS) has just unveiled a fantastic opportunity for those aspiring to venture into the field of Data Engineering with the brand new “AWS Data Engineer Associate Certification Beta”. 

If you are a newbie in the Data Engineering field, then taking the AWS Data Engineer Certification Beta course will be an ideal choice.  AWS Certified Data Engineer Associate Certification (DEA-C01) will become the fourth Associate-level certification offered by AWS, joining the ranks of Solutions Architect, Developer, and SysOps Administrator Associate exams.

Data engineers mainly engaged in activities such as creating, maintaining, and upgrading the AWS cloud infrastructure to smoothly run applications.  The tasks related to Data Engineering significantly increased the sought-after demand for AWS Data Engineers.

To know the latest information about this exam, you can visit the Coming Soon to AWS Certification page. From there, you can access the exam guide for the newly introduced DEA-C01 exam.

AWS Data Engineer Associate (DEA-C01) Certification: Best AWS certification for Data Engineers

Aws Certified Data Engineer exam confirms your expertise in essential AWS data services. It showcases your capability to create data pipelines, effectively handle monitoring and troubleshooting, and optimize both cost and performance, all while adhering to industry best practices.

If you are interested in harnessing AWS technology to transform data into valuable insights for analysis, this beta exam presents a unique chance to be among the pioneers in achieving this newly introduced certification.

Target Audience for AWS Data Engineer Associate(DEA-C01) Certification 

According to the DEA-C01 exam guide released by AWS, the AWS Certified Data Engineer – Associate (DEA-C01) exam is tailored for individuals who have 2-3 years of experience in AWS data engineering and at least 1-2 years of hands-on skills with AWS services.

AWS also stated that candidates must have expertise in handling the impacts of data volume, diversity, and speed on tasks including data ingestion, transformation, modeling, security, governance, privacy, schema design, and the design of optimal data storage solutions.

AWS Data Engineer Associate DEA-C01 Exam Launch Details: 

aws-certified-data-engineer-updates
Image Source: www.amazon.com

The AWS Certified Data Engineer 2023 Exam date has been announced and it seems to be taken from November 27, 2023, and January 12, 2024.  

The AWS Certified Data Engineer – Associate (DEA-C01) exam is now in beta state and you can register for the beta version of this exam, which starts on October 31, 2023.

After the termination of the beta version, you can start registering for the standard version of the exam in March 2024. For additional information, you can check out the AWS DEA-C01 exam guide.

Exam Format of AWS Certified Data Engineer – Associate Certification

Aspect Details
Exam Type Multiple-choice and multiple-response questions
Hands-on Labs None
Beta Version Questions 85 questions
Final Version Questions 65 questions (50 scored, 15 unscored)
Scoring Scale of 100-1,000
Passing Score A minimum score of 720 required to pass
Guessing Penalty No penalty for guessing, so it’s recommended to answer every question

AWS Data Engineer Certification DEA-C01 Exam Domains

DEA-C01 Exam Domains

AWS Data Engineer Associate Certification Exam domains break down into four categories:

Domains  Weightage
Data Ingestion and Transformation 34%
Data Store Management  26%
Data Operations and Support 22%
Data Security and Governance 18%

Let’s delve a bit deeper into each of the four domains covered in the DEA-C01 exam:

Domain 1: Data Ingestion and Transformation (34%)

This domain constitutes more than one-third of the total exam content. It emphasizes the processes of ingesting, transforming, and managing data, as well as orchestrating ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) pipelines for data handling. You can become familiar with AWS services like Kinesis, Redshift, and DynamoDB streams, followed by transforming them based on specific requirements using tools such as Lambda, EventBridge, and AWS Glue workflows. 

Moreover, a grasp of fundamental programming concepts such as infrastructure as code, SQL query optimization, and CI/CD (Continuous Integration and Continuous Delivery) for pipeline testing and deployment is essential.

Domain 2: Data Store Management (26%) 

This domain revolves around effectively storing and cataloging data. It encompasses various tasks, including data modeling and defining schemas for diverse data types, including structured, unstructured, or semi-structured data. 

Candidates should have a comprehensive knowledge of AWS storage solutions and the ability to select the most suitable data store based on factors like availability and throughput requirements. Additionally, managing data lifecycle in a cost-efficient, secure, and fault-tolerant manner is crucial.

Domain 3: Data Operations and Support (22%) In this domain, candidates are evaluated on their proficiency in utilizing AWS services for data analysis and maintaining data quality through automated data processing. This involves configuring monitoring and logging for data pipelines and utilizing services such as CloudTrail and CloudWatch to aid in troubleshooting any operational issues. 

Familiarity with AWS Glue DataBrew is also essential, as it plays a pivotal role in data preparation, transformation, defining data quality rules, and data verification and cleaning.

Domain 4: Data Security and Governance (18%) 

The final domain places a strong emphasis on data security, authorization, and compliance. Candidates are required to comprehend the significance of security within an AWS architecture and the implementation of robust security measures both within the VPC network infrastructure and for user access control through AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM). 

This includes understanding the principle of least privilege and applying role-based, attribute-based, and policy-based security measures when applicable. Proficiency in encryption and the utilization of AWS Key Management Service (KMS) for data encryption and decryption is also essential.

These domains provide a comprehensive framework for evaluating a candidate’s knowledge and skills in data engineering within the AWS environment, covering essential concepts and practices in data management, transformation, analysis, security, and governance.

Whether to take the DEA-C01 exam beta version or wait for the standard version?

Consider taking the beta exam:

If you want to earn the certification prior, then consider taking beta version. As the beta version of the exam is available at a discounted rate, you can save money compared to fees for the standard exam. It is important to note that the beta exam will be somehow difficult and you have to tackle the challenging question. 

If you successfully pass the beta exam and become one of the first to earn the AWS Certified Data Engineer – Associate certification, you’ll not only gain the distinction of being an early achiever but also significantly enhance your professional profile. 

Similar to other AWS certifications, this credential will remain valid for three years, just as if you had passed the standard post-beta version of the exam. This achievement not only gives you a reason to be proud but also provides a substantial boost to your career.

Consider Waiting for the DEA-CO1 Standard Version if:

  • If you prefer to study with well-established, widely recognized exam preparation materials and resources. Standard exams typically have more resources available.
  • You are risk-averse and want to avoid potential uncertainties or variations in the beta exam content and scoring.
  • If you have more time to prepare and can wait for the standard version, which may provide a longer preparation window.

AWS Data Engineer Certification Cost

For those seasoned AWS Data Engineers planning to take the new AWS Certified Data Engineer – Associate (DEA-C01) exam between November and January, there’s a fantastic opportunity to be among the early achievers of this certification and enjoy a significant cost-saving advantage. 

During this period, the beta version of the exam will be available at a 50% discounted rate, priced at $75 USD instead of the standard $150 USD. This not only allows you to be at the forefront of certification but also helps you keep some extra money in your pocket.

AWS Data Engineer Associate Certification Path

AWS Certified Data Engineer – Associate (DEA-C01) Exam serves as a starting point for individuals who may not have a background in data but want to explore advanced Specialty topics. On the flip side, for those already working in data-related roles, this certification offers an excellent chance to expand their AWS knowledge using specialized services they are probably already familiar with.

Even though acquiring these skills was always possible without formal certification, the introduction of a structured certification pathway provides an incentive for learners to pursue certification. It also encourages training providers to address the skill gap by offering targeted training and resources.

You can also access the AWS Certification path to get familiar with the AWS certification and its services.

AWS Certified Data Engineer Salary

aws-data-engineer
Image Source : www.talent.com

According to talent.com, the average AWS data engineer salary in the USA is around $141,900 per annum or $68.22 per hour. The salary may deviate according to the skills, experience, and location.

FAQs

Does the AWS data engineer require coding?

Yes. coding is necessary for those who want to pursue a career in the AWS Data Engineer roles. 

What does an AWS data engineer do?

AWS data engineers perform the data engineering tasks in the Amazon Web Services cloud platform. AWS engineer’s main job is to create, maintain, and upgrade AWS cloud infrastructure to run applications.

Is AWS an ideal choice for Data Engineers?

AWS is an excellent choice for data engineers. Data engineers have diverse requirements when constructing data pipelines, and AWS offers a comprehensive suite of data engineering tools that streamline the process. These AWS data engineering tools simplify the creation of data pipelines on AWS, facilitate data transfer management, and ensure effective data storage solutions.

What skills are required for an AWS data engineer?

To become an AWS Data Engineer, you must have the following skills to perform the Data Engineering tasks successfully:

  • SQL Skills
  • Data Modelling
  • Hadoop for big data
  • Python
  • AWS Cloud services

Conclusion

We hope this blog post covers the essentials of AWS Data Engineer Associate Certification in a detailed manner.

If you possess coding skills and aspire to pursue a career as an AWS data engineer, you’ve likely discovered a promising path. This role opens up opportunities to tackle some of the most complex and pioneering challenges in the field of data engineering today. Get familiarised with Aws Certified Data Engineer exam labs provided by Whizlabs. 

 If you want to take any other AWS Certification, start enrolling today. Best of luck with your exam preparation!

About Dharmendra Digari

Dharmalingam carries years of experience as a product manager. He pursued his MBA, which honed his skills of seeing products differently than others perceive. He specialises in products from the information technology and services domain, with a proven history of expertise. His skills include AWS, Google Cloud Platform, Customer Relationship Management, IT Business Analysis and Customer Service Operations. He has specifically helped many companies in the e-commerce domain establish themselves with refined and well-developed products, carving a niche for themselves.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to Top