The new AWS Certified Solutions Architect Associate exam is available from March 23, 2020. Here is the definitive guide for new AWS CSAA exam preparation that will help aspirants to achieve the certification.
Amazon has been the frontrunner of the public cloud landscape with its cloud offering, Amazon Web Services (AWS). In addition, AWS has ensured continuous improvisation in its certifications to ensure that professionals are fluent in the latest innovations introduced by AWS in its product portfolio. Recently on 25th February 2020, a post on the official website of AWS stated that the new version of the AWS Solution Architect Associate Exam would be available, beginning on 23rd March 2020.
Candidates have to note that they can take the previous version of the exam only until 22nd March 2020. So, it’s time for candidates to know more about the exam and enroll in new AWS CSAA exam preparation courses! Candidates should reflect on the format of the new exam and identify the important requirements for the exam.
In addition, candidates should also learn important steps to prepare effectively for the exam. The following information serves an outline of a preparation guide for new AWS Certified Solutions Architect Associate exam.
New Version of AWS Certified Solutions Architect Associate Exam (SAA-C03)
The new AWS Certified Solutions Architect Associate certification exam (SAA-C03) will be the benchmark for starting a career as an AWS Solutions Architect. The AWS CSAA exam is suitable for candidates having skills for designing AWS systems with higher availability, fault tolerance, and scalability. The exam also tests the abilities for candidates to ensure cost-effectiveness in the design of AWS systems.
One of the foremost details for new AWS Certified Solutions Architect Associate exam preparation is the outline of abilities tested in the certification. Candidates should know about the abilities validated by the new AWS CSAA exam to gauge the level of difficulty. Most important of all, candidates can get an overall impression of the objectives of the new version of the exam. Here are the three abilities tested in the new AWS Certified Solutions Architect Associate exam.
- Effective demonstration of knowledge in architecture and deployment of applications on AWS technologies with higher security and resilience.
- Definition of AWS solutions by leveraging architectural design principles in accordance with customer requirements.
- Ability to provide guidance on the best practices of implementation of AWS solutions to an organization throughout the lifecycle of a project.
Requirements for the New AWS Certified Solutions Architect Associate (CSAA) Exam
The next important aspect for ensuring effective new AWS AWS Certified Solutions Architect Associate (CSAA) exam preparation refers to the requirements for the exam. Candidates should note that AWS does not have any specific prerequisites for candidates to appear for its certification exams.
However, AWS does present some requirements of recommended knowledge and experience that can improve the chances of success of the candidate. Here is an outline of the set of recommended knowledge and experience requirements for the new AWS CSAA exam.
- Practical experience in the use of Compute, networking, storage, and database AWS services.
- Practical experience regarding AWS deployment and management services.
- Skills for identification and definition of technical requirements for AWS-based applications.
- Skills for identification of AWS services that align with a specific technical requirement.
- Knowledge regarding best practices for the development of applications on AWS platforms with higher security and reliability.
- Comprehensive understanding of the basic architectural principles for the development of solutions on the AWS Cloud.
- Detailed knowledge of the AWS global infrastructure.
- Comprehensive knowledge of network technologies and their relevance to AWS.
- Understanding of security features and tools provided by AWS and their parallels with traditional services.
Objectives of AWS Certified Solutions Architect Exam (SAA-C03)
AWS Certified Solutions Architect Exam (SAA-C03) certification’s objective is to verify your expertise in a variety of crucial domains, as stated by AWS as being able to:
- Effectively demonstrate your understanding of how to design and deliver reliable apps using AWS technology
Based on the needs of the client, define a solution utilising architectural design principles.
Throughout the course of the project, give the organisation implementation advice based on best practises
Prerequisites of AWS Certified Solutions Architect Exam (SAA-C03)
Before you dive headlong into exam preparation, AWS lists numerous prior requirements to be fulfilled. The most important one on the list is work experience. You need at least one year of hands-on experience developing and designing fault-free, cost-effective, responsive and scalable systems on AWS. Along with this, you should also have:
- Use AWS services for computing, storage, networking, and database
- Familiarity with AWS deployment and management services
- Use AWS CLI and management console.
- Identify and learn the purpose of each AWS service and AWS-based apps.
- Deploy, handle and operate workloads in AWS
- Implement governance and security controls
- Understand AWS global infrastructure, framework and security services
Exam Format about the New AWS SAA-C03 Exam
Now, candidates should take the next important step in the new AWS CSAA exam preparation by knowing the exam details. The exam details such as format, languages, and registration fees of the exam are an integral part of every exam preparation guide. The preparation guide for the new AWS CSAA exam would show that the exam would follow a multiple-choice, multiple-answer format.
Candidates have to take the exam at a testing center, which they have to schedule while registering for the exam. The duration of the new version of the AWS Certified Solutions Architect Associate Exam will be $150 USD. Candidates can avail the exam in four different languages such as English, Japanese, Simplified Chinese, and Korean.
Domains Covered in the New AWS CSAA Exam
The AWS SAA C03 certification exam covers four domains and carries specific weightage in the exam. Along with the syllabus, you also need to develop a comprehensive view of AWS infrastructure services, workloads, AWS based applications, and security services. Here’s what the breakup looks like:
| Domain | Weightage |
| Designing Secure Architecture | 30% |
| Creating Resilient Architecture | 26% |
| Designing High Performing Architecture | 24% |
| Building Cost-optimized Architecture | 20% |
Each of these domain has several subtopics that includes:
- Designing Secure Architecture
– Designing secure access to AWS resources
– Creating secure apps and workloads
– Determine data security controls
- Creating Resilient Architecture
– Designing loosely coupled and scalable architectures
– Developing fault tolerant and highly scalable architectures
- Designing High Performing Architecture
– Determining scalable storage solutions
– Deploying high performing compute solutions
– Determining high performing database solutions
– Determining scalable network architectures
– Determining transformation and data ingestion solutions
- Building Cost-optimized Architecture
– Designing cost-optimized storage solutions
– Creating cost optimized compute solutions
– Designing database solutions
– Developing cost optimized network architectures
Additionally, the exam will also include 15 unscored questions and is not considered in the overall marking. These questions are not identified in the exam as well. AWS evaluates them for future perusal as a scored item and collects data on candidate’s performance.
Steps to Prepare for the New AWS CSAA Exam
Apart from gaining information about all the above-mentioned aspects related to the new AWS Certified Solutions Architect Associate (CSAA) exam, candidates have to follow specific steps to prepare effectively for the exam. The following steps in the preparation guide for the new AWS Certified Solutions Architect Associate Exam can help candidates find the right course for their preparations.
Access the Official Website of the New AWS CSAA Exam
The first step for every candidate to start their new AWS Certified Solutions Architect Associate (CSAA) exam preparation is to visit the official AWS website. Candidates should access the official page of the new AWS CSAA exam with the code SAA-C03. The page is an excellent source of information regarding the new AWS CSAA exam.
In addition, the official page is also a reliable source of any new updates regarding the exam. It is very important to stay updated with every aspect of the exam if you don’t want to fall back in your preparations.
Follow the Exam Guide
The next crucial step in the new AWS Certified Solutions Architect Associate (CSAA) exam preparation for a candidate is to download the exam guide. The exam guide is available for download through a direct link on the official page of the AWS CSAA certification. In addition, candidates should also download the sample questions through the direct link on the official AWS website.
An exam guide is a critical tool for empowering the preparation of candidates as it helps in maintaining a record of the progress of their preparations. Most important of all, it tells candidates what type of questions and the topics that they have to learn for the exam.
The sample questions can further simplify the picture for candidates by helping them identify the format of the exam. Candidates should reflect on the format and how the topics in the exam domains are fabricated into questions. Subsequently, candidates can find a definite direction for their preparations for the new AWS CSAA exam.
Explore the Recommended AWS Learning Paths
After studying the exam guide and sample questions, candidates should explore the recommended AWS learning paths for the exam. The recommended AWS learning paths can help candidates build their technical skills required for the exam. You can find three classroom training courses in the AWS learning path for the new AWS CSAA exam. The three classroom courses are as follows.
- AWS Technical Essentials.
- Architecting on AWS.
- Architecting on AWS- Accelerator.
Candidates can also try to explore the full Architect learning path on the official website of AWS in later stages.
Read the Recommended AWS Whitepapers and FAQs
Learning resources are an inevitable aspect of the preparation of every candidate for any exam. The most reliable learning resources for the new AWS CSAA exam preparation are the AWS whitepapers and FAQs. Interestingly, AWS provides candidates with links to all recommended whitepapers for the new AWS Certified Solutions Architect Associate CSAA exam on its “AWS Well-Architected” webpage.
Candidates can go through the list of AWS whitepapers and understand the different common issues and questions related to topics in the exam. The candidates should also focus on the FAQs related to AWS services such as:
- Amazon EC2
- Amazon VPC
- Amazon S3
- Amazon RDS
- Amazon Route 53
- Amazon SQS
- Amazon Athena
- Amazon EMR
- AWS Glue
- AWS cost explorer
- Amazon Kinesis and Quicksight
- Amazon SNS
- Amazon SQS
- AWS Elastic Beanstalk
- Elastic Load Balancing
- AWS Fargate
- AWS Lambda
- Amazon Elasticache
- Amazon Redshift
- Amazon Aurora
- Amazon DynamoDB
- AWS Autoscaling
- AWS Backup
- AWS Cloud Formation
- AWS Cloud Trail
- Amazon EventBridge
- AWS Config
- AWS systems manager
- AWS trusted advisor
- AWS DMS
- AWS migration hub
- AWS data sync
- AWS Snowball
- Amazon API Gateway
- AWS direct connect
- Amazon CloudFront
- Amazon Route 53
- AWS Directory Service
- AWS Certificate Manager
- Amazon Guard Duty
- Amazon Inspector
- AWS KMS
- AWS Shield
- Amazon Elastic Block Store
- AWS Storage Gateway
Online Training Courses are a Helpful Choice
The direction of a candidate in the new AWS CSAA exam preparation should always receive the support of training. Training courses enhance the probability of success of candidates considerably due to various factors.
First of all, they provide easy access to learning resources such as tutorial videos and demo labs by subject matter experts.
The next significant advantage of online certification training courses is the ease of availability and convenience. Candidates can easily manage their professional and personal lives while finding time to prepare for the new AWS CSAA exam conveniently with online training courses.
Reliable online certification training course providers such as Whizlabs can be the perfect option for strengthening your preparation.
AWS itself offers the “Exam Readiness: AWS Certified Solutions Architect Associate” course in two different formats. The two formats are classroom training and free digital training. Candidates can review sample questions of each topic area and learn about the interpretation of concepts underlying the questions.
Use Practice Tests to Improve Your Skills
Once you complete online training courses for the new AWS Certified Solutions Architect Associate CSAA exam, you can feel confident enough to take the exam. However, candidates should take some time and test their skills in practice tests for the AWS CSAA exam. Practice tests are a promising instrument for understanding the exam environment before actually sitting for an exam.
The next important reason to choose practice tests is the opportunity for understanding and improving acquaintance with the exam’s format.
Most important of all, practice tests are the best tool for candidates to implement their learning in practice and evaluate their own strengths and weaknesses. Gradually, candidates can resolve their weaknesses and ensure better chances of qualifying the new AWS CSAA exam.
Are You Ready to Pass the New AWS CSAA Exam?
So, now you could start preparing for the new AWS certified solutions architect associate certification exam with confidence. The new AWS CSAA exam preparation could improve further with participation in the AWS learning community. There are many study groups and online communities for aspiring AWS professionals, which can help you discover unique insights regarding the exam.
In addition, candidates should also choose reliable online certification training providers for reliable training for the exam. Most important of all, candidates should also remember not to stress too much for the exam. Take good care of your health and diet to make sure that you travel the journey till the destination.
Now is the right time to take the first move and start your preparations for the new AWS CSAA exam right now. Join our AWS CSAA online training course and get ready to become an AWS Certified Solutions Architect Associate.
FAQs
Is the new SAA-C03 exam difficult?
Even though numerous new services are incorporated, the exam’s difficulty level is relatively similar to the previous one.The test guide for this exam has over 30 new services and other feature upgrades, so you must be sure you’re using the appropriate resources to be better prepared.
Does the SAA-C03 include hands-on labs?
The SAA-C03 test still uses a multiple-choice and multiple-response format because exam labs are not included in the updated exam guide.
What are the new AWS services covered in the AWS CSAA exam?
Here’s a list of some of the new features included in the AWS CSAA exam:
- AWS Data Exchange
- Amazon Neptune
- Amazon Fraud Detector
- Amazon Kendra
- AWS License Manager
- AWS Application Discovery Service
- Amazon Quantum Ledger Database
- Amazon Timestream
- AWS Lake Formation
- Amazon Managed Service for Prometheus
- AWS Proton
- Amazon Elastic Transcoder
- Amazon Kinesis Video Streams
- AWS Application Discovery Service
- AWS AppSync
- Amazon Fraud Detector
- Amazon Kendra
- AWS License Manager
- Amazon Managed Grafana
- AWS Data Pipeline
- AWS Outposts
- VMware Cloud on AWS
- AWS Wavelength
Summary
Hope this blog helps you understand the AWS CSAA: SAA-C03 certification exam, its objectives, and its vitality in the career of an IT professional. However, in the course of your preparation journey, you might find it difficult to gather updated resources and unauthentic resources like saa-c03 dumps.
So, to level up your preparations, you can check out Whizlabs’ resources. You will find 28 practice tests with 130+ unique questions, 223 video courses curated by industry experts, 70 AWS hands-on labs to enhance your practical exposure, and AWS sandbox to experiment and validate your theoretical AWS architectural skills.
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