My learning path to become an AWS Solutions Architect

What Does an AWS Solution Architect Do?

An AWS Solutions Architect utilizes AWS resources to build and improve cloud environments. Besides just picking the tools, they adopt the AWS Well-Architected Framework that requires a solution to meet the five criteria of the framework—security, reliability, performance efficiency, cost optimization, and operational excellence. Their role is not only limited to this, as they also function as strategic advisors by examining the current state of systems, drafting scalable architectures, and presenting cloud solutions that satisfy both the technical and business requirements.

Why Are AWS Solution Architects in Demand?

On the heels of the massive move to cloud computing by organizations is the skyrocketing demand for AWS Solutions Architects. The reason is that enterprises require the help of expert leaders who can manage cloud migrations, make the most of workloads, and lead digital transformation. Getting​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ an AWS certification is a great move for a newcomer to the field, as it turns the worker into a more attractive candidate for a job. On the contrary, a real-world professional AWS training will definitely equip the students with more self-assurance, and they will be better able to demonstrate their AWS skills in a work ​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌setting.

 

AWS​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ Solution Architect Roles and Key Responsibilities

An AWS Cloud Solution Architect works with a broad perspective and is also involved in the details. Beyond​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ just choosing the services, the architects follow the AWS Well-Architected Framework. As a result, they are the leaders in such activities as cloud migrations and system modernization.

• Design​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ & Strategy: Creating, updating, and deploying cloud architectures that are not only scalable, secure, and cost-optimized but also in line with the business goals of the company.
• Optimization: Always examining and optimizing the work that is done through the use of the five pillars of the framework, i.e., security, reliability, performance, cost optimization, and operational ​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌excellence.
• Technical Advisor: Act as a trusted adviser at the link between the technical teams and management who will promote cloud uptake and best practices.
• Implementation Oversight: Manage the installation of complex, broad-based systems and ensure the use of the most innovative and compliant AWS solutions.

The demand for solution architects with the right skill set is very high as worldwide AWS consumption is getting faster.

 

Essential​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ Skills Required to Become an AWS Solution Architect

An architect of tomorrow must possess both the technical and soft skills, which can be further enhanced through AWS training.

Core Technical Skills

• Networking Fundamentals: VPCs, subnets, routing, DNS, and load balancing should be terms that you can not only explain but also utilize when creating secure architectures.
• Security & Compliance: Become absolutely familiar with and be able to use IAM, encryption, security groups, and compliance standards.
• Data Storage: Utilize the data storage solution that is effective for both performance and cost—RDS, DynamoDB, or S3.
• Programming/scripts: If you have a need for automating or want to utilize Infrastructure as Code (CloudFormation, Terraform), then be able to script in Python or Java.
• Communication & Business Acumen: Be able to effortlessly articulate the complex technical designs that are fundamental to the business ​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍​value.
• Problem-Solving: Dissolve problems, spring to solution suggestions, and implement those in the cloud platform.
• Decisiveness & Adaptability: Skillfully choose between architectural options and, at the same time, be prepared to switch to other AWS functionalities as they unfold.

 

AWS​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ Solution Architect Certification Path

The AWS certification route is leveled and shows a clear way from being a novice (foundational level) to becoming an expert. Along with getting recognized as a bona fide cloud expert, the path also facilitates professionals moving up the ladder of their careers. Each single certification in the series calls for proficiency with certain AWS tools, fluency in design principles, and knowledge of the best practices that a good employer will find very valuable.

AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate (SAA-C03)

The Associate Architect certification is the wisest choice for the candidates who want to become architects but have not got much experience. The certificate matches one's ability to come up with the design and then deploy scalable, cost-efficient, and failure-resistant systems on AWS. Inmates of this exam gain the most out of services like EC2, S3, VPC, and RDS whereby they also learn to apply architectural principles that will enable them to build cloud solutions that are resilient to failure.

AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional (SAP-C02)

The Professional certificate marks the zenith of architectural expertise with AWS. The qualification highly commends a candidate who has at least two years of direct involvement in the designing and management of AWS infrastructure. By holding this certificate, one possesses the required skills at a very advanced level to perform multi-account architecture, design security, and build hybrid connectivity, migration, and cost optimization in the enterprise environment, thus building the robust, complex AWS environments that are scalable.

 

Foundational and Advanced AWS Certifications

As a core part, the Associate and Professional certificates of the architect account for the AWS credentials, but then there are other AWS credentials that augment one's knowledge and skills:

The​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner is a basic knowledge certification that covers general topics related to AWS. As such, it is a good fit for beginners, non-technical professionals, and those who simply want to develop their cloud literacy.

Specialty Certifications. These are the next-level certifications for architects with considerable experience who want to deep-dive and specialize in a particular area such as Networking, Security, Databases, or Machine ​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌Learning.

On their own, each certification maps out an entire educational journey, and when looked at as a whole, the set spans the entire spectrum of cloud learning, from comprehension of the most basic principles to being able to design the enterprise-level AWS ​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌architecture.

 

AWS​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ Certification Courses and Training

The​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner is an entry-level knowledge certification that deals with general topics related to AWS. Therefore, it may be considered the most suitable target audience for newcomers, non-technical employees, and individuals who are only interested in briefly enhancing their knowledge of the ​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌cloud.

Best AWS Solutions Architect Courses

The best initial choices are the Architecting on AWS and Advanced Architecting on AWS official AWS Training and Certification programs. Besides them, many online platforms like Udemy, Pluralsight, and Coursera offer AWS Certified Solutions Architect (SAA-C03) courses with video lessons, labs, and practice exams, which are the perfect combination of theory and hands-on practice.

AWS Training Options

Self-Paced Learning: AWS Skill Builder is a perfect tool for flexible, self-directed study. It offers free and paid digital courses, practice exams, and labs.

Instructor-Led Training: Get the most from expert instructors and real-time Q&A by attending live or virtual classes from AWS-accredited partners.

Bootcamps: These are time-efficient, intensive programs that integrate expert instruction and practical labs to prepare students quickly for the exam.

AWS Certification Costs

Certification Level	Exam Cost (USD)
Foundational (Cloud Practitioner)	$100
Associate (Solutions Architect, Developer, SysOps)	$150
Professional (Solutions Architect, DevOps Engineer)	$300
Specialty (Security, Networking, ML)	$300
Self-paced online courses	$15–$200
Practice exams	$30–$50

AWS usually offers a 50% discount voucher for your next exam when you successfully pass ​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌one.

 

AWS​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ Solution Architect Exam Guide

Along with content mastery, it is really important to know the layout of the certification exam for the AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate (SAA-C03). This process marks a significant step in proving your skills as a solution architect.

Exam Format and Duration

The maximum number of questions on the AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Associate examination is 65 and they may be in the form of multiple choice or multiple response. You will be able to complete the exam in a total of 130 minutes. The exam will be delivered through a 3rd party testing vendor, Pearson VUE or PSI. You will take the test either at a testing center, or you will have the option to test remotely (you will have the same 130 minutes, whichever option you choose). The score is awarded between 100 and 1000; a passing score for AWS certified associate is indicated by a 720 or higher.

AWS Exam Syllabus and Study Materials

The aws syllabus for the Solutions Architect - Associate exam breaks down the four main domains differently, each with its own weight, thus showing the most vital areas of knowledge. The preparation for the exam has to be in line with these percentages.

Domain	Focus Area	Weighting
Domain 1	Design Secure Architectures	30%
Domain 2	Design Resilient Architectures	26%
Domain 3	Design High-Performing Architectures	24%
Domain 4	Design Cost-Optimized Architectures	20%

The​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ AWS Solution Architect Syllabus and AWS Solution Architect Exam Guide are the two most vital pieces of writing that define the AWS course syllabus. Besides these two AWS syllabus files, it is also necessary for you to go through the main AWS Whitepapers, in particular, the AWS Well-Architected Framework and its five pillars of Security, Reliability, Performance Efficiency, Cost Optimization, and Operational ​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌Excellence.

AWS Practice Tests and Sample Questions

To fully utilize the practice exams of the aws solution architect associate, one should frequently do testing. ​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ In order to help you with the aws practice test preparation, AWS offers sample questions and practice tests on its certification website. These resources are very useful in understanding the question format and the technical level required. Moreover, third-party providers offer full and real-like tests that can help you acquire the required energy for the real test and point out the areas that are weak for you to revise again. Keep in mind that your practice tests must be as long as the real exam of 130 minutes to make sure that you are timing yourself well during the actual certification ​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌test.

Learn about Must-Have AWS Certifications for Developers in 2025

 

Starting Your AWS Certification Journey for Beginners

If you're completely new to cloud computing, there's no need to begin your AWS certification journey with the Solutions Architect – Associate exam, which is a tough exam. AWS has created an approachable learning path for beginner users that progresses as you expand your knowledge.

You will start with foundational training to learn the fundamentals of cloud computing, appropriate for both technical and non-technical professionals, and progressively move through to more complex architectural design exams. This step-by-step approach ensures the user has to gain valuable understanding of AWS concepts prior to engaging in hands-on approaches to solution architecture.

AWS​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ Certified Cloud Practitioner (CLF-C02) is the best way to start your cloud computing journey if you are a beginner. It prepares the base for the AWS knowledge, which can then be taken further with additional technical, architect-level ​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌certifications.

Who Is It For: Non-IT professionals (sales, marketing, legal, and project management). People who are changing their career to tech.

Focus Areas: Core cloud concepts (IaaS, PaaS, SaaS), Security and compliance basics (Shared Responsibility Model), Core AWS services (EC2, S3, VPC, RDS, Lambda), Billing and pricing models

Exam Details: 65 questions | 90 minutes | $100 USD. A passing score grants a 50% discount on your next AWS certification

AWS Learning Roadmap in Detailed Steps

Foundational (CCP): Understand cloud basics, AWS infrastructure, and pricing. Get some practice with the Free Tier.

Associate (SAA-C03): Learn the skills of architecting secure, highly available, and cost-efficient solutions.

Professional/Specialty (SAP-C02 or Specialty): Pursue a higher-level or specialty certification (such as Security or Networking) after 1-2 years of experience.

Practice On the Job: Gain practical skills by creating web applications, creating IAM roles, and deploying VPCs.

 

Free AWS Training & Learning Resources

AWS Skill Builder: Access free, digital courses like Cloud Practitioner Essentials, and access a gamified experience called AWS Cloud Quest. 

AWS Educate: A fully free, and self-paced learning program for students and educators 

AWS Free Tier: You can test out all AWS services (EC2, S3, Lambda) absolutely free 

AWS Whitepapers: You can learn the Well-Architected Framework that is structured around five pillars - Security, Reliability, Performance Efficiency, Cost Optimization, and Operational Excellence.

This program lays down the basics very well, mixing up the free AWS tools, planned learning, and real-world practice to help you progress from a novice to a certified ​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌professional.

AWS​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ Cloud Architect Career Opportunities 

AWS Solutions Architect – Associate (SAA) or Professional (SAP) certification is like a major power-up of your career, and it makes you eligible for those roles where you can make a great impact by using your technical skills and business acumen. With the increasing trend of cloud adoption, certified AWS professionals are the ones companies are looking for and willing to pay, which translates to a very rewarding career path with great stability in the IT industry.

Leading Career Opportunities for AWS Certified Architects

Solutions Architect: The individual design and develops secure, scalable solutions in the cloud on AWS that meet a variety of business purposes.

Cloud Security Architect: This role's responsibility is providing secure architectures, IAM management, and compliance.

Cloud DevOps Engineer: This position is responsible for running operations, including deployment automation with IaC technologies and AWS offerings such as CodePipeline, ECS and EKS.

Data Architect/Data Engineer: This role is responsible for data lake creation, ETL pipeline creation, and warehouse build through AWS services including S3, Redshift, and DynamoDB.

Enterprise Architect: A professional, usually holding the AWS-Professional certification, who would provide multi-cloud strategy harmonization across the enterprise level.

Salary & Job Outlook

High-Paying Opportunities: Among the top tiers of IT remunerations is where you can find AWS-certified architects.

Entry-level (Associate): a six-digit annual income is quite likely.

Advanced-level (Professional): markedly greater income is possible.

High Demand: The need for cloud migration and modernization is a factor that maintains high demand for AWS architects around the world.

AWS certifications offer a pass to extremely financially rewarding, future-proof careers in many disciplines, including architecture, security, DevOps, and data, that allow you to use leading technical skills while potentially leading strategically. 

If you are someone who is aiming at becoming an AWS Solution Architect professional, go through our AWS Interview Questions and Answers 2025

 

AWS​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ Architecture Mastery: Core Services, Tools, and Advanced Integration

In order to come up with AWS solutions of enterprise-grade level, architects should not just stop at the basics but need to go further and learn core services, automation tools, and modern integrations in data, AI, and security.

Core AWS Services Every Architect Must Know

• EC2-like compute servers, Lambda-like serverless computing, and EKS containers. Choose based on your workloads and how the options will scale. 
• S3 bucket-based object storage, RDS managed SQL, DynamoDB NoSQL 
• VPC to create a network that is isolated from the internet, Route 53 for DNS, CloudFront CDN, and ELB for load balancing. 
• For building decoupled resilient systems, SQS queueing and SNS notifications 
• IAM is for very fine-grained access controls and enforcing least privilege.

Technology Tools/Techniques for Architects

• Infrastructure as Code (IaC): CloudFormation or Terraform are tools one can use when automating deployments or doing deployments in regular intervals while keeping track of versions.
• DevOps and CI/CD: CodePipeline, CodeBuild to automate the process of building and deploying or using Jenkins/GitLab cycle.
• Monitoring and Observability: CloudWatch (help with metrics/logs) and CloudTrail (for auditing of API). 
• Configuration Management: AWS Systems Manager and Ansible are tools that one can use to created environments and perform day-to-day tasks to keep environments the same.

Combining Data, AI, and Security

• Data Architectures: S3-based data lakes, Redshift for warehousing, and Kinesis for real-time data.
• Advanced Security: Defense-in-depth strategy can be realized with WAF, Network Firewall, and IAM. Data can be protected through encrypting, tokenization, and following governance by using Lake Formation.

An AWS Solutions Architect knows core services, automation, observability, and modern integrations thoroughly enough to enable infrastructure to connect with data, AI, and security, leading to scalable, intelligent, compliant cloud solutions.

 

AWS​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ Solutions Architect vs Other Cloud Certifications 

The AWS Certified Solutions Architect: 

Associate SAA-C03 certification is essentially the premier certification for cloud architects. It indicates that the candidate can architect secure, fault-tolerant, scalable, and cost-effective solutions on the AWS platform, which is highly sought after in all industries these days.

AWS vs Azure vs Google Cloud: Key Comparisons

Cloud Provider	Architect Certification	Focus/Strengths	Certification Pathway
AWS	Solutions Architect – Associate / Professional	Broadest service catalog, market leader, cloud-native solutions	Cloud Practitioner → SAA-C03 → SAP-C02
Microsoft Azure	Azure Solutions Architect Expert (AZ-305)	Hybrid cloud, enterprise integration (Windows, SQL, Active Directory)	Foundational → AZ-104 → AZ-305
Google Cloud (GCP)	Professional Cloud Architect	Data, AI/ML, Kubernetes (GKE), open-source focus	Cloud Digital Leader → Associate Engineer → Professional Architect

 

• AWS is best for general-purpose, large-scale, multi-industry cloud design.
• Azure: Strong in enterprise and hybrid environments.
• GCP: Leading in data analytics and AI-driven, cloud-native workloads.

Why AWS Leads the Market

• Market Share: AWS keeps its position as the worldwide number one in cloud infrastructure, and it is the main driver for high demand of certified professionals.
• Service Depth: The company with the most comprehensive and mature offering of cloud services.
• Community & Resources: Large training ecosystem, documentation, and user base.
• Recruiter Recognition: Certification trusted worldwide—usually a minimum requirement for cloud architect positions

All these three certifications have their own merits, but the AWS Solutions Architect certification is the one that offers the greatest number of career opportunities as well as the strongest market recognition. For aspiring cloud professionals, it is the best place to start their journey before they decide to venture into multi-cloud expertise by either Azure or ​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌GCP.

 

How​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ to Prepare and Pass the AWS Solutions Architect – Associate (SAA-C03) Exam

The​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ AWS Solutions Architect test is primarily focused on showing your problem-solving skills for the situations that are found in the real world rather than just your memorization skills. To make the right choice of the design for a situation, you need to weigh up the factors of security, performance, cost, and ​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌resilience.

Core Exam Domains—Employing

• Design​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ Secure Architectures—Employing security measures as per implementation, like using IAM, data encryption, and setting up security groups and NACLs.
• Design Resilient Architectures—Through the implementation of Multi-AZ, Auto Scaling, and load balancing to uplift redundancy and availability.
• Design High-Performing Architectures—Utilizing EC2, Lambda, S3, RDS, and networking to meet performance ​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌targets.
• Design Cost-Optimized Architectures—Understanding of pricing models (RI, SP, Spot) and resource choices that lead to efficient usage of money and resources.
• Have​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ detailed knowledge of 10–15 core services (for instance, VPC, EC2, S3, RDS, IAM, SQS, SNS, CloudFront, Route 53, Lambda) and be generally knowledgeable with the rest.

Study Plan (8–12 Weeks Typical)

• Hands-on Practice (50% of the time): Utilize the AWS Free Tier and build small projects by integrating EC2, S3, and RDS.
• Familiarize Yourself with the Well-Architected Framework: The five pillars of the WAF around Security, Reliability, Performance Efficiency, Cost Optimization, and Operational Excellence should be the main characters of any solution provided in the ​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌exam.
• Become a Networking & Security Expert: Try creating VPCs on paper, and learn the details of routing and subnet isolation very deeply.
• Practice Tests: Make it a point to be scoring 80% or more regularly and also see why your answer was right or wrong.
• Whitepapers: Focus especially on themes like the Well-Architected Framework, Security, and Storage.

Recommended Study Resources

• Video Courses: The most efficient and updated way of learning is by following a course with a clear curriculum (e.g., Udemy, A Cloud Guru).

AWS Documentation:

The most accurate and up-to-date source of information about limits, definitions, and details of a service.

• Practice Exams: Be sure to use good-quality exam providers that come with detailed explanations.
• Whitepapers & PDFs: The best way to keep up with trends and new concepts is through attending to the architect's best practice documents.

Next Steps & Career Growth

• After SAA: Progress to the Solutions Architect–Professional level or pick a Specialty Certification such as Security, Networking, or Data Analytics.

Future Skills:

• Designing with serverless as the primary consideration (Lambda, DynamoDB, API Gateway).
• Integration of AI/ML (SageMaker, Bedrock).
• Enterprise architecture (multi-account, governance, ​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌automation).

 

Conclusion:​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ How to Become a Certified AWS Solutions Architect in 2025 

Getting the AWS Certified Solutions Architect is not only about the exam that is passed, but it is also evidence of the designing of secure, scalable, and efficient systems in the leading cloud platform. Thus, it becomes a stepping stone to a cloud-focused career, which is highly in demand.

The Future of AWS and Cloud Computing

• Cloud computing keeps changing to fully managed, serverless, and AI-driven solutions. In order to still be competitive, the architects have to conform to these latest trends:
• Serverless First: Use AWS services such as Lambda, DynamoDB, and API Gateway to create solutions that can be scaled at a low cost.
• AI/ML Integration: Use AI with the help of Amazon Bedrock and SageMaker.
• Specialization: Either move on to the Solutions Architect – Professional or select a specialty like Security, Networking, or Data Analytics.

Next Steps of AWS Certification

• Solutions Architect – Professional: Learn how to create complex designs of an enterprise scale and multi-account governance.
• Specialty Certifications:

1. Enterprise scale
2. Security Specialty – WAF, KMS, Security Hub
3. Advanced Networking Specialty – VPC peering, Transit Gateway, Direct Connect

Final Takeaway

The AWS Solution Architect certification journey should be seen as one that takes a whole career. One can only be sure of remaining relevant through regular upgrading of skills by going for advanced certifications and engaging in practice, which in turn keeps one current in the cloud arena that is increasingly characterized by automation, AI, and serverless ​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌innovation.

Sprintzeal​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ provides a detailed training program for AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate (SAA-C03) verification. The program combines the following elements: instructor-led sessions, hands-on labs, and mock exam practice to help candidates face real-world challenges of a cloud architect.  1,000+ practice questions, and prepares you in accordance with the official domains that govern the examination content and test objectives. Sprintzeal’s sound global review reputation and added scheduling flexibility, including weekend/weekday batches, could be a strong option if you are seeking structured support and practice-based training on your AWS certification academic journey.

 

FAQs for AWS Solution Architect

1. What​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ is the work of an AWS Solution Architect? 

An AWS Solution Architect designs solutions in the cloud that can expand, are safe from threats, and are reasonable in cost and make use of Amazon Web Services. They cooperate either with clients or teams to understand the business needs and accordingly link these needs to AWS services and architectural patterns.

2. What skills should an AWS Solution Architect have? 

The individual should understand the basic concepts of cloud computing, networking, security, and system architecture. It is essential that the person be familiar with the use of AWS services like EC2, S3, Lambda, and VPC. Human qualities like good communication skills and problem-solving skills are usually required for a person; they are equally important in this job.

3. Is an AWS Solution Architect required to have a certificate?

Even if it is not a mandatory condition, it is still a nice thought to have a certificate. The AWS Certified Solutions Architect—Associate or Professional certification is an excellent way to present your skills and, thus, can be a great help to you in progressing your career.

4. How do I choose between AWS services when designing a solution?

Choosing the services should be based on the case that needs to be handled. For example, if the case demands serverless compute, use Lambda. Likewise, if the need is for relational databases, go for RDS. Understanding the trade-offs—performance, cost, scalability, and complexity—is the key thing.

5. How do AWS Solution Architects ensure security in their designs?

Security is implemented at all levels. Architects implement access control through IAM, encrypt data for protection, isolate networks using VPCs, and use security services such as AWS Shield and WAF to block attacks. Apart from that, regular audits and compliance checks are also performed.

6. How do you optimize costs in AWS architecture?

This can be done by utilizing the correct instance types, auto-scaling, making use of spot instances, and keeping track of the usage through tools like AWS Cost Explorer. Besides that, architects promote the use of reserved instances for the workloads that are predictable and serverless where it is possible.

7. What differentiates a Cloud Engineer from a Solution Architect?

In comparison to a Cloud Engineer who is involved in on-hand implementation and operations, a Solution Architect working at high-level design and strategy is supported. Generally, the engineers receive directions from the architects about what to build and the way of doing it.

8. What’s a common mistake new AWS architects make?

One of the mistakes beginners commit is overengineering. There is always a temptation to throw in every new AWS service, but more often than not the simplest solution is the best one. Another trap that is frequently stumbled upon is the matter of cost considerations and neglecting failure and scalability in the design.

9. How do you stay updated with AWS’s rapid changes?

One can keep an eye on what is new by looking at AWS blogs, taking part in webinars, and getting and using the free tier of AWS for experiments. Besides these, being a member of Reddit or LinkedIn groups or attending the AWS Re-Invent can also be good options.

10. What’s your advice for someone starting out in AWS architecture?

I would say to beginners to not be in a hurry. Use the AWS Free Tier to develop projects, learn from existing architectures, and take the certification exam. The main point to consider is the 'why' of each service choice, not just the 'how.'