AWS SysOps Certification Guide: Exam Tips, Study Resources, and Preparation Strategy

The AWS Certified SysOps Administrator – Associate certification is a valuable credential for IT professionals seeking to validate their ability to deploy, manage, and operate workloads on AWS. This certification is ideal for system administrators, cloud engineers, and IT professionals looking to enhance their AWS SysOps.

1. Exam Overview

AWS SysOps Administrator – Associate Exam Details

• Exam Format: Multiple-choice and multiple-response questions, hands-on labs

• Exam Duration: 180 minutes

• Passing Score: ~720 out of 1000

• Cost: $150 (practice exam: $20)

• Delivery Methods: Pearson VUE testing centers or online proctoring

• Prerequisites: No mandatory prerequisites, but AWS experience is recommended

Key Domains Covered in the Exam

The AWS SysOps exam focuses on six main domains:

1. Monitoring, Logging, and Remediation (20%)

2. Reliability and Business Continuity (16%)

3. Deployment, Provisioning, and Automation (18%)

4. Security and Compliance (16%)

5. Networking and Content Delivery (18%)

6. Cost and Performance Optimization (12%)

Understanding these domains and their weightage helps in prioritizing study efforts.

2. Recommended Study Resources

AWS Official Resources

• AWS Certified SysOps Administrator – Associate Exam Guide (AWS Website)

• AWS Whitepapers: Security Best Practices, Well-Architected Framework, Cost Optimization

• AWS Free Tier: Hands-on experience with AWS services

Online Courses & Training

• AWS Training and Certification (Official AWS Courses)

• A Cloud Guru – AWS Certified SysOps Administrator

• Udemy – AWS Certified SysOps Administrator Associate Course

• Whizlabs – AWS SysOps Practice Exams & Training

Practice Exams & Labs

• AWS Skill Builder – Official AWS practice exams

• Tutorials Dojo Practice Tests (Jon Bonso)

• Hands-on Labs – Qwiklabs and Cloud Academy

3. Exam Tips and Preparation Strategy

1. Understand the Exam Domains

• Focus on key areas like monitoring, automation, security, networking, and cost optimization.

• Review AWS documentation and whitepapers related to these topics.

2. Gain Hands-On Experience

• Create and manage AWS resources using the AWS Management Console and AWS CLI.

• Set up CloudWatch alarms, IAM roles, VPC networking, and Auto Scaling policies.

• Work on AWS Systems Manager, CloudFormation, and AWS Backup for real-world scenarios.

3. Practice with Exam Simulations

• Take multiple practice tests to familiarize yourself with exam-style questions.

• Focus on time management and review incorrect answers to identify weak areas.

• Attempt AWS’s official sample questions and third-party mock exams.

4. Master AWS Services Relevant to the Exam

Some of the most important AWS services to focus on:

• Compute: EC2, Lambda, Auto Scaling

• Storage: S3, EBS, EFS, AWS Backup

• Networking: VPC, Route 53, Elastic Load Balancing, CloudFront

• Monitoring & Logging: CloudWatch, CloudTrail, AWS Config

• Security & Compliance: IAM, KMS, AWS Shield, AWS Security Hub

5. Learn Troubleshooting Techniques

• Practice diagnosing and resolving common AWS issues.

• Understand log analysis using AWS CloudWatch Logs and AWS X-Ray.

• Familiarize yourself with AWS Trusted Advisor recommendations.

6. Utilize AWS Well-Architected Framework

• Learn best practices for reliability, security, performance efficiency, cost optimization, and operational excellence.

• Apply these principles while designing AWS architectures.

7. Time Management During the Exam

• Read questions carefully: Look for keywords like high availability, cost-effective, security best practices.

• Answer easy questions first: Mark difficult ones for review and return to them later.

• Manage your time wisely: Avoid spending too much time on a single question.

4. Final Week Revision Plan

Day 1-3: Focus on Weak Areas

• Review incorrect answers from previous practice exams.

• Watch video explanations for complex topics.

Day 4-6: Hands-On Labs & Whitepapers

• Perform AWS hands-on labs for IAM, Auto Scaling, CloudFormation, and networking.

• Read AWS whitepapers on security, reliability, and operational best practices.

Day 7: Full-Length Practice Test & Review

• Take a final full-length timed practice exam.

• Review all answers and focus on any last-minute learning areas.

Conclusion

The AWS Certified SysOps Administrator – Associate exam requires a combination of theoretical knowledge, hands-on experience, and strategic preparation. By leveraging AWS official resources, enrolling in training courses, practicing with mock exams, and gaining real-world experience, you can successfully achieve AWS SysOps certification and advance your cloud career.