Become an AWS Cloud Architect

Program overview: Why should I take this program?

• Why should I enroll?

  With the global public cloud computing market topping $250 billion in 2019, and more than 80% of all organizations projected to migrate to the cloud by 2025, Cloud Computing is a massively growing business. Professionals with cloud architecture expertise, and the ability to design, build and migrate applications are in high demand, with over 13,000 open jobs in available worldwide. Cloud Architects are the drivers of an organization’s cloud architecture strategy, determining the best plan to build and deploy reliable, scalable, and secure cloud services.

  With Udacity’s new AWS Cloud Architect Nanodegree program, you will learn to plan, design, and implement secure cloud infrastructure in AWS at scale. AWS is the world’s largest systems business and a Cloud Architect earns an average salary of $159,000!

  A graduate of this program will be able to:

  • Design and deploy a fault tolerant and resilient web service architecture in AWS.
  • Monitor availability and simulate and test failure scenarios and recovery.
  • Optimize cloud service infrastructure for cost and performance.
  • Use Terraform to provision and configure AWS services in a global configuration.
  • Evaluate a cloud environment’s security vulnerabilities.
  • Apply best practices in cloud security to harden and secure the environment.
  • Design a DevSecOps pipeline that will scan infrastructure as code, AMI and containers, and AWS cloud configuration for vulnerabilities.

• What jobs will this program prepare me for?

  This program is designed to prepare students to become AWS Cloud Architects. This includes job titles such as Cloud Infrastructure Architect, Cloud Solutions Architect, Solutions Architect, Hybrid Cloud Architect, AWS Engineer/Developer, DevOps Solutions Architect, Cloud Software Architect, and more. Cloud Architect skills are also helpful for adjacent computer systems architecture roles.

• How do I know if this program is right for me?

  If you are interested in leading the planning, designing, and implementation of secure cloud infrastructure in AWS at scale, and have some experience with Cloud Computing, then this program is right for you. You will begin by designing and building high availability infrastructure and then move on to building scalable, secure and cost optimized architecture.

  Additional job titles and backgrounds that could be helpful include Cloud Developer, Cloud DevOps Engineer, Cloud Engineer, Software Engineer/Developer and more. Roles that involve web application development, cloud computing, and networking will help you have the requisite experience to succeed in this program.

Enrollment and admission

• Do I need to apply? What are the admission criteria?

  There is no application. This Nanodegree program accepts everyone, regardless of experience and specific background.

• What are the prerequisites for enrollment?

  To be best prepared to succeed in this program, you should have experience with:

  • Web Development (HTML, CSS)
  • Object-Oriented Programming
  • Linux Command Line Basics
  • Have 1-2 years of experience in developing apps or managing cloud infrastructure that have been deployed using AWS.
  • Basic understanding of and some hands on experience using compute, networking, storage, and database AWS services.
  • Familiarity with concepts related to web application architecture, hosting, infrastructure, and components (e.g. web servers and databases, SSL certificates, CDN etc).
  • Equivalent experience to having completed the Cloud DevOps Engineer Nanodegree program or the Cloud Developer Nanodegree program.

• If I do not meet the requirements to enroll, what should I do?

  To best prepare for this program, we recommend the Cloud DevOps Engineer Nanodegree program or the Cloud Developer Nanodegree program.

Tuition and term of program

• How is this Nanodegree program structured?

  The AWS Cloud Architect Nanodegree program is comprised of content and curriculum to support three projects. Once you subscribe to a Nanodegree program, you will have access to the content and services for the length of time specified by your subscription. We estimate that students can complete the program in three months, working 10 hours per week.

  Each project will be reviewed by the Udacity reviewer network. Feedback will be provided and if you do not pass the project, you will be asked to resubmit the project until it passes.

• How long is this Nanodegree program?

  You will have access to this Nanodegree program for as long as your subscription remains active. The estimated time to complete this program can be found on the webpage and in the syllabus, and is based on the average amount of time we project that it takes a student to complete the projects and coursework. See the Terms of Use and FAQs for other policies regarding the terms of access to our Nanodegree programs.

• Can I switch my start date? Can I get a refund?

  Please see the Udacity Program FAQs for policies on enrollment in our programs.

Software and hardware: What do I need for this program?

• What software and versions will I need in this program?

  For this Nanodegree program, you will need a desktop or laptop computer running recent versions of Windows, Mac OS X, or Linux and an unmetered broadband Internet connection. For an ideal learning experience, a computer with Mac or Linux OS is recommended.

  You will use: AWS CLI, AWS CloudFormation, Terraform, Lucidchart or other diagramming software, and Github in this Nanodegree program.