AWS Certified Solutions Architect — Associate

Exam SAA-C03 AWS Intermediate

Design secure, resilient, high-performing and cost-optimised architectures on AWS. The four SAA-C03 domains, taught and then built.

1 course · 21 sections · 207 lectures · 62 labs · ≈ 38 h of hands-on labs

All 81 SAA-C03 hands-on labs on one page →

Free to start: the free lessons and guides for this roadmap →

Exam domains

Design Secure Architectures — 30%
Design Resilient Architectures — 26%
Design High-Performing Architectures — 24%
Design Cost-Optimized Architectures — 20%

The course was built on an earlier outline, so check the current topics against AWS's free SAA-C03 exam guide.

Try a free cloud security lab: Left open (~4 min) → A scripted simulation in your browser. No account needed.

The path

Start here →

Step 1 — Learn architecture on AWS

Design for resilience, performance, security and cost.

1 course · 21 sections · 207 lectures

Learn

CourseTOTAL: AWS Solutions Architect Associate (opens in a new tab)opens on courses.stationx.net 🔒 StationX Membership — $299 / year ($24.92/mo billed annually)
21 sections · 207 lectures
1. Training Overview 2
2. Introduction 1
3. Exam Tips and Tricks 15
4. ESSENTIALS Chapter 1 - AWS Foundations and Services 8
5. ESSENTIALS Chapter 2 - AWS Security & Costs 5
6. SOLUTIONS ARCHITECT Ch 1 - AWS Cloud Services Overview 11
7. SOLUTIONS ARCHITECT Ch 2 - AWS Storage Design 22
8. SOLUTIONS ARCHITECT Ch 3 - Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) 13
9. SOLUTIONS ARCHITECT Ch 4 - Compute Services Design 6
10. SOLUTIONS ARCHITECT Ch 5 - Compute Services Implementation 8
11. SOLUTIONS ARCHITECT Ch 6 - Compute Services Management 9
12. SOLUTIONS ARCHITECT Ch 7 - Identity and Access Management (IAM) 14
13. SOLUTIONS ARCHITECT Ch 8 - IAM Best Practices 13
14. SOLUTIONS ARCHITECT Ch 9 - Auto Scaling Solutions 8
15. SOLUTIONS ARCHITECT Ch 10 - Virtual Network Services 6
16. SOLUTIONS ARCHITECT Ch 11 - AWS Application Deployment 23
17. Solutions Architect Chapter 12 - AWS Database Design 11
18. Solutions Architect Chapter 13 - Database Deployment 8
19. Solutions Architect Chapter 14 - Additional AWS Services 11
20. Solutions Architect Chapter 15 - Operational Excellence with AWS 12
21. Audio Version of Training 1

Step 2 — Build the core services

Compute, storage, databases and networking, hands on.

29 labs

Learn

CourseCovered in TOTAL: AWS Solutions Architect Associate (opens in a new tab)opens on courses.stationx.net — compute, storage, database and networking sections 🔒 StationX Membership — $299 / year ($24.92/mo billed annually)
21 sections · 207 lectures
1. Training Overview 2
2. Introduction 1
3. Exam Tips and Tricks 15
4. ESSENTIALS Chapter 1 - AWS Foundations and Services 8
5. ESSENTIALS Chapter 2 - AWS Security & Costs 5
6. SOLUTIONS ARCHITECT Ch 1 - AWS Cloud Services Overview 11
7. SOLUTIONS ARCHITECT Ch 2 - AWS Storage Design 22
8. SOLUTIONS ARCHITECT Ch 3 - Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) 13
9. SOLUTIONS ARCHITECT Ch 4 - Compute Services Design 6
10. SOLUTIONS ARCHITECT Ch 5 - Compute Services Implementation 8
11. SOLUTIONS ARCHITECT Ch 6 - Compute Services Management 9
12. SOLUTIONS ARCHITECT Ch 7 - Identity and Access Management (IAM) 14
13. SOLUTIONS ARCHITECT Ch 8 - IAM Best Practices 13
14. SOLUTIONS ARCHITECT Ch 9 - Auto Scaling Solutions 8
15. SOLUTIONS ARCHITECT Ch 10 - Virtual Network Services 6
16. SOLUTIONS ARCHITECT Ch 11 - AWS Application Deployment 23
17. Solutions Architect Chapter 12 - AWS Database Design 11
18. Solutions Architect Chapter 13 - Database Deployment 8
19. Solutions Architect Chapter 14 - Additional AWS Services 11
20. Solutions Architect Chapter 15 - Operational Excellence with AWS 12
21. Audio Version of Training 1

Practise

Infra LabsAWS Elastic Cloud Compute EC2 — 10 labs 🔒 Add StationX Infrastructure Labs — $149 / year · 3 attempts per lab in any 12 months
- Create and Configure an EC2 Instance That Uses a User Data ScriptLevel: GuidedDuration: 30 min
- Create an Instance by Using a Custom AMILevel: GuidedDuration: 30 min
- Can You Create a Custom AMI Based on a New EC2 Instance?Level: AdvancedDuration: 45 min
- Create an EC2 Instance by Using a Launch TemplateLevel: GuidedDuration: 30 min
- Create an Auto Scaling GroupLevel: GuidedDuration: 30 min
- Can You Create a Resilient System by Using a Launch Template and an Auto Scaling Group?Level: AdvancedDuration: 45 min
- Configure an Elastic Load BalancerLevel: GuidedDuration: 30 min
- Install a Web Server by Using AWS System Manager Run CommandLevel: GuidedDuration: 30 min
- Can You Automate the Build of EC2 Instances Behind an Elastic Load Balancer?Level: AdvancedDuration: 45 min
- Can You Configure a Resilient EC2 Server Farm?Level: ExpertDuration: 1 h
Infra LabsAWS Simple Storage Service S3 — 10 labs 🔒 Add StationX Infrastructure Labs — $149 / year · 3 attempts per lab in any 12 months
- Create Buckets, Versioning, and Permissions with Amazon S3Level: GuidedDuration: 30 min
- Hosting a Static Website with Amazon S3Level: GuidedDuration: 30 min
- Can You Serve a Simple, Static Website with Amazon S3?Level: AdvancedDuration: 45 min
- Configure File Encryption and Access LoggingLevel: GuidedDuration: 30 min
- Configure an Amazon S3 NotificationLevel: GuidedDuration: 30 min
- Can You Use Access Logging for Bucket Management and Monitoring?Level: AdvancedDuration: 45 min
- Configure Cross Region Replication for an S3 BucketLevel: GuidedDuration: 30 min
- Create an Object Lifecycle Policy for Amazon S3 DocumentsLevel: GuidedDuration: 30 min
- Can You Enable Cross-Region Replication and Archiving?Level: AdvancedDuration: 45 min
- Can You Create a Website with Cross Region Replication and Logging?Level: ExpertDuration: 1 h
Infra LabsAWS VPCs and Networking — 3 labs 🔒 Add StationX Infrastructure Labs — $149 / year · 3 attempts per lab in any 12 months
- Design a VPC and Associated Subnets in AWSLevel: GuidedDuration: 30 min
- Establish Internet and NAT GatewaysLevel: GuidedDuration: 30 min
- Can You Design a Cloud Network by Using AWS?Level: AdvancedDuration: 45 min
Infra LabsAWS Technical Essentials TE.2 — 6 labs 🔒 Add StationX Infrastructure Labs — $149 / year · 3 attempts per lab in any 12 months
- Configure a Relational Database by Using Amazon RDSLevel: GuidedDuration: 30 min
- Configure a NoSQL Database by Using Amazon DynamoDBLevel: GuidedDuration: 30 min
- Can You Design a Database Solution?Level: AdvancedDuration: 45 min
- Configure High Availability by Using an Elastic Load BalancerLevel: GuidedDuration: 30 min
- Create a Scalable Website That Uses an Elastic Load BalancerLevel: GuidedDuration: 30 min
- Can You Design an Elastic, Highly Available Architecture in AWS?Level: AdvancedDuration: 45 min

Free resources

FreeAWS Solutions Architect Associate Cheat Sheet

Step 3 — Secure, monitor and recover it

IAM, encryption, monitoring and recovery: Secure is the largest domain (30%), Resilient the next (26%).

31 labs

Learn

CourseCovered in TOTAL: AWS Solutions Architect Associate (opens in a new tab)opens on courses.stationx.net — IAM, monitoring, automation and security sections 🔒 StationX Membership — $299 / year ($24.92/mo billed annually)
21 sections · 207 lectures
1. Training Overview 2
2. Introduction 1
3. Exam Tips and Tricks 15
4. ESSENTIALS Chapter 1 - AWS Foundations and Services 8
5. ESSENTIALS Chapter 2 - AWS Security & Costs 5
6. SOLUTIONS ARCHITECT Ch 1 - AWS Cloud Services Overview 11
7. SOLUTIONS ARCHITECT Ch 2 - AWS Storage Design 22
8. SOLUTIONS ARCHITECT Ch 3 - Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) 13
9. SOLUTIONS ARCHITECT Ch 4 - Compute Services Design 6
10. SOLUTIONS ARCHITECT Ch 5 - Compute Services Implementation 8
11. SOLUTIONS ARCHITECT Ch 6 - Compute Services Management 9
12. SOLUTIONS ARCHITECT Ch 7 - Identity and Access Management (IAM) 14
13. SOLUTIONS ARCHITECT Ch 8 - IAM Best Practices 13
14. SOLUTIONS ARCHITECT Ch 9 - Auto Scaling Solutions 8
15. SOLUTIONS ARCHITECT Ch 10 - Virtual Network Services 6
16. SOLUTIONS ARCHITECT Ch 11 - AWS Application Deployment 23
17. Solutions Architect Chapter 12 - AWS Database Design 11
18. Solutions Architect Chapter 13 - Database Deployment 8
19. Solutions Architect Chapter 14 - Additional AWS Services 11
20. Solutions Architect Chapter 15 - Operational Excellence with AWS 12
21. Audio Version of Training 1

Practise

Infra LabsAWS Monitoring, Logging, and Remediation SOA.1 — 12 labs 🔒 Add StationX Infrastructure Labs — $149 / year · 3 attempts per lab in any 12 months
- Manage AWS Logs by Using CloudTrailLevel: GuidedDuration: 30 min
- Collect Metrics and Logs by Using the CloudWatch AgentLevel: GuidedDuration: 30 min
- Create a CloudWatch AlarmLevel: GuidedDuration: 30 min
- Create Metric FiltersLevel: GuidedDuration: 30 min
- Create a CloudWatch DashboardLevel: GuidedDuration: 30 min
- Configure an SNS Notification for a CloudWatch AlarmLevel: GuidedDuration: 30 min
- Can You Implement Metrics, Alarms, and Filters?Level: AdvancedDuration: 45 min
- Troubleshoot an EC2 Instance by Using a CloudWatch AlarmLevel: GuidedDuration: 30 min
- Configure an Amazon EventBridge Rule That Triggers an ActionLevel: GuidedDuration: 30 min
- Perform Automatic Remediation by Using an AWS Config RuleLevel: GuidedDuration: 30 min
- Can You Remediate Issues by Using Monitoring and Availability Metrics?Level: AdvancedDuration: 45 min
- Can You Configure a Resilient Website That Uses Monitoring and Automatic Remediation?Level: ExpertDuration: 1 h
Infra LabsAWS Reliability and Business Continuity SOA.2 — 6 labs 🔒 Add StationX Infrastructure Labs — $149 / year · 3 attempts per lab in any 12 months
- Configure AWS Auto ScalingLevel: GuidedDuration: 30 min
- Implement Caching in AWS by Using DAXLevel: GuidedDuration: 30 min
- Implement Scaling for an Amazon RDS InstanceLevel: GuidedDuration: 1 h
- Implement Health Checks by Using ELB and Route 53Level: GuidedDuration: 30 min
- Implement a Fault Tolerant File Service by Using EFSLevel: GuidedDuration: 1 h
- Automate Snapshots by Using DLMLevel: GuidedDuration: 1 h
Infra LabsAWS Deployment, Provisioning, and Automation SOA.3 — 8 labs 🔒 Add StationX Infrastructure Labs — $149 / year · 3 attempts per lab in any 12 months
- Provision and Maintain AWS Resources by Using CloudFormationLevel: GuidedDuration: 30 min
- Migrate a Load Balanced Application by Using a Blue/Green and Canary Deployment StrategyLevel: GuidedDuration: 30 min
- Execute Commands and Automation Documents by Using the AWS Systems Manager ServiceLevel: GuidedDuration: 30 min
- Configure Maintenance Windows by Using AWS Systems ManagerLevel: GuidedDuration: 30 min
- Configure AWS Systems Manager Patch ManagerLevel: GuidedDuration: 30 min
- Configure an Amazon EventBridge Rule That Sends an Automated Email by Using the Simple Notification ServiceLevel: GuidedDuration: 30 min
- Can You Automate Processes by Using AWS Services?Level: AdvancedDuration: 45 min
- Evaluate AWS Config RulesLevel: GuidedDuration: 30 min
Infra LabsAWS Security and Compliance SOA.4 — 5 labs 🔒 Add StationX Infrastructure Labs — $149 / year · 3 attempts per lab in any 12 months
- Configure Security for an IAM UserLevel: GuidedDuration: 30 min
- Implement an IAM PolicyLevel: GuidedDuration: 30 min
- Implement a Security Monitoring ProcessLevel: GuidedDuration: 30 min
- Implement Encryption at RestLevel: GuidedDuration: 30 min
- Implement Protection for Data and InfrastructureLevel: GuidedDuration: 30 min

Step 4 — Design for cost

Price a design, then cut it: the Pricing Calculator and Trusted Advisor labs. Cost-Optimized is 20% of the exam.

2 labs

Learn

CourseCovered in TOTAL: AWS Solutions Architect Associate (opens in a new tab)opens on courses.stationx.net — ESSENTIALS Chapter 2, AWS Security & Costs 🔒 StationX Membership — $299 / year ($24.92/mo billed annually)
21 sections · 207 lectures
1. Training Overview 2
2. Introduction 1
3. Exam Tips and Tricks 15
4. ESSENTIALS Chapter 1 - AWS Foundations and Services 8
5. ESSENTIALS Chapter 2 - AWS Security & Costs 5
6. SOLUTIONS ARCHITECT Ch 1 - AWS Cloud Services Overview 11
7. SOLUTIONS ARCHITECT Ch 2 - AWS Storage Design 22
8. SOLUTIONS ARCHITECT Ch 3 - Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) 13
9. SOLUTIONS ARCHITECT Ch 4 - Compute Services Design 6
10. SOLUTIONS ARCHITECT Ch 5 - Compute Services Implementation 8
11. SOLUTIONS ARCHITECT Ch 6 - Compute Services Management 9
12. SOLUTIONS ARCHITECT Ch 7 - Identity and Access Management (IAM) 14
13. SOLUTIONS ARCHITECT Ch 8 - IAM Best Practices 13
14. SOLUTIONS ARCHITECT Ch 9 - Auto Scaling Solutions 8
15. SOLUTIONS ARCHITECT Ch 10 - Virtual Network Services 6
16. SOLUTIONS ARCHITECT Ch 11 - AWS Application Deployment 23
17. Solutions Architect Chapter 12 - AWS Database Design 11
18. Solutions Architect Chapter 13 - Database Deployment 8
19. Solutions Architect Chapter 14 - Additional AWS Services 11
20. Solutions Architect Chapter 15 - Operational Excellence with AWS 12
21. Audio Version of Training 1

Practise

Infra LabsAWS Certified Cloud Practitioner (CLF-C02) — 2 labs 🔒 Add StationX Infrastructure Labs — $149 / year · 3 attempts per lab in any 12 months
- Implement Best Practices by Using the AWS Trusted AdvisorLevel: GuidedDuration: 45 min
- Implement Cost Management by Using the AWS Pricing CalculatorLevel: GuidedDuration: 1 h

Where this leads

Choose your next roadmap

AWS Certified Security — SpecialtyAdvanced · 35 labs · ≈ 22 h of hands-on labs