What Is Amazon AWS and Why Should You Learn It? (My Learning Journey with AWS Educate)

Hi everyone! 👋
I’m currently training to become a Fachinformatiker Systemintegration (IT Specialist in System Integration) and at the same time, I’m actively learning about cloud technologies through Amazon AWS Educate — completely for free. In this post, I want to share in detail what AWS is, why it’s so important, and how I’m learning it step-by-step using free resources.

What is AWS?

Amazon Web Services (AWS) is the world’s most comprehensive and widely adopted cloud computing platform, launched by Amazon in 2006. From startups and individuals to enterprises and government agencies — everyone uses AWS today.

AWS is the invisible powerhouse behind much of the internet. It lets you host websites, store and process data, run backend services, build machine learning models, manage security, and so much more — without having to buy or maintain physical servers.

What Can You Do with AWS?

AWS offers hundreds of services. Some of the most commonly used include:

Amazon EC2: Scalable virtual servers (like VPS but smarter)
Amazon S3: Object-based file storage (for backups, hosting, file sharing)
AWS Lambda: Run code without managing servers (serverless!)
Amazon RDS / DynamoDB: Relational and NoSQL database services
Amazon VPC: Create secure, isolated networks
IAM: Manage secure access and permissions
Other key tools: CloudFront, SNS, Route53, CloudWatch, KMS and many more…

Why Use AWS?

Here’s why AWS is the #1 choice for millions of professionals:

Global Reach – Data centers all over the world for fast and local access
Scalability & Flexibility – Automatically scale based on demand
Pay-As-You-Go – Only pay for what you use
Advanced Security – Role-based access, network control, encryption
Developer-Friendly – Full CLI, SDK, and API support
Certifications that Matter – Globally recognized and employer-respected credentials

Learning AWS for Free – Thanks to AWS Educate

I started my AWS learning journey through AWS Educate — Amazon’s official learning platform for students and early learners. The best part? It’s 100% free.

Some of the beginner-friendly modules I’m exploring:

Cloud 101
Introduction to AWS Console
Security Fundamentals
Compute, Storage & Networking
Lambda & Serverless Concepts
Databases & DevOps Basics
And many more…

Each module includes videos, simulations, and quizzes. As you complete them, you earn Credly digital badges you can showcase on LinkedIn — helping you build your resume as you learn.

My AWS Certification Goals

AWS offers a range of certifications:

Foundational: Cloud Practitioner
Associate: Solutions Architect, SysOps Administrator, Developer
Professional: Solutions Architect, DevOps Engineer
Specialty: Security, Data Analytics, Machine Learning, and more

I’m currently working through the “AWS Cloud Practitioner Essentials” course. My personal certification goal is to first complete the SysOps Administrator – Associate certification, followed by the Security – Specialty certification — because I’m deeply interested in system infrastructure and IT security.

Why AWS Is Worth It

AWS is more than just a cloud provider — it’s an industry standard.
If you’re aiming for a career in system integration, DevOps, cybersecurity, or software development, cloud knowledge is now non-negotiable — and AWS is the most widely used platform for it.

You don’t need to spend thousands to get started. I didn’t.
Thanks to AWS Educate and other free AWS resources, I’m able to learn hands-on and build real skills — without spending a cent.

Why You Should Start Learning Amazon AWS – My Free Journey with AWS Educate