Overview
Amazon Web Services (AWS) is the world’s most comprehensive and widely adopted cloud platform, offering over 200 services from data centers globally. For cybersecurity professionals, AWS provides extensive security tools including IAM, Security Hub, GuardDuty for threat detection, and AWS Shield for DDoS protection.Days 71-77 of the 90 Days of Cybersecurity program focus on building cloud platform skills. AWS is one of three recommended platforms - choose based on your career objectives and market demand.
AWS Learning Resources
Official Getting Started Resources
Begin your AWS security journey with these comprehensive resources:AWS Getting Started
Resource center with tutorials, guides, and learning paths for AWS beginners
AWS Tutorials
Step-by-step tutorials covering compute, storage, databases, and security
Gamified Learning Platform
AWS Cloud Quest
Highly Recommended: Learn through gamified, hands-on labs in an immersive role-playing game. Build real AWS solutions while completing quests and earning rewards.
Key Security Services to Learn
Focus on these essential AWS security services during your learning:- AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM) - Control access to AWS services and resources
- AWS Security Hub - Centralized security and compliance view across AWS accounts
- Amazon GuardDuty - Intelligent threat detection and continuous monitoring
- AWS Shield - Managed DDoS protection for applications
- AWS WAF - Web application firewall to protect against common exploits
- AWS CloudTrail - Track user activity and API usage for auditing
- Amazon VPC - Isolated virtual networks with security group controls
- AWS KMS - Create and manage encryption keys
AWS Learning Path
Create Your AWS Account
Sign up for an AWS account to access the free tier, which includes 12 months of free services and always-free offerings.
Explore Getting Started Resources
Work through the AWS Getting Started Resource Center to understand core concepts, services, and the AWS console.
Complete Hands-On Tutorials
Follow security-focused tutorials from AWS Tutorials including:
- Setting up IAM users and roles
- Configuring VPC security groups
- Enabling CloudTrail logging
- Deploying secure applications
Practice with AWS Cloud Quest
Dive into AWS Cloud Quest for immersive, game-based learning with real AWS environments.
Essential AWS Security Concepts
As you learn AWS, pay special attention to:Identity and Access Management
- Principle of least privilege
- IAM roles vs. users vs. groups
- Multi-factor authentication (MFA)
- Cross-account access
Network Security
- VPC design and segmentation
- Security groups vs. network ACLs
- Public vs. private subnets
- VPN and Direct Connect
Data Protection
- Encryption at rest and in transit
- S3 bucket policies and access controls
- AWS KMS key management
- Secrets Manager for credentials
Monitoring and Incident Response
- CloudWatch logs and alarms
- CloudTrail for audit logging
- GuardDuty threat findings
- Security Hub compliance scores
Next Steps
After completing AWS fundamentals:- Build sample secure architectures (e.g., three-tier web application)
- Practice incident response scenarios using GuardDuty findings
- Implement security automation with AWS Lambda
- Consider pursuing AWS Security Specialty certification
The AWS free tier is generous but has limits. Monitor your usage through the Billing Dashboard to avoid unexpected charges. Set up billing alerts to stay informed.