The AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner (CLF-C02) certification is becoming increasingly popular as a foundational cloud computing certification. To succeed in this exam, it’s essential to balance theoretical understanding with hands-on experience, as the certification requires a wide range of practical skills and knowledge.

Incorporating hands-on labs into your preparation journey is a game-changer, offering valuable practical exposure to AWS Cloud services. This blog outlines the top hands-on labs for preparing for the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner certification, helping you gain both a conceptual and practical understanding of AWS cloud infrastructure.

AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner Certification: A Comprehensive Introduction

The AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner (CLF-C02) is an entry-level certification designed for individuals who want to build a foundational understanding of Amazon Web Services (AWS). Whether you’re new to the cloud or transitioning into a technical role, this certification acts as a gateway to the broader AWS ecosystem. Unlike role-specific certifications, the Cloud Practitioner exam focuses on general AWS Cloud knowledge rather than specialized expertise, making it an excellent starting point for non-technical professionals, project managers, sales teams, and aspiring cloud specialists.

This article provides a complete overview of the certification, what it validates, the topics covered, and how to effectively prepare—ideal for anyone considering a career in cloud computing or seeking to validate their knowledge with a globally recognized credential.

What Does the AWS Cloud Practitioner Certification Validate?

The AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner exam measures your ability to understand and articulate the core principles of the AWS Cloud. It does not require deep technical skills or hands-on experience with infrastructure configuration. Instead, it evaluates your conceptual grasp of how cloud computing works and how AWS delivers its services in a secure, scalable, and cost-effective manner.

Here’s what you’ll be expected to demonstrate:

• AWS Cloud Benefits: A clear understanding of the value proposition of cloud computing, including cost savings, scalability, elasticity, and operational efficiency.
• Shared Responsibility Model: Knowledge of how security and compliance responsibilities are shared between AWS and the customer.
• Security and Compliance: Familiarity with AWS security services, access control mechanisms (like IAM), encryption, and monitoring tools.
• Core AWS Services: Awareness of AWS offerings across categories such as compute (EC2, Lambda), networking (VPC, Route 53), storage (S3, EBS), and databases (RDS, DynamoDB).
• Pricing and Billing: Understanding AWS pricing models, cost optimization strategies, and billing tools such as the AWS Pricing Calculator and Cost Explorer.
• Cloud Architecture Concepts: The ability to recognize cloud design principles, such as fault tolerance, availability, and elasticity.
• Service Use Cases: Identifying suitable AWS services for common business scenarios (e.g., hosting a static website, migrating applications to the cloud).

Who Should Take the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner Exam?

This certification is ideal for:

• Individuals new to cloud technology
• Business professionals interacting with technical teams
• Executives and decision-makers evaluating AWS solutions
• Sales and marketing teams working within cloud-focused organizations
• Technical students and recent graduates entering the cloud job market

It’s a valuable credential for those who want to understand AWS from a business or non-specialist perspective and eventually move on to more advanced certifications like AWS Solutions Architect Associate or AWS Developer Associate.

Core Domains Covered in the CLF-C02 Exam

The AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner exam focuses on four major domains:

1. Cloud Concepts
   Covers the basics of cloud computing and the benefits of using AWS.
2. Security and Compliance
   Focuses on the shared responsibility model, AWS security services (IAM, Shield, KMS), and compliance frameworks.
3. Technology
   Introduces the global AWS infrastructure, service deployment methods, and basic troubleshooting.
4. Billing and Pricing
   Details how AWS pricing works, including support plans, total cost of ownership (TCO), and how to use billing tools.

Recommended Knowledge Before Taking the Exam

Although this is an entry-level certification, having familiarity with key AWS concepts will greatly increase your success rate. You should be comfortable with:

• Basic AWS Cloud terminology and structure
• General IT concepts like servers, storage, and databases
• The economic advantages of cloud computing over traditional infrastructure
• AWS’s approach to security, compliance, and identity management
• General knowledge of migration strategies and performance optimization (at a conceptual level)

Technical coding or system administration experience is not required, though it may offer additional context when studying real-world applications.

How to Prepare for the AWS Cloud Practitioner Exam

Preparation involves a combination of structured learning and hands-on familiarity with the AWS platform. Here’s a strategic approach:

1. Take an Official AWS Training Course
   AWS offers the “Cloud Practitioner Essentials” course, which provides in-depth coverage of the exam topics.
2. Use Reliable Study Guides
   Opt for up-to-date study materials such as AWS exam guides, video tutorials, and eBooks. Platforms like examlabs offer practice questions and mock exams to test your readiness.
3. Explore AWS Free Tier
   Gain first-hand experience by exploring the AWS Management Console. This helps reinforce concepts like S3 storage creation, EC2 launching, and navigating the billing dashboard.
4. Practice with Sample Questions
   Use official AWS sample questions and third-party resources to familiarize yourself with the exam format and difficulty level.
5. Join Online Communities
   Participate in forums, discussion groups, or LinkedIn communities where candidates and certified professionals share insights and tips.

The AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner certification serves as a strong foundation for anyone interested in cloud computing. It not only introduces you to the AWS ecosystem but also validates your understanding of cloud concepts in a business and technical context. With minimal prerequisites and growing industry demand, this certification opens doors to numerous career paths within cloud, DevOps, data analytics, and security.

Earning this credential from AWS positions you at the forefront of today’s technology trends—and sets the stage for deeper specialization through more advanced certifications and real-world projects.

Exam Overview: AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner (CLF-C02)

The AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner (CLF-C02) is an entry-level certification offered by Amazon Web Services (AWS) for individuals seeking to gain a high-level understanding of cloud computing and the AWS ecosystem. This certification is designed for those who are new to AWS and cloud technology, and it provides foundational knowledge that helps prepare candidates for more advanced AWS certifications.

Key Highlights of the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner Exam:

• Target Audience: Individuals who are new to AWS Cloud and want to understand the basic concepts and services AWS offers.
• Prerequisites: There are no specific prerequisites for this exam. However, having some basic IT knowledge (e.g., understanding cloud terminology, computing, storage, and networking concepts) can be helpful.
• Exam Duration: 90 minutes
• Number of Questions: 65 multiple-choice or multiple-response questions
• Passing Score: 700 out of 1000
• Exam Cost: $100 (subject to change)
• Delivery Method: The exam can be taken online or at a Pearson VUE test center.

The AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner exam tests candidates on four main domains, each contributing to the overall exam objectives:

Key Domains Covered:

1. Cloud Concepts (28%)
   • Understanding the value of cloud computing in business.
   • Defining the key benefits of AWS Cloud (scalability, elasticity, cost-efficiency).
   • Identifying basic AWS Cloud services and their use cases.
2. Security and Compliance (24%)
   • Understanding AWS security models and compliance frameworks.
   • Knowledge of the shared responsibility model between AWS and the customer.
   • Understanding AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM) and its role in security.
3. Technology (36%)
   • Knowledge of core AWS services such as EC2, S3, Lambda, and RDS.
   • Understanding how AWS Cloud infrastructure is deployed and managed.
   • Familiarity with the global AWS infrastructure, regions, and availability zones.
   • Using basic AWS services for data storage, compute, and networking.
4. Billing and Pricing (12%)
   • Understanding AWS pricing models (on-demand, reserved, and spot instances).
   • Familiarity with tools like the AWS Pricing Calculator and AWS Cost Explorer.
   • Understanding how to estimate costs using AWS cost management tools.

Preparation Resources:

To prepare for the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner exam, candidates should focus on the following resources:

1. AWS Cloud Practitioner Essentials:
   • AWS offers a free Cloud Practitioner Essentials training course, which covers all the exam topics. The course provides an in-depth look at AWS Cloud services, security, pricing, and more.
2. AWS Free Tier:
   • Use the AWS Free Tier to explore and experiment with core AWS services without incurring charges. This hands-on experience will help reinforce your theoretical knowledge and provide practical insights into using AWS services.
3. AWS Whitepapers:
   • Review key AWS whitepapers, especially those related to security, compliance, and the AWS Well-Architected Framework. These documents can help deepen your understanding of AWS best practices.
4. Practice Exams:
   • Taking practice exams is a great way to assess your readiness. AWS offers sample questions on their website, and third-party platforms also offer paid practice tests designed to simulate the real exam experience.
5. AWS Documentation:
   • Refer to the official AWS documentation to familiarize yourself with specific services, pricing models, and security best practices. The AWS documentation is an excellent resource for getting the most up-to-date information.

Exam Tips for Success:

• Understand the Core AWS Services: The majority of the exam questions will focus on core AWS services such as EC2, S3, Lambda, RDS, VPC, and IAM. Familiarizing yourself with these services and their use cases is crucial.
• Study the Shared Responsibility Model: AWS’s shared responsibility model is central to the Security and Compliance domain. Understand how security is handled by AWS and what responsibilities fall on you as a customer.
• Learn the Pricing Models: AWS offers different pricing models for their services. Make sure you understand the differences between on-demand, reserved, and spot instances, and when each is appropriate to use.
• Know the AWS Global Infrastructure: Be familiar with how AWS regions, availability zones, and edge locations are organized. Understanding the global infrastructure is key to answering questions related to scaling, disaster recovery, and high availability.

The AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner exam is a great entry point into the world of AWS Cloud. It provides you with the foundational knowledge needed to understand the core services and benefits of cloud computing. Earning this certification can open the door to more advanced AWS certifications, such as the AWS Solutions Architect or AWS Developer certifications, and can help you advance your career in cloud computing and related fields.

By utilizing the study resources available, gaining hands-on experience with AWS, and familiarizing yourself with the exam objectives, you’ll be well-prepared to pass the exam and take the first step toward becoming an AWS expert.

Practical AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner Labs

Hands-on labs are an excellent way to reinforce your understanding of AWS services and prepare for the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner exam (CLF-C02). Below is a detailed list of essential labs to help you become comfortable with the AWS platform and build practical experience.

1. AWS Console Access and Navigation

This lab introduces you to the AWS Management Console, where you’ll sign in and explore various AWS resources.

Tasks Include:

• Signing into the AWS Console: Learn how to access the AWS Management Console with your credentials.
• Exploring AWS Resources and Regions: Understand how AWS resources are distributed across different regions and availability zones.
• Navigating the AWS Interface: Familiarize yourself with the layout of the AWS Console, including services like EC2, S3, IAM, and more.

Outcome:

• You will become comfortable navigating the AWS Console and understanding where your resources are located in AWS.

2. Creating and Managing EC2 Instances

Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2) is a core service in AWS for provisioning and managing virtual servers. In this lab, you’ll launch and manage an EC2 instance.

Tasks Include:

• Launching an EC2 Instance: Choose the appropriate instance type, configure instance details, and launch an EC2 instance.
• Connecting to EC2 via SSH: Learn how to SSH into your instance if it’s a Linux instance, or use RDP for Windows instances.
• Managing EC2 Instances: Stop, start, and terminate EC2 instances.

Outcome:

• You’ll gain experience with setting up EC2 instances, which are crucial for understanding AWS compute resources.

3. Creating an S3 Bucket

Amazon Simple Storage Service (S3) is a scalable object storage service. This lab helps you understand how to use S3 for storing and managing files.

Tasks Include:

• Creating an S3 Bucket: Learn how to create an S3 bucket, a basic container for storing objects (files).
• Uploading and Managing Objects: Upload files to your S3 bucket and set permissions for public or private access.
• Bucket Management: Learn how to manage versions of files and apply basic policies for data access.

Outcome:

• You will understand how to store and organize data in AWS S3, which is essential for cloud storage in AWS.

4. IAM User and Permissions Management

AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM) is essential for controlling access to AWS resources securely. This lab will help you create and manage IAM users and policies.

Tasks Include:

• Creating an IAM User: Create a new user with restricted permissions.
• Assigning IAM Policies: Attach policies to the IAM user that allow them to access specific AWS services.
• Managing Permissions: Use the principle of least privilege to restrict access to only necessary services.

Outcome:

• You’ll learn how to set up and manage users, groups, and permissions to ensure that your AWS environment is secure and compliant.

5. Creating and Configuring an RDS Instance

Amazon Relational Database Service (RDS) is a managed service for setting up, operating, and scaling a relational database in the cloud. This lab will help you work with RDS instances.

Tasks Include:

• Creating an RDS Instance: Choose a database engine (MySQL, PostgreSQL, etc.), configure instance settings, and launch an RDS instance.
• Connecting to RDS: Learn how to connect to the RDS instance using a MySQL or PostgreSQL client.
• Backup and Recovery: Configure automatic backups and learn how to restore a database from a backup.

Outcome:

• You will understand the basics of setting up a managed relational database in AWS and performing common database operations.

6. Setting Up an S3 Bucket for Static Website Hosting

This lab demonstrates how to use S3 for static website hosting, which is a simple and cost-effective way to host web applications.

Tasks Include:

• Configuring S3 for Website Hosting: Set up a static website in S3, including configuring the bucket for public access and setting up the index document.
• Uploading Website Files: Upload HTML, CSS, and JavaScript files to S3.
• Testing the Website: Access the hosted website through the S3 URL to ensure it’s working correctly.

Outcome:

• You’ll learn how to host a static website on AWS using S3, a skill useful for deploying simple web applications or static content.

7. Understanding AWS Pricing Models

In this lab, you’ll explore AWS pricing models and how to calculate costs using the AWS Pricing Calculator.

Tasks Include:

• Exploring AWS Pricing: Learn about different pricing models (on-demand, reserved, and spot instances).
• Using the AWS Pricing Calculator: Estimate the cost of running an EC2 instance, using S3 storage, and other AWS services.

Outcome:

• You’ll develop a better understanding of how AWS pricing works and how to estimate costs effectively.

8. Creating a VPC (Virtual Private Cloud)

A Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) allows you to create a logically isolated section of the AWS Cloud where you can launch AWS resources in a virtual network that you define.

Tasks Include:

• Creating a VPC: Set up a VPC with public and private subnets, route tables, and internet gateway.
• Launching EC2 Instances in VPC: Deploy EC2 instances into your custom VPC.
• Security Groups and Network ACLs: Configure security groups and network ACLs for controlling inbound and outbound traffic.

Outcome:

• You’ll understand how to set up and configure a custom network in AWS to ensure secure communication between resources.

9. Understanding CloudWatch for Monitoring

Amazon CloudWatch is used for monitoring AWS resources and applications. This lab will help you explore basic monitoring features.

Tasks Include:

• Setting Up CloudWatch Alarms: Learn how to set up alarms for EC2, RDS, and other services based on metrics such as CPU usage, disk I/O, and network traffic.
• Viewing Logs and Metrics: Use the CloudWatch Console to view logs and metrics for your AWS services.

Outcome:

• You’ll learn how to monitor AWS resources effectively, an essential skill for ensuring the reliability and performance of cloud environments.

These hands-on labs are crucial for gaining practical experience with AWS services, which is essential for successfully passing the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner exam. By completing these labs, you will not only understand how to navigate and manage AWS services, but also how they work together to provide scalable, reliable, and secure cloud solutions.

As you work through the labs, be sure to practice regularly to reinforce your learning and develop real-world skills that will be valuable on the exam and in your AWS career.

2. Getting Started with Amazon EC2

Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2) provides scalable computing capacity in the cloud, making it easier to host applications, websites, and more without the need for physical hardware. This lab will help you get hands-on experience with EC2 by launching instances, accessing them securely, and deploying a simple web server.

Tasks Include:

1. Launching EC2 Instances

To start working with EC2, you first need to launch an EC2 instance. The process involves selecting an instance type, choosing an Amazon Machine Image (AMI), configuring instance details, and setting up security.

Steps:

• Log into AWS Console: Sign in to the AWS Management Console.
• Navigate to EC2: Go to the EC2 dashboard by selecting “Services” and then “EC2.”
• Launch an EC2 Instance:
  • Choose an AMI (e.g., Amazon Linux 2, Ubuntu, or Windows).
  • Select an instance type (e.g., t2.micro for testing purposes).
  • Configure instance details such as number of instances and network settings.
  • Add storage if necessary (you can start with the default size).
  • Configure Security Group: Create a security group to allow SSH access (port 22) and HTTP (port 80).
  • Review your settings and click “Launch.”

2. SSH Into Instances Using Key Pairs

Once your EC2 instance is running, you need to SSH into it to begin working on your virtual machine.

Steps:

• Download or Use an Existing Key Pair: When launching the EC2 instance, you will be asked to create or select a key pair. Download this key pair to your local machine, as it will be required for SSH access.
• Access EC2 Instance:

If you’re using a Linux or Mac OS terminal, run the following command:

ssh -i /path/to/your-key.pem ec2-user@<Public-IP-of-your-instance>

• • For Windows, you may use PuTTY with the .pem file converted to .ppk format, or use Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) to run SSH commands.
• If you successfully log in, you’ll see the command-line interface for your EC2 instance.

3. Installing Apache Web Server and Deploying Web Pages

Now that you have SSH access, the next step is to install and configure a web server (Apache) and deploy simple web pages.

Steps:

• Install Apache Web Server:

For Amazon Linux 2, run the following commands to install Apache:

sudo yum update -y

sudo yum install httpd -y

For Ubuntu, use:
sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install apache2 -y

• Start Apache:

After the installation, start the Apache service:
sudo systemctl start httpd  # For Amazon Linux 2

sudo systemctl start apache2  # For Ubuntu

• Enable Apache to Start on Boot:

To ensure Apache starts automatically on instance restart:
sudo systemctl enable httpd  # For Amazon Linux 2

sudo systemctl enable apache2  # For Ubuntu

• Deploy Web Pages:

Create a simple HTML page in the default web directory:
echo “<html><body><h1>Welcome to My First Web Page on EC2!</h1></body></html>” | sudo tee /var/www/html/index.html

• Replace the content with your own custom HTML if desired.

Testing the Web Server

• Access the Website: Open a web browser and type the public IP address of your EC2 instance.
  • For example: http://<Public-IP-of-your-instance>/
• If Apache is running correctly, you should see the “Welcome to My First Web Page on EC2!” message you created earlier.

Outcome:

By completing this lab, you will have successfully:

1. Launched an EC2 instance in AWS.
2. Accessed the instance securely using SSH.
3. Installed Apache web server and deployed a simple HTML page.

These are foundational skills you’ll need for building and hosting applications in the AWS cloud using EC2. This hands-on experience prepares you for real-world cloud computing tasks and is an essential part of AWS certification preparation.

3. Introduction to AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM)

AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM) allows you to securely control access to AWS services and resources. This service helps you manage users, groups, and permissions, ensuring that only authorized individuals can access or modify your resources.

In this lab, you’ll learn how to create IAM users and groups, assign permissions, and understand the core concepts of IAM security.

Tasks Include:

1. Creating IAM Users and Groups

To get started with IAM, you need to create IAM users and organize them into IAM groups. IAM users represent individuals or applications that can authenticate with AWS, while groups are collections of users with shared permissions.

Steps:

• Sign in to the AWS Management Console using your root account or IAM user credentials.
• Navigate to IAM:
  • In the AWS Console, go to Services and select IAM under Security, Identity, & Compliance.
• Create an IAM User:
  • In the IAM dashboard, click Users on the left side and then click Add user.
  • Enter a User name (e.g., JohnDoe).
  • Select the Access type (either Programmatic access for API/CLI access, or AWS Management Console access for web console access, or both).
  • Set a password for Console access, and configure password settings (e.g., Require password reset on the first login).
  • Click Next: Permissions.
• Create an IAM Group:
  • After clicking Next: Permissions, you can either attach policies directly to the user or add the user to an existing group.
  • To create a new group, click Create group, then name it (e.g., Developers).
  • Assign appropriate permissions to the group by choosing policies, such as AmazonS3FullAccess or AdministratorAccess.

  • Click Create group and then Next: Tags.

• Review and Create the User:
  • Review the user details and click Create user.
  • Note down the Access credentials (Access Key ID and Secret Access Key) for programmatic access or login credentials for console access.

2. Assigning Permissions to IAM Groups and Users

To control access, you need to assign permissions to your IAM users and groups. IAM policies define what actions a user or group can perform on AWS resources.

Steps:

• Assign Permissions to a Group:
  1. From the IAM dashboard, navigate to Groups on the left sidebar.
  2. Select the group you want to assign permissions to (e.g., Developers).
  3. Click Permissions and then Attach policies.
  4. You can attach predefined AWS policies such as:
     • AdministratorAccess: Full access to all AWS resources.
     • AmazonS3ReadOnlyAccess: Read-only access to Amazon S3.
  5. Click Next and then Review to confirm the assignment.

• Assign Permissions Directly to Users:
  1. Alternatively, you can assign permissions directly to individual users if they should have specific access.
  2. In the IAM dashboard, go to Users and select the user (e.g., JohnDoe).
  3. Click Permissions and then Add permissions.
  4. You can either add the user to an existing group or attach policies directly.
  5. Select policies that define the actions the user can take. For example, to allow S3 access, you can assign the policy AmazonS3FullAccess.
  6. Click Next and then Review to confirm.

Testing IAM Permissions

Once you have created users and groups and assigned permissions, it’s important to verify that the users can perform the actions they’re allowed to.

• Test Console Access:
  • Sign in as the newly created IAM user using the AWS Management Console link.
  • Ensure that the permissions are correctly applied by navigating to specific AWS services (e.g., S3, EC2) and confirming that the user has access.
• Test Programmatic Access (if using AWS CLI or SDK):
  • Install and configure the AWS CLI.

Test using the credentials provided for programmatic access:
aws s3 ls

• This command will list the S3 buckets if the IAM user has AmazonS3ReadOnlyAccess permission. If the user does not have permission, the command will fail.

Outcome:

By completing this lab, you will have:

1. Created IAM users and groups in AWS to manage access to resources.
2. Assigned permissions to users and groups, controlling their ability to perform specific actions on AWS resources.
3. Tested IAM permissions to ensure that users can access only the resources they are authorized to.

This is a crucial skill for managing AWS environments securely, as IAM is the backbone of access control and security in AWS.

4. Using DynamoDB with NoSQL Workbench

Amazon DynamoDB is a fully managed NoSQL database service provided by AWS that supports key-value and document data models. It’s designed for high-performance and scalability, making it ideal for applications that require low-latency data access.

In this lab, you will use NoSQL Workbench for DynamoDB, a powerful tool provided by AWS to design, model, and interact with DynamoDB tables. You’ll learn how to create tables, perform basic CRUD (Create, Read, Update, Delete) operations, and explore DynamoDB’s capabilities in a hands-on environment.

Tasks Include:

1. Creating DynamoDB Tables

To begin working with DynamoDB, you need to create tables. A table is a collection of items, and each item is a collection of attributes. In DynamoDB, you must define the Primary Key, which can be either a Partition Key or a Partition Key + Sort Key.

Steps to Create a DynamoDB Table:

1. Launch NoSQL Workbench:
   • Download and install NoSQL Workbench if you haven’t already (available on AWS).
   • Open the application, and select the DynamoDB region you want to work in (e.g., us-east-1).

2. Create a New Connection:
   • If you haven’t already, connect to your AWS account using NoSQL Workbench by selecting Connect to DynamoDB and following the prompts to authenticate.

3. Define Table Schema:
   • In NoSQL Workbench, go to the Data Modeling section.
   • Click Create Table.
   • Provide a Table Name (e.g., UsersTable).
   • Set the Primary Key. Choose the partition key (e.g., UserID) and specify its data type (e.g., String).
     • If needed, you can also set a Sort Key (e.g., Email) to enable compound keys for more granular access patterns.
   • Optional: Configure other settings such as Provisioned or On-Demand capacity, and Global Secondary Indexes if you need them.
   • Click Create Table.

4. Review Table Configuration:
   • After the table is created, you will see a table schema with the defined attributes, primary key, and any optional indexes.

2. Performing CRUD Operations through NoSQL Workbench

Once your DynamoDB table is created, you can begin performing CRUD operations (Create, Read, Update, Delete) on your table to manage the data.

Steps to Perform CRUD Operations:

1. Create Data (Insert Items):
   • Go to the Data section in NoSQL Workbench and click on the table you created.
   • Select Add Item to add a new record.
   • Enter the UserID (e.g., 12345) and other attributes (e.g., Email).
   • Click Save to insert the item into the table.

Example Item:
{

  “UserID”: “12345”,

  “Email”: “john.doe@example.com”,

  “FirstName”: “John”,

  “LastName”: “Doe”

}

2. Read Data (Query and Scan):
   • Query: To retrieve a specific item using the partition key (e.g., UserID), go to Query and specify the key (UserID).
   • Scan: If you want to scan the entire table (less efficient), you can perform a Scan to return all items in the table.
3. Update Data:
   • To modify an existing item, navigate to the Data section and find the item you want to update.
   • Select the item, edit the fields (e.g., update the FirstName or LastName), and click Save to apply the changes.

4. Example Update:
   • Change FirstName from “John” to “Jonathan” for UserID “12345”.

5. Delete Data:
   • To remove an item, select the item you wish to delete from the Data section and click Delete.
   • Confirm the deletion, and the item will be permanently removed from the table.

3. Updating and Deleting Data Entries

Updating and deleting data entries in DynamoDB are straightforward but require you to specify the Primary Key of the item being modified or deleted.

Steps for Deleting Data:

1. Navigate to the Data Section:
   • In NoSQL Workbench, select the table where your data is stored.
   • Search for the item you wish to delete (e.g., search for UserID = 12345).

2. Delete the Item:
   • Once the item is located, click on the Delete button.
   • Confirm the deletion, and the item will be removed from the DynamoDB table.

Steps for Updating Data:

1. Navigate to the Data Section:
   • In NoSQL Workbench, select the table where the data resides.

2. Edit the Item:
   • Click the item you want to edit (e.g., update FirstName or LastName).
   • Modify the attribute and click Save to update the item.

Outcome:

By completing this lab, you will have:

1. Created DynamoDB tables using the NoSQL Workbench.
2. Performed CRUD operations (Create, Read, Update, Delete) to manipulate the data.
3. Used NoSQL Workbench for real-time data management, helping you understand DynamoDB’s NoSQL capabilities and how to efficiently interact with it.

This lab is essential for anyone who wants to work with NoSQL databases in the AWS ecosystem and provides foundational knowledge of DynamoDB’s core functionalities.

5. Setting Up S3 Object Locking

Amazon S3 (Simple Storage Service) is widely used for storing and managing data in the cloud. One of the essential features of S3 is S3 Object Locking, which helps you prevent accidental or malicious deletion or overwriting of objects by enforcing retention periods.

S3 Object Locking is crucial for organizations that need to meet regulatory or compliance requirements that mandate data immutability, such as those in the finance or healthcare industries. By locking objects, you ensure they are protected for a set duration, preventing them from being modified or deleted before the retention period expires.

In this lab, you will learn how to configure S3 Object Locking, enabling you to secure your data and comply with retention policies.

Tasks Include:

1. Creating an S3 Bucket

Before enabling object locking, you first need to create an S3 bucket where your data will be stored. S3 buckets serve as the containers for your objects.

Steps to Create an S3 Bucket:

1. Log into AWS Management Console:
   • Open the AWS S3 Console.

2. Create a New S3 Bucket:
   • Click on Create Bucket.
   • Provide a unique bucket name (e.g., my-locked-data-bucket).
   • Choose the AWS Region where you want the bucket to reside.
   • In the Bucket settings for Block Public Access, you can leave the default settings to block public access for security.
   • Click Create to create the bucket.

2. Enabling Object Retention for a Set Period

Object Locking must be enabled at the bucket level to prevent objects from being overwritten or deleted during the retention period. After the bucket is created, you can enable Object Locking.

Steps to Enable Object Locking:

1. Open S3 Bucket Settings:
   • Navigate to the S3 console, and click on the bucket name you just created.
2. Enable Versioning:
   • In order to use S3 Object Locking, Versioning must be enabled on the bucket.
   • Go to the Properties tab, and scroll down to the Bucket Versioning section.
   • Click Edit and enable Versioning for the bucket.
   • Click Save changes.
3. Enable Object Locking:
   • In the Properties tab, scroll down to the Object Locking section.
   • Click Edit, and enable Object Locking for the bucket.
   • You will be prompted to enable the Compliance Mode or Governance Mode:
     • Compliance Mode: Objects are locked and cannot be overwritten or deleted until the retention period expires.
     • Governance Mode: Allows you to override the lock under specific circumstances (typically used for non-compliant users).
   • Choose the desired Retention Mode and set the Retention Period (e.g., 30 days).
   • Click Save changes.

3. Testing Object Lock Functionality

Once Object Locking is enabled, you can test it by uploading an object to your S3 bucket and trying to delete or overwrite it before the retention period ends.

Steps to Test Object Locking:

1. Upload an Object to the S3 Bucket:
   • Go to the Objects tab in your S3 bucket.
   • Click Upload and add a file (e.g., test-file.txt) to the bucket.
2. Verify Object Locking:
   • Once the file is uploaded, click on the object to view its details.
   • Under Object Lock settings, you should see the Retention Period applied to the object.
3. Attempt to Delete or Modify the Object:
   • Try deleting the object or overwriting it by uploading a new version of the same object.
   • If the retention period is still active, AWS will prevent these actions and show an error message indicating that the object is locked.
4. Verify Object Lock Enforcement:
   • You should receive an error message stating that the object cannot be deleted or modified because it’s locked. This confirms that the Object Lock feature is functioning as expected.

Outcome:

By completing this lab, you will have:

1. Created an S3 bucket to store your data.
2. Enabled Object Locking with a retention period to prevent data deletion or overwriting.
3. Tested the lock functionality by attempting to delete or modify locked objects.

This lab is crucial for learning how to secure sensitive data using S3 Object Locking, making it ideal for compliance-driven use cases where immutability is required.

6. Creating IAM Roles

This lab focuses on building IAM roles to manage access permissions for AWS resources.

Tasks Include:

• Creating IAM roles for EC2 and DynamoDB services.
• Validating IAM role creation.

7. Creating and Managing IAM Policies

Learn how to create IAM policies that control access to different AWS resources.

Tasks Include:

• Writing IAM policies for EC2, DynamoDB, and S3.
• Validating IAM policy creation.

8. Launching EC2 Instances and SSH Access (Putty)

This lab demonstrates the creation of an EC2 instance and using SSH (via Putty) to connect to it.

Tasks Include:

• Launching Amazon Linux instances.
• Using Putty for SSH access.
• Testing the configuration.

9. Launching EC2 with Browser-Based SSH Access

Learn how to set up EC2 instances and access them using browser-based SSH tools.

Tasks Include:

• Launching EC2 instances.
• Using EC2 Instance Connect for browser-based SSH.

10. Managing EC2 Instances: Start, Stop, Terminate

This lab covers how to manage EC2 instances by starting, stopping, rebooting, and terminating them.

Tasks Include:

• Launching and managing EC2 instances.
• Configuring Apache web servers.
• Terminating and rebooting instances.

11. Working with Elastic IP for EC2

Learn how to associate an Elastic IP with an EC2 instance for static IP addresses.

Tasks Include:

• Allocating Elastic IPs and associating them with EC2 instances.
• Publishing web pages using Elastic IPs.

12. Connecting to Windows EC2 Instances Using RDP

Explore connecting to a Windows EC2 instance using Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) and configuring IIS web servers.

Tasks Include:

• Creating Windows EC2 instances.
• Connecting via RDP.
• Configuring IIS and designing custom web pages.

13. Amazon S3: Bucket Creation and Permissions

Get hands-on experience with Amazon S3 by creating a bucket, uploading, and managing permissions.

Tasks Include:

• Creating an S3 bucket.
• Uploading files to S3.
• Changing permissions and policies.

14. Enabling Public Access for S3 Objects

Learn how to configure S3 buckets for public access and manage object permissions.

Tasks Include:

• Setting up S3 bucket public access.
• Uploading and managing objects in the bucket.

15. Creating SNS Topics and Email Subscriptions

Explore how to create Amazon Simple Notification Service (SNS) topics and set up email subscriptions for notifications.

Tasks Include:

• Creating SNS topics.
• Subscribing to email notifications.

16. Creating CloudWatch Dashboards for EC2 Monitoring

This lab teaches how to create CloudWatch dashboards for EC2 instances to monitor metrics and performance.

Tasks Include:

• Launching EC2 instances.
• Creating CloudWatch dashboards.
• Adding widgets to display EC2 metrics.

17. Working with DynamoDB: Data Retrieval and Querying

Learn how to interact with DynamoDB, perform queries, and retrieve data from DynamoDB tables.

Tasks Include:

• Building DynamoDB tables.
• Entering and querying data in DynamoDB.

18. Setting Up a Virtual Private Cloud (VPC)

Gain hands-on experience with VPC creation and management using the VPC Wizard.

Tasks Include:

• Creating VPCs.
• Viewing VPC resources and settings.

Why You Should Incorporate Hands-On Labs into Your AWS Cloud Practitioner Preparation

Hands-on labs are a crucial part of preparing for the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner exam. They offer the following benefits:

• Practical Experience: You gain real-world experience by working directly with AWS services.
• Effective Learning: Learning by doing is more effective than theoretical study alone.
• Self-Paced: These labs can be completed at your own pace, ensuring thorough understanding.
• Live AWS Environment: Labs are conducted in a live AWS environment, offering authentic experience.
• Cost-Efficient: Hands-on labs provide a low-cost method to gain AWS experience.
• Safe Experimentation: With isolated environments, you can experiment with different configurations without the risk of impacting production environments.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Are there prerequisites for the AWS Cloud Practitioner exam?

The exam is open to anyone, but it’s recommended to have six months of experience working with AWS Cloud. Familiarity with core AWS services and basic concepts like cloud security and pricing is also beneficial.

2. What roles do AWS Cloud Practitioners play?

Cloud practitioners help manage AWS resources, support cloud architects, ensure system operations, and implement cloud-based solutions for clients.

3. What’s the easiest way to pass the AWS Cloud Practitioner exam?

Familiarize yourself with AWS services, complete hands-on labs, review official study materials, and take practice exams to gauge your readiness.

4. Are there AWS Cloud Practitioner labs?

Yes, there are many labs available to help you gain practical experience with AWS services.

5. What is the difficulty level of the AWS Cloud Practitioner exam?

The exam is considered relatively straightforward, and with adequate preparation, it should be manageable for those familiar with AWS fundamentals.

Conclusion

These hands-on labs provide an excellent foundation for preparing for the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner exam (CLF-C02). With over 29 labs to choose from, you can gain comprehensive knowledge and experience in AWS Cloud services and tools, setting yourself up for success in the certification exam and your career in cloud computing.