Intro to AWS - Your First Steps in Cloud Computing

Updated in May 2025. This course now features Coursera Coach! A smarter way to learn with interactive, real-time conversations that help you test your knowledge, challenge assumptions, and deepen your understanding as you progress through the course. Take your first steps into the world of cloud computing with AWS! This beginner-friendly course will guide you through the fundamentals of cloud technology and Amazon Web Services (AWS). You'll learn key concepts like computing, storage, networking, and security while gaining hands-on experience with essential AWS services. By the end of the course, you'll have the confidence to create and manage cloud-based resources effectively. Your journey begins with an introduction to IT fundamentals, where you'll explore core computing concepts, networking principles, and operating system structures. Then, you'll dive into AWS, learning about its global infrastructure, key services, and Identity & Access Management (IAM). Through practical demonstrations, you'll create an AWS account and configure security settings, ensuring a strong foundation for cloud computing. Next, you'll explore AWS services like EC2 for virtual servers, S3 for storage, and RDS & DynamoDB for databases. You'll gain hands-on experience launching instances, setting up auto-scaling, and securing resources. You'll also discover containerization with ECS, serverless computing with Lambda, and automation with DevOps tools like AWS CDK and CloudFormation. This course is perfect for IT beginners, developers, and system administrators looking to start their AWS journey. No prior cloud experience is needed, but basic IT knowledge is helpful. By the end, you'll have the skills to confidently navigate AWS and take the next step in your cloud computing career.