AWS Academy Cloud Foundations

Ready to demystify the cloud?  Gain a strong foundation in cloud computing with this comprehensive Amazon Web Services (AWS) course. 

Course Description

This online, self-paced course is for students seeking a broad understanding of cloud computing concepts, across industries. Explore key AWS topics including cloud concepts, AWS core services, security, architecture, pricing, and support. Through pre-recorded videos, student guides, interactive labs and knowledge checks, you’ll build practical, real-world understanding of how cloud technologies work and why they matter. 

This foundational course helps prepare you for the AWS Cloud Practitioner certification exam, the first step in the AWS certification journey. Preparation centers on substantive AWS knowledge, not test-taking techniques. Want a bigger picture of your potential AWS Academy Certification journey? Check out other AWS Academy courses and potential certification pathways. Stay tuned for these course launches! 

 The University of Denver is proud to be a member institution of the AWS Academy, giving students access to official Amazon Web Services (AWS) curriculum and learning resources that prepare them for industry-recognized certifications. 

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Who should take this course?

  • Professionals in marketing, project management, leadership and beyond, who need to understand cloud concepts to succeed in their roles 

  • IT professionals looking to gain foundational understanding of cloud computing and AWS-specific services 

  • Career changers and students who want to enter the high-demand fields of cloud computing and IT 

Course Details

Requirements

This is an introductory-level course. To help ensure your success in this online, self-guided course, we recommend:

  • General Knowledge 

    • IT Technical Skills: Foundational computer literacy skills including familiarity with computer concepts, file management, and effective internet use. 

    • IT Business Awareness: A general understanding of how information technology supports and drives organizational goals. 

  • Technical Background

    Learners who are best prepared to excel in this course typically have:  

    • A basic understanding of cloud computing concepts 

    • A working knowledge of distributed systems 

    • Familiarity with networking fundamentals  

    • A working knowledge of multi-tier architectures 

Format

Designed with your busy schedule in mind, this course is:  

  • 100% online: Learn from anywhere 

  • Self-guided: Built for self-starters who want to drive their own learning experience and work at their own pace. 

  • 20 hours of content: Advance your skills and accelerate your career 

  • Skills-Based: Earn a digital badge by scoring 70%+ on graded activities

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Ready to Enroll?

Sessions start monthly! Enroll and begin your course anytime within that month. You’ll have 5 months of access to course materials.

AWS Academy Cloud Foundations - November

Professional and Workforce Development (PWD)
$200.00 Starts 11/03/2025

AWS Academy Cloud Foundations - December

Professional and Workforce Development (PWD)
$200.00 Starts 12/01/2025

AWS Academy Cloud Foundations - January

Professional and Workforce Development (PWD)
$200.00 Starts 01/01/2026

What You'll Learn

  • Outcomes

    When you’ve completed this course, you should be able to recognize the purpose of the AWS services and how to apply these learnings to prepare for the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner exam.  

     You will be able to:  

    • Define the AWS Cloud 

    • Explain the AWS pricing philosophy 

    • Identify the global infrastructure components of AWS 

    • Describe the security and compliance measures of the AWS Cloud, including AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM) 

    • Create a virtual private cloud (VPC) by using Amazon Virtual Private Cloud (Amazon VPC) 

    • Demonstrate when to use Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (Amazon EC2), AWS Lambda, and AWS Elastic Beanstalk 

    • Differentiate between Amazon Simple Storage Service (Amazon S3), Amazon Elastic Block Store (Amazon EBS), Amazon Elastic File System (Amazon EFS), and Amazon Simple Storage Service Glacier (Amazon S3 Glacier) 

    • Demonstrate when to use AWS database services, including Amazon Relational Database Service (Amazon RDS), Amazon DynamoDB, Amazon Redshift, and Amazon Aurora 

    • Explain the architectural principles of the AWS Cloud 

    • Explore key concepts related to Elastic Load Balancing, Amazon CloudWatch, and Amazon EC2 Auto Scaling 

  • Course Outline

    • Course Introduction  

    • Module 1: Cloud Concepts Overview  

    • Module 2: Cloud Economics and Billing  

    • Module 3: AWS Global Infrastructure Overview  

    • Module 4: Cloud Security  

    • Module 5: Networking and Content Delivery  

    • Module 6: Compute  

    • Module 7: Storage  

    • Module 8: Databases  

    • Module 9: Cloud Architecture  

    • Module 10: Automatic Scaling and Monitoring  

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Free Exam Voucher and AWS Skill Builder Access

Enroll today and receive a complimentary 12-month subscription to AWS Skill Builder. This platform of over 600 self-paced courses, labs, and certification prep resources is designed to reinforce what you've learned and help you prepare for your AWS certification exam. 

Complete your AWS Academy Cloud Foundations course and the practice exam and you'll also receive a free certification exam voucher.