AWS Developers Podcast David Isbitski

In this compelling episode, hosts Dave and Morgan are joined by Rebekah Kulidzan, a seasoned Go-to-Market Specialist at AWS specializing in Integration Services. Rebekah leads the charge in technical business development and strategy, enabling customers to revolutionize their applications through adoption of event-driven architectures.

The conversation kicks off with an in-depth look at the role of a "Go to Market Specialist" and the essential strategies behind application modernization. Learn how tech teams leverage AWS Integration Services to meld seamlessly into domain-specific groups, boosting both agility and communication.

The latter half of our episode shifts focus to the crucial balance between mental health and career growth in the tech industry. Rebekah shares her expert insights on maintaining mental wellness during career transitions. She also introduces us to the transformative work of Pathways Collective, an online coaching and mentoring platform that guides professionals through career changes, ensuring they achieve their goals while maintaining mental balance.

Whether you're considering a shift into tech or simply looking to take control of your professional life, this episode serves as a vital resource to understand the dynamic interplay between technology and personal well-being.

Pathways Collective –
https://pathwcollective.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/pathwcollective/
https://www.instagram.com/pathwcollective/
https://twitter.com/pathwcollective

Rebekah on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/rkulidzan/
Rebekah on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/rkulidzan/
Rebekah on Twitter - https://twitter.com/
Rebekah on Github - https://github.com/rkulidzan/
Rebekah’s Website - https://rkulidzan.com/

Morgan on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MorgantWillis
Morgan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/morgan-willis-001/
Morgan on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morganwilliscloud

Dave on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thedavedev
Dave on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidisbitski

** Please note **
During minutes 33 through 39 of this episode, we talk openly about mental health issues and topics related to recovery. We are speaking from our lived experience, training and research but are not medical professionals. If you identify with any of the thoughts shared and feel you would like to talk to someone, please reach out to your GP, contact Mind, or the Anxiety UK helpline. Information, services and helplines for those struggling with, or impacted by someone else’s, addiction can be found on the NHS website.
**

Mental Health In The Workplace: The High Cost Of Depression - https://www.forbes.com/sites/mariaminor/2021/01/20/mental-health-in-the-workplace-the-high-cost-of-depression/

Application Integration on AWS - https://aws.amazon.com/products/application-integration/
EventStorming - https://aws-samples.github.io/eda-on-aws/eventstorming/
Application Integration and Open Source on AWS - https://github.com/rkulidzan/awesome-app-integration
Serverlessland - https://serverlessland.com/search?search=integration
Serverlessland Step Functions and Integration Services - https://serverlessland.com/content/service/step-functions/guides/integrating-step-functions-with-containerized-workloads/10-introduction

Subscribe:

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In the grand finale of our six-part AWS Certification Exam Prep Series, join hosts Dave and Caroline as they chat with Anya Derbakova, a Senior Startup Solutions Architect at AWS, known for weaving social media magic, and Ted Trentler, a Senior AWS Technical Instructor with a knack for simplifying the complex.

We journey beyond the technical realms to explore the treasure trove of resources provided by AWS to ensure your success in the Solutions Architect Associate Exam. This episode not only serves as your ultimate guide to the best study resources but also recaps the invaluable insights shared throughout our series.

Embark on this final venture with us as we delve into the extensive array of free and paid resources designed to elevate your learning experience, from interactive labs and digital badges to comprehensive guides and community support. Whether you're starting your AWS journey or looking to validate and showcase your skills, AWS offers an ecosystem of learning paths tailored to your aspirations.

In this episode, we highlight:

• AWS Skill Builder's extensive library of lessons and labs, coupled with an affordable paid tier for enhanced learning.
• Cloud Quest and AWS Educate, offering free labs and credits to kickstart your journey.
• The definitive AWS Solutions Architect Ramp Up Guide for a structured learning approach.
• Leveraging AWS Free Tier and workshops for hands-on experience and building real-world projects.
• The significance of community engagement through AWS User Groups, Summits, and Twitch shows for interactive learning and networking.
• Practical advice on exam registration, understanding the certification lifecycle, and strategies for recertification to maintain your credentials.

Join us as we consolidate our learnings, reinforce our preparation strategies, and set our sights on not just passing the exam but becoming proficient AWS builders. Let's architect our success together!

Anya on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annadderbakova/

Ted on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ttrentler
Ted on LinkedIn: https://linkedin/in/tedtrentler

Caroline on Twitter: https://twitter.com/carolinegluck
Caroline on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cgluck/

Dave on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thedavedev
Dave on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidisbitski

AWS Educate - Gives $50 in signup credits: https://aws.amazon.com/education/awseducate/

AWS Cloud Quest: https://aws.amazon.com/training/digital/aws-cloud-quest/

AWS Solutions Architect Ramp Up Guide - Has both free and Paid for learning.
https://d1.awsstatic.com/training-and-certification/ramp-up_guides/Ramp-Up_Guide_Architect.pdf

AWS Free Tier Accounts: https://aws.amazon.com/free/ -

AWS Workshops: https://workshops.aws/

Get some digital Bling while you learn with Digital Badges from Credly: https://community.aws/content/2amRr40y98o4lrV7n2YJHKTszso/validate-your-aws-cloud-knowledge-with-aws-learning-knowledge-badges

Don’t just get certified be a builder! Builders Build! Build something that interests you - A Wordpress blog, A Minecraft server. ML object analysis of your drone video. Look at the cloud resume challenge for AWS by Forrest Brazeal https://cloudresumechallenge.dev/docs/the-challenge/aws/

AWS on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/aws

Use Party Rock (Gen A)I as a study Buddy: https://partyrock.aws/u/tedtrent/KQtYIhbJb/Solutions-Architect-Study-Buddy

AWS Educate: https://aws.amazon.com/education/awseducate/

Serverlessland: https://serverlessland.com/

AWS Global Summits - https://aws.amazon.com/events/summits

Subscribe:

Spotify:
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Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/aws-developers-podcast/id1574162669

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Welcome to part five in the AWS Certification Exam Prep Mini-Series! Whether you're an aspiring cloud enthusiast or a seasoned developer looking to deepen your architectural acumen, you've landed in the perfect spot. In this six-part saga, we're demystifying the pivotal role of a Solutions Architect in the AWS cloud computing cosmos.

In this episode, Dave and Caroline chat with Anya Derbakova, a Senior Startup Solutions Architect at AWS, known for weaving social media magic, and Ted Trentler, a Senior AWS Technical Instructor with a knack for simplifying the complex. Unravel the strategies and best practices for designing cost-optimized architectures on AWS. Covering 20% of the exam's scored content, this episode zeroes in on maximizing efficiency and reducing costs across your cloud infrastructure.

Discover the art of balancing performance with cost-effectiveness as we delve into AWS cost management services, cost-optimized storage and compute solutions, and the nuances of designing database and network architectures that won't break the bank.

In this episode, you'll learn about:

• Utilizing AWS cost management service features and tools, including cost allocation tags, multi-account billing, and the AWS Free Tier.
• Designing cost-optimized storage solutions with AWS services like Amazon FSx, EFS, S3, and EBS, including data lifecycle policies and backup strategies.
• Rightsizing and optimizing compute resources to meet your workload requirements efficiently, from instance selection to utilizing serverless and distributed compute strategies.
• Strategies for cost-optimized database solutions, focusing on caching, data retention, capacity planning, and replication to enhance performance while managing costs.
• Crafting network architectures that minimize costs associated with data transfer, leveraging AWS services and features to reduce expenses while maintaining robust connectivity.

Whether you're fine-tuning existing systems or building from the ground up, we'll provide you with the tools and insights to make cost-aware decisions without sacrificing functionality!

Anya on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annadderbakova/

Ted on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ttrentler
Ted on LinkedIn: https://linkedin/in/tedtrentler

Caroline on Twitter: https://twitter.com/carolinegluck
Caroline on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cgluck/

Dave on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thedavedev
Dave on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidisbitski

AWS SAA Exam Guide - https://d1.awsstatic.com/training-and-certification/docs-sa-assoc/AWS-Certified-Solutions-Architect-Associate_Exam-Guide.pdf

Party Rock for Exam Study - https://partyrock.aws/u/tedtrent/KQtYIhbJb/Solutions-Architect-Study-Buddy

All Things AWS Training - Links to Self-paced and Instructor Led https://aws.amazon.com/training/

AWS Skill Builder – Free CPE Course - https://explore.skillbuilder.aws/learn/course/134/aws-cloud-practitioner-essentials

AWS Free Workshops - https://workshops.aws/

Running a Minecraft server on Amazon ECS with Spot Pricing: https://github.com/vatertime/minecraft-spot-pricing

Subscribe:

Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/7rQjgnBvuyr18K03tnEHBI

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/aws-developers-podcast/id1574162669

Stitcher:
https://www.stitcher.com/show/1065378

Pandora:
https://www.pandora.com/podcast/aws-developers-podcast/PC:1001065378

TuneIn:
https://tunein.com/podcasts/Technology-Podcasts/AWS-Developers-Podcast-p1461814/

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Welcome to part four in the AWS Certification Exam Prep Mini-Series! Whether you're an aspiring cloud enthusiast or a seasoned developer looking to deepen your architectural acumen, you've landed in the perfect spot. In this six-part saga, we're demystifying the pivotal role of a Solutions Architect in the AWS cloud computing cosmos.

In this fourth episode, Caroline and Dave chat again with Anya Derbakova, a Senior Startup Solutions Architect at AWS, known for weaving social media magic, and Ted Trentler, a Senior AWS Technical Instructor with a knack for simplifying the complex. Together, we will step into the realm of performance, where we untangle the complexities of designing high-performing architectures in the cloud. We dissect the essentials of high-performing storage solutions, dive deep into elastic compute services for scaling and cost efficiency, and unravel the intricacies of optimizing database solutions for unparalleled performance.

Expect to uncover:

• The spectrum of AWS storage services and their optimal use cases, from Amazon S3's versatility to the shared capabilities of Amazon EFS.
• How to leverage Amazon EC2, Auto Scaling, and Load Balancing to create elastic compute solutions that adapt to your needs.
• Insights into serverless computing paradigms with AWS Lambda and Fargate, highlighting the shift towards de-coupled architectures.
• Strategies for selecting high-performing database solutions, including the transition from on-premise databases to AWS-managed services like RDS and the benefits of caching with Amazon ElastiCache.
• A real-world scenario where we'll navigate the challenge of processing hundreds of thousands of online votes in minutes, testing your understanding and application of high-performing AWS architectures.

Whether you're dealing with vast amounts of data, requiring robust compute power, or ensuring your architecture can handle peak loads without a hitch, we've got you covered!

Anya on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annadderbakova/

Ted on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ttrentler
Ted on LinkedIn: https://linkedin/in/tedtrentler

Caroline on Twitter: https://twitter.com/carolinegluck
Caroline on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cgluck/

Dave on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thedavedev
Dave on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidisbitski

AWS SAA Exam Guide - https://d1.awsstatic.com/training-and-certification/docs-sa-assoc/AWS-Certified-Solutions-Architect-Associate_Exam-Guide.pdf

Party Rock for Exam Study - https://partyrock.aws/u/tedtrent/KQtYIhbJb/Solutions-Architect-Study-Buddy

All Things AWS Training - Links to Self-paced and Instructor Led https://aws.amazon.com/training/

AWS Skill Builder – Free CPE Course - https://explore.skillbuilder.aws/learn/course/134/aws-cloud-practitioner-essentials

AWS Skill Builder – Learning Badges - https://explore.skillbuilder.aws/learn/public/learning_plan/view/1044/solutions-architect-knowledge-badge-readiness-path

AWS Usergroup Communities: https://aws.amazon.com/developer/community/usergroups


Subscribe:

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Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/aws-developers-podcast/id1574162669

Stitcher:
https://www.stitcher.com/show/1065378

Pandora:
https://www.pandora.com/podcast/aws-developers-podcast/PC:1001065378

TuneIn:
https://tunein.com/podcasts/Technology-Podcasts/AWS-Developers-Podcast-p1461814/

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Welcome to part three in the AWS Certification Exam Prep Mini-Series! Whether you're an aspiring cloud enthusiast or a seasoned developer looking to deepen your architectural acumen, you've landed in the perfect spot. In this six-part saga, we're demystifying the pivotal role of a Solutions Architect in the AWS cloud computing cosmos.

In this third episode, join Caroline and Dave as they host a riveting discussion with two cloud virtuosos - Anya Derbakova, a Senior Startup Solutions Architect at AWS, known for weaving social media magic, and Ted Trentler, a Senior AWS Technical Instructor with a knack for simplifying the complex. Together, they embark on a narrative journey through the clouds, sharing their personal paths to mastering AWS, elucidating the essence of the Solutions Architect role, and breaking down the AWS Certification labyrinth.

Expect to uncover:

Overview of Exam Domain 2: Design Resilient Architectures (26% of scored test content):
• Emphasis on designing scalable and loosely coupled architectures.
• Introduction to API creation and management.
• Utilization of AWS managed services for efficiency.
• Principles of microservices design for robust applications.
• Strategies for horizontal and vertical scaling.
• Understanding of load balancing techniques.
• Comparison of storage types: Object, Block, File.

Designing Highly Available and/or Fault-Tolerant Architectures:
• Exploration of AWS global infrastructure: Availability Zones, AWS Regions, Amazon Route 53.
• Basics of networking concepts, including route tables.
• Disaster recovery (DR) strategies: backup and restore, pilot light, warm standby, active-active failover, RPO, RTO.
• Immutable infrastructure for consistent deployment.
• Storage options and their characteristics: durability, replication.
• Enhancing workload visibility with tools like AWS X-Ray.

Sample Exam Question:
• Scenario involving a two-tier application architecture with resilience considerations, focusing on EC2 instances across public and private subnets within a single Availability Zone.

This series is your beacon through the fog of cloud computing, illuminating the path to AWS mastery. Whether you're aiming to elevate your career, transition roles, or simply quench your curiosity about the cloud, tune in to transform your understanding of AWS and gear up for success in the Solutions Architect realm.

Anya on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annadderbakova/

Ted on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ttrentler
Ted on LinkedIn: https://linkedin/in/tedtrentler

Caroline on Twitter: https://twitter.com/carolinegluck
Caroline on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cgluck/

Dave on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thedavedev
Dave on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidisbitski

AWS SAA Exam Guide - https://d1.awsstatic.com/training-and-certification/docs-sa-assoc/AWS-Certified-Solutions-Architect-Associate_Exam-Guide.pdf

Party Rock for Exam Study - https://partyrock.aws/u/tedtrent/KQtYIhbJb/Solutions-Architect-Study-Buddy

All Things AWS Training - Links to Self-paced and Instructor Led https://aws.amazon.com/training/

AWS Skill Builder – Free CPE Course - https://explore.skillbuilder.aws/learn/course/134/aws-cloud-practitioner-essentials

AWS Skill Builder – Learning Badges - https://explore.skillbuilder.aws/learn/public/learning_plan/view/1044/solutions-architect-knowledge-badge-readiness-path

AWS Well-Architected Framework - https://docs.aws.amazon.com/wellarchitected/latest/framework/welcome.html

Subscribe:

Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/7rQjgnBvuyr18K03tnEHBI

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/aws-developers-podcast/id1574162669

Welcome to part two in the AWS Certification Exam Prep Mini-Series! Whether you're an aspiring cloud enthusiast or a seasoned developer looking to deepen your architectural acumen, you've landed in the perfect spot. In this six-part saga, we're demystifying the pivotal role of a Solutions Architect in the AWS cloud computing cosmos.

In this second episode, join Caroline and Dave as they host a riveting discussion with two cloud virtuosos - Anya Derbakova, a Senior Startup Solutions Architect at AWS, known for weaving social media magic, and Ted Trentler, a Senior AWS Technical Instructor with a knack for simplifying the complex. Together, they embark on a narrative journey through the clouds and break down the AWS Certification labyrinth.

Expect to uncover:

Designing Secure Access to AWS Resources:
• Introduction to IAM for identity management.
• Role switching with AWS STS.
• Multi-account strategies using AWS Control Tower and federation with IAM roles.

Designing Secure Workloads and Applications:
• Architecting VPCs.
• Implementing layered security models with security groups, NACLs, and gateways.

Determining Appropriate Data Security Controls:
• Data access, governance, and responsibility.
• Data recovery, retention, and classification strategies.
• Encryption and key management practices.

Anatomy of an Exam Question:
• Exam question formats: Multiple Choice and Multiple Response.
• Dissecting questions: Stem, key, and distractors.
• Scenario-based questions reflecting real-life challenges.
• Alignment with the Well-Architected Framework.

Sample Exam Question:
• Scenario-based question on enabling software patch downloads for EC2 instances in private subnets without direct internet access.

Whether you're aiming to elevate your career, transition roles, or simply quench your curiosity about the cloud, tune in to transform your understanding of AWS and gear up for success in the Solutions Architect realm.

Anya on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annadderbakova/

Ted on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ttrentler
Ted on LinkedIn: https://linkedin/in/tedtrentler

Caroline on Twitter: https://twitter.com/carolinegluck
Caroline on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cgluck/

Dave on Twitter: https://twitter.com/thedavedev
Dave on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidisbitski

AWS SAA Exam Guide - https://d1.awsstatic.com/training-and-certification/docs-sa-assoc/AWS-Certified-Solutions-Architect-Associate_Exam-Guide.pdf

Party Rock for Exam Study - https://partyrock.aws/u/tedtrent/KQtYIhbJb/Solutions-Architect-Study-Buddy

All Things AWS Training - Links to Self-paced and Instructor Led https://aws.amazon.com/training/

AWS Skill Builder – Free CPE Course - https://explore.skillbuilder.aws/learn/course/134/aws-cloud-practitioner-essentials

AWS Skill Builder – Learning Badges - https://explore.skillbuilder.aws/learn/public/learning_plan/view/1044/solutions-architect-knowledge-badge-readiness-path

AWS Well-Architected Framework - https://docs.aws.amazon.com/wellarchitected/latest/framework/welcome.html

Controlling the Network Free Lab - https://explore.skillbuilder.aws/learn/course/internal/view/elearning/11237/controlling-the-network-amazon

Exam Prep Official Practice Question Set: AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Associate (SAA-C03 - English) - https://explore.skillbuilder.aws/learn/course/external/view/elearning/13266/aws-certified-solutions-architect-associate-official-practice-question-set-saa-c03-english?saa=sec&sec=prep

AWS Skill Builder - Networking Core - Knowledge Badge Readiness Path - https://explore.skillbuilder.aws/learn/public/learning_plan/view/1944/networking-core-knowledge-badge-readiness-path


Subscribe:

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Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/aws-developers-podcast/id1574162669

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