How to build a career as an AWS Database Specialist?

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Modern application architectures now include a larger selection of database technologies that are more closely linked with the data access and processing patterns demanded by the business operations they serve. Talking about the AWS Database Specialist, this role has shown a great peak in the market sector. Furthermore, this role verifies your knowledge of AWS database services. You may choose from over 15 database engines on the AWS platform, including relational, key-value, document, in-memory, graph, time series, and ledger databases.

Coming on to the AWS Certified Database Specialty exam, allows you to demonstrate the ability to evaluate requirements and build suitable database solutions, as well as the ability to design, suggest, and manage the best AWS database solution for a use case. So, without any waiting! Let’s start learning more about the database in order to achieve the role of AWS Database Specialist!

Who is a Database Specialist?

Database specialists use the most up-to-date information security tools to organize massive volumes of data and assist corporate processes. They are in charge of ensuring that data is correctly kept and backed up, as well as implementing the required security procedures to ensure data security. They collaborate closely with organization management to ensure that the database is up to date and running well. However, you can prepare for this field by earning a bachelor’s degree in computer science or information technology.

Further, some of the tasks of a database specialist include:

  • Firstly, they work with businesses and organizations to create databases.
  • Secondy, they can be in charge of ensuring that data is secure and accessible. 
  • Thirdly, they have to work on industry-standard database systems, such as Oracle, Microsoft SQL Server, Filemaker Pro, or Sybase.
  • Then, they are responsible for database design, implementation, and maintenance. 
  • Lastly, they frequently handles the system testing and database backups.

Market Value:

Based on the salaries report, an early career Database Administrator (DBA) with 1-4 years of experience gets an average total compensation of ₹504,000 (including tips, bonus, and overtime pay). However, a mid-career Database Administrator (DBA) with 5-9 years of experience makes an average total salary of ₹1,200,000.

Moving on, in the next section, we will cover the exam area as well as the study guide to passing the exam.

Prepare for the AWS Database Specialist Exam

The first and most crucial step on the path to becoming an AWS Database Specialist is to understand the exam requirements. This phase is necessary so that you are thoroughly educated about the abilities and information required for the test before you begin studying for it. So, let’s get started!

database exam path

Step 1. Passing the AWS Database Specialty Exam

If you work in a database-focused role then you should take the AWS Certified Database Specialty (DBS-C01) exam. This exam verifies a candidate’s knowledge of databases, covering design, migration, deployment, access, maintenance, automation, monitoring, security, and troubleshooting principles. However, this exam demands knowledge and experience with relational and non-relational databases on-premises and in the AWS Cloud. Further, it is recommended that you should have the following things before taking this exam:

  • Firstly, experience with standard database technologies for five years
  • Secondly, two years of hands-on experience and skill with relational and NoSQL databases on-premises and in the AWS Cloud.
  • Thirdly, understanding and distinguishing the essential aspects of AWS database services
  • Lastly, the ability to use AWS services to assess needs and requirements in order for creating and suggesting suitable database solutions.

Step 2. Working on understanding the exam topics

Exam objectives play an important role in the preparation. That is to say, if you have an understanding of the exam topics and concepts then, passing this exam is not a difficult task. Because this covers all the major areas of the exam divided into sections and subsections. However, the topics covered for the AWS Database Specialty exam are:

AWS Database Specialty Updated Course Outline 

The AWS Certified Database Specialty exam covers the latest and updated course outline – 

Module 1:  Explain Workload-Specific Database Design (26%)

1.1 Learn to select suitable database services for specific types of data and workloads.

  • Understand the differences between ACID vs. BASE workloads
  • Understand suitable uses of types of databases including relational, key-value, document, in-memory, graph, time series, ledger (AWS Documentation: Database)
  • Understand and identify use cases for persisted data vs. ephemeral data (AWS Documentation: Amazon EC2 instance store)

1.2 Learn about the strategies for disaster recovery and high availability.

1.3 Learn to design database solutions for performance, compliance, and scalability.

1.4 Learn to compare the costs of database solutions

Module 2: Explain Deployment and Migration (20%)

2.1 Learn to automate database solution deployments.

2.2 Learn to determine data preparation and migration strategies.

2.3 Learn to execute and validate data migration.

Module 3: Explain Management and Operations (18%)

3.1 Learn to determine maintenance tasks and processes.

3.2 Learn to determine backup and restore strategies.

3.3 Learn to manage the operational environment of a database solution.

aws database specialty exam
Module 4: Explain Monitoring and Troubleshooting (18%)

4.1 Learn to monitor and alert strategies.

4.2 Learn to troubleshoot and resolve common database issues.

4.3 Learn to optimize database performance.

  • Understanding and troubleshooting database performance issues (AWS Documentation: Troubleshooting for Amazon RDS)
  • Understanding and identifying suitable AWS tools and services for database optimization (AWS Documentation: Best practices for Amazon RDS)
  • Understanding and evaluating the configuration, schema design, queries, and infrastructure to improve performance
Module 5: Explain Database Security (18%)

5.1 Learn to Encrypt data at rest and in transit.

5.2 Learn to evaluate auditing solutions.

5.3 Learn to determine access control and authentication mechanisms.

5.4 Learn to identify potential security vulnerabilities within database solutions.

Step 3. Exploring the useful study resources

As it is said, if you have the right study resources then understanding the concepts is easy. So, keeping that in mind, we will talk about the major study resources, practice tests, and training methods by AWS that will help you enhance your preparation level.

AWS Recommended Training

AWS itself offers a variety of training methods for all its exam. These courses cover all the valid details, objectives, and questions that will lead you towards better preparation.

AWS Certified Database – Specialty Exam Readiness

This course will help you prepare for the exam by introducing you to the topics covered in the exam and familiarising you with the question style and exam structure. The course walks you through sample test questions for each topic area and teaches you how to examine the topics being assessed so you can eliminate incorrect responses faster.

Further, this course covers the below topic:

  • Firstly, database architecture customized to various workloads
  • Secondly, migration and deployment
  • Thirdly, operations and management
  • Then, troubleshooting and monitoring
  • Lastly, security of the database
AWS Database Offerings

This self-paced course helps in understanding the database technologies and architectures, as well as provides a brief about the AWS database services. Moreover, the concept of a purpose-built database, which eliminates the traditional one-size-fits-all system, is also discussed in the course.

Intended Audience:

  • IT Professional
  • Database Engineer
  • Developer
  • Architect
Planning and Designing Databases on AWS

This course will show you how to plan and construct relational and nonrelational AWS databases. It will teach you how to use workload demands to generate database design considerations, as well as examine the features and capabilities of the eight AWS database services. However, by the end of the course, you’ll be able to decide which AWS database service is best for your workloads and then, create a database as per your requirements.

Further, you will learn about:

  • Firstly, implementing database concepts, database management, and data modeling techniques
  • Secondly, examining hosting databases on Amazon EC2 instances
  • Then, examining relational AWS database services and their features
  • Lastly, examining nonrelational AWS database services and their features

Knowledge requirement:

  • Firstly, AWS Database Services knowledge (equal to AWS Database Offerings digital training)
  • Secondly, understanding of relational and nonrelational database design ideas and/or data modelling
  • Then, familiarity with,
    • cloud computing concepts 
    • general networking and encryption concepts 
  • Lastly, knowledge of three V’s of data (volume, velocity, and variety)
Assess yourself with Practice Tests

Starting by evaluating yourself with practice exams is the most efficient way to improve your preparation. You can take these practice tests after finishing the topics. This will not only assist you in improving your replying abilities, but it will also allow you to quickly identify your strengths and flaws. There are, however, a few providers that offer unique and free practice examinations to get you started.

Step 4. Summarizing the important AWS Database Specialty Exam Area

1. Understanding which workloads are suitable for every purpose-built database service on AWS

The speed, scalability, and availability characteristics of AWS database services might vary greatly. However, understanding each service’s capabilities and being able to match workload characteristics to the various services is a critical skill that is severely examined on the exam.

 2. Understanding strategies for disaster recovery and high availability

Understanding how to structure database architectures to accomplish recovery-point and recovery-time objectives is crucial when implementing databases on AWS. This is a test topic that covers high-availability and disaster-recovery settings for a range of database services.

3. Understanding the process of automating database solution deployments

On AWS, you may accomplish this using AWS CloudFormation. Infrastructure as code is a fundamental enabler of DevOps principles, bringing together developers and operations to cooperate on scaling application delivery.

4. Deciding backup and restore strategies

Data-protection options include the ability to take manual snapshots and the usage of automated backups or continuous backups.

5. Deciding monitoring and alerting strategies

You’ll need to be familiar with AWS databases’ monitoring capabilities and how they interact with other AWS monitoring and alerting technologies.

6. Understanding the process of optimizing database performance

For the examination, you’ll need to analyze database performance issues, fine-tune database architecture and performance, and select the most useful and cost-effective AWS tools and services for database situations.

7. Encrypting data in transit and at rest

On AWS, data encryption at rest is a key component of data security. AWS database services are one-of-a-kind, and data protection is frequently implemented in a variety of methods. It is important to understand how to utilize AWS Key Management Service (AWS KMS) for encryption key management to establish encryption keys and specify the policies controlling their usage.

Step 5. Taking the exam

We’ve gone through the AWS Database Specialty exam requirements as well as the primary topics you’ll need to study. Furthermore, we have learned about the training approaches that will help in your test preparation. You may also begin taking practice examinations as stated above to improve your level of preparedness. You can take these tests once you’ve finished with the topics. Not only will this help you improve your answering abilities, but it will also provide you with a rapid assessment of your strengths and weaknesses. So, prepare well for the exam and pass it with good marks.

Step 6. Preparing for Job Interview

After passing the exam and gaining hands-on experience, the next step is to get a top job in the market. And, you must know that becoming an AWS Database Analyst is the best method to start your career in the database field. This industry-recognized certification verifies your comprehensive knowledge of the databases, covering design, migration, deployment, access, maintenance, automation, monitoring, security, and troubleshooting principles. To prepare for the interview, you must go over all of the theoretical and practical aspects, as well as all of the topics. If you’ve previously gained practical experience and worked on the project, you’ll have no trouble passing an interview. That is to say, prior experience is usually advantageous. And, as a reference you can the top interview questions for database roles, that can be easily accessed online.

Further, some of the top companies hiring for this role are:

  • Amazon
  • Genpact
  • TCS
  • Deloitte
  • Pwc
  • NTT Data services

Final Words

The AWS Certified Database Specialty certification allows architects and IT engineering professionals to demonstrate their understanding of how to manage databases on AWS by validating their expertise. Preparing for a certification exam is a great way to update your technical knowledge. Taking this exam will not only help you get a job as a database specialist, but it will also help you grow your career. Begin using the learning tools, digital courses, free practice tests, and exam preparation courses available. Now is the time to study for and pass the AWS Exam!

AWS Certified Database Specialty
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