AWS Certified DevOps Engineer: Mastering cloud deployment
Key facts
- Average AWS DevOps Engineer salary: $136,631
- Certification creation date: 2015
- Last exam update (SAA-C03): March 2023
Begin your journey to getting certified with an AWS Certifed DevOps Engineer Boot Camp.
AWS DevOps Engineer certification overview
The AWS DevOps Engineer certification is a professional-level exam, meaning it is more advanced than the Foundational- and Associate-level AWS exams. The exam is 75 questions, either multiple-choice or multiple-response, and candidates have 180 minutes to complete it.
Domain 1: SDLC Automation (22% of scored content)
This domain covers objectives such as:
- Implementing CI/CD pipelines
- Integrating automated testing into CI/CD pipelines
- Building and managing artifacts
- Implementing deployment strategies for container and serverless environments
Domain 2: Configuration Management and IaC (17% of scored content)
This domain covers topics such as:
- Defining cloud infrastructure and reusable components to provision and manage systems throughout their lifecycle
- Deploying automation to create, onboard and secure AWS accounts in a multi-account or multi-region environment
- Designing and building automated solutions for complex tasks and large-scale environments
Domain 3: Resilient Cloud Solutions (15% of scored content)
This domain covers cloud solution tasks like:
- Implementing highly available solutions to meet resilience and business requirements
- Implementing solutions that are scalable to meet business requirements
- Implementing automated recovery processes to meet RTO and RPO requirements
Domain 4: Monitoring and Logging (15% of scored content)
In this domain, the exam content covers topics like:
- Configuring the collection, aggregation and storage of logs and metrics
- Auditing, monitoring and analyzing logs and metrics to detect issues
- Automating the monitoring and event management of complex environments
Domain 5: Incident and Event Response (14% of scored content)
Domain 5 covers incident and event response knowledge on:
- Managing event sources to process, notify and act in response to events
- Implementing configuration changes in response to events
- Troubleshooting system and application failures
Domain 6: Security and Compliance (17% of scored content)
Domain 6 covers an assessment of security and compliance controls:
- Implementing techniques for identity and access management at scale
- Applying automation for security controls and data protection
- Implementing security monitoring and auditing solutions
AWS DevOps Engineer (DOP-C02) exam details
The DOP-CO2 exam covers a range of DevOps best practices within the AWS ecosystem, validating that successful candidates possess the skills required to deliver secure, compliant and scalable systems.
| Launch date: | 2015 | Last update: | March 2023 |
| Number of questions: | 75 | Type of questions: | Multiple-choice or multiple-response |
| Length of test: | 180 minutes | Passing score: | 750 (out of 1000) |
| Exam level: | Professional | Languages: |
English, Japanese, Korean and Simplified Chinese |
| Validity duration: | 3 years | CPEs needed for renewal: | Pass the latest version of the Certified DevOps engineer exam |
Additional AWS DevOps Engineer exam resources
While professional experience is important, there are other ways to brush up on all the technical areas tested in the AWS DevOps Engineer exam. It's equally helpful for a DevOps AWS Engineer to create a comprehensive learning plan that includes study guides, books, practice questions, sample exams and more.
AWS DevOps Engineer study guides and practice exams
- AWS Certified DevOps Engineer — Professional Certification and Beyond
- AWS Certified DevOps Engineer - Professional (DOP-C02) Exam Guide
- AWS Skill Builder
Many paid AWS Solutions Architect training courses also provide practice questions, including Infosec’s AWS Boot Camp.
Other free AWS DevOps Engineer training resources
There are a number of other free training materials being produced and shared by the community:
- Online forums, like Reddit and the AWS Community Hub, give you a chance to connect with others working toward their AWS DevOps Engineer certification or those who've already taken the exam.
- You can also check out videos on YouTube that give you exam tips. Some are formal training videos, while others teach you about the kinds of questions on the exam.
- Podcasts like Cyber Work may not directly prepare you for the exam, but they can provide additional career guidance and general exam tips.
AWS DevOps Engineer jobs and careers
AWS DevOps has promising career paths with significant opportunities for promotions and pay increases, especially as many businesses migrate their infrastructure and architecture to the AWS cloud. DevOps is highly skilled at providing efficiency and scalability to complex infrastructure, which will only become more relevant as more networks are housed online.
Common AWS DevOps Engineer job titles
- DevOps Engineer
- Site Reliability Engineer
- Structure Technician
- Cloud Engineer
- Automation Engineer
- DevOps Architect
- Cloud Architect
AWS DevOps Engineer boot camp
Live, expert AWS training
Live online or in-person AWS boot camps can help you get certified quickly. For example, Infosec partners with AWS to provide a three-day AWS Certified DevOps Engineer Boot Camp.
Advantages of enrolling in a boot camp include:
- Live instruction: Boot camps allow interaction with instructors and peers with useful AWS or AWS exam experience to share.
- Complete certification package: When searching for an AWS boot camp, find out if there will be any additional costs for training materials, exam vouchers or hands-on resources.
- Higher pass rates: AWS boot camps prepare you to pass the exam on your first attempt, and providers like Infosec back their training with an Exam Pass Guarantee.
Learn more about the live AWS Certified DevOps Engineer Boot Camp.
AWS DevOps Engineer certification comparisons and alternatives
If you're deciding between multiple AWS certification exams and need help choosing the right one for your current job title and dream career path, look at some different comparisons below.
AWS Certified DevOps Engineer vs. AWS Certified Solutions Architect
While the AWS Certified DevOps Engineer exam covers integration, deployment and automation on AWS, the AWS Certified Solutions Architect exam focuses on scalable and cost-effective infrastructure and architecture within AWS.
The Associate level focuses on the basics of AWS architecture, while the Professional exam covers more complex topics like hybrid architecture, cloud migration strategies and more. If your long-term goal is to truly focus on the development and operation of infrastructure within AWS, the AWS Certified DevOps Engineer might be the better option.
AWS Certified DevOps Engineer vs. AWS Certified SysOps Administrator
An AWS Certified SysOps Administrator focuses on implementing cloud initiatives and deploying, managing and operating workloads on AWS. As a more entry-level certification compared to the AWS Certified DevOps Engineer, it's ideal for job titles like system administrators.
AWS Certified DevOps Engineer vs. AWS Certified Security
The AWS Certified Security exam focuses on the protection and hardening of security solutions on AWS. Ideal for cybersecurity specialty roles like security engineers and IT security specialists, it dives deeper into the security and defense of AWS architecture. In comparison, the AWS Certified DevOps Engineer exam covers security and compliance only within one domain of the test.
AWS Certified DevOps Engineer vs. ISC2 CCSP
The ISC2 Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP) is also specifically ideal for cybersecurity professionals focusing on overall cloud security and architecture. This certification does not solely focus on AWS and is vendor-neutral. The AWS Certified DevOps Engineer exam might be a better fit if you want to specialize within the AWS ecosystem.
AWS Certified DevOps Engineer vs. CompTIA Cloud+
CompTIA Cloud+ is another vendor-neutral certification focused on overall cloud computing. It covers deployment, migration, troubleshooting, architecture and more within a variety of cloud providers. Unlike the AWS Certified DevOps Engineer exam, CompTIA Cloud+ doesn't focus specifically on AWS.
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