TL;DR
I’m a freelance data scientist leveraging my business experience and technical data skills to learn AWS and get the Solutions Architect Associate certification. This isn’t about becoming a pure cloud expert; it’s about gaining the know-how to build and deliver scalable, secure, and readily available data solutions in the cloud, ultimately providing more comprehensive and valuable services to my clients.
A few months ago, I found myself deep into learning data science, playing around with Python, building machine learning models and data pipelines. But every now and then, I’d hit a wall—how do I deploy something in the real world? And how do I make sure it scales if five clients suddenly become 500?
All roads seemed to lead to one thing: the cloud.
My First Look at AWS
Amazon Web Services (AWS) felt like this giant toolbox—packed with everything from virtual machines to databases, queues, AI services, and more. At first it felt really overwhelming. Opening up the AWS console felt like being a kid let loose in a candy store – all those tempting options made my head spin, and I had no idea where to start. It soon dawned on me that to truly enjoy this ‘candy store,’ I needed some guidance, and pursuing a certification felt like a smart way to get that.
But Why Get Certified at All?
Here’s my thinking:
- Structure: There’s so much to learn with AWS, and certification forces you to learn the fundamentals in a focused way—like IAM, EC2, S3, networking, storage, security, and architecture.
- Credibility: Whether I freelance, consult, or join a team, having that AWS badge shows I’m not just clicking buttons in the console—I understand how this stuff actually works.
- Confidence: I want to be the guy who knows why something’s not working—not just someone who tries five random fixes and hopes one works.
- Adding Value: Becoming AWS certified will allow me to offer a broader range of services to my clients, from building end-to-end data solutions on the cloud to optimizing existing AWS infrastructure for data science workloads.
My Focus: Solutions Architect Associate (SAA-C03)
I chose the AWS Solutions Architect Associate certification because it feels like the best balance between hands-on tech and big-picture thinking. It covers how to design systems that are scalable, cost-effective, and secure—skills that are invaluable in any business.
Where I’m Starting From
Just to be clear—I’m not coming from a technical background. I’m a data professional with business experience who loves figuring things out. I know Python and SQL and I’ve built apps with Django, and I’m learning AWS as I go. Adding cloud credentials to my toolkit means I know how to extend my solutions beyond my personal laptop and translate my data insights and business acumen into scalable, cloud-native solutions that deliver tangible value to clients.
While my journey into the cloud is ongoing, driven by a passion for problem-solving, achieving this AWS certification will empower me to architect and implement data solutions that can truly scale and meet the demands of real-world business challenges. Importantly, my goal isn’t to become a specialist cloud architect, but rather to gain a strong enough understanding of AWS to guide my clients in leveraging the cloud effectively. This knowledge will ensure that the data science products I offer are not only insightful but also readily available, secure, and performant, allowing me to deliver a comprehensive and valuable service.
What’s Coming Next
I’ll be blogging my journey as I prepare for the exam—sharing what I learn, how I approach tricky topics, and how I’m applying AWS concepts in real-world projects. Hopefully, it helps someone else avoid a few rabbit holes along the way. If you’re also learning AWS, let’s connect. If you’re already certified, send some tips! If you have no idea what AWS even is, maybe you’ll get curious.