NET-ITS7543 - AWS Cloud Security Foundations

Course Description

The AWS Cloud Security Foundations course is an online, introductory-level course designed to provide foundational knowledge of cloud security principles and AWS security services. Students will gain hands-on experience with AWS security tools through practical activities, demonstrations, and real-world scenarios. This course covers identity and access management, infrastructure security, data protection, monitoring, and incident response. It also prepares students for further learning in cloud security and the AWS Certified Security – Specialty certification. 

Course Outline

This course consists of eight modules covering key AWS security concepts: 

1. Welcome – Course introduction, prerequisites, and an overview of AWS security certification. 
2. Introduction to Security on AWS – Security principles, shared responsibility model, and AWS security design. 
3. Securing Access to Cloud Resources – AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM), authentication, and authorization. 
4. Securing Your Infrastructure – Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) security, subnets, security groups, and access control lists (ACLs). 
5. Protecting Data in Your Application – Data encryption, storage security, and best practices for protecting data in AWS. 
6. Logging and Monitoring – AWS security logging tools, monitoring solutions, and best practices. 
7. Responding to and Managing an Incident – Identifying security incidents, incident response best practices, and AWS response tools. 
8. Bridging to Certification – Continuing AWS security education and exploring AWS documentation. 

Learner Outcomes

By the end of the course, students will be able to: 

• Explain the security benefits and responsibilities of using AWS Cloud. 
• Implement IAM policies to manage access control and authentication securely. 
• Configure secure networking practices, including VPCs, security groups, and network ACLs. 
• Apply encryption techniques to protect data at rest and in transit. 
• Utilize AWS monitoring tools like CloudTrail and CloudWatch for security logging and incident detection. 
• Develop an incident response plan using AWS security services to mitigate and resolve security breaches. 

Notes

Target Audience: 

This course is ideal for: 

• IT professionals seeking foundational knowledge in cloud security. 
• Students and career changers interested in cybersecurity and cloud security roles. 
• System administrators responsible for securing cloud environments. 
• Security analysts looking to enhance their AWS security expertise. 
• Developers and engineers working with AWS services who need to understand security best practices. 

Occupational Outlook: 

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), cybersecurity roles are experiencing rapid growth due to increasing digital threats. Information Security Analysts, Cloud Security Engineers, and Security Architects are in high demand, with job growth projected at 35% over the next decade—much faster than the average for all occupations. Median salaries for cloud security professionals range from $100,000 to $150,000 per year, depending on experience and certifications. 

Industry Certification: 

This course prepares students for the AWS Certified Security – Specialty certification, which validates expertise in AWS security best practices. Earning this certification enhances career opportunities in cloud security, compliance, and risk management. 

Information Technology Continuing Education Certificate:  

A certificate of completion for the class will be issued to participants with at least 70% of successful completion of labs and assessments. 

Method of Instruction:  

On-demand instructor sessions based on student’s needs during weekly open office hours. 

Evaluation: 

Evaluation is based on the on the successful completion of labs and assessments