How to prepare for the AWS Certified Big Data Specialty exam?

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AWS introduces new certifications to validate the skills of candidates in new AWS technologies. The AWS Certified Big Data Specialty exam has expired. It has been replaced by the AWS Certified Data Analytics Specialty exam. You must stay updated with latest changes to reach new heights in your career.

The AWS Certified Big Data Specialty exam (BDS-C00) is intended for the individuals who implement complex big data analyses. The exam verifies an examinee’s technical abilities and experience in designing and executing AWS services to receive value from data. First of all, AWS certifications are one of the most sought-after certifications in the Information Technology (IT) industry now. Further, with the number of businesses, small and big leading to the cloud, the market for AWS cloud is evolving continuously. Moreover, AWS has launched a number of certifications encompassing from Associate level to Specialty level. As, both the Big Data and AWS are very regarded skills in the IT business. Carrying up the AWS Certified Big Data Specialty exam will show as a golden ticket for one’s career to launch to the greater levels.

Once the candidate has realized a certification is a valuable investment in their career, then their next step is determining the type of certification and the vendor. Also, when it comes to Big Data certification, the candidate’s choices are about as numerous as the many fields of study in Big Data. So, we have made a list of Big Data certifications administered by some of the greatest names in the business: Hortonworks, IBM, Cloudera, MapR, and SAS. However, we are going to discuss the Certified Big Data Specialty exam in details. 

AWS Certified Big Data Specialty exam

AWS Certified Big Data Specialty exam: An Overview 

AWS Certified Big Data Specialty exam verifies the candidate’s expertise and technical skills and knowledge in outlining and implementing AWS services in status to obtain value from the possible data set. Also, It measures the candidate’s ability to administer AWS Big Data Services according to architecture applications. Further, the AWS Certified Big Data Specialty exam is a Specialty level exam and it needs in-depth knowledge of data analytics theories. 

Exam Details

Here, we are going to discuss some basic details about the  AWS Certified Big Data Specialty exam. To begin with, the candidate will get 170 minutes to complete the exam. Also, it will cost nearly 300 USD to a candidate and is available in the English, Japanese, Korean, and Simplified Chinese languages.

AWS Certified Big Data Specialty exam

Requirements for the Exam

  • Firstly, a minimum of 2 years of expertise in managing AWS technologies.
  • Secondly, at least 5 years of expertise in Big Data Analytics. 
  • Further, significant knowledge and experience of working with AWS security systems.
  • Moreover, knowledge of how to obtain control to guard the data
  • Also, knowledge of AWS assistance and architecture, and how to integrate them with each other.
  • Nonetheless, the ability to create a cost-effective and scalable architecture to process data.

The AWS Certified Big Data Specialty exam certifies technical skills and participation in progressing and implementing AWS assistance to derive value from data. Further, this is a difficult exam and requires the candidates to have at least 2 or more years of hands-on practice. 

Abilities for AWS Certified Big Data Specialty exam

  • Implementing core AWS Big Data assistance according to basic architecture best methods.
  • Designing and maintaining Big Data.
  • Leveraging tools to automate data interpretation.

Course Outline 

The course line has every relatable information regarding the AWS Certified Big Data Specialty exam in itself. And, the candidate can find the course outline on the official page of AWS. This course outline includes weightings, test domains, and objectives only. Let’s take a look at the domains and their subtopics of the AWS Certified Big Data Specialty exam. 

AWS Certified Big Data Specialty exam

Domain 1: Collection

  • Firstly, determining the operational aspects of the collection system
  • Then, select a collection arrangement that handles the frequency of data conversion and the type of data being ingested.
  • Also, identifying the characteristics that need to be implemented by the collection system: order, metadata, data structure, etc.
  • Further, explaining the durability and availability features for the collection approach.

Domain 2: Storage

  • Determining and optimizing the operational properties of the storage solution.
  • Also, managing data access and retrieval models.
  • Then, estimating mechanisms for acquisition, and retrieval of catalogue entries.
  • Further, determining proper data structure and storage arrangement.

Domain 3: Processing

  • Identifying the relevant data processing technology for a given situation.
  • Then, learning how to create and architect the data processing solution.
  • Also, determining the operational aspects of the solution performed.

Domain 4: Analysis

  • Defining the tools and techniques needed for analysis.
  • Further, managing how to design and architect the analytical solution.
  • Moreover, discovering and optimizing the operational perspectives of the Analysis.

Domain 5: Visualization

  • Fixing the appropriate techniques for delivering the results/output.
  • Of course, Learning how to design and create the Visualization platform.
  • Subsequently, preparing and optimizing the operational components of the Visualization system.

Domain 6: Data Security

  • Devising encryption requirements and implementation of technologies.
  • Also, taking the appropriate technology to implement data governance.
  • Thus, identifying how to secure data integrity.
  • Further, evaluating regulatory obligations.

Preparatory Guide 

If the candidate has knowledge of both AWS and Big Data Analytics, then they are a pot of gold for recruiters and corporations looking for skilled and knowledgeable candidates. Also, with the AWS Certified Big Data Specialty exam, the candidate will not only get to improve their knowledge but also may get rewarded lavishly. To help such candidates get ahead in their career, we are presenting a complete preparation guide for the AWS Certified Big Data Specialty exam. So, let’s begin with:

Objectives 

Most importantly, it is required to know the exam objectives first. The candidate needs to learn all the domains or objectives in order to successfully pass the AWS Certified Big Data Specialty exam. Although we have mentioned the domains in the course outline for making it quite easy, we are mentioning the objectives below:

  • Firstly, the collection (17%)
  • Then, storage (17%)
  • Also, processing (17%)
  • Further, analysis (17%)
  • Moreover, visualization (12%)
  • In addition, data security (20%)
AWS Certified Big Data Specialty exam

Download the Exam Guide 

The official Exam Guide is a great start to begin the preparation for the AWS Certified Big Data Specialty exam. The exam guide gives the candidate a piece of complete information about the exam such as. prerequisites, exam overview, requirements, training resources, whitepapers, and exam blueprint. Further, this is highly prescribed to go through the exam guide at AWS website to start the preparation. Also, the candidate can download the exam guide from the AWS website. 

Official Resources 

The official resources for the AWS Certified Big Data Specialty exam include whitepapers, sample questions, documentation etc. The Amazon Web Services documentation is a total set of information about the settings from introductory to advanced level. Also, AWS approved white papers are a great reference of knowledge for the candidate. Make good usage of them and read them completely. Some of the recommended whitepapers are:

  • Streaming Data Solutions on AWS with Amazon Kinesis.
  • AWS Database Migration Service Best Practice.
  • Big Data Analytics Options on AWS.
  • Migrating Applications to AWS: Guide and Best Practices.

Further, AWS itself is intended to prepare the candidate for the certification exam and thus offers a set of 10 sample questions. Of course, these questions will help the candidate to understand which type of questions they may get in the AWS Certified Big Data Specialty exam. Although the number of questions is furthermore less, it is advised to have a look at these questions at least once.

Training Programs and Courses

The training programs and online courses will also help in the preparation of the AWS Certified Big Data Specialty exam. If the candidate is not that good at reading whitepapers and documentation, then this step will be of great help for them. Training programs will make the candidate understand the topics they need to study when they are preparing for the exam. The internet is a pool of such training programs and course and the candidate can sign up for that. Also, the candidate can find some training videos on the AWS website. Further, the training will lay a strong base for the candidate to start preparing for the AWS Certified Big Data Specialty exam. However, there are a number of online certification training providers, the candidate can choose one of them for online training.

Books and Study Material 

The candidate also requires to find good books and study materials as they can help the candidate throughout their preparation. However, we are listing down some books which the candidate can refer to: 

  • AWS Certified Big Data Specialty: Ultimate Certification Practice Guide by Get Ahead. 
  • AWS Certified Big Data – Specialty: Technology Workbook by IP Specialist.
  • Big Data Analytics Options on AWS (AWS Whitepaper) by AWS Whitepapers. 
  • Getting Started Guide: Analyzing Big Data with AWS by Amazon Web Services.
  • Practical Big Data Analytics: Hands-on techniques to implement enterprise analytics and machine learning using Hadoop, Spark, NoSQL January 15, 2018, by Nataraj Dasgupta.

Practice Tests and Exam Simulators

The more experience the candidate has, the more it is beneficial for them. In general, there are a lot of practice tests available online. The candidate can take up these tests from one of the best providers. Further, the candidate will get an idea of how the questions will be asked in the real exam. Also, practise test simulator gives the candidate a real-time experience of taking the AWS Certified Big Data Specialty exam. In addition, the candidate can also try free practise tests available here and thus helps themselves to find their weak areas and work on them.

To Conclude!

The AWS Certified Big Data Specialty exam is one of the difficult exams and it needs the candidate to have a lot of hands-on experience. Also, it is recommended to have prior knowledge of Big Data technologies on AWS. Further, an AWS Certified Big Data salary can range over 130,000 USD per annum. Although getting an AWS Big Data certification will not guarantee that the candidate a six-figure salary. All that important is their knowledge and experience. 

We hope that this preparation guide will help the candidate to become an AWS Certified Big Data Specialist. All you need to do is just follow the preparation guide, gain more knowledge, and pass the certification exam with sufficient marks. If the candidate wants some more practise tests, then CLICK HERE!

Wish you luck for your exam!

Enhance your skills with the newly updated AWS Certified Data Analytics Specialty exam. Start your preparations Now!

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