How To: Learn the Ins & Outs, Infrastructure & Vulnerabilities of Amazon's AWS Cloud Computing Platform

While we haven't covered Amazon Web Services, or AWS, on Null Byte before, Amazon's cloud computing platform is ripe for attack by hackers, pentesters, and cybersecurity researchers. It's also an excellent cloud hosting service to build or use vulnerable-by-design AWS setups and frameworks.

AWS buckets are a particularly vulnerable attribute to Amazon's cloud service, which store files and allow employees and other users to share them. Internet-facing services also use these buckets to store sensitive information, such as server backups or backend scripts. These buckets can be private or public, but the former is the one targeted by hackers.

For instance, an ex-Amazon employee who took advantage of a firewall misconfiguration stole credit card applicants' details from the company's AWS buckets, as well as other sensitive material from 30 other companies and systems. In a different type of attack, a hacking group was able to set up a rootkit that let them control servers and siphon sensitive data from corporations.

And as with all hosting platforms, there are other ways to hack accounts and services or set up penetration tests that you're legally allowed to perform, and many attack vectors center around AWS misconfigurations.

While we may not cover AWS vulnerabilities much on Null Byte, learning the ins and outs of the platform is still a critical skill for cloud computing attacks and cybersecurity defense. If that sounds like something you would enjoy, check out the courses in the AWS Certification Training Master Class Bundle.

Become an in-Demand AWS Cloud Computing Professional

It's not an exaggeration to say that the invention and proliferation of cloud computing technology has been one of the most important innovations of the past two decades. As the basic platform through which an endless number of computing services are delivered to companies and clients every day, cloud computing is behind virtually every major technological innovation taking place right now. Its prominence within the interconnected worlds of ethical hacking and penetration testing is, therefore, growing more pronounced by the day.

This expanding technology is also responsible for the fast-paced movement of everything from servers and storage networks to massive databases and software platforms, and every bit of data that passes through these hidden networks can be transferred to a limitless number of devices via a simple WiFi connection — making it uniquely vulnerable to cyberattacks and data breaches.

Companies ranging from small startups to massive Fortune 500 conglomerates all rely on cloud computing platforms to cut costs, expand their scale, increase their performance and speed, bolster networks, and increase productivity across the board. Their reliance on cloud computing infrastructures is only going to grow as the world becomes more interconnected.

So it should come as no surprise that as one of the world's most comprehensive and broadly adopted cloud platforms, Amazon Web Services (AWS) can be found at the heart of countless industries that utilize its multiple services to become faster and more agile. If you want to learn how to test and protect this ubiquitous cloud platform (and subsequently the companies and agencies that rely on it every day), you're going to need to know how it works.

AWS: King of the Cloud

Boasting the largest community of active users across the globe, AWS offers the most functionality and scalability of any cloud service, along with unparalleled security parameters that inspire confidence and protect against cyber attacks.

AWS also stands at the forefront of the latest and greatest developments taking place in everything from gaming and online entertainment to data analytics, Blockchain development, customer engagement, database management, machine learning, and more.

The virtually unrivaled presence of AWS within the cloud computing industry also means that from the perspective of a cybersecurity expert, you'd be hard-pressed to find a more promising and exciting environment in which to work. Tech-savvy AWS experts with hacking experience who can build and maintain a wide variety of systems within this award-winning platform are in high demand throughout the world.

If you're interested in growing your ethical hacking knowledge base while taking advantage of the world's increasing reliance on AWS, it's possible to become an in-demand AWS cloud expert and launch a six-figure career without investing tons of money.

Getting Certified

The AWS Certification Training Master Class Bundle is your one-stop resource for earning the certifications you'll need to land a wide variety of AWS-related cybersecurity positions in multiple industries, and the entire nine-course training bundle is currently available on sale for just $59.

Contrary to popular belief, you don't have to invest thousands of dollars and just as many hours in a traditional tech degree to get the skills and credentials you need to land the best positions in the ever-expanding world of cloud computing and systems security.

With an extensive introduction to the basic terminology and underlying principles of both cloud computing in general and the more specific elements that make AWS stand out from its competitors, this bundle will teach you how to implement every component of the AWS infrastructure in multiple environments — through instruction that's both easy to follow and engaging for users with varying levels of experience in tech and penetration testing.

What You'll Learn

In the AWS Database Migration Service Course, you'll learn how to quickly and securely move databases between users and companies onto the cloud — saving clients countless hours while safeguarding their information using the latest encryption techniques and tools.

Next, in the Amazon VPC Training Course, you'll learn how to work within the Amazon Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) environment, which allows for the creation of custom cloud-based networks that can be hand-tailored to fit the specific needs of different companies.

There's also training that teaches you how to work with several third-party platforms and apps within the AWS framework, how to host multiple domain names within single servers, how to securely collect and analyze massive data sets that are used by companies to gain valuable insights into their client base, and much more.

Throughout your training, you'll also be preparing to ace the exams for three of the most essential and valuable AWS certifications in the world — including the AWS Technical Essentials Certification, the AWS SysOps Associate Certification, and the AWS Solution Architect Certification — through training that focuses on real-world scenarios and data-management techniques.

Regardless of whether you're interested in furthering a career that's already based around tech and data management by adding three in-demand credentials to your resume, or you're toying with the idea of switching gears altogether and moving into an increasingly lucrative field that offers unparalleled opportunities for growth, having an in-depth understanding of AWS is going to help you reach your goals.

Usually priced at nearly $1,500, this nine-course AWS Certification Training Master Class Bundle will help you land a career in the cloud by helping you earn the knowledge and credentials you need to succeed, and it's currently available for just $59 — 95% off its usual price.