Public Cloud Solution Architect

Welcome to the Public Cloud Solution Architect training by pekkakorpi-tassi.fi!

Introduction

Public Cloud Solution Architect training delivered by pekkakorpi-tassi.fi covers how to Design Public Cloud ICT Deployments (Solution Architecture) and in some cases approaches how to Engineer ICT Systems (Application Architecture). This is an advanced training that poses significant starting level demands and requires serious investment in time and effort, but the learning opportunities can have significant impact on the learner’s future career trajectory and employment opportunities.

ℹ️ Would you like to know more?

Public Cloud Solution Architect training is based on publicly available Cloud Service Provider materials and particularily on books such as AWS Certified Solutions Architect Study Guide with 900 Practice Test Questions, 4th Edition and AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Associate (SAA-C03) Cert Guide, 2nd Edition. Topics covered by Public Cloud Solution Architect training are packaged into the following Themes:

  • Theme 1: General Architecture Concepts
  • Theme 2: Securing User, Application, and Data Access
  • Theme 3: Storage Layer
  • Theme 4: Compute Layer
  • Theme 5: Database Layer
  • Theme 6: Networking
  • Theme 7: Basic Cloud Architecture
  • Theme 8: Intermediate Cloud Architecture
  • Theme 9: Data Engineering
  • Theme 10: Backup and Disaster Recovery

The public cloud solution architecture topic itself revolves around what is called the Well Architected Framerwork. WAF topics are spread across the Themes outlined above. AWS has AWS Well-Architected Framework and Azure has Azure Well-Architected Framework, and these are very similar to a point of sharing exactly the same five Core Architectural Pillars of Public Cloud Design:

  • Cost Optimization
  • Security
  • Reliability
  • Operational Excellece
  • Performance Efficiency

Work load for Public Cloud Solution Architect course is 1 study credit == 27h, which is 10 study credits x 27h = 270h. Learning activities have following hourly estimations:

  • 10h General Activities
  • 180h Studies (+/- 40h)
  • 40h Laboratories
  • 40h Project/Person (+/- 40h)

Public Cloud Solution Architect training can be delivered as Professional Customer Training or Public School Training. Effective pedagogical and didactic choices for each type of delivery are made based on the requirements of the learners participating to the training.

This implementation is delivered as Public School Online Training and it can credit the learner 10 study credits as it is compatible with Haaga-Helia Cloud Architectures - AWS ICI010AS3AE. Relevant Haaga-Helia course implementation for this semester is ICI010AS3AE-3003:

  • ICI010AS3AE-3003 Cloud Architectures - AWS (Online, ENG)
    • Trainer led Zoom sessions can be tailored to the requirement of the students. Recordings can be considered.
    • Trainer led workshops help to pickup practical skills related to puclic cloud.

Public Cloud Solution Architect will be a challenging course for many learners. A study orientation that prioritizes accumulating study credits over active, engaged learning is guaranteed not to be effective in this course. This is a fact of live, because the course is highly related to AWS Certified Solutions Architect (SAA-C03) Certification, which is an advanced cloud certification that has serious learning requirements.

Training language is english and language used in all the materials and learning tasks is english. The learning tasks of this training may include lectures, laboratory excercises, workshops, individual assignments, team assignments and independent studies.

Preassignments

As this is Public School Training the learners have some preassignments that need to be concluded by start of the implementation and by the end of first week of the implementation. Learners need to make a some selections in Moodle and some other registrations and activities. Completing preassignents unlocks participation to the course and access to AWS Academy learning environment. Important preassignments are:

  • Deadline is the start of the class:
    • Preassignment: Moodle preassignment questions.
  • Deadline is one week after the start of the class:
  • Deadline is two weeks after the start of the class:
    • Preassignment: AWS Academy account activation (through invitation).

Learning Tasks and Grading

It is possible to get score between 0 and 150 from this course. These are the learning tasks that contribute to the total Score:

  • Examination (Score 0-50)
    • ⚠️ Important: Learners can take examination when they have a passing result from Study Notes and Laboratories.
    • Usually single/multiple choice questions, but essay questions can be considered.
    • Entry to exam is conditional and requires 50% of maximum score from Study Notes and 50% from maximum score from Laboratories!
    • Exam is graded according to 40% grading.
    • 40% of maximum result required to pass.
  • Studies
    • Study Involvement (Score 0-10)
      • Positive Study Involvement (+)
      • Negative Study Involvement (-)
    • Study Notes (Score 0-20)
    • Laboratories (Score 0-20)
      • 20 labs scored based on correct percentage:
        • 50% correct 0,5 score/lab to 100% correct 1 score/lab.
      • 50% of maximum result required to pass.
  • Project

Study Progress Tracker

Learners can use the Study Progress Tracker to check that they have completed are pertinent tasks during each stage that the implementation progresses through.

Exam

ℹ️ Would you like to know more?

Exam is typically single and multiple choice questions, but might contain essay questions. Any material usage during examination is prohibited! The exam covers all the topics covered during the course lectures and course materials. Historically there have been 25-30 questions in the exam that have been categorized under the following themes:

  • Solution Architecture, 5-10 questions
  • Secure Architectures, 5 questions
  • Resilient Architectures, 5 questions
  • High-Performing Architectures, 5 questions
  • Cost-Optimized Architectures, 5 questions

Main Exam Arrangements: Examination takes place in Exam System. Main Exam typically has the following features:

  • Relaxed time to take the exam (90 minutes).
  • Such navigation between questions during the exam as allowed by the Exam system.

Re-exam Arrangements: Re-examinations take place in Exam System. There are always 2 chances to re-take the examination regardless of exam results. One re-examination attempt is attempted to be arranged during ongoing semester and one re-exam attempt during the next semester, but that things will happen exactly like this is not entirely quaranteed.

  • Relaxed time to take the exam (90 minutes).
  • Such navigation between questions during the exam as allowed by the Exam system.

Classroom Exam Arrangements: If some learners want to take the main exam in classroom environment where they benefit from extra support then it is possible to consider arranging this kind of exam option. Classroom Exam takes place in Pasila and is monitored by the trainer. Extra support in Classroom Exam include following things compared to other forms of exams:

  • Relaxed time to take the exam (90 minutes).
  • Free navigation between questions during the exam.
  • Ask clarification to questions directly from the trainer.
  • Use Google Translate online translator for exam quetions.

Online Exam Arrangements: By default there are no online exam arrangements! However, learners that live far away from the supported Exam locations (Helsinki, Porvoo) or have some special circumstances should contact the trainer to discuss their situation. Historically Online Exams typically have had the following features:

  • Restricted time to take the exam (45 minutes).
  • No navigation between questions during the exam.
  • High percentage of the learners may need to take the re-exam.

Final Evaluation

ℹ️ Would you like to know more?

This course implementation as a whole is graded according to 50% grading. 50% of maximum result from the Final Evaluaton is required to pass the course.

  • Max Score 0-49% = Grade 0 (Fail)
  • Max Score 50-60% = Grade 1 (Learning Opportunity, Opportunity for Improvement)
  • Max Score 61-70% = Grade 2 (Satisfactory)
  • Max Score 71-80% = Grade 3 (Good)
  • Max Score 81-90% = Grade 4 (Very good)
  • Max Score 91-100% = Grade 5 (Excellent)

Recognition of Achievement and Extra

ℹ️ Would you like to know more?

It is possible to get maximum of 10 extra score on top of evaluation from following parts:

  • Course Feedback +0-2,5 Score
    • Based on the number of the learners that took the exam compared to number of learners that left course feedback.
      • more than 50%: +1,2 Score for all learners
      • more than 60%: +1,5 Score for all learners
      • more than 70%: +1,9 Score for all learners
      • more than 80%: +2,2 Score for all learners
      • more than 90%: +2,5 Score for all learners
    • Example: 20 people took exam and 13 people left course feedback is 65% so +1,5 Score to final grading for all the learners
  • Attempt at official certification examination +5 Score
    • Learner has to prove attempt has taken place.
  • Pass official certification examination +10 Score
    • Learner has to provide verification link to their certification.

Cheating and Plagiarization

ℹ️ Would you like to know more?

Learner will submit their learning tasks according to learning task instructions. Submissions are plagiarization checked and suggested similarity level is 0%-5%. Similarity level over 25% can be rejected. Similarity level over suggests 50% what Personal Conduct at Haaga-Helia references as cheating and plagiarization.

Personal Conduct at Haaga-Helia chapter of Degree Regulations stipulate the following:

Cheating in examinations, assignments and other performances which are subject to evaluation is forbidden. Copying of materials and presenting them as the student’s own material is forbidden. If a student is found guilty of the aforementioned forms of cheating, the student’s performance will be interrupted and the course or performance in question will be failed. Proved cheating will be entered into the study information system.

The trainer takes a serious approach to plagiarism and uses plagiarism check software to track it. Moodle return boxes have plagiarization check feature activated, so it can be immediately sees, if learners are trying to avoid studies by plagiarizating or generating their learning tasks.

If learner is not studying acording to Personal Conduct at Haaga-Helia stipulations and are caught cheating, the trainer is instructed to fail the course for the learner, and make a marking about the cheating activities to student information system. This is normal Haaga-Helia process. At the very least this will be considered as negative engagement with learning tasks and will lower the course evaluation.

Further reading:

Materials

ℹ️ Would you like to know more?

⚠️ Important: Main method of studying advanced public cloud topics is to read a book on pertinent Public Cloud topics. This is the most critical resource and learners are expected to study one of the specified books during the course.

Haaga-Helia students get access to O’Reilly service that has required study books available. O’Reilly access can be obtained according to these LibGuides Instructions by Haaga-Helia students.

I repeat: Main study material for Public Cloud Solution Architect training is one of these books:

Haaga-Helia library has a few physical copies of AWS Certified Solutions Architect Study Guide with 900 Practice Test Questions, 4th Edition book available. Physical book offers pretty great extra resources (practice exams loads of flashcards) that are not included in ebook. Even a short-term loan can give a learner a boost in their studies. Highly recommended!

Public Cloud vendors also offer advanced learning materials like courses and learning resources that are pertinent to this course via their learning environments dedicated to higher education institutions such as Haaga-Helia, Laurea, Metropolia, Tampere and Turku University of Applied Sciences in Finland.

  • AWS Academy
    • AWS offering to support learning Public Cloud topics is comprehensive and excellent.
    • AWS Academy typically offers resources such as: Presentation Slides (shared via website), Videos, Questionnaires, Laboratories, AWS Sandbox

Public Cloud vendors offer some supportive learning materials pertinent to this course via their publicly available online learning centers. These materials can support the studies of Public Cloud Solution Architect topics:

There may be other supportive materials published by pekkakorpi-tassi.fi to support studies that are publicly available or have restricted access. Importantly pekkakorpi-tassi.fi provides training, guidance and consultation by senior Public Cloud expert to support the learners. Any extra materials are communicated directly during training, via the course page or via collaboration platforms (Teams, Slack, Goodle Drive, Dropbox and similar) used during the course delivery. Public Cloud Solution Architect course training can include such support to learn Public Cloud topics as:

AWS Account and Azure Subscription

⚠️ Important: Because this Public Cloud Solution Architect training is Public School Training learners are NOT required to create actual AWS Account or Azure Subscription. As a general rule public cloud accounts and subscriptions require valid credit card and Public School students are not expected to create public cloud account or subscription. Learners get free and safe access to temporary AWS Account and Azure Subscription via AWS Academy Labs and MSLE.

Studies and Schedule

Schedule is subject to change during course! You can check the schedule of the course by doing a search with the implementation identifier from https://lukkarit.haaga-helia.fi.

Course Check-in Day

ℹ️ Would you like to know more?

Each week, the trainer dedicates a specific day, called Course Check-in Day, to handle learner learning task progress checks, answer questions, offer extra support, and manage other administrative tasks. This is the only day the trainer commits to providing support to learners.

It is essential that students maintain steady progress throughout the course to avoid delays in receiving support. The progress of the studies is learners’ responsibility, not the trainer’s. Learners are expected to plan and pace their learning to stay on track.

Learners should reach out proactively with any questions or concerns, and be ready to receive support during Course Check-in Day. This is the designated time for addressing any learning challenges or administrative issues.

If a learner’s actions result in last-minute or reactive work for the trainer, it can negatively impact the course flow and overall experience. This could also reflect negatively on the student’s course grading. It’s important to stay ahead of the tasks and reach out in a timely manner to ensure smooth progress.

Other Information

Should I get an official AWS or Azure Cloud Certificate?

ℹ️ Would you like to know more?

Certification: Taking an actual certificate exam is not a mandatory part of the Public Cloud Solution Architect training. The training helps the learner to prepare for AWS or Azure certification, but does not in itself remove the need to do the preparations required to pass an official certificate examination. A learner should consider getting Public Cloud certification though, because these certifications are challenging to achieve and they demonstrate that a learner has the ability to study and learn the required skills.

Public Cloud domain has its own language. Cloud Vendor Certifications are the base-level literacy test for that language. Certification Tests ensure, that individuals understand the terms and concepts that make up Cloud Conversations and can actively participate. (Pluralsight State of Cloud Report 2023).

Instructor-led certification trainings are 1000-3500EUR affairs if you buy the from commercial training organizations. So exploit access to - situations permitting - better materials that people in work life get during your studies!

Role of AWS and Azure certification by employees increases within companies if they want to become AWS Partners or Azure Partners, because higher partnership levels require cloud certified employees! These are either grown or hired, and certain level of certified personnel is required!

Certificate examinations are more difficult than the actual course examinations. If you want to take a certificate examination you should be able to get 95% correct from official practice examinations sold by AWS and Azure every time you take the practice exam. Certificate examinations typically contain between 40 to 65 questions (some of which may not be scored) and 70% correct result is required to achieve the certification. Certificate examinations typically include following expenses:

  • ~35EUR Official book (+possible shipping costs)
  • ~30EUR Practice exam for 1 month
  • ~100EUR Certificate exam (+possible travel costs)

AWS Certification Tips

ℹ️ Would you like to know more?

When a learner completes all of the AWS Academy content for a particular course they receive a Badge for their effort. This badge makes it possible to sign up to AWS Emerging Talent Community via AWS Educate, which is another online learning platform AWS offers. Learner who wants to receive free certificate voucher should register to ETC/AWS Educate by using same First Name, Last Name and Email Address that they have used in AWS Academy. School has absolutely no visibility to AWS Educate or AWS Emerging Talent Community so these things are fully between the learner and AWS.

AWS will give 100% discount voucher to certification exam via AWS Emerging Talent Community, as long as the learner works towards achieving the certification. Free exam vouchers are not just given, but need to be earned. There are two types of certification vouchers:

  • Foundational Level Voucher (CLF-C02)
    • Learner works to complete 4500 points worth of assignments (activities, tutorials, tasks, quizzes, etc.) via AWS Educate to receive the voucher.
    • Average time to complete this extra work by certification candidates is 4 to 6 weeks.
    • Discount value 100% (while supplies last, based on training by AWS in May 2025).
  • Associate Level Voucher (SAA-C03, SOA-C02)
    • Learner works to complete 5200 points worth of assignments (activities, tutorials, tasks, quizzes, etc.) via AWS Educate to receive the voucher.
    • Average time to complete this extra work by certification candidates is 8 to 12 weeks.
    • Discount value 100% (while supplies last, based on training by AWS in May 2025).

AWS offers yet another online learning platform called AWS Skill Builder. Via AWS Skill Builder learners can access some extra materials and official AWS practice exams. Some content in AWS Skill Builder is free and some is paid. Unfortunately paid content requires actual AWS Account + Root User details so it is highly recommended NOT to buy anything from AWS Skill Builder untill AWS fixes their payment options to be more sensible. However, if learners wants to access practice exams that should help themselves to prepare for an actual certification exam they should explore relavant practice exams offered via commercial Udemy online learning marketplace.

Certification Discount Vouchers

⚠️ Important: Sometimes AWS and Azure offer some kind of discounts to certification examinations. They take different forms like 50% discount, 100% discount or free re-examination attempt (if required). The arrangements vary, and are not always available. Easiest way to finance certification examination is pay it from your own pocket or try to negotiate with your employer that they pay the costs associated to certification.

Course seems AWS-centric, why is not Azure an equally viable learning path?

ℹ️ Would you like to know more?

AWS Certification Path related Public Cloud trainings delivered by pekkakorpi-tassi.fi support CLF-C02, SOA-C02 and SAA-C03 certifications. AWS asumes that learners complete CLF-C02 first and then SOA-C02 and/or SAA-C03 certifications in any order.

  • CLF-C02 AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner
    • SOA-C02 AWS Certified SysOps Administrator Associate
    • SAA-C03 AWS Certified Solutions Architect Associate

Azure Certification Path related Public Cloud training delivered by pekkakorpi-tassi.fi support AZ-900, AZ-104 and then maybe probably AZ-305. Azure assumes that learners complete AZ-900 first, then AZ-104 and then AZ-305 in this specific order.

  • AZ-900 Azure Fundamentals (Practitioner level)
    • AZ-104 Azure Administrator Associate
      • AZ-305 Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert

AWS has Associate level Public Cloud Solution Architect Certification and associated public, commercial and higher education offered training materials to support studies of Cloud Architecture topic. Azure does not have matching Associate level certification or materials. Closest Azure certificate is Expert level, which is more advanced and may not be fully line with the learning objectives of this course.

Azure also does not - since the last check in 2024 autumn - seem to have any sandbox laboratories available to support studying AZ-305 certification, but may have different approach to the whole affair, so issues are not only limited to syllabi differences between SAA-C03 and AZ-305. It is possible though to consider integrating AZ-305 somehow to be part of the Public Cloud Solution Architect training, but not as technically involved way as with SAA-C03.

Study Guide
Teams
Zoom
AWS Academy
Markdown
draw.io
Lucidchart

Moodle
Exam System
Exam System Instructions
Course Feedback