So, how difficult is the SysOps Admin Associate exam really?
From what Ive seen, this exam is very hands-on. Its not just multiple-choice; you also need to complete labs in the AWS console, which can take time if youre not quick with the services. It covers a wide range of areas like:
Monitoring and troubleshooting (CloudWatch, logs, alarms)
High availability and recovery
Deployment and automation (CloudFormation, Auto Scaling)
Security and IAM
Networking (VPC, Route 53, CloudFront)
Cost and performance optimization
Thats why it can feel overwhelming if you dont already use AWS in your job.
Some people say its best to take the Solutions Architect Associate or Developer Associate first to get the basics down. Others suggest diving right in if youve already been working with AWS daily.
What do you all think? Is it worth getting, even if youre not a sysadmin by role?
Reply 1: I took the SOA-C02 earlier this year. Honestly, it was harder than the Solutions Architect Associate. The labs were the trickiest part since you actually have to perform tasks in the console.
What helped me most:
SkillCertExams practice questions These were very close to the real thing, especially for scenario-based problems.
Tutorials Dojo (Jon Bonso tests) Good for drilling weaker areas.
AWS free labs / Skill Builder Helped me get faster in the console.
If you practice enough, the exam is totally manageable.
Reply 2: I skipped SysOps at first because I thought it wasnt relevant to me, but honestly, its a great differentiator. Many people hold SAA-C03, but fewer hold SOA-C02, making it appear stronger on a resume.
Also, theres a ton of overlap between associate exams. If youve already studied for Architect or Developer, then adding SysOps isnt a huge leap especially if you use resources like SkillCertExams to test yourself under exam-style pressure.