The AWS Certified Database - Specialty exam is suitable for professionals who want to boost their career in a position that requires advanced AWS database knowledge.

Target Audience for AWS Certified Database - Specialty Exam

The AWS Certified Database - Specialty exam focuses on helping the professionals who want to get certified obtain and prove their solid knowledge on how to work with AWS database-related products and services. The individuals who want to take this test are usually those interested in learning about database migration, design, deployment, monitoring, or troubleshooting. By passing this exam, they will also get the chance to verify their knowledge of deploying, automating, and securing database product features. Additionally, the applicants will demonstrate their ability to effectively identify and analyze the requirements that appear in a database design process.

When it comes to prerequisites, Amazon has some recommendations for the candidates who want to take the AWS Certified Database - Specialty exam. Thus, they should have at least 5 years of expertise in working with the most common technologies related to database management and deployment. Also, they are expected to have previously worked for at least 2 years in a position that involved the management of different AWS technologies. Finally, the vendor suggests candidates gain experience in working with AWS Cloud-based databases as well as become skilled in managing NoSQL databases.

Exam Overview

The AWS Certified Database - Specialty exam is coded DBS-C01. Passing it is necessary for obtaining the AWS Database - Specialty accreditation. The test includes 65 questions in the multiple-answer and multiple-choice forms, and the time allotted is 3 hours. It can be taken online using the vendor’s platform for proctored exams. On the other hand, the professionals who prefer to take their exam in a testing center have such an opportunity too. They can search on the exam’s official page for the available centers in their location and schedule DBS-C01 beforehand.

During the given time limit, the candidates should do their best to get at least the minimum passing score which is 750 points. The maximum score that an applicant can obtain is 1000 points. The registration fee for this exam is $300, and applicants also have the opportunity to take a practice exam before the real one. In this case, they should pay an additional fee of $40. Finally, this test is available in different languages. Apart from English, one can take it in Japanese, Simplified Chinese, and Korean.

Topics Tested in the Exam

The candidates who want to get the passing score in the AWS Certified Database - Specialty exam from the first attempt should demonstrate that they gained solid knowledge on the following topics:

• Understanding how to design a workload-specific type of database

  The candidates who take the AWS Certified Database - Specialty exam should prove that they became skilled in selecting the right database services that meet the requirements of different workloads and data products. Additionally, they should gain knowledge of determining the right strategies that can be applied in case of disaster for recovering data and high availability purposes. The examinees should also learn more about designing advanced database solutions that will help them to gain scalability, compliance, and improve the overall performance. Finally, they should be able to compare the costs of the chosen database solutions.

• Managing migration and deployment tasks

  Within this chapter, the candidates will validate their skills in automating and deploying database solutions. Besides, if they want to get the passing score in the AWS Certified Database - Specialty exam they should show that they can validate and execute data migration. Another subtopic included in this domain focuses on assessing the candidates’ skills in determining the most effective migration strategies and data preparation tactics.

• Operations and management

  The test-takers should work on improving their skills in identifying maintenance processes and tasks. Besides, they should be ready to apply the restore and backup strategies in case an unexpected event occurs. This section also includes a topic that focuses on helping the applicants become experienced in managing an operational environment while they implement and manage database solutions.

• Troubleshooting and monitoring

  When they manage database solutions, the professionals should be ready for performing monitoring and troubleshooting actions. Therefore, when they train for the AWS Certified Database - Specialty exam they should consolidate their knowledge on determining the right alert and monitoring strategies. Also, they should work on upgrading their ability to resolve and troubleshoot any common issues that might appear when working with databases. Finally, they need to stay updated with the latest trends and optimize the database performance whenever new features appear on the market.

• Ensuring database security This is the final chapter included in the exam’s blueprint and it covers topics dedicated to data encryption considering both in transit and at rest approaches. Also, the candidates who want to succeed in passing the AWS Certified Database - Specialty exam should become skilled in evaluating the auditing process and monitoring the user’s access. Besides, they should gain expertise in working with authentication mechanisms and quickly identify any potential threats that might ruin the security mechanism.

Career Opportunities for AWS Certified Database - Specialty Exam-Passers

The professionals who succeed in passing the AWS Certified Database - Specialty test can be proud of adding an international certification under their belt. This success comes with many benefits. For example, they can apply to well-paid jobs, such as:

• Database Architect
• Database Administrator
• Data Engineering Technical Architect
• Cloud Support Engineer

According to the information available on Payscale.com, a Data Architect can earn an annual salary of approximately $121k. Still, the average annual payment that a Database Administrator can get is about $73k.

Certification Path

The AWS Certified Database - Specialty exam is part of the specialty category of exams offered by Amazon. A candidate who has successfully got the passing score in this test can move forward to earning the other certifications included in this category. Therefore, they can apply for AWS Certified Machine Learning or AWS Security Specialty accreditations. The professionals can also take the exams for AWS Certified Advanced Networking and Data Analytics Specialty accreditations.