1. Exam Overview
The AWS Certified Data Engineer – Associate (DEA-C01) exam validates your ability to design, build, and operate data pipelines on AWS while ensuring performance optimization, cost efficiency, and security compliance.
It is ideal for developers, analysts, or engineers who work with data infrastructure and have hands-on experience with AWS data services.
📘 Official Exam Guide (PDF): AWS Certified Data Engineer – Associate Exam Guide
🌐 Official Certification Page: AWS Certification – Data Engineer Associate
🧩 Practice Questions: Cloud Pass DEA-C01 Practice Page
Quick Facts:
- Format: ~65 questions (multiple choice/multiple response)
- Time: 130 minutes
- Cost: USD $150
- Recommended Experience: 2–3 years in data engineering, 1–2 years with AWS services
2. Key Features and Updates
- DEA-C01 is a newly released certification reflecting the latest AWS data engineering tools and architectural best practices.
- The exam consists of four main domains, with Domain 1: Data Ingestion and Transformation comprising about 34% of the total score.
- The focus is not on AI/ML or business intelligence, but on data pipeline design, operation, and governance.
- Emphasis is on understanding architecture trade-offs, cost optimization, and service selection, rather than memorization.
3. Study Strategy
(1) Understand the Data Flow
Know how AWS services work across the entire data lifecycle — from ingestion → transformation → storage → analytics → monitoring.
Examples:
- AWS Glue – ETL automation and transformation
- Amazon Kinesis – Real-time data streaming
- Amazon Redshift – Data warehousing and optimization
- AWS Lake Formation – Centralized data governance
👉 Strengthen your understanding by solving real exam-style problems on Cloud Pass DEA-C01 Practice Page.
(2) Domain Breakdown
| Domain | Topics | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Domain 1: Data Ingestion and Transformation | Batch & streaming ingestion, ETL orchestration | 34% |
| Domain 2: Data Store Management | Storage design, partitioning, cataloging, lifecycle | 26% |
| Domain 3: Data Operations and Support | Monitoring, error handling, data quality | 22% |
| Domain 4: Data Security and Governance | IAM, KMS, encryption, audit logging | 18% |
(3) Hands-on Practice
Use the AWS Console and CLI to simulate real scenarios:
- Build a full ETL pipeline: S3 → Glue → Redshift → QuickSight
- Stream live data with Kinesis and Firehose
- Apply governance with Lake Formation and Athena
- Monitor pipelines using CloudWatch and EventBridge
(4) Practice-Based Learning
While solving questions, ask yourself:
- “Could this scenario be solved with Redshift or Athena?”
- “How can I reduce streaming costs?”
- “How do I handle PII data securely?”
Cloud Pass offers up-to-date practice questions with detailed explanations, helping you understand each concept deeply.
👉 Start solving DEA-C01 questions now
4. Core AWS Services
| Area | Services | Focus Points |
|---|---|---|
| Data Ingestion & Processing | Amazon Kinesis, AWS Glue, AWS MSK | Batch vs. streaming, scaling, scheduling |
| Storage Management | S3, Redshift, DynamoDB, Lake Formation | Partitioning, catalogs, data lifecycle |
| Analytics | Athena, EMR, QuickSight | Query optimization, visualization |
| Security & Governance | IAM, KMS, Macie | Data protection, encryption, access control |
| Monitoring & Optimization | CloudWatch, EventBridge, Cost Explorer | Alerts, automation, cost control |
5. Common Scenarios
- Real-time Log Ingestion: Kinesis → Lambda → S3
- ETL Automation: Glue → Redshift → QuickSight
- Data Security: KMS encryption and Lake Formation permissions
- Cost Optimization: Lifecycle policies, serverless architecture for processing
6. Study Roadmap
| Week | Goal | Topics |
|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Understand domains and AWS services | Review guide and documentation |
| Week 2 | Data ingestion & transformation | Kinesis, Glue, MSK |
| Week 3 | Storage & analytics | S3, Redshift, Athena, QuickSight |
| Week 4 | Governance & final review | IAM, KMS, CloudWatch, full practice |
7. Final Tips
- Be able to explain why a specific service is chosen for each scenario.
- Combine theory with practical exercises for better retention.
- Review domain weights and reinforce weak areas with Cloud Pass.
Start Your Preparation
- Official AWS Exam Guide (PDF)
- AWS Certification – Data Engineer Associate
- Cloud Pass DEA-C01 Practice Page
Cloud Pass provides realistic questions and detailed explanations to help you pass the AWS Data Engineer Associate exam with confidence.