Cloud Technology and Services · Topic 11 of 11
Other In-Scope Service Categories
Recognise AWS services for business applications, end user computing, frontend web and mobile, IoT and customer enablement that CLF-C02 may name.
- 4 min
- Amazon Connect is a cloud contact centre. SES sends email.
- WorkSpaces gives virtual desktops. AppStream 2.0 streams applications.
- Amplify builds and hosts web and mobile apps. AppSync is a managed GraphQL service.
What it is
Besides compute, storage, database and network, AWS offers services in other categories. The Cloud Practitioner exam may name a service from one of these areas and ask what it is for.
You do not need depth. You need to recognise each service from a short description, and to know which category it belongs to.
This page covers business applications, end user computing, frontend web and mobile, Internet of Things (IoT) and customer enablement.
How it works
Business applications
| Service | What it does |
|---|---|
| Amazon Connect | Cloud based contact centre, where agents answer phone and chat from customers |
| Amazon Simple Email Service (SES) | Sends and receives email at scale, such as receipts and marketing email |
Choose Connect when a company wants a contact centre without installing call centre hardware. Choose SES when an application needs to send large volumes of email.
End user computing
End user computing services give staff access to desktops and applications from many devices.
| Service | What it does |
|---|---|
| Amazon WorkSpaces | Virtual desktops in the cloud, either Windows or Linux, for users |
| Amazon AppStream 2.0 | Streams desktop applications from AWS to a user's browser |
| Amazon WorkSpaces Secure Browser | A managed browser that lets staff reach internal web sites safely |
WorkSpaces gives a whole desktop. AppStream 2.0 streams a single application, which suits software that is hard to install on every computer.
Frontend web and mobile
| Service | What it does |
|---|---|
| AWS Amplify | Helps build, host and connect web and mobile apps, including sign in, storage and application programming interfaces (APIs) |
| AWS AppSync | Managed GraphQL service that connects apps to data |
| AWS Device Farm | Tests web and mobile apps on real devices in the cloud |
| Amazon Cognito | Provides sign up and sign in for the users of your apps |
Amplify is the quick start for front end developers. Device Farm saves buying many phones and tablets to test an app on different models.
Internet of Things
The Internet of Things means physical devices, such as sensors and meters, that connect to a network and send data.
| Service | What it does |
|---|---|
| AWS IoT Core | Connects IoT devices to the cloud and lets them send messages securely |
| AWS IoT Greengrass | Runs AWS features on the device itself, so it can work with little or no connection |
IoT Core is the main entry point for devices. Greengrass extends AWS to the edge, where the device is.
Customer enablement
Customer enablement means help from AWS to plan, build and run workloads. The Billing, Pricing, and Support chapter covers these in detail.
- AWS Support plans give access to technical help at different levels.
- AWS Professional Services is a team of AWS experts who work on projects with customers.
- AWS Training and Certification provides courses and exams.
- AWS Managed Services can operate AWS infrastructure for a customer.
How to answer these questions
Read the description and look for the one key word. "Contact centre" means Connect, "desktop" means WorkSpaces, "streamed application" means AppStream 2.0, "mobile app testing" means Device Farm, and "devices" means IoT.
What to remember for the exam
- Amazon Connect is a cloud contact centre. SES sends email.
- WorkSpaces gives virtual desktops. AppStream 2.0 streams applications.
- Amplify builds and hosts web and mobile apps. AppSync is a managed GraphQL service.
- Device Farm tests apps on real devices.
- IoT Core connects devices to AWS. Greengrass runs AWS features at the edge.
- Cognito handles sign up and sign in for app users.
- Support plans, Professional Services and Training are customer enablement.
- These categories are tested at recognition level: know the name and the job.
When two choices look alike, such as WorkSpaces and AppStream 2.0, ask whether the user needs a full desktop or just one application.
Common mistakes
Confusing WorkSpaces and AppStream 2.0. A desktop is not the same as a single streamed application.
Choosing SES for chat or calls. SES is email. Connect handles voice and chat for contact centres.
Mixing up IoT Core and Greengrass. IoT Core is the cloud side. Greengrass runs on the device.
Thinking Cognito manages AWS staff. It manages the users of your own app. AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM) and IAM Identity Center manage workforce access.
These services are tested at recognition level, so learn one line for each rather than deep detail.
Check yourself
Which service provides a cloud based contact centre?
Amazon Connect.
Which service gives users a managed virtual desktop?
Amazon WorkSpaces.
Which service tests a mobile app on real devices?
AWS Device Farm.
Topic 11 of 11 in Cloud Technology and Services
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