What you'll learn:
- Connect stacks using exports and cross-stack references
- Create and manage nested stacks for modular CloudFormation templates
- Automate EC2 configuration with UserData and CloudFormation helper scripts (cfn-init, cfn-signal, cfn-hup)
- Control resource lifecycles using UpdatePolicy, DeletionPolicy, and UpdateReplacePolicy
- Apply stack policies to protect resources during updates
- Extend CloudFormation with Lambda-backed custom resources and wait conditions
- Detect and resolve stack drifts, and import unmanaged resources back into stacks
- Deploy and manage serverless applications using the AWS Serverless Application Model (SAM)
- Strengthen your Infrastructure as Code skills relevant to the AWS Certified DevOps Engineer – Professional exam
A clear, hands-on path to advanced AWS CloudFormation — from cross-stack design to automation with helper scripts, policies, and SAM.
AWS CloudFormation is the foundation of Infrastructure as Code (IaC) on AWS — the service that defines, provisions, and manages resources in a reliable and automated way. This course continues from AWS CloudFormation Step by Step – Beginner to Intermediate and focuses on advanced CloudFormation techniques that experienced AWS engineers use in real-world environments.
You’ll explore how to design modular and reusable architectures with cross-stack references and nested stacks, automate configurations using helper scripts such as cfn-init, cfn-signal, and cfn-hup, and control resource lifecycles with policy attributes and stack policies. The course also covers extending CloudFormation with Lambda-backed custom resources, coordinating deployments with wait conditions, detecting and resolving drift, and importing existing resources back into management. Finally, you’ll integrate serverless applications using the AWS Serverless Application Model (SAM) to expand your Infrastructure as Code skills.
Each lesson is concise, practical, and designed to help you apply advanced CloudFormation features confidently — without unnecessary complexity. By completing this course, you’ll enhance your Infrastructure as Code expertise and gain practical experience relevant to real DevOps projects and the AWS Certified DevOps Engineer – Professional certification.
If you’ve already completed AWS CloudFormation Step by Step – Beginner to Intermediate or feel comfortable with CloudFormation fundamentals, this course is your natural next step toward advanced Infrastructure as Code proficiency.
Start learning today and bring structure, automation, and confidence to your AWS environments.
