Introduction to AWS Application Discovery Service
Planning a cloud migration? You need visibility into your on-premises infrastructure before moving anything. This 20-minute course shows you how AWS Application Discovery Service automates server discovery, dependency mapping, and migration readiness assessment—cutting reconnaissance time from weeks to hours.
AIU.ac Verdict: Ideal for cloud architects, DevOps engineers, and migration leads who need to assess infrastructure quickly before AWS migration projects. The course is deliberately compact; if you need deep-dive labs or hands-on sandbox exercises, you’ll want supplementary resources.
What This Course Covers
You’ll learn how Application Discovery Service collects real-time data on running servers, installed applications, and network dependencies without requiring agents on every machine. The course covers agentless discovery modes, data collection best practices, and how to export findings into AWS Migration Hub for downstream planning and cost modelling.
Practical focus includes interpreting discovery data to identify migration groups, spotting application interdependencies that affect cutover sequencing, and using insights to right-size EC2 instances and estimate migration costs. You’ll see real scenarios where discovery prevents costly migration mistakes—like moving a database before its dependent applications are ready.
Who Is This Course For?
Ideal for:
- Cloud Migration Leads: Need rapid infrastructure visibility before planning AWS migrations; this course teaches the fastest way to map on-premises estates.
- DevOps & Infrastructure Engineers: Responsible for assessing server dependencies and planning cutover sequences; discovery data is essential input for your migration runbooks.
- Solutions Architects: Advising clients on cloud readiness; understanding Application Discovery Service lets you scope migration projects accurately and build credible timelines.
May not suit:
- Developers with No Infrastructure Background: This course assumes familiarity with server architecture, networking, and application dependencies; it’s not an introduction to cloud concepts.
- Greenfield Cloud Projects: If you’re building new infrastructure from scratch, discovery is irrelevant; this course is migration-specific.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does Introduction to AWS Application Discovery Service take?
20 minutes. It’s a focused sprint covering core concepts and practical application—ideal for busy engineers who need to understand the service quickly before a migration engagement.
Do I need AWS hands-on experience to take this course?
You should be comfortable with AWS basics (EC2, VPC, IAM) and understand on-premises server infrastructure. If you’re new to AWS, start with AWS Fundamentals first.
Will this course include labs or sandbox exercises?
No—this is a video course focused on concepts and real-world scenarios. For hands-on practice, you’ll need to set up a test environment in your own AWS account or seek supplementary lab-based courses.
Is this course enough to run a migration discovery project alone?
It’s an excellent foundation for understanding the service, but real migrations require deeper planning around data sensitivity, network connectivity, and cost modelling. Use this as your starting point, then pair it with AWS Migration Accelerator Program resources and hands-on experience.
Course by AWS on Pluralsight. Duration: 0h 20m. Last verified by AIU.ac: March 2026.
