AWS CCP Exam Prep: A Mnemonic for Remembering the AWS Pillars of a Well Architected Framework

Jan 31, 2026 2 min read aws pillars well architected framework

Introduction

AWS has defined a set of six pillars for a well-architected cloud framework. These pillars are:

Operational excellence
Security
Reliability
Performance efficiency
Cost optimization
Sustainability

These pillars are important to remember as a cloud practitioner, and are also tested on the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner exam. As I’ve been working on memorizing these six pillars for the AWS CCP exam, I’ve been pondering a mnemonic device I can use to remember these 6 items. I finally found one that seems to be working for me this week.

S.P.O.R.C.S. Mnemonic

The mnemonic I devised is “SPORCS”, which I pronounce like “sporks”. This is easy for me to remember because it sounds like the English word spork, the hybrid utensil that is a cross between a spoon and a fork. Since “spork” is such an odd sounding word, it’s very easy for me to remember. I now immediately think of the word “sporcs” when I need to remember the six pillars. From there, I just need to remember the correct letters in the acronym S.P.O.R.C.S.

I always mentally fill in the two pillars that start with “s” first.

Security
P
O
R
C
Sustainability

Then I fill in the rest.

P - performance efficiency, O - Operational excellence, R - Reliability, and finally C - Cost optimization.

Security
Performance efficiency
Operational excellence
Reliability
Cost optimization
Sustainability

Final Thoughts

The one disadvantage to this is that the mnemonic doesn’t put the pillars in the order AWS traditionally lists them in, but it has definitely been a helpful device to commit all six pillars to memory. Correctly remembering the six pillars is my focus right now. Once I can do that, I should be able to easily rearrange them into the correct order if needed.