So you want to become a cloud engineer, but you have no idea on where to start. And you know that cloud engineers are one of our most highly needed skills in the growing tech industry as more and more businesses are moving into the cloud. Today, we’re diving into how to become a cloud engineer, and I’m going to be giving you a complete step-by-step roadmap.
Step 1: Get the Fundamentals Right
Understanding the fundamentals of cloud computing is crucial. This knowledge serves as the building blocks upon which all your cloud skills will be built.
- Firstly, we have networking. Knowing how data moves across the Internet is crucial for setting up cloud infrastructures.
- Secondly, we have operating systems. Understanding how systems operate is essential for tasks like server management.
- Next, we have virtualization.
This concept is at the heart of cloud computing. It enables multiple users to share resources without impacting each other’s data. And we also have databases. Given that much of what goes into the cloud is data, understanding databases is non negotiable.
Step 2: Learn to Code
Coding isn’t mandatory, but having programming skills will give you a considerable edge.
For example, if you want to learn infrastructure code and use Terraform and you already know a little bit of hyphen or a little bit of TypeScript, then learning Terraform is going to be an absolute breeze for you.
I have come across projects where I need to use Python to automate some scripts. So I recommend learning Python first as your programming language or at least knowing the fundamentals of it.
Step 3: Dive into the Cloud
Cloud is the place to be right now. It’s a booming industry. Now don’t be intimidated by the amount of services that you need to learn because we’ve all been there. It can look complicated, but remember, you already have a foundation thanks to step number one. Knowing how databases, networking, virtualization works will give you a leg up when you’re actually diving into the cloud services. Now you can pick any of these three, AWS, Azure, or GCP. AWS is the market leader and has the most customers, and a lot of startups also go and use AWS as default. I also use AWS as the one that I recommend the most. And then over time, you can look into becoming a multi cloud engineer because a lot of businesses are now looking to go into hybrid cloud, which is mixing up clouds like AWS and Azure together. Start by learning cloud fundamentals, why cloud exists, why it’s needed, the business benefits, and also into cloud services.
By the way, one of the most efficient options to dive into the cloud is joining one of the cloud computing bootcamps.
For instance, Digital Cloud Training offers a well-rounded curriculum within their cloud bootcamp designed to prepare you for some of the most in-demand roles in cloud computing. Joining this bootcamp equips you with the necessary skills and credentials to excel in the cloud computing industry.
Step 4: Get Certified
Certifications are like the golden ticket in the cloud world, whether the AWS certified solutions architect actually does the job. It’s great for your CV and it helps you get interviews. I actually have a cloud certification roadmap video on my channel, so you can check that out below after this video. And I definitely recommend sitting the foundation level certification exam of one of those free cloud providers, especially if you’re completely new to cloud in general.
Step 5: Build Hands-on Projects
Here are some project ideas to get your hands dirty.
- First project that you can do is sell a virtual machine because you can utilize your understanding of operating systems and virtualization.
- The second project that you can build is a cloud storage solution. Create a cloud based storage system, implementing your knowledge of databases and storage.
- The next project that you can build is to deploy a web app. Use your coding skills to develop a simple web app in HTML or React and deploy it using cloud services. You can use three tiers offered by cloud service providers to practice these projects.
Now for each of these projects that I’ve recommended, you need to firstly build it using the console and then rebuild it using infrastructure code, such as Terraform. Terraform is widely used across the cloud industry. So it’s a tool that you will need to learn. You should also check out the cloud resume challenge, where you build a CV in the cloud using a number of different services along with CICD and cloud best practices. It will also give you a taste of what it’s like being a cloud engineer.
Step 6: Network and Join Communities
The best place to do that is on Twitter or also now known as X. X has millions of tech enthusiasts who love talking about all things tech, and you should definitely join and start sharing a day and putting in a hundred days straight of learning the cloud one day and putting in a hundred days straight of learning the cloud one day at a time. Sharing your work and progress is valuable for gaining insights and keeping an eye out for job opportunities.
Step 7: Apply for Jobs or Freelance Gigs
Once you are certified and have some projects under your belt, it’s time to start applying for jobs or freelance gigs.
The best way to do this is via LinkedIn. Whilst you’re sharing your progress on X, I also recommend that you create a weekly blog and post it on LinkedIn covering what you’ve learned and built this week, and do this every single week. It’s a great reference for future employers to check out your cloud journey and your skills.
Also, try and get into freelance gigs on Fiverr and Upwork, and the key is just to get some real world project experience.
It doesn’t matter if it’s part time, full time, freelancing. Just get into the job market. Take the first job that you’re offered that you can do, but you can also be a little bit more challenged because that will speed up your learning.
Step 8: Dive Deeper and Specialize
I recommend specializing after a few years of working as a cloud engineer. Once you are exposed to different industries, the project, tools, and customers, this is where you’ll get a great idea on what you like doing as a cloud engineer and what you don’t like doing. You can specialize in cloud security, DevOps, or machine learning in the cloud. I recommend picking one route and sticking with it, and you also make way more money if you are a specialist as it helps you stand out from the crowd.
Step 9: Never Stop Learning
The cloud landscape is ever changing. There are new tools, services coming out all of the time, especially with AI. Now don’t get discouraged, keep learning, and consider advanced or professional level certifications as they help give you a deeper understanding of your chosen cloud.
