How to Become a Cloud Engineer? A Roadmap to Becoming a Cloud Engineer

Cloud Engineeringis one of the most popular and in-demand careers in today's tech world. Cloud engineers are professionals who design, manage, and optimize businesses' cloud-based infrastructures. The proliferation of services such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud Platform (GCP) has continuously increased the demand for skilled specialists in this field.

So, what steps do you need to follow to become a cloud engineer? In this article, we provide a comprehensive roadmap for those who want to start a cloud engineering career and specialize in this field.

What is Cloud Engineering and Why is it Important?

Cloud engineeringrefers to the process of storing data, developing applications and managing operating infrastructures using cloud platforms. Cloud engineers help businesses develop more flexible, scalable and cost-effective technological solutions.

The tasks of cloud engineers include:

• Designing and implementing cloud-based infrastructures.
• Monitoring and optimizing the performance of systems.
• Managing security protocols.
• Improve workflows using automation tools.

Since cloud computing is a rapidly growing field, cloud engineers play a very important role in the world of technology.

Skills Needed to Become a Cloud Engineer

To become a successful cloud engineer, you need to have technical knowledge and problem-solving skills. Here are the basic skills:

1. Domination of Cloud Platforms

Popular cloud services include:

• Amazon Web Services (AWS): The world's most widely used cloud platform.
• Microsoft Azure: It is especially preferred for enterprise-level enterprises.
• Google Cloud Platform (GCP): Ideal for data-driven solutions and big data operations.

2. Programming and Scripting

Cloud engineers may need to code applications and infrastructure. These languages are important:

• Python: The most preferred language.
• Java: It is widely used to develop cloud-based applications.
• Bash/Shell: Required for scripting.

3. Network Management

One of the key components of cloud-based systems is network structures. Be knowledgeable in these areas:

• DNS, IP addressing, VPN, load balancing.
• Virtual private networks (VPC) and network segmentation.

4. System Management

Cloud engineers need system management skills to manage Linux and Windows servers. In particular:

• Linux: Operating system widely used in cloud systems.
• Docker and Kubernetes: Required for containerization and orchestration.

5. Automation Tools

Tools used to automate processes:

• Terraform: To code infrastructure (Infrastructure as Code).
• Ansible, Boss, Puppet: Automation tools.

6. Database Management

Learn about both relational (SQL) and NoSQL databases:

• MySQL, PostgreSQL: Relational databases.
• MongoDB, DynamoDB: NoSQL databases.

7. Security

To ensure the security of cloud infrastructure, cloud engineers should focus on:

• Encryption and firewalls.
• IAM (Identity and Access Management).

Roadmap to Becoming a Cloud Engineer

To step into a cloud engineering career, you can follow these steps:

1. Learn Basic Technological Skills

Cloud engineering requires a strong foundation of knowledge. Therefore, master these topics:

• Basic network information (TCP/IP, DNS, VPN).
• Basic commands and system administration in the Linux operating system.
• A programming language such as Python or Java.

2. Master a Cloud Platform

Start learning by choosing one of the popular platforms like AWS, Azure, or GCP. For example:

• AWS Certified Solutions Architect — Associate: It's the perfect start for the basics on the AWS platform.
• Microsoft Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900): Start-up certificate for understanding the Azure platform.
• Google Cloud Associate Engineer: Ideal for those who want to log in to GCP.

3. Develop Yourself with Hands-on Projects

Work on real-world projects to reinforce what you've learned:

• Deploy a simple web application on AWS.
• Create a virtual private network (VPC) in Azure.
• Set up a data processing pipeline on Google Cloud.

4. Get Certificates

Certificates are a powerful tool to prove your knowledge and skills. Here are some recommended certifications:

• AWS Certified Solutions Architect — Associate/Professional
• Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert
• Google Professional Cloud Architect

5. Improve Your Automation and Coding Skills

Gain experience with tools for coding infrastructure (Terraform, Ansible) and CI/CD processes (Jenkins, GitLab).

6. Join Networking and Communities

You can share knowledge with other professionals by joining cloud engineering communities. Meetup, LinkedIn groups, and GitHub are useful resources on this topic.

7. Gain Experience

Put your theoretical knowledge into practice by working in an internship or entry-level position. This experience will help you move quickly in your career.

Recommended Resources for Cloud Engineering

Online Platforms

• AWS Training and Certification: Official AWS training materials.
• Azure Learning Pathways: A free resource for learning Microsoft Azure.
• Coursera on Udemy: Excellent platforms for cloud engineering courses.

Books

• “AWS Certified Solutions Architect Official Study Guide”
• “Terraform: Up & Running” — Yevgeniy Brikman
• “Kubernetes Up & Running” -- Kelsey Hightower

Application Platforms

• Hands-on Labs: Possibility to practice on AWS, Azure and GCP.
• GitHub: A platform where you can showcase your projects.

Career Opportunities as a Cloud Engineer

There is a wide range of jobs for cloud engineers:

• Cloud Solutions Architect: Designs cloud-based solutions.
• DevOps Engineer: Manages infrastructure automation and CI/CD processes.
• Cloud Security Engineer: Designs and implements cloud security measures.
• Website Reliability Engineer (SRE): Increases the reliability of systems.

Today, cloud engineers work with high salaries in large technology companies, startups and global organizations.

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Cloud engineering is an exciting and fast-growing career field in the world of technology. To be successful in this area, you must focus on basic skills, constantly learn and practice. The roadmap presented above will guide you to achieve this goal.