HOW TO BECOME A CLOUD ENGINEER

Cloud computing has brought about changes in how organizations address the issues of data storage, application development, infrastructure, and platform management. The increasing trend of embracing cloud has therefore boosted the demand for cloud engineers. If you are keen to work with the next-gen technologies, then you should become a cloud engineer. Here is the comprehensive guide to follow if you want to become a cloud engineer.

1. Earn a bachelor's degree

The first step is to finish a bachelor’s degree program. It is recommended to study computer science, information technology, or a related field. This will ensure that you have a basic understanding of concepts such as computer networking, database management, operating systems, and programming languages. Choose courses such as distributed systems, storage systems, virtualization, and security in the cloud.

Bachelor’s degree is often a prerequisite for most cloud engineering positions. Nevertheless, experience can be substituted for education in some cases by some employers.

2. Gain Relevant IT Experience

While in school or right after graduating, aim to get professional experience in information technology roles such as:While in school or right after graduating, aim to get professional experience in information technology roles such as:

System administrator
Network administrator
Software developer
Quality assurance engineer
IT support specialist

These roles will involve you interacting with infrastructure facilities, networks, applications, and solving technical issues. This will come in handy in this capacity as a cloud engineer.

3. Learn Cloud Computing Basics

According to employers, cloud engineers are expected to have a strong understanding of the basics of cloud computing. Here are some key concepts to learn:Here are some key concepts to learn:

Models of deployment such as private, public, hybrid, and multi-cloud
It relates to service models such as IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS
Virtualization fundamentals
Business continuity and disaster recovery
Cloud security threats like DDoS attacks

Some of the free online education platforms include Coursera, and it offers an intro to cloud computing course. It is also possible to use the training portals of the cloud providers themselves.

4. Master a Cloud Platform

All major cloud platforms involve requirements of special engineering skills. Opt to focus on a platform like Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, or Google Cloud Platform (GCP). Focus on mastering the platform's:Focus on mastering the platform's:

compute services, storage services, and networking services that are the backbone of the infrastructure for data centers and cloud computing services. Adding PaaS capabilities and application development Automation tools, automation orchestration, monitoring, and deployment tools.

Obtain formal certification, such as the AWS Certified Solutions Architect certification, to demonstrate your expertise.

5. Learn a Programming Language

Cloud engineers require coding skills to create applications and implement automated processes. Master the Python, Go, Ruby, Java, C++, or any other programming languages that are employed in cloud-native development.

Create sample programs for some of the tasks, such as infrastructure such as code deployment, application containerization, and serverless architecture. This will show practical experience and techniques in cloud engineering.

6. Create an online portfolio

Organize projects, codes, samples, certifications, and experiences into an online portfolio. Share this on LinkedIn and GitHub.

A well-compiled portfolio can convince employers of one’s job readiness, hence winning them the job. It demonstrates that you have the right competencies to be placed within the cloud engineering position despite having limited relevant working experience.

7. Seek the Cloud Engineering Jobs

After getting the required skills and knowledge, it is time to start searching for cloud engineering positions. Some titles to look for include:Some titles to look for include:

Cloud architect
Cloud developer
Cloud infrastructure engineer
Cloud network engineer
Cloud security engineer

Some of the large companies that require the service of cloud engineers include Amazon, Microsoft, Google, and IBM, among others. Still, more and more new and small participants have also been designing their systems to operate in cloud environments.

Learn more about the state-of-the-art cloud technologies and enlarge your expertise. As more organizations embrace the use of cloud computing in their businesses, the need for competent cloud engineers will always be felt.