How to Become a Cloud or DevOps Engineer: A Career Guide for Beginners

Cloud computing and DevOps have become two of the most in-demand fields in the IT industry. Whether you’re just starting your tech career or planning a transition from another domain, becoming a Cloud Engineer or DevOps Engineer opens up exciting, future-proof job opportunities. This guide outlines the steps, skills, certifications, and career paths to help you begin and grow in these roles.

Understanding the Roles: Cloud vs. DevOps Engineer

Cloud Engineer

A Cloud Engineer is responsible for designing, implementing, and managing cloud infrastructure. They work with platforms like AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud to deploy scalable, secure, and cost-effective systems.

DevOps Engineer

A DevOps Engineer focuses on automating the software development lifecycle (SDLC), including integration, delivery, deployment, and monitoring. They work to bridge the gap between development and operations teams.

While the roles differ, there’s often an overlap. Cloud Engineers frequently use DevOps tools and practices, and DevOps Engineers often work with cloud platforms.

Step-by-Step Roadmap to Become a Cloud or DevOps Engineer

1. Build a Strong Foundation in IT Basics

Start with understanding basic concepts such as operating systems (Linux is essential), networking, and scripting.

• Learn Linux commands, file systems, and shell scripting

• Study networking protocols (TCP/IP, DNS, HTTP/S)

• Understand basic system administration

2. Learn a Programming or Scripting Language

DevOps and Cloud roles demand automation. Familiarity with languages like:

• Python – for scripting and automation

• Bash/Shell scripting – for server management

• YAML/JSON – for configuration files

3. Get Hands-on with Cloud Platforms

Choose one major cloud provider and start with its basic services.

• AWS: Learn EC2, S3, IAM, Lambda, VPC, RDS

• Azure: Learn Virtual Machines, App Services, Blob Storage

• GCP: Learn Compute Engine, Cloud Storage, IAM, BigQuery

Practice deploying and managing resources using the provider’s free tier or sandbox environments.

4. Learn DevOps Tools & Practices

Master key DevOps tools and understand how they work in a CI/CD pipeline.

• Version Control: Git, GitHub/GitLab

• CI/CD: Jenkins, GitHub Actions, CircleCI

• Configuration Management: Ansible, Chef, Puppet

• Containerization & Orchestration: Docker, Kubernetes

• Monitoring Tools: Prometheus, Grafana, ELK Stack

5. Understand Infrastructure as Code (IaC)

IaC is critical for both cloud and DevOps engineers. Learn:

• Terraform – widely used for automating infrastructure deployment

• CloudFormation – if you’re working with AWS

• Practice writing IaC scripts to manage entire environments

6. Earn Industry-Recognized Certifications

These credentials help validate your skills and improve job prospects:

For Cloud Engineers:

• AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate

• Microsoft Azure Administrator (AZ-104)

• Google Associate Cloud Engineer

For DevOps Engineers:

• AWS Certified DevOps Engineer – Professional

• Docker Certified Associate

• Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA)

• HashiCorp Terraform Associate

7. Work on Projects & Build a Portfolio

Start building small projects that showcase your cloud or DevOps skills:

• Set up a CI/CD pipeline for a web app

• Deploy a containerized app using Kubernetes

• Automate server configuration using Ansible

• Create a serverless app using AWS Lambda

Document your work on GitHub and write technical blogs to demonstrate knowledge.

8. Apply for Entry-Level Jobs or Internships

Common job titles include:

• Cloud Support Associate

• Junior DevOps Engineer

• Site Reliability Engineer (SRE)

• Infrastructure Engineer

Contribute to open-source projects and join communities to stay updated.

Recommended Books

1. “The Phoenix Project” by Gene Kim – A DevOps classic on workflow, productivity, and automation

2. “Terraform: Up & Running” by Yevgeniy Brikman – For mastering Infrastructure as Code

3. “AWS Certified Solutions Architect Study Guide” by Ben Piper – For AWS fundamentals

4. “Kubernetes Up & Running” by Brendan Burns – Great for understanding container orchestration

FAQs

Q1. Do I need a computer science degree to become a Cloud or DevOps Engineer?
No. While it helps, many professionals transition from unrelated fields with the right certifications, skills, and hands-on experience.

Q2. Which is better — Cloud or DevOps?
Both are in high demand. If you enjoy infrastructure, scalability, and cloud architecture, go for Cloud. If automation and improving development pipelines excite you, DevOps is ideal.

Q3. Can I learn both Cloud and DevOps together?
Yes, and in fact, many job roles today demand a blend of both. Start with one and gradually learn the other.

Q4. Is coding mandatory for DevOps or Cloud careers?
Yes, to some extent. You need at least basic scripting skills to automate tasks and manage configurations.

Conclusion

Becoming a Cloud or DevOps Engineer is a strategic move in today’s technology-driven world. Both roles offer lucrative salaries, flexibility, and endless learning opportunities. Start by strengthening your core IT knowledge, choose your preferred cloud platform, master DevOps tools, and gain hands-on experience. With consistent effort and industry-recognized certifications, you can build a successful and future-proof career.