Cloud computing is the delivery of computing services, such as servers, storage, databases, networking, software, analytics, and intelligence, over the internet. It enables faster innovation, efficient resource usage, and economies of scale. It also reduces the need for hardware maintenance, software updates, and security patches.

The demand for cloud skills is high and growing as more and more organizations adopt cloud-based solutions for their business needs. According to the latest forecast from Gartner, worldwide end-user spending on public cloud services is expected to reach $679 billion in 2024, a 20% growth from 2023. The report also predicts that by 2027, more than 70% of enterprises will use industry cloud platforms to accelerate their business initiatives. 

If you want to become a cloud expert and advance your career as a DevOps engineer, you need to learn the fundamentals, choose a platform, get hands-on experience, gain certifications, and continue on-the-job learning. In this article, we will guide you through these steps and help you achieve your cloud computing goals.

Why cloud computing?

Before diving into the details of how to learn cloud computing, let's first understand why cloud computing is so important for DevOps engineers.

Cloud computing offers several advantages over traditional on-premises computing. Below are some of them:

• Cost-efficiency: Cloud computing eliminates the upfront cost of buying and maintaining hardware and software, as well as the operational cost of power, cooling, and security. You only pay for what you use, and you can scale up or down as needed.
• Scalability: It allows you to access unlimited resources on demand without worrying about capacity planning or provisioning. You can easily handle spikes in traffic, data, or workload and scale back when not needed.
• Performance: Cloud computing provides high-performance computing resources that are optimized for different types of workloads, such as compute-intensive, memory-intensive, or network-intensive. You can also leverage the global network of data centers and edge locations to reduce latency and improve user experience.
• Reliability: It ensures the availability and durability of your data and applications by replicating them across multiple servers and regions. You can also use backup, recovery, and failover features to prevent data loss and downtime.
• Security: Cloud computing offers built-in security measures, such as encryption, firewalls, identity and access management, and compliance standards. You can also use additional tools and services to enhance your security posture and protect your data and applications.
• Innovation: It enables you to experiment and innovate faster by providing access to the latest technologies and services. For instance, artificial intelligence, machine learning, big data, IoT, and serverless computing. You can also integrate and orchestrate different services to create new solutions and value propositions.

As a DevOps engineer, you can leverage these benefits to deliver better products and services faster and more efficiently. 

Learn about Cloud Computing

To learn cloud computing, you need to understand the basic concepts and principles that underpin it. You also need to familiarize yourself with the different types of cloud computing and the major cloud platforms that offer them.

3 Types of Cloud Computing

There are three main types of cloud computing, based on the level of abstraction and control they provide:

• Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS): This is the most basic type of cloud computing, where you rent servers, storage, and networking resources from a cloud provider. It gives you full control over the resources’ configuration and management. Examples of IaaS providers include Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform (GCP).
• Platform as a Service (PaaS): This is a type of cloud computing where you use a cloud provider's platform to develop, deploy, and run your applications without worrying about the underlying infrastructure. The cloud provider manages the servers, storage, and networking resources, as well as the operating system, middleware, and runtime environment. You only focus on the code and the logic of your applications. Examples of PaaS providers are AWS Elastic Beanstalk, Azure App Service, and Google App Engine.
• Software as a Service (SaaS): This is a type of cloud computing where you use a cloud provider's software applications over the internet without installing or maintaining them on your own devices. The cloud provider manages the infrastructure, platform, and application, and you only access them through a web browser or a mobile app. Examples of SaaS providers are Gmail, Salesforce, and Zoom.

Check our article on “What is Cloud Computing” to learn more about cloud computing services, cloud computing deployment model, its advantages and limitations. 

How to Choose a Cloud Platform

There are many cloud platforms that offer different types of cloud computing services, but the top three that dominate the market are AWS, Azure, and GCP. These platforms have their own strengths and weaknesses, and you need to compare and contrast them to decide which one suits your needs and preferences.

Below are some of the factors that you need to consider when choosing a cloud platform:

• Features and Services: Each cloud platform offers a variety of features and services, covering different domains and use cases, such as compute, storage, database, networking, security, analytics, AI, IoT, etc. You need to evaluate the quality, quantity, and diversity of the features and services that each platform offers and how they match your requirements and expectations.
• Pricing and Billing: The pricing and billing model are based on different parameters, such as resource type, usage, duration, region, etc. You need to understand the pricing and billing structure of each platform and how it affects your budget and spending. You also need to compare the cost-effectiveness and value proposition of each platform and how they align with your goals and outcomes.
• Documentation and Support: Go through their documentation to assess the support resources that each platform offers and how they help you learn and troubleshoot. You also need to consider the availability and responsiveness of the customer service and technical support that each platform provides.

These are some of the factors you need to consider when choosing a cloud platform, but there may be others depending on your specific needs and preferences. You also need to recognize any gaps that you may have in your existing knowledge and skills before starting an in-depth learning journey. For example, you may need to brush up on your programming, scripting, or networking fundamentals or learn some new tools or frameworks that are relevant for cloud computing.

Choose a Platform to Focus On

Once you have a general understanding of cloud computing and its types, concepts, and platforms, you need to choose a platform to focus on for your learning. While it is possible to learn multiple cloud platforms, it is advisable to start with one platform initially and gain depth over breadth. This will help you master the core concepts and services of that platform and build confidence and competence in using them.

The question then is, which platform should you choose? The answer depends on several factors, such as your personal interest, career goals, project requirements, employer preferences, etc. However, if you are looking for a general recommendation, we suggest picking AWS as your first cloud platform to learn.

AWS is the oldest and largest cloud platform in the market, with a global presence and a dominant market share. According to a report by Synergy Research Group, AWS had a 31% share of the cloud infrastructure services market in Q4 2023, followed by Azure with 24% and GCP with 11%. AWS also had the highest annual revenue growth rate of 28% among the top three cloud platforms.

AWS offers a comprehensive and diverse range of cloud services, covering almost every domain and use case imaginable, such as compute, storage, database, networking, security, analytics, AI, IoT, etc. It also has a rich and mature ecosystem of partners, customers, and developers who create and share valuable resources and solutions. It has a well-established and reputable certification program, which validates your cloud skills and knowledge and enhances your credibility and employability.

Of course, this does not mean that AWS is the best or the only cloud platform to learn. Azure and GCP are also excellent cloud platforms with their own strengths and advantages, such as integration with Microsoft and Google products, respectively. You may also want to learn about other cloud platforms, such as IBM Cloud, Oracle Cloud, or Alibaba Cloud, depending on your specific needs and preferences. The important thing is to choose a platform that aligns with your learning objectives and outcomes and stick with it until you master it.

3 Steps to Learn Cloud Computing

After choosing a cloud platform to focus on, you need to learn how to use it effectively and efficiently. There are many ways to learn cloud computing, but we recommend the following three steps: get hands-on experience with projects, gain cloud certifications, and continue on-the-job learning.

I. Get Hands-On Experience with Projects

The best way to learn cloud computing is by doing it. You need to get hands-on experience with the cloud platform and its services by creating and deploying real-world projects. This will help you apply the concepts and principles that you learned and develop the skills and confidence that you need.

You can start by following some tutorials or courses that guide you through the basics of the cloud platform and its services and show you how to create and deploy simple applications. However, you should not stop there. You should also create your own projects based on your own ideas and interests, and challenge yourself to use different services and features.

Below are examples of projects that you can create and deploy on the cloud platform:

• Automate the infrastructure deployment of your applications using tools like Terraform, CloudFormation, or ARM templates. This will help you learn how to use infrastructure as code (IaC), which is a key skill for DevOps engineers.
• Build a full-stack web application using services like EC2, S3, RDS, DynamoDB, Lambda, API Gateway, etc. This will help you learn how to use different types of compute, storage, and database services and how to integrate and orchestrate them.
• Create a containerized application using services like Docker and orchestrate it using Kubernetes, EKS, AKS, or GKE. This will help you learn how to use containers and orchestration tools essential for microservices architectures and DevOps practices.
• Develop a serverless application using services like Lambda, Azure Functions, or Cloud Functions. This will help you learn how to use serverless computing, a popular and powerful paradigm for cloud development.

Check out the following courses and articles to help you with the projects above:

• What is Infrastructure-as-Code (IaC)? To understand more about IaC
• CI/CD Learning Path, to learn more about integrating and orchestration
• What is Containerization? To learn more about containerization 

You can use our Cloud playground, which gives you access to AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud in a controlled environment. They allow you to learn without fear of failure.

II. Gain Cloud Certifications

Certifications validate technical proficiency and signal commitment. Cloud certifications can help you fill gaps in your learning and prepare you for real-world scenarios and challenges.

There are many cloud certifications available, but we recommend you check our Cloud Learning Path for a comprehensive guide on the cloud certifications we offer. Whether you are interested in AWS, Azure, or GCP, we have a curated list of courses and resources to help you get started and advance your career in cloud computing. 

III. Continue Learning on the Job

With technology evolving relentlessly, cloud computing is never fully learned. Continuous learning is an absolute must. Participate in available company training programs or conferences to stay up to date on the latest tools and best practices. 

Seek opportunities to assist coworkers and learn new services through collaborations. Consider specializing further in emerging services by taking on side projects leveraging AI/ML, 5G, edge computing, or other disruptive innovations. 

Conclusion

Cloud computing is an invaluable skill for DevOps engineers, who need to develop, deploy, and operate applications in a fast and reliable manner. With focus and perseverance, you will establish the coveted experience and skillset to become a highly valued cloud expert. 

If you want to take your career to the next level, sign up on KodeKloud for free now and learn how to use cloud computing on the go. 

You can also check out our Cloud Learning Path to get started with cloud computing.

Cloud Learning Path | Kodekloud

Chart your Cloud learning journey with our expert-designed learning path and study roadmap.

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