Here's how you can get practical experience with Cloud Computing technologies.

Gaining practical experience with cloud computing technologies requires a combination of learning, hands-on and real-world applications. Here are some effective ways to do this. Online Courses and Certificates: Enroll in cloud computing courses on platforms like Coursera, Udemy, edX, or Pluralsight. Lessons from providers like AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform (GCP) are particularly valuable. Obtain certifications from major cloud providers. Certifications such as AWS Certified Solutions Architect, Microsoft Certified: Azure Fundamentals, or Google Cloud Professional Cloud Architect are highly regarded. Hand tests and sandboxes: Take advantage of free tier accounts and make projects

To gain practical experience with Cloud Computing technologies, start by signing up for a free tier account with major providers like AWS, Google Cloud, or Azure. These accounts give you access to many services at no cost or minimal cost, perfect for beginners. Follow online tutorials or courses that guide you through setting up virtual machines, databases, and storage solutions. Participate in hands-on labs or projects, such as building a simple website, deploying applications, or setting up a personal cloud storage system. Join cloud communities and forums to ask questions and share experiences with others on the same journey.

In addition to what has been mentioned, Microsoft learn is a great place to learn various Microsoft products. There are various remote internships and trainings that can be utilized as well, such as Techsylers etc

Online tutorials are an excellent way to get hands-on experience with cloud computing technologies. Particularly all big cloud provides have free tier and free learning resources. Utilize Cloud provider Training, Massive Open Online courses and YouTube channels. I'd like you to please start with the basics. Understand concepts. Build small projects. Another important learning method is documenting every new learning, which involves notes, screenshots, and sharing on forums or blogs. Answer Questions and answeres

Practical experience in Cloud and Devops comes from several different area. First be excited about the solution you will be hired to maintain for a company. Create a community of practice to keep conversations going in regards to Cloud, create a group of like minded cloud and devops engineers. They will keep you stay sharp and challenge new and innovation ideas. Cloud is an area that is evolving. Maintain the right certifications. Also use your github as a resume to dazzle colleagues with infrastructure in your repo. Practicing Infrastructure as Code (IaC) tools like Terraform to automate and manage your console speeds up your workflow.

Many platforms offer free tiers when creating an account, allowing us to gain hands-on experience without additional expense. However, these free tiers often come with limitations on usage. Despite this, it is an effective way to gain practical experience in the field

Microsoft offers developer accounts for your Microsoft 365 tenants and azure credit which are useful in hands-on experience.

Free tiers from major cloud providers like AWS, Google Cloud, and Azure offer a fantastic way to gain practical experience without financial investment. These accounts come with usage limits but provide enough resources to experiment with creating and managing cloud resources. Start by setting up basic services like virtual machines, databases, and storage solutions. This hands-on practice familiarizes you with each provider's dashboard and core functionalities. Take advantage of the free resources to build small projects and lay a solid foundation for your cloud computing journey.

Experiment with tools like OpenStack or Cloud Foundry to build your own cloud environment. This hands-on approach goes beyond theory, giving you practical skills and a profound understanding of how cloud technology works. But the benefits extend beyond you. Contributing to open-source projects hones your problem-solving skills and connects you with a vibrant community of cloud enthusiasts. It's a win-win for both your learning and the advancement of open-source cloud technologies.

I would also agree that Open Source is one of the best ways to begin gaining hands-on experience. My personal favorite is GitHub and GitLab; they have several projects that offer thought-provoking challenges that helps to bridge the gap between theory and hands-on. You will have to think outside the box on some of the issues such as if you are writing a line of code, or technical documentation.

Personal projects are a fantastic way to solidify our cloud computing skills and demonstrate our passion. Solve a Personal Problem: Think about a problem you face regularly. Can you build a cloud-based app to automate a task, and organize information? Recreate Existing Applications: Choose a simple web or mobile application and try to rebuild it using cloud services. This is a great way to learn by doing. Browse Project Repositories: Websites like GitHub, GitLab, or Bitbucket host an open-source project. Find one that interests you and contribute to it or use it as inspiration for your project. Identify the big projects from Cloud Documentation sample architecture. Break it and start with a small.Execute and learn slowly

Connect, learn, and grow with fellow cloud enthusiasts: Practical insights & networking opportunities: Find your cloud tribe. Diverse backgrounds, shared passion: Learn from a wealth of experiences. Talks, workshops, hackathons: Expand your knowledge & collaborate on projects.

Exams with hands-on labs & real-world scenarios: Learn by doing. Theoretical knowledge & practical skills: The perfect cloud combo. Design, deploy, manage with confidence: Stand out in the job market. You can utilise sites like AWS, Google certification, Linkedin learning, Udemy and Microsoft Azure

I have maintained myself as a Microsoft Stack Professional. Within that encompasses the Cloud Architect Certification. While beginning this journey I started learning with the Microsoft Certified Azure fundamentals > Azure Administrator Associate > Azure Solutions Architecture Expert. While pursuing my certifications I utilized exam referenced books and study guides, I took several online courses through Udemy and also through Microsoft; I did practice labs through Azure labs to give me the hands on experience.

In obtaining Microsoft certifications, use Microsoft learn tracks for the reading of the course contents and also obtain past questions. There are sandboxes in Microsoft learn which can be used for your practice.

- Platforms like Coursera, Udemy, and LinkedIn Learning offer comprehensive courses on various cloud platforms such as AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud. These courses often include hands-on labs and projects. - Earning certifications from major cloud providers can provide structured learning and practical experience. - Use cloud provider labs and sandbox environments, such as AWS Free Tier, Azure Free Account , to experiment without incurring significant costs. - Engage with online forums, local meetups, and conferences focused on cloud computing. - Volunteer opportunities that allow you to work with cloud technologies. - Cloud providers offer extensive documentation, quickstarts, to help you learn and practice using their services.

Another way to gain practical experience is by participating into hackathons. Platforms like Devpost and Hackathon.com provides a list of events where you can work on cloud based challenges. This will really stimulate your critical thinking skills and help you to solve some real-life problems that may not always be in the theoretical solutions given.