You're interning in Cloud Computing. What's the most important skill you need to master?

I would recommend to start with the basics like network fundamentals. All cloud environments are based on the same basics and fundamentals as on-prem environments. So you need to understand routing and all other network basics to get your cloud environment running and secured.

If you have chosen a cloud provider, I would first recommend the provider's beginner training courses. These include, for example, the AWS Cloud Practioner or OvhCloud Discover Public Cloud. This gives you a superficial knowledge of the services offered. Then you should be aware that many systems in the cloud are based on Linx systems. A good understanding of this type of operating system will help you a lot in your operation. Finally, many architectures in the cloud are no longer created manually, but rather designed via infrastructure as code. For this you should use tools like Terraform or Ansible.

These are the most important things you can learn in any field of study and at any professional level, whether you're a beginner or a master. Tools and frameworks come and go but the fundamentals will (forever) remain. Understanding the fundamentals, and being tool-agnostic can help increase your versatility and flexibility in the space you operate in.

The most important skill to master is to first know the technology inside out. Since the cloud is just a remote datacenter, that means mastering the networking aspect, routing and switching, the OSI model, in order to be able to troubleshoot when issues arise. The Underlying basics are very important.

Absolutely crucial advice! Building a strong foundation in cloud computing fundamentals is essential for success in navigating the complexities of cloud platforms effectively. Understanding the various cloud models, service models, and key characteristics enables you to make informed decisions and communicate effectively with stakeholders. Moreover, it empowers you to select the most suitable solutions for your projects, ensuring optimal performance, scalability, and security. Solidifying your understanding of cloud fundamentals is the first step towards becoming a proficient cloud professional.

To commence your AWS learning journey, create an AWS account for access to their extensive cloud services. Utilize the AWS Free Tier to experiment without charges. Review AWS documentation for in-depth insights. Begin exploration with key services: Amazon EC2 provides scalable servers for hosting applications, while Amazon S3 offers efficient object storage. Amazon RDS manages relational databases supporting various engines. Amazon CloudFront, a content delivery network, ensures swift and secure global content delivery. Finally, Amazon Route 53, a scalable DNS web service, adeptly routes traffic to diverse AWS services. There is lot more to learn after you cover basics.

I would say that start with one cloud provider, and go so deep in knowledge by attending online sessions, signing up for AWS events and skill builder programs, appearing for certification exams, and finding a mentor who can guide you in the right direction. Do it yourself, get your hands dirty by designing complex architectures and implementing them. That's how you master the core of the cloud, and no one can beat you at it.

Absolutely, as a cloud computing intern, diving into the intricacies of cloud platforms like AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud is a fantastic opportunity to build hands-on experience. Familiarizing yourself with each platform's unique features, tools, and services will not only enhance your technical skills but also broaden your understanding of cloud computing as a whole. Mastering the use of consoles, CLIs, SDKs, and APIs is crucial for efficiently managing cloud resources and deploying applications. Additionally, gaining expertise in specific cloud services relevant to your role and project empowers you to contribute meaningfully to team objectives.

Every developer should know Git inside out, without having a good understanding of this VCS tool your developer journey wouldn't be a smooth ride. In simple terms, microservices refers to splitting larger modules into smaller modules, for example instead of having authentication as one big module, we can divide it into smaller modules, such as, sign-up, login, forgot password & likewise. The benefit of doing this is, it would reduce the dependency, if any of the module is impacted, other modules won't be affected by the impacted module. In short, containers encapsulate the application & all its dependencies into a lightweight, portable & self-sufficient package, this ensures application runs reliably across various computing environments.

There is much to explore, and based on my experience, Terraform, Ansible, and Kubernetes are interesting topics for beginners. Terraform, an Infrastructure as Code (IaC) tool, streamlines the provisioning and management of cloud infrastructure, enabling automated and scalable deployment. Ansible, an open-source automation tool, simplifies configuration management, application deployment, and task automation. Kubernetes serves as a powerful container orchestration platform efficiently managing the deployment, scaling, and operation of containerized applications. Together, these technologies contribute to the seamless and efficient management of infrastructure and deployment processes.

Absolutely, as a cloud computing intern, having a solid foundation in cloud-native application development is crucial for leveraging the full potential of cloud computing. Proficiency in programming languages, version control, testing methodologies, and agile/DevOps practices enables you to develop and deploy applications seamlessly on cloud platforms. Moreover, understanding cloud design patterns like microservices, serverless, containers, and event-driven architectures equips you to design scalable, resilient, and efficient applications that fully capitalize on the benefits of cloud computing.

Based on my experience, learning about OpenVPN, AWS Tunneling, and ACM (AWS Certificate Manager) will prepare you to embark on an AWS Security journey. OpenVPN, an open-source VPN solution, is widely employed for secure and encrypted internet communication, especially for remote network access. AWS Tunneling in the AWS environment involves creating secure connections, typically through VPN or Direct Connect, between on-prem networks and AWS resources. This ensures private and encrypted data transfer, enhancing network security. ACM automates the management of security certificates for various AWS services. By streamlining Cert management, ACM contributes to the secure and seamless encryption of data in transit within AWS environments.

Security has become inevitable with technological advancements and shared responsibility models. Learning security implimentation at every level is necessary from user (client) , to data (information) , infrastructure to Cloud

Indeed, security is paramount in cloud computing, and understanding the shared responsibility model is fundamental. As an intern, being versed in best practices for securing cloud assets, including data, applications, and infrastructure, is essential. Mastery of encryption, authentication, authorization, logging, auditing, and compliance ensures robust protection of cloud resources. Moreover, familiarity with the security tools and services provided by cloud platforms, such as firewalls, identity and access management, encryption keys, certificates, and policies, empowers you to implement effective security measures.

While there is much to cover, based on my experience, New Relic, AWS CloudWatch, and Splunk are valuable technologies to help you with problem identification and solution. New Relic serves as an Application Performance Monitoring (APM) tool, providing real-time insights into application and infrastructure performance for efficient troubleshooting and optimization. AWS CloudWatch is Amazon Web Services' (AWS) native service that allows users to monitor and log cloud resources, providing centralized metrics, alarms, and automated responses to changes in AWS resources. Splunk functions as an analytics and monitoring platform, offering valuable insights into machine data, logs, and events.

As a cloud computing intern, mastering the skill of problem-solving is crucial. Cloud computing environments are complex, and issues can arise unexpectedly. Developing strong problem-solving skills will enable you to troubleshoot technical issues effectively, identify root causes, and implement appropriate solutions. Additionally, problem-solving involves critical thinking, creativity, and the ability to adapt to new challenges, all of which are valuable traits in the fast-paced and ever-changing field of cloud computing. By honing your problem-solving skills, you'll become a valuable asset to your team and gain valuable experience that will serve you well throughout your career in cloud computing.

A problem can be solved in different ways. When using cloud computing, it is possible that more than one cloud service can be used to solve the problem. What will determine if service A or service B is the most appropriate is the functional and non functional requirements. Things like cost, expected number of users, consistency level, RPO and RTO are some of the valid examples which will help you figure out the answer to this.

Absolutely, cloud computing is a constantly evolving landscape that demands adaptability and problem-solving skills. Developing a logical and analytical mindset alongside creative thinking is crucial for effectively tackling challenges encountered during your internship. Proficiency in researching, troubleshooting, and debugging issues using cloud platform tools, logs, and metrics, as well as online resources and communities, enhances your problem-solving capabilities. Additionally, seeking help, feedback, and guidance from mentors, peers, and experts fosters continuous learning and growth.

Absolutely, effective collaboration is key in the realm of cloud computing, and as an intern, honing your collaboration skills is vital. Clear and concise communication of ideas, plans, and progress using suitable tools and channels fosters transparency and alignment within the team. Coordinating tasks, deadlines, and dependencies ensures smooth workflow and project execution, benefiting both the team and stakeholders. Moreover, cultivating a spirit of cooperation by valuing others' opinions, feedback, and expectations while contributing your own expertise and insights enhances teamwork and strengthens project outcomes. Mastering these collaboration skills equips you to thrive in the dynamic and interconnected world of cloud computing.

While there are many collaboration tools, my top choices are Trello, Jira, and Airtable. Trello serves as a visual collaboration tool, excelling in agile project management within the cloud environment. Trello provides an intuitive platform for teams to organize tasks, track project progress, and enhance collaboration seamlessly. Jira is a comprehensive agile project management solution, offering versatile features such as issue tracking, sprint planning, and efficient collaboration, making it a favored choice for software development projects in the cloud. Airtable combines spreadsheet flexibility with a database. It allows teams to efficiently organize, track, and collaborate on projects within the cloud environment.

I would say the most important thing is the ability to learn fast as things are changing every day in the cloud world. Map and following the key content creators, attending to official conferences, taking courses and certifications are always great ways to keep yourself updated with the latest innovations.

Research is key. It can be that simple - when you are faced with something you do not know of, you need to find out more about it and make it understandable enough for you to apply.

In cloud space the key skill to look for is agility. As a fresher to this field, 1. One should have hunger to learn tools , but more importantly one should be learning the patterns of deployments and operations. 2. Understand how we maintain the state of truth of cloud technologies. It might be with some IAC tools like terraform or crossplane etc. 3. Learn about cost management and how can we track costing and usage is different resources. 4. Create a strategy on how we can identify under utilised resources, and how we can optimise them.