How can you learn essential cloud computing skills?

My take on how to start with basic cloud computing skills is as follows: Select Your Cloud Provider: Each provider has its strengths, so research Azure, Google Cloud, and AWS thoroughly to determine which aligns best with your goals and interests. Training and Certification: Invest in formal training and certification programs offered by your chosen cloud provider. These credentials validate your expertise and enhance your marketability. Hands-On Experience: Dive into practical projects and experiments to gain hands-on experience. Set up virtual environments, deploy applications, and explore real-world scenarios.

How you get started is not half as important as getting started. And that first step could be to read about it online, to take a course or to set up a cloud account (be it free, paid or made available on a one time quest basis)

Yes, there are always resources from cloud service providers as well as from MOOCS... And as one goes through these courses, it is important to relate the lessons to the many applications which are used in our daily lives For example, when you start to take a course, think about how Google map works, think about how Gmail works, Spotify , OTT platforms, etc. Think about how Google search works. All of these are based on cloud computing and that helps you to understand the basics and also get pretty excited about how you will innovate using cloud computing. Happy learning..

Easiest way is to choose any of the top 3 public cloud vendors fundamental certification free online learning path i.e. AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner, Azure Fundamentals, and Google Cloud Digital Leader are good starting points. You will get good basic understanding of key cloud services such as Compute, Storage, Network, Security etc.

Understanding Linux OS, containers, and Linux networking is crucial before diving into Cloud computing. - Linux OS: of course, Linux is the dominant operating system for cloud computing, powering virtually all cloud platforms and services. - Containers: We're in a containers era - containers everywhere, most of the workloads running on the Cloud are containerization apps - Linux networking: It can be considered as a backbone of every system. The most sophisticated part in K8s, services mesh, VPC,... is networking.

What's your present environment, client community and what is your strategic direction from a growth perspective. All of these factors should be considered in addition to the factors listed. Having a holistic view can be fundamental to choosing the right platform as you make your comparisons - also leverage trials to see what works well with your environment. For a startup, look at all of these points with a critical eye, question pricing on consumption so you're clear on the best plan for your business.

All the major public cloud providers offer a certification path, which starts off at a basic level and progresses to advanced levels. Once you have mastered one, it is less of a stretch to consider another, especially if your organisation requires you to be multicloud skilled. This is because many of the services are similar, but with different names. For example, many of the major cloud big data solutions will include Apache Spark capabilities. Oracle Cloud (OCI) even has a learning path for existing practitioners of other major cloud services to learn the Oracle platform by building on terms familiar to them already.

Choosing the right cloud provider is crucial for effectively learning cloud computing skills. Each provider offers a unique set of features, tools, and services, and the best choice depends on your specific needs and goals. You can choose the cloud platform that best aligns with your learning goals and future career aspirations.

Selecting a cloud provider is pivotal in learning cloud computing. Key players like AWS, Azure, GCP, and IBM Cloud offer diverse features and services. Choose based on your needs, interests, and goals, considering factors like availability, pricing, compatibility, support, and certification options. Compare platforms through reviews, case studies, documentation, and tutorials. This strategic decision ensures you align your learning journey with a platform that meets your specific requirements, facilitating a more targeted and effective skill development in cloud computing.

Select Your Cloud Provider: Each provider has its strengths, so research Azure, Google Cloud, and AWS thoroughly to determine which aligns best with your goals and interests.

"I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand". Simply hearing or seeing information may not lead to a lasting understanding and knowledge. In cloud computing, reading books, watching videos, or attending lectures provide some theoretical sense, but it's often not enough to fully grasp the practical aspects. Only hands-on experience in solving real challenges aligned with your main motivation leads to a deeper understanding of a subject. I wouldn't start with certifications. Commonly, in the proper interview for the job of your dreams, you won't be asked about which certificate you have but about which real challenges you solved.

After selecting a cloud platform, focus on acquiring essential skills tailored to its use. Skills may vary based on the platform and service type, but commonly include cloud computing fundamentals like resource management, development involving application design, deployment, and testing, security for data and infrastructure protection, and operations covering performance optimization. Acquire these skills through online courses, certifications, books, or hands-on projects. This targeted learning approach ensures a well-rounded competence in utilizing the chosen cloud platform effectively.

In my opinion, certifications are an effective way to master a technology, especially when combined with practice, ideally in a work environment. When preparing for cloud certifications the foundational cloud knowledge is often part of the curriculum. Taking multiple certifications reinforces and expands on this knowledge while providing the correct guidelines for leveraging the selected technology.

Training and Certification: Invest in formal training and certification programs offered by your chosen cloud provider. These credentials validate your expertise and enhance your marketability.

Learning core skills is valuable for mastering cloud platforms. One way of learning core skills is to follow the certification of the preferred cloud provider. This certification will help you enhance the core knowledge needed for daily tasks. Applying what you learn on the job will improve the experience and growth of your understanding.

After you've chosen a cloud provider and become familiar with the basics, we recommend pursuing advanced courses in your chosen area. These courses can be found on platforms like Udemy, SimplyLearn, YouTube, and even LinkedIn. You might explore a few use cases that align with your needs. These use cases can guide you in developing a sample project focused on data or any other niche. For instance, you could extract data from a source, store it, and then transform it. Undertaking such a project will bolster your confidence, especially if you're part of a data team.

You can expand your knowledge by actively engaging with many learning sources like online courses, blogs, books, certifications and attending cloud events/conferences.

Embarking on cloud computing offers vast learning opportunities, including designing and implementing solutions, executing migrations, processing large datasets, and innovating with cloud technologies. To delve into this field, explore online courses, certifications, books, blogs, podcasts, webinars, or events. These resources equip you with the insights and skills needed to navigate diverse aspects of cloud computing, fostering growth and proficiency in designing, implementing, and leveraging cloud solutions effectively.

Subscribe to cloud podcasts to reinforce concepts during daily commutes. Hearing practitioners discuss real world implementations cements knowledge. Join LinkedIn groups and connect with other cloud professionals to exchange ideas and learn from their experiences. Building your network is a catalyst to growth.

Here are some steps to help you continue learning and growing: - Cloud Provider Documentation/Tutorial: Explore the official documentation provided by cloud service providers. These documents offer in-depth information about their services, best practices, and implementation guides. -Take Online Courses: You can enroll in online courses which offer courses on various cloud-related topics, often taught by industry experts. -Certifications: Consider pursuing cloud certifications relevant to your career goals. Certifications from AWS, Microsoft, Google, and others can validate your expertise and provide structured learning paths.

In my professional viewpoint, acquiring cloud competencies is best achieved through a diversified learning and practice strategy. First, offer your skills to open-source initiatives. This affords real-world exposure and mentorship from experienced professionals. Second, engage in CTF competitions sponsored by cloud companies and tech organizations. These events serve as both a learning and testing ground, accessible online or in person, to suit various learning preferences. Finally, take the lead in your workplace by proposing proof-of-concept projects for new cloud technologies. Secure your manager’s approval to explore, as this active involvement can uncover needed solutions while elevating your expertise.

Having worked through many online learning resources, the best ones for retention of knowledge is where you can follow along. Information sticks if you create a muscle memory of a given task. Many online training resources give you access to a cloud sandbox or you can follow along on your own subscription.

Could not agree more! If I was to teach someone guitar, I'd try and find a song they like and help them learn the chords needed to play the song and work towards playing it.. There is nothing more useful than getting hands on experience. My first steps into cloud lead me to host my very first static website, forcing me to learn about DNS, Storage, and of course basics around Security like IAM. Project based learning is a great way not only learn but demonstrate to others your capabilities.

Cloud computing is as much about technology as about business value. Think about different business problems and how those can be solved. How much would your design change with one customer, and how much with 1 million users?

Hands-on practice is a crucial aspect of improving your cloud computing skills. Setting up your own cloud environment and experimenting with various services and configurations, especially utilizing free tiers provided by cloud service providers, is an excellent approach. It allows you to apply theoretical knowledge to real-world scenarios, troubleshoot issues, and gain practical experience, which is invaluable in this field.

Learn essential cloud computing skills by choosing a cloud platform aligned with your goals. Acquire fundamentals through courses, certifications, and hands-on projects. Enhance expertise with real-world application in personal or professional projects, engage in communities for knowledge sharing, participate in challenges, and seek feedback from mentors. This comprehensive approach ensures a well-rounded skill set, fostering confidence and competence in navigating the complexities of cloud computing.

Participate to Cloud Events : participate to Cloud events (summits, meet-ups etc) will help you to have access to very valuable sessions and high quality speakers, and get you the opportunity to expand your network.

Participating in community events helps you to share different views from other community members and helps you to expand your networking.

Consider having this basic knowledge of storage, databases, backup, networking, in short you should be aware of the infrastructure so that it becomes easy for you to understand the different resources and hierarchies of cloud.

I would recommend going with Microsoft learning articles and videos as per the defined basic certifications day by day. They have given complete details explicitly. That will help to understand the basics of cloud computing and services. Basic learning videos and articles you can choose from Microsoft AZ 900, MS 900. Please note that I am referring to learning only for these certificates not for doing. Moreover, you can attend Microsoft learning events periodically to watch virtual sessions.