My Cloud Chronicles 1: Lessons Learnt from The Transition.

As an Enterprise Solution Architect, I have delivered high-impact solutions using both onsite and ?cloud delivery models. Since the general drift of technology has been towards the Cloud domain, I decided to do a deep dive into the world of Cloud Technologies.

My career path in IT starting in the application administration domain gave me a hands-on bias. In addition, I have been blessed to work in local start-up companies, start-up operations of global companies and critical projects: all under highly stressful condition yet ?short-staffed. As such, it was mandatory to become multi-skilled to deliver the promised value to clients and customers. Colleagues that have worked with me on projects ?have remarked that I have a lot more hands-on knowledge than normally expected from a senior fellow. A? Senior Integration Engineer on a migration project remarked that I was the first expert multiskilled hands-on Solution Architect he has encountered. Whenever, we hit a wall or a troubled spot, we all roll up our sleeves and get our hands dirty till the solution is found whether the domain is? networking, infrastructure, application, or databases.

?Yes, my love of "hands-on" led me to deep dive into cloud technologies and I would like to share a few comments which could be helpful for those willing to tow a similar path:

1. The Core IT Skills Are The Same

?Whether on-cloud or on-prem (on-premises), Python remains Python; Shell scripting remains the same; Unix or Linux administration skills are the same; Windows PowerShell commands did not change;? core networking knowledge did not transmute; SQL remained SQL and Database administration core competency is the same! This in itself shortens the learning curve of experienced On-prem IT personnel. (With cloud serverless options, on-premises administrator will be surprised that there is even less work.) The only difference is in the architecture of the Cloud and how the platform is configured and operated.

2. ?It Is A Lot Easier To Learn And Master New Skills In The Cloud

?To master any new domain in IT, my requirements have always been, "give me the user/admin documentation of the platform plus a fully functional test environment with admin rights and leave me to run my show". I need 3 weeks of uninterrupted concentrated learning to get to an intermediate level on any platform!

In an on-prem environment, accessing the platform has been the greatest constraint. For example, to learn Cisco networking, apart from practise at the office, I had to set up platform simulators for practising. With on-prem, certain test platforms are impossible to access except one works with a company using that technology. This is not the same in the cloud environment!

One can easily spin off a ?cloud-instance with the needed platform and application ( e.g. Windows, Linux, Unix, Docker, Kubernetes , Python, Scala) and within minutes be good to go. The freedom of not needing to set up physical machines or the hassle of virtualising computers before multiple environments can be set up is truly liberating. As such, it is far much easier to learn at an amazingly fast pace in the cloud.

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3. Learn With Comfort And Style With Multiplied Productivity.

?Did I mention that for me to learn at times, I needed to spend nights at the office or journey to a friend's apartment, where the correct platform/application is available? That was my story while learning Oracle until I acquired the DBA certification credential. Now, with the facility of the Cloud, from the comfort of my room and my "home-network" with a few machines configured, I can criss-cross between applications and test several integrations that used to be impossible for me to carry out at home. The addition of ease and comfort coupled with the possibility for increased productivity is an unbeatable match in the quest for mastery when? the cloud is compared to on-prem deployment.

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4. Adapting To The Cloud Environment Is Not As Difficult As It Seems.

?To learn Cloud Technology is far easier than mastering the architecture of some old platforms/technology. From outside, THE CLOUD can sound mystical or mythical, but once one becomes initiated by deep-dive study, one finds that it is quite a simple technology to master, though very vast and powerful in application. Once the basics are assimilated (e.g. AWS Cloud Fundamentals? or Azure Fundamentals knowledge level ), a solid base has been acquired from which a meteoric IT career can be launched. Based on already acquired domain proficiency, the preferred track in the cloud can then be followed whether System Admin, Application Admin, Application Developer, DevOps Expert, Data Analytics, Data Engineering, Machine Learning/Data Science, ML Engineering, Project Manager, Product Manager Or Solution Architect to mention a few.

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5. Master The Basics Personally But Leverage On Established Experts At Higher Levels?

Most of my IT knowledge/skill acquisition including studying for certification (technical or soft skill) has been through self-study. (CCNA, CCDP, CCIP, CCSP, CCIE-written, Oracle Certified DBA, Prince 2 Practitioner, CISA, CISM, CGEIT)? I decided to adopt a different approach with the Cloud. After studying the basic fundamentals of AWS and Azure, I joined Cloudboosta UK, a Cloud Consulting and Training Company, with the sole aim of developing cloud skills. The CEO , Gbemisola Ojo ,? apart from being a First Class Bachelor and Distinction Master graduate is the Cloud DevOps Manager at PWC, UK. I decided to adopt this method to master the cloud based on the following reason:

a.????? I do not have the luxury of time like when I was much younger. With family demands, career commitments, church commitments, volunteer activities as well as ongoing book projects; I needed to acquire maximum expertise within the shortest possible time. This necessitated that I leverage on the expertise of ?a Guru who has walked the terrain.

b.????? I do not have the time to reinvent the wheel of learning and navigation. I read the profile of Gbemisola Ojo , attended her UK conference to sound her and her organisation out and concluded that she was the real deal!

?Was it easy? It was an intensive and? immersive SEAL-level cloud-training and work environment with the voice of Gbemi ringing in your head, "you can do it!" Giving up was not even the remotest option, not for me anyways as I was used to that kind of environment. Some hours of sleep had to be sacrificed; of course, "something has to go for something."

Was I disappointed? An absolute no! I was privileged to learn from and work with seasoned experts from several cloud domains from across the globe on several projects. A Jenkins expert from USA, a Docker expert from Canada, a Kubernetes expert from the UK, a Terraform expert from USA, a Wizard-Cloud/DevOps Solution Architect (SA) from Nigeria, another great SA from SA (South Africa), a Security Enterprise Cloud Architect in the UK ...the list goes on. Indeed, it was pleasurable "hell"! Hellish because the demand was much, given my schedule; yet, pleasurable as the mastery of new competency gives me delightful adrenaline rush!

?Apart from the AWS? Cloud Deep-dive, Python, Shell Scripting,? Jenkins, Ansible, Docker, Terraform and Kubernetes were added to the mix to make an all-round Cloud DevOps practitioner. Though this is not intended as marketing a Company (I have had no discussion about this with Gbemisola), anybody intending to transition to the Cloud, whether as an? established IT practitioner or a newbie should give the Cloudboosta program a ?trial. Did you say newbie, yes, there were IT rookies, “pure and undiluted”, with extremely basic computer knowledge that have transitioned into Cloud roles after passing through the Cloudboosta training program.

?6. You Decide How Far You Will Go.

?Nobody even the experts can teach you everything. Apart from the knowledge gained through learning, hands-on training and working with experts, there is the need to supplement it with personal study and practise. My experience a Principal Solution Architect with a Solution Integrator Vendor has taught me that to excel, ?I must be? a master of many platforms. While mastering AWS at Cloudboosta, I explored Azure in my private studies (the fundamental knowledge is the same with different names given to different entities carrying out the same functionalities). Apart from Azure, with my background as a Database Administrator, I explored the data value chain on both platforms (Data engineering, data analytics and data science principally).

The lesson is, learn the ropes from the experts, set your gaze and "fly away.”

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7. Collaborate With Others To Learn Faster and Deepen Knowledge.

?There is an adage in my tribe that "a single tree does not make a forest" No matter how good you are, your level of proficiency could be enhanced through collaboration. In my cloud journey, some of the? greatest leaps in knowledge have been through collaborations with colleagues on projects or assisting in the solution of? problem encountered by others on their projects. Being a lone ranger in a transition season may not be the best of strategy. In addition, as I have "painfully" learnt on projects with multi-million euros at stake where failure was not a remote possibility: the best solution may come from an unexpected person at the simplest of all moments. The most painful problem may also be caused by an avoidable mistake of a trusted expert who chooses to work in an isolated mode. (An entire project team lost several nights of sleep to correct the mistake of an “isolated” infrastructure/database expert on a project I was involved with). Collaboration may not only shorten the learning curve but could also be a lifesaver.

Seeking recourse to another adage: “it takes an iron to sharpen an iron.” People possess various skills and aptitudes with the potential of enhancing one’s level of competence in work-place interactions.

?8. No Skill Is Wasted.

?Reflecting on the first point that the core skills are the same whether on the cloud or on-prem, any skill acquired in other domain are transferable to the cloud. For example, I observed that my problem-solving skills and reflexes acquired through years of working as a Platform/Application Administrator in the Telecoms BSS Environment was directly applicable in resolving problems in the cloud environment. Even seemingly non-related skills, for example, Compassion in Nursing, will still find its place in a suitable role and place in the Cloud. As such, cloud learning does not equate sacrificing or dumping previous knowledge but finding creative vents for the expression of already acquired skills. It is no surprise that people new to a domain are often sources of innovative solutions ?as they have no constraint or limitation on their imagination thus creatively porting solutions from one domain to another.

9.????? Even a Rookie will Thrive in The Cloud?

I should not conclude this discussion without mentioning the fact that with the right guidance and training, transitioning to the cloud with little or no IT knowledge is an achievable dream. Nurses, economists, agriculturists, indeed , people from every walk of life with little or no IT knowledge have transitioned to a profitable career in Cloud Computing. There are many testimonies of such on Cloudboosta site. I have concluded that the democratization of cloud knowledge is a special talent possessed by Gbemisola, she breathes, eats, and lives the vision of transition to the cloud for people with little or no IT experience with verifiable proofs.

With the right level of determination and commitment, anybody can “corner” a slice in the cake of this budding industry projected to grow from 676 billion dollars market value in 2024 to 2.3 Trillion dollars by 2032! ?It is not too late to have a piece of the action for anybody willing to transition from any industry. My advice, hook up with Gbemisola Ojo ! I know her company and program works!

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In subsequent posts, I will focus on different projects including executing steps with special emphasis on problems encountered and the solution deployed to either permanently solve those problems or as a viable workaround.

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The chronicles of my escapades in the Cloud continues shortly…

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Stay tuned!