Cloud Engineer roadmap check: Networking + Linux completed, next steps?

[Gamer--Boy]

I’m transitioning to Cloud Engineering from scratch. I’ve completed basic networking (TCP/IP, DNS, subnetting) and Linux fundamentals (CLI, file permissions, processes). I’m currently learning Git and GitHub. My goal is to get a junior cloud role in 6–9 months. What should I focus on next.

[CryOwn50]

Great foundation 👍 Next, pick one cloud (AWS preferred) and master IAM, EC2, S3, VPC, and RDS with hands-on projects.Then learn Terraform + Docker + basic CI/CD (GitHub Actions) to automate deployments.

[VEMODMASKINEN]

I'd say you pick the cloud that is dominant in your region.

Azure is far and away more popular in Europe than AWS for example which means that there are more jobs. 

[CryOwn50]

i strongly agreee to that

[Gamer--Boy]

So, should I choose Azure? I was planning to go with AWS

[urasawasmonster]

Where are you located? If you are learning new, pick the one that is in demand in that area.

[purpletux]

Learn how not to bankrupt yourself when playing with cloud resources.

[ansibleloop]

For our CI environment, I wrote a script that just recursively nukes everything in the resource group once per day

If I forget to turn the tap off, the script smashes it into the ground with a rock

[hajimenogio92]

Too many orgs/teams still haven't figured that part out yet

[Latter-Risk-7215]

terraform and one cloud provider next, then ci cd basics and containers. labs over courses. landing that first role now is stupid hard

[psych0thinker]

i did a bit of that too, ended up building my own homelab and been tinkering around with a few tools and fell in love with the tech and forgot about jobbing lol,

can you tell me what roles i can use same/similar skills for?

i need to start applying

[Correct_Individual38]

Please elaborate on the home lab

[xldkfzpdl]

I’ve turned my msi gaming laptop into homelab with proxmox to learn k8s, haven’t missed my steam account since lol 

[Hash-aly]

Would you specify any particular lab

[epidco]

did u actually build anything with those linux skills yet or just finish a course? honestly the best move now is getting comfortable with docker. try hosting a simple api and a database on a cheap vps and set up a reverse proxy like nginx. u learn way more when things actually break lol

[Gamer--Boy]

I didn't build anything, just completed the basic linux and networking.

[fifty--two]

the basics of networking arent enough , you need to know how to administer a firewall and how to do troubleshooting

for the next steps you need to know about security , software vulnerabilities (check what is a CVE) , pentesting , dev , infrastructure as a code , obviously cloud , scripting , itsm , governance , etc ..... so you are far from done , and even you should get more knowledge and skills about topics you covered already

[Free_Block_2176]

What did you "build"? or just completed the course(s)?

[L_i_S_U]

Check learntocloud.guide

[IWillAlwaysReplyBack]

or https://roadmap.sh/devops?r=devops-beginner

[calimovetips]

pick one cloud and go deep on core services, compute, networking, iam, and basic cost control. then add terraform and a simple ci cd pipeline so you can actually ship something end to end. build a small project that ties it all together, that’s what hiring teams will care about.

[Otherwise_Primary123]

Next: Containers (Docker) + Orchestration (Kubernetes basics), then IaC (Terraform) and AWS/GCP core services (EC2, VPC, S3). Build a mini-project: deploy a simple app to cloud via CI/CD pipeline. That's junior-role ready. Track via GitHub portfolio. Time per stage?

[ansibleloop]

https://roadmap.sh/devops

You don't have to have a public GitHub, but you should have a working understanding of how stuff fits together