đź‘‹ Hey there, tech enthusiasts!
I'm Sarvar, a Cloud Architect with a passion for transforming complex technological challenges into elegant solutions. With extensive experience spanning Cloud Operations (AWS & Azure), Data Operations, Analytics, DevOps, and Generative AI, I've had the privilege of architecting solutions for global enterprises that drive real business impact. Through this article series, I'm excited to share practical insights, best practices, and hands-on experiences from my journey in the tech world. Whether you're a seasoned professional or just starting out, I aim to break down complex concepts into digestible pieces that you can apply in your projects.
Let's dive in and explore the fascinating world of cloud technology together! 🚀
Written from the real experience of an AWS Cloud Engineer who grew into a Cloud Architect. I am a 7× AWS Certified professional and an AWS Community Builder, and I’ve spent more than three weeks carefully designing this complete learning path. Everything shared here comes from real projects, real challenges, and years of hands-on experience. If I’ve missed anything or if you need guidance, feel free to reach out to me on LinkedIn or drop a comment I’ll do my best to respond and help you.
Introduction: My Real Cloud Journey
During my graduation years, I spent a lot of time trying to understand which career path was right for me. I explored multiple options development, networking, testing, and data but none of them felt right. To be very honest, I had zero coding background, and I did not enjoy writing code. The idea of working on stressful production code, debugging errors at 2 AM, or managing deployments daily never excited me.
I wanted a career that was technical, growing fast, involved problem solving, didn’t require heavy programming, and offered strong long term opportunities. That’s how I discovered Cloud Computing, and it immediately made sense.
I decided to start with AWS, and the first course I took was Stephane Maarek’s Certified AWS Solutions Architect - Associate. At the beginning, AWS felt complex I struggled to understand VPCs, networking, IAM, storage options, and the overall architecture. But with regular practice and hands-on work, things slowly started making sense.
I started small:
- Creating S3 buckets
- Launching EC2 instances
- Learning IAM roles and policies
- Setting up basic architecture hands-on
I also learned basic Linux commands, and later added simple Python fundamentals and Shell scripting not to become a developer, but to automate small tasks.
I began as an L1 Cloud Support Engineer, doing basic operations, monitoring, ticketing, and troubleshooting. Over time, with continuous learning, real projects, and certifications, I grew into a Cloud Architect, designing end to end solutions on AWS.
This guide includes everything I learned throughout my journey and everything I wish I had known when I started. I’ve divided it into different Parts so I can cover as much as possible in a clear and practical way.
Part 1: Why Cloud Is the Best Career?
Cloud computing has become the backbone of almost every modern technology we use today. Whether it is AI, GenAI, Agentic AI, data analytics, cybersecurity, mobile applications, or even simple websites everything runs on the cloud. Because of this, cloud engineering has become one of the most stable, in-demand, and fastest-growing career paths for students, fresh graduates, and working professionals looking to move into IT.
Whether you are:
- A fresher with zero experience
- A working professional switching domains
- Someone without a coding background
- Or someone confused about where to begin
The cloud gives you a clear and structured path to grow. You don’t need to be a developer. You don’t need advanced mathematics. You don’t need a master’s degree.
All you really need is:
- Curiosity
- Dedication
- Hard work
- Consistent practice
- Real hands-on learning
Cloud careers are also highly flexible. You can move into multiple roles such as Cloud Engineer, DevOps Engineer, Solutions Architect, Security Engineer, SRE, Cloud Developer, or even AI/ML Engineer. Each of these paths opens opportunities for high salaries, remote work, and global career growth.
In simple words: the world is shifting to the cloud, every new technology relies on the cloud, and cloud engineers are the people who make everything work smoothly. This is why cloud computing is the smartest and most future-proof career choice for beginners and professionals in today’s AI-driven world.
Part 2: How You Should Start Your Cloud Journey
Whether you are a fresher entering IT for the first time or a working professional switching domains, every successful cloud journey begins with the right mindset and a strong foundation. Cloud engineering is not about rushing through videos, memorizing AWS service names, or completing certifications quickly. It is about understanding how systems behave in real environments and applying that knowledge through hands-on practice.
Below is the practical path that truly works for both beginners and professionals.
Build the Right Mindset
Most people start cloud the wrong way:
binge-watching tutorials, switching between multiple courses, or memorizing long lists of AWS services. This leads to confusion, low confidence, and no real skills. Cloud engineering is a skills-based career, not a theory-based one. Your focus should be on understanding how things work beneath the surface and practicing them consistently.
What You Actually Need to Understand
- How systems work behind the scenes
- How applications run in the cloud
- How infrastructure components connect
- How logs, networking, and debugging work
- How to fix issues quickly and calmly under pressure
This mindset is what separates a certified beginner from a real cloud engineer.
Step 1: Learn by Doing - Not by Watching
Cloud cannot be learned passively. You only grow when you touch things, break things, and fix things.
A few simple hands-on activities will teach you more than 20 hours of theory:
- Launch an EC2 instance
- Break it
- Try to fix it
- Create a VPC
- Block the traffic on purpose
- Debug why the website is not loading
- Check logs and fix the routing rules
These exercises teach you the real skills that companies look for troubleshooting, problem-solving, and understanding how infrastructure behaves.
Step 2: Plan for the Long Term
You are not watching a playlist; you are building a career.
The more you understand why something works, the faster you grow.
A strong mindset helps you:
- Learn faster
- Stay consistent
- Build confidence
- Clear interviews easily
- Perform better in real projects
Cloud rewards people who are curious, consistent, and willing to explore.
Step 3: Learn Difficult Topics the Smart Way
When you start working with cloud, especially as a beginner, some topics will feel very difficult to understand. This happens to everyone even experienced engineers.
For example:
When you start learning VPC, it feels complex, confusing, and sometimes frustrating. You try to understand subnets, routing tables, NAT gateways, CIDR blocks, and after some time, you feel stuck and tired. Whenever you feel like this, don’t force yourself. Instead, change your learning source.
This is the technique I used in my early days and I still use it today:
- If one YouTube video doesn’t make sense, watch another one.
- If the second one is still confusing, watch a third one.
- Repeat until the concept becomes clear.
Many beginners struggle with cloud concepts because every instructor explains things differently. Sometimes all it takes is a new example, a clearer diagram, or a different teaching style for the topic to finally make sense. When you switch learning resources, you avoid frustration, stay motivated, and understand concepts faster. This is not a weakness it’s the smartest way to learn cloud. With this habit, you can master any topic, even if you are starting with zero background.
Step 4: Master Time Management and Build a Strong Learning Habit
Time management is one of the biggest challenges for anyone starting their cloud journey. Most people know what to learn, but they struggle with how to learn consistently. When I started, I faced the same problem. Over time, I developed a routine that helped me grow faster, stay consistent, and build long-term habits that shaped my career.
Here is the same method you can follow.
For beginners and students, the most effective approach is to break your day into simple learning blocks. Learn the concepts in the morning when your mind is fresh, then implement everything you learned in the afternoon through hands-on practice with services like EC2, VPC, IAM, or routing. At the end of the day, summarize and document your learning this habit strengthens long-term understanding and makes revision easier.
For working professionals with limited time, focus on learning concepts for 1–2 hours on weekdays and use weekends for hands-on labs, deep dives, and longer practice sessions. Setting weekly learning targets helps you stay consistent and continue progressing even with a busy schedule. Even with a busy schedule, this approach is manageable and highly effective.
My Personal Note-Taking Journey
When I started, I spent a lot of time preparing notes.
Over the years, I filled four to five notebooks with cloud concepts, diagrams, commands, and troubleshooting steps. I still have them.
But after some time, I realized that notebooks can get lost, damaged, or forgotten. So I thought, why not convert all my notes into articles?
This is how my writing journey began.
I started writing every topic I learned in detailed article format. First I learned, then I implemented, and finally I wrote everything in simple English so anyone could understand.
This habit changed everything for me.
Writing consistently helped me get visibility, build confidence, and become part of the AWS Community Builder Program. A small habit of taking notes and converting them into articles created a huge impact on my career.
Why This Step Matters
- You learn consistently
- You practice what you learn
- You document your knowledge
- You stay accountable
- You build a strong personal brand
- You grow faster and more confidently
Time management is not about squeezing everything into one day. It is about building a routine that fits your life, helps you learn continuously, and keeps you motivated for the long journey ahead.
Part 3: What to Learn
When I spent my first two years working with AWS, I realized something very important you don’t need to master all 200+ AWS services. You only need deep expertise in three core pillars: Compute, Storage, and Networking.
Everything else in AWS is built on top of these.
1. Compute (EC2)
This is the heart of AWS. Almost every service eventually runs on some form of compute. EC2 teaches you how applications actually run in the cloud from instance types, AMIs, security, scaling, to troubleshooting failures.
2. Storage (S3)
Every service that needs storage uses S3 directly or indirectly. Whether it’s logs, backups, static files, data exports, snapshots it all lands in S3.
If you understand how S3 works, how it stores data, how it charges you, and how services integrate with it, you automatically understand 30% of AWS.
3. Networking (VPC)
Networking is the most challenging but most crucial part. Anyone can create an EC2 instance. Anyone can create an RDS database. But connecting everything properly is where real cloud engineering begins.
If your networking foundations are strong subnets, routing, NAT, security groups, NACLs, DNS you can troubleshoot almost any cloud issue. And trust me, networking problems are the reason behind most outages.
Why You Don’t Need to Rush Into All 200 AWS Services
Many beginners worry: “If I spend too much time on these three areas, how will I learn the rest?” But this is exactly how learning works in the cloud. When you work hands-on, you naturally get exposure to other AWS services.
For example:
- If something breaks, you check logs → and that takes you to CloudWatch
- When you deploy an app, you use Load Balancers & Auto Scaling
- When you create databases, you learn RDS
- When you secure things, you work with IAM & KMS
Everything connects back to compute, storage, and networking.
Practice the Right Way: Chaos Testing & Troubleshooting
Early in my career, whenever something failed, I would delete everything and start again. That taught me nothing. Later, I learned the real skill troubleshooting. Break things on purpose. Try different approaches. Fix the issue without restarting from scratch.
This helped me answer interview questions with real examples:
- “What went wrong?”
- “How did you fix it?”
- “What did you learn?”
This mindset alone can take you from beginner to expert.
Other Learnings: Mandatory vs Optional
As you grow in cloud engineering, there are a few skills that become absolutely mandatory, and a few that are optional but extremely useful. Here’s a clear breakdown so you know exactly what to focus on.
Mandatory Skills (Every Cloud Engineer Must Learn)
1. Linux Fundamentals
When you start learning cloud engineering, make sure to spend some time learning Linux. Linux is at the core of almost every cloud server you deploy, and it's not as difficult as it seems it’s mostly command-based once you understand the basics. You don’t need to become a Linux administrator; you only need enough practical knowledge to troubleshoot EC2 instances confidently and handle day-to-day server issues.
Learn only the essentials:
- Directory structure
- File permissions
- Networking commands (ping, curl, netstat, ss)
- Process monitoring (top, htop, ps)
- Package installation
These fundamentals are more than enough to get started and confidently troubleshoot most server-level issues.
Keep a Linux command cheat sheet with you it will save time, build your confidence, and help you work smoothly with any Linux-based server.
2. Terraform (Non-Negotiable Today)
In today’s market, Terraform is no longer a “good to have” skill it is mandatory for cloud engineers, DevOps engineers, and cloud architects.
Companies look for:
- Infrastructure-as-Code experience
- Reusable and modular templates
- Version-controlled infrastructure
- Automation-driven provisioning
Start with the Terraform fundamentals:
- Providers
- Resources
- Variables
- Modules
- State management
- Remote backends
- CI/CD integration
Before jumping straight into Terraform, first get comfortable provisioning AWS resources manually. Once you feel confident creating things like EC2, S3, VPC, IAM, and RDS by hand, start recreating those same resources using Terraform. Begin with small .tf files maybe just an S3 bucket or a single EC2 instance. This makes the learning curve smooth and natural.
Over time, this habit makes you familiar with Terraform's syntax, structure, and workflow.
Eventually, you’ll be able to provision complete environments and entire projects using reusable Terraform modules.
What seems like a big task today becomes a simple template tomorrow.
Learning Terraform early will put you far ahead of the market and it will multiply your value in any cloud role.
3. Basic Scripting (Only What You Need)
Scripting basics are important not because you'll be writing complex applications, but because every cloud engineer should know how simple scripts work and how to use them effectively. You don’t have to master scripting, but I strongly recommend building a basic understanding of how scripts are written and executed.
When you're asked about scripting in an interview, instead of saying “I don’t know,” it’s much better to say “I know the basics and can work with scripts.” That’s often enough. No one expects you to write a complete script live in a 30-minute interview. You do not need to become a developer. But you must understand simple automation using scripting to manage daily tasks efficiently.
Python Fundamentals:
- Basic syntax
- Functions
- Loops
- File handling
- Boto3 basics (optional but useful)
Scripting helps you automate routine tasks like:
- EC2 start/stop
- CloudWatch log cleanup
- Backup automation
- IAM operations
- Daily operational tasks
This doesn’t make you a programmer it makes you efficient.
Optional but Highly Valuable Skills
Once you have a strong understanding of AWS fundamentals, you can start exploring the skills listed below. They are not mandatory in the beginning, but they become extremely valuable as you grow in your cloud career:
- Git & GitHub
- Docker
- Kubernetes (K8s) basics
- CI/CD pipelines (GitHub Actions, Jenkins, CodePipeline)
- Monitoring tools (Prometheus, Grafana)
- Agile methodology
These skills are not required on day one, but once you feel confident with core cloud concepts, start learning them gradually. I highlighted these specific skills because they played a major role in my transition from a Cloud Engineer to a Cloud Architect.
As of today, these skill sets are considered essential for mid-level and senior cloud roles. So once you complete your cloud engineering foundations, I highly recommend beginning your journey into these tools. They will significantly accelerate your growth toward DevOps, SRE, or Cloud Architect positions.
Advanced Learning (Bounce Tip)
Why do I call this advanced learning? Because today, whether someone is a student, beginner, or working professional, everyone is using GenAI tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, and many more. These tools have become the most powerful way to learn anything quickly but only if you use them the right way.
Let me explain with a simple example.
Suppose you open any chatbot and ask, “What is cloud computing?”
Imagine you know absolutely nothing about cloud. The chatbot will give you a detailed answer. You will read it, but realistically you will understand maybe 10%, and 90% will still not be clear.
This is where the real learning starts.
Whatever you understood even if it is incomplete or wrong ask the chatbot again. Cross question it. Explain your understanding in your own words and ask,
“Is this correct?”
The chatbot will correct you, guide you, and explain things in the level and style you need. It literally acts like a personal teacher available 24Ă—7. You can ask anything right or wrong and it will respond patiently, helping you grow step by step. This is the best way to build your knowledge without going anywhere:
Learn → Understand → Cross-question → Correct → Master.
If you build this habit, your learning speed in cloud (or any technology) will become 5Ă— faster.
Part 4: Where to Learn It
Everyone learns differently. Some people prefer YouTube, some invest in paid courses, and some find smart ways to get resources for free. Some beginners also look for courses in specific languages. No matter which style you follow, here are my two strongest personal recommendations for anyone starting their cloud journey:
For paid learning, Stephen Mareek’s “AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate” course on Udemy is one of the best. It costs only a few hundred rupees during sales, and Stephen is considered a top instructor for AWS fundamentals and hands-on learning.
For free learning, Technical Guftgu on YouTube is my number one recommendation, especially for Hindi learners. His explanations are simple, practical, and perfect for beginners trying to understand cloud concepts step by step.
There are many more platforms, but these two give the strongest foundation.
If you are preparing for certification exams, you can use ExamTopics, which is a free community-driven question bank. You can also use Udemy practice exams just search for your certification name and apply the “free” filter to find many good options.
If you prefer official AWS learning material, you can use AWS Skill Builder, which offers free foundational courses, role-based learning paths, hands-on labs, exam readiness modules, and some optional paid subscriptions for deeper training. It is the best place to learn directly from AWS.
Part 5: Project and Certification
Once you gain enough confidence in the basics, start experimenting and integrating services on your own. If you don’t know how to do something, simply search your idea on YouTube or Google. You will always find tutorials, blogs, or step-by-step guides that match exactly what you are trying to build. This is how most cloud engineers learn in the real world.
After that start with small hands-on projects. You don’t need anything complex in the beginning. You can deploy a static website on S3, create a VPC, launch EC2 instances, configure IAM roles, build a simple CI/CD pipeline, or containerize a small application. These small projects build confidence and give you practical skills that tutorials alone cannot provide.
Once you feel comfortable, move toward end-to-end architecture projects. Try building a three-tier architecture, deploy an application using ECS or EKS, integrate CloudWatch monitoring, configure backups, or automate deployments with Infrastructure as Code. These projects prove that you can design and operate real cloud environments.
Now, about certifications they cost money, and that’s why I never recommend them immediately for beginners or freshers. First, focus on building strong knowledge. Become good enough that your skills speak for you even before any certificate does. And remember, AWS offers many free digital badges that you can complete without paying anything. If you want, I can prepare a separate article listing all the free badges and how to earn them.
If you still want to pursue certification, start with AWS Cloud Practitioner. It’s affordable compared to other exams, and you can often find discount codes to reduce the price even more. Once you pass it, AWS gives you a 50% voucher that you can use for your next certification. This cycle helps you continue learning at almost half the cost.
And here is the most important advice: don’t rush into certifications when you are not earning yet. First get a job, gain real experience, and start earning your own money. After that, certifications become much easier to afford, and more importantly, they will have far more meaning because you’ll understand the real-world concepts behind them.
If you need help with exam discounts, preparation strategy, or choosing the right certification path, feel free to ask in the comments I’ll guide you with everything.
Part 6: Learn Smart, Not Expensive
One of the biggest myths in the cloud industry is that you need to spend a lot of money to learn AWS. This is absolutely false. Many students waste thousands on coaching institutes, overrated courses, or unnecessary training programs because they believe cloud learning is expensive. But here is the truth:
I have never spent a single rupee of my own money on AWS.
How I learned without spending:
- I attended AWS events
- Filled feedback forms
- Received $100 credits
- My company sponsored all my certifications
- Now AWS Community Builder program gives me one certification & $500 AWS credits free every year.
You must learn the smart way, not the expensive way.
Stop wasting money on coaching.
Do not spend money on coaching institutes that promise shortcuts. Almost everything you need to learn AWS is freely available online documentation, AWS Skill Builder, YouTube channels, workshops, bootcamps, and community support. Use money only for certifications or hands-on. Use Paid Udemy Courses Only When on Sale.
Stephane Maarek’s courses:
₹599 → ₹399 (festival sale)
Cloud learning is not about how much money you spend it’s about how consistently and smartly you learn. If you use the right strategies, you can become a cloud engineer without burning a hole in your pocket.
Part 7: How to Approach Your First Cloud Job
The earlier you start, the faster you’ll get your first opportunity. I personally recommend starting with an internship, whether paid or free, as early as possible. I began my internship during my final year after deciding to pursue cloud computing, and I got it through a reference. That experience gave me real-world exposure, helped me understand how real projects work in AWS, and significantly boosted my confidence.
Why an internship is important:
In interviews, recruiters often ask about your experience with real-time projects and end-to-end implementations. They want to see how you handle actual scenarios, troubleshoot issues, and integrate services. Studying AWS alone is not enough without real project exposure, you may know services in theory but won’t understand how they work together in practice. An internship gives you that exposure, builds your confidence, and prepares you to answer such questions effectively.
If you’re aiming directly for a job, having good references or prior internship experience is extremely helpful. Many companies offer internships with the possibility of converting into a full-time role if your performance is strong. This is often the fastest path into a cloud career.
Networking is equally important. Attend community events, webinars, and workshops to meet professionals in the industry. Check out the “Part 8” in this guide for more details on AWS programs, user groups, and clubs. Create connections on LinkedIn, reach out to professionals for guidance, and showcase your learning and contributions online. Sharing knowledge, helping others, and actively participating in the cloud community increases your visibility and credibility, which can open doors to jobs and internships faster.
Remember: your skills, visibility, and connections together make you more attractive to potential employers. Start early, stay consistent, and leverage every opportunity to gain experience and build your network.
Part 8: How Cloud Communities Can Transform Your Career
One of the most important things I learned unfortunately very late in my cloud journey is the true power of community. For almost four years, I learned everything on my own through courses, YouTube videos, certifications, and hands-on practice. But the moment I became actively involved in the AWS community, everything changed. My learning became faster, my confidence increased, my visibility grew, and opportunities started coming from directions I never imagined. That is why I don’t want you to make the same mistake. When you begin your cloud career, community involvement should start from day one, not years later.
1. AWS Community Builder Program
This is the program that changed my career. It’s not just a badge or recognition it’s a place where you learn directly from experts, get access to resources that normal learners don’t get, and grow by sharing your knowledge through articles, projects, and discussions. When you become a Community Builder, people start noticing your work, your network grows, and your confidence increases. If you stay consistent, this program can open doors you never expected.
2. AWS Heroes
These are the people I personally look up to. AWS Heroes are not just “experts”; they are individuals who give back to the community at an extraordinary level. They run projects, share deep technical knowledge, contribute to open source, mentor others, and influence the direction of cloud learning. Following their journey helps you understand how real cloud leaders think and how far consistency and contribution can take you. Even if you never aim to become a Hero, their work can guide your learning path.
3. AWS Cloud Clubs (For Students)
If you are a student or a beginner, this is where you should start. These clubs give you the chance to learn with others instead of learning alone like I did for years. You get hands-on labs, workshops, hackathons, and events where you can actually build things and understand how cloud works in the real world. The biggest advantage is that you grow with peers you learn faster, get more exposure, and build confidence early.
These are local communities where cloud professionals meet regularly to share real-world experiences, architectures, failures, lessons, and new trends. If you are serious about your cloud career, join a user group near you. You’ll meet people from different companies, learn things that no course will ever teach you, and even find mentors or job references. For me, user groups became a place to stay updated and stay motivated by seeing what the industry is building every day.
More importantly, community involvement keeps you inspired. When you see others learning, building, and sharing, you naturally push yourself to grow. You start sharing your own knowledge, contributing to discussions, and building your personal brand. This same journey helped me become an AWS Community Builder. Small habits attending meetups, joining discussions, writing articles can create a massive impact on your long-term career.
Part 9: My Career Path From L1 Cloud Engineer to Cloud Architect
This is the natural progression:
- Cloud Support Engineer (L1)
- Ticketing
- Monitoring
- Basic troubleshooting
- Cloud Engineer / DevOps Engineer
- Terraform
- Automation
- Deployments
- IAM, EC2, S3, RDS
- Senior Cloud Engineer
- Multi-account architecture
- Complex networking
- Cost optimization
- On-prem to cloud migrations
- Cloud Architect
- Designing end-to-end solutions
- Security, governance, compliance
- Scalable architectures
- Enterprise cloud strategy
If I can move from L1 to Cloud Architect, anyone can.
Part 10: Final Guidance: The Message I Want Every Beginner to Read
If you are a fresher, a student, or someone switching careers:
- You do not need coding background
- You do not need expensive coaching
- You do not need a perfect technical base
You need:
- Curiosity
- Hands-on practice
- Dedication
- A learning mindset
- Smart use of free resources and AWS credits
Build skills that matter.
Learn consistently.
Prepare for certifications wisely.
Do real projects.
Stay active in the cloud community.
Cloud changed my career and it will change yours too, if you follow the right path.
đź“Ś Wrapping Up
Thank you for reading! I hope this article gave you practical insights and a clearer perspective on the topic.
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