This roadmap was originally published on SRF Developer. Check out the blog for project ideas and certification guides.
"Do I need a Computer Science degree to get into Cloud?"
Short answer: No.
By 2026, the demand for Cloud Engineers (AWS/Azure) will outpace the supply. Companies don't care about your degree; they care if you can actually deploy infrastructure.
If you are starting from zero today, here is your 3-step roadmap to get hired.
1. Pick One Cloud (And Ignore the Rest)
Don't try to learn AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud at the same time. You will burn out.
- AWS (Amazon Web Services): The market leader. Best for startups and general tech jobs.
- Azure (Microsoft): Huge in the corporate world. Best if you want a stable job at a Fortune 500 bank.
My Advice: Start with AWS. It has the most free tutorials.
2. Get the "Gatekeeper" Certification
You need one piece of paper to get past the HR filters.
- For AWS: Skip the "Practitioner" exam. Go straight for the Solutions Architect Associate (SAA-C03). It is harder, but it actually counts for jobs.
3. Build "Resume-Worthy" Projects
Watching YouTube tutorials isn't enough. You need to build something.
- Project A: Host a static Resume website on AWS S3 with HTTPS (CloudFront).
- Project B: Build a "Visitor Counter" using Lambda (Python) and DynamoDB.
The Missing Link: Linux & Networking
You cannot be a Cloud Engineer if you don't know Linux. You don't need to be a wizard, but you need to know how to SSH into a server and edit files with Vim.
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