How to Become a Cloud DevOps Engineer: A Proven Path in 2025

With cloud adoption accelerating across industries, the role of a Cloud DevOps Engineer has emerged as one of the most in-demand IT careers in 2025.

These professionals bridge the gap between development and operations by automating cloud infrastructure, managing deployments, and ensuring continuous integration and delivery (CI/CD).

If you’re wondering how to become one, the journey typically involves mastering cloud platforms like AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud, learning DevOps tools such as Docker, Kubernetes, Jenkins, and earning industry-recognised certifications.

In this guide, you’ll discover the skills, certifications, and step-by-step roadmap on how to become a Cloud DevOps Engineer, whether you’re starting from scratch or transitioning from a development or sysadmin background.

How to become a Cloud DevOps Engineer in 2025?

Starting your trip to become a cloud DevOps engineer needs a strong foundation in key areas. This section covers everything you need to master before you explore advanced concepts.

Understand the DevOps mindset

DevOps is more than just a set of tools. It represents a transformation that changes how teams handle software development and operations. DevOps breaks down traditional barriers between development and operations teams. This creates an environment where both teams take responsibility for the entire software lifecycle.

The DevOps mindset highlights several key principles:

• Teams working together are the foundations of DevOps culture. Development and operations teams must unite into functional units that communicate, share feedback, and work as one throughout the development and deployment cycle. This shared approach helps everyone understand user requirements and maintenance needs.
• Automation is a vital practice in DevOps. Teams can focus more on writing code and developing new features by automating routine tasks in the software development lifecycle. This method reduces human errors and makes teams more productive.
• Continuous improvement pushes DevOps forward. Teams experiment, cut waste, and optimise for speed, cost, and delivery ease. Quick feedback loops let teams respond to customer input and adjust their approach.

Learn Linux and networking basics

Many organisations choose Linux as their operating system because it’s stable, secure, and flexible. Cloud DevOps engineers need to know Linux basics well. This includes file systems, permissions, package management, and command-line utilities.

On top of that, knowing how to work with networks is vital to managing and fix systems. Here are the key networking concepts to master:

• The OSI model: This seven-layer framework defines how computers communicate over a network. Each layer—from physical to application—helps you fix connectivity issues.
• TCP/IP protocols: You should learn the differences between TCP (connection-oriented) and UDP (connectionless) protocols, and IP addressing.
• Subnetting: This skill helps manage IP addresses and create secure network setups.

Master networking tools like ping (to check connectivity), traceroute (to display packet routes), netstat (to display network connections), and dig (for DNS queries). These tools are a great way to get better at troubleshooting in your DevOps career.

Get familiar with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP)

AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud Platform (GCP) lead the market. Each platform offers more than 200 services. Cloud DevOps engineers must understand these platforms’ capabilities.

• AWS dominates with 34% of the global market share. It has the most services (over 240) and was the first major cloud provider, launching in 2006.
• Microsoft Azure ranks second but grows faster than AWS at 46% yearly. Azure supports both Windows-based services and open-source technologies. More than 95% of Fortune 500 companies use it.
• Google Cloud Platform (GCP) is smaller but grows fastest at 54%. GCP stands out in container orchestration through Kubernetes (which Google created), service mesh technologies, and AI/ML capabilities.

Look at regional availability, service offerings that match your needs, and pricing models when comparing platforms. Each platform has unique strengths that might work better for specific projects.

Master Key DevOps Tools

You need the right tools to excel in cloud DevOps. These tools will help you automate and streamline your workflow. Let’s look at the essential DevOps tools that will give you an edge in this competitive field.

Version control with Git and GitHub

Git stands as the go-to choice for version control, with 93% of engineers using it as their main tool. This system tracks every change made over time and gives you the full picture when you join a project.

GitHub takes Git further by adding shared features through pull requests. Teams can review code changes before merging them. This team-based approach leads to better software quality, fewer bugs, and lower costs.

The basic Git commands you’ll use include git init creating repositories, git add staging files, and git commit saving snapshots of your code. These simple commands will help you manage code repositories in team settings.

Containerisation with Docker

Docker lets you package apps and their dependencies into light containers that run the same way everywhere. This fixes the common “it works on my machine” problem by making sure your app behaves consistently wherever it runs.

Docker containers share the OS while running separately. This makes them faster and more portable than regular virtual machines. Docker makes life easier for cloud DevOps engineers by packaging apps and dependencies together. Updates and patches become simpler without affecting other systems.

Orchestration with Kubernetes

Kubernetes (K8S) handles the deployment, scaling, and management of containerised apps automatically. Google created it initially, but now it’s open-source and groups containers logically for better control.

This tool really shines when you’re dealing with hundreds or thousands of containers in different places. Kubernetes places containers based on what they need, restarts them if they fail, and scales apps up or down automatically or with simple commands.

Automation with Ansible and Terraform

These tools work together but handle different parts of infrastructure automation:

Terraform handles infrastructure setup using a clear approach to create, update, and remove cloud resources. You can work with multiple cloud providers using one config file, which makes infrastructure management reliable.

Ansible takes care of setting up and deploying apps after the infrastructure exists. It doesn’t need agents and uses easy-to-read YAML playbooks to make provisioning smooth and systems consistent.

CI/CD with Jenkins

Jenkins helps you automate your software delivery through its many plugins. It keeps track of repeated tasks and helps deploy software reliably.

A Jenkins pipeline typically includes Build, Test, and Deploy stages. Each stage has steps that define the actions needed. Jenkins can start builds on its own by checking source control, using webhooks, or following a schedule.

Monitoring with Prometheus and ELK Stack

Prometheus serves as an open-source monitoring platform built for container workloads. It collects time-based data using a neutral text format.

The ELK Stack works well with Prometheus by handling logs effectively. These tools help you collect and analyse your operational data in one place. This detailed monitoring helps you spot and fix problems before users notice them.

Develop Essential Technical Skills

Your technical expertise acts as the glue that binds DevOps processes together. These skills help you connect tools, create efficient workflows, and tackle complex problems throughout the software development lifecycle.

Learn scripting languages like Python or Bash

Cloud DevOps engineers must know how to code. Python leads the pack as the go-to language for DevOps automation. Studies show 38% of Python usage comes from DevOps, automation, and system administration. This adaptable language shines in:

• Cloud automation through modules like Boto3 for AWS
• Custom monitoring and alerting solutions
• Lambda function development for infrastructure tasks
• API integrations during deployments

Bash scripting remains a key skill because most server-side automation in Linux environments depends on Bash scripts. DevOps engineers use scripting to automate routine tasks, which cuts down human errors and speeds up work.

Understand Infrastructure as Code (IaC)

IaC changes how teams handle infrastructure by treating configurations as code. This method brings several benefits:

Your infrastructure stays consistent in all environments, which prevents configuration drift and ensures standard setups. IaC also lets you track infrastructure versions, giving you a clear, traceable history of changes.

The best approach to IaC uses declarative tools that define the desired end state rather than step-by-step processes. These tools use simpler syntax and make infrastructure management more predictable.

Explore cloud CLI and APIs

Cloud platforms’ Command Line Interfaces (CLIs) and APIs let you manage resources through code. Azure CLI helps you handle Azure DevOps services right from the command line, which creates a flexible interactive workspace.

Google Cloud SDK offers language-specific Cloud Client Libraries that work with each language’s natural patterns. This makes Google Cloud APIs easier to use. Learning these interfaces helps automate cloud resource management and blend cloud services into your workflows.

Practise with real-life DevOps projects

Hands-on experience proves to be the best teacher for technical skills. Industry experts with 12+ years of experience say real-life projects help grasp core implementation basics.

Begin with projects like setting up Git branching strategies, building Docker base images, or creating DevOps monitoring dashboards using Prometheus or Grafana. These practical experiences showcase your abilities better than book knowledge.

Simple projects like setting up a web server teach basic skills that become crucial in a DevOps engineer’s daily work. You can then move on to complex tasks like implementing service discovery or building API-based applications with Python Flask.

Get Certified and Validate Your Skills

DevOps certifications verify your expertise and make you more appealing to employers while boosting your confidence in technical environments. The DevOps market should reach USD 44.06 billion by 2030, with a CAGR of 22.34%. This growth makes certified professionals more valuable than ever.

Top certifications: AWS DevOps, Azure DevOps, GCP DevOps

AWS Certified DevOps Engineer – Professional demonstrates your technical expertise in provisioning, operating, and managing distributed application systems on AWS. You need about two years of experience developing code in high-level programming languages and managing AWS environments. The certification exam has 75 questions with a 180-minute time limit and costs $300 USD.

Microsoft Certified: Azure DevOps Engineer Expert proves your skills in designing and implementing Azure DevOps solutions. The certification tests your knowledge in designing instrumentation strategies, implementing source control, and managing build and release pipelines. The AZ-400 exam runs for 150 minutes, costs USD 165, and requires either the Azure Administrator or the Azure Developer Associate certification before you can take it.

Google Certified Professional Cloud DevOps Engineer shows you know how to build software delivery pipelines, deploy services, and manage incidents using Google Cloud. This professional exam includes 50-60 questions with a 2-hour limit and costs USD 200. Google suggests having 3+ years of industry experience, with at least 1 year of system design experience using Google Cloud.

How to choose the right certification path?

Your choice depends on your current skills, career goals, and the cloud platform your target workplace uses. The AWS DevOps certification might suit you best if you work with AWS environments. The Azure path could work better if you have experience with Microsoft technologies.

Pick certifications that align with your current domain. To name just one example, Kubernetes certification could be your first step if you’re a Linux administrator moving into DevOps.

Free and paid resources to prepare

Many free resources help you prepare. Coursera, edX, Udemy, and LinkedIn Learning provide free DevOps courses. Cloud providers offer official training materials too. AWS has “Getting Started with DevOps on AWS,” Microsoft provides Azure DevOps training, and Google offers preparatory courses for their certifications.

These structured learning options can help:

• Exam guides and practice questions from certification providers
• Self-paced online courses (both free and paid)
• Hands-on labs and practice environments
• Study groups and online forums for peer support

Practical experience matters most. Create your own lab environments to practise concepts as you learn them.

Prepare for the Job Market

Landing a cloud DevOps engineer job takes more than just technical skills. You need to showcase your expertise to potential employers through smart preparation.

Build a DevOps portfolio

GitHub serves as your digital resume. A resilient portfolio shows your practical abilities better than any resume. Your projects should include CI/CD pipelines, containerised applications running via Kubernetes, and automated testing integration. Clear README files, well-laid-out folders, and clean commit histories help document your work. Your open-source contributions will showcase your drive and ability to work with teams.

Optimise your resume for DevOps roles

Start with a crisp, DevOps-focused summary that highlights your expertise with specific tools. Your technical skills, like CI/CD, containerization, and cloud platforms, should appear next to soft skills like incident response and problem-solving. Numbers tell your story better – say “reduced deployment times from 30 minutes to under 5 with automated pipelines” instead of “improved deployment times”.

Ace the DevOps interview with hands-on examples

Software engineering teams that use DevOps methodologies make up 47% of the industry. You can stand out by preparing for technical questions and real-world scenarios. 

Hiring managers look for candidates who understand core concepts beyond specific tools: networking, web service development, and agile methodologies. Show them how you managed team morale and kept communication flowing between developers, product managers, and non-technical stakeholders.

Conclusion

A career as a cloud DevOps engineer stands out as one of the most rewarding paths in today’s digital world. This piece shows you a detailed roadmap that takes you from beginner to professional in this sought-after field.

Your trip begins with grasping the shared DevOps mindset, becoming skilled at Linux basics, and getting familiar with major cloud platforms. On top of that, it takes strong knowledge of tools like Git, Docker, and Kubernetes to build your DevOps expertise.

Your success depends on developing practical skills through real-life projects. Building a portfolio that shows what you can do will help you stand out in the job market. Getting certifications from AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud confirms your expertise and boosts your employability by a lot.

This field gives you both financial rewards and job security. DevOps engineers earn around $120,000 yearly, and companies need more of them each year. Learning these skills will give you great returns on your investment.

DevOps combines technical skills with the right mindset. The best cloud DevOps engineers blend technical know-how with strong communication and teamwork abilities.

The path might look tough at first, but doing this and being consistent will help you change your career within months instead of years. Start building your foundation today to set yourself up for a thriving career in cloud DevOps engineering by 2025.

FAQs

Q1. What are the essential steps to becoming a Cloud DevOps Engineer by 2025?

Start by building a strong foundation in DevOps principles and cloud platforms. Master key tools like Git, Docker, and Kubernetes. Develop scripting skills, learn Infrastructure as Code, and gain hands-on experience with real-world projects. Finally, obtain relevant certifications and build a compelling portfolio to showcase your skills.

Q2. Is DevOps still a promising career path for 2025?

Absolutely. DevOps remains one of the top in-demand IT jobs, with the field experiencing significant growth. Organisations increasingly rely on DevOps practices to deliver high-quality software rapidly and securely, making it an excellent career choice for the foreseeable future.

Q3. What certifications should I pursue for a career in Cloud DevOps?

The most valuable certifications include AWS Certified DevOps Engineer – Professional, Microsoft Certified: Azure DevOps Engineer Expert, and Google Certified Professional Cloud DevOps Engineer. Choose based on your career goals and the cloud platform most relevant to your target workplace.

Q4. How can I prepare for a Cloud DevOps job interview?

Focus on demonstrating both technical skills and soft skills. Be ready to discuss your experience with CI/CD pipelines, containerization, and cloud platforms. Prepare examples of how you’ve solved problems, improved processes, and collaborated with teams. Quantify your achievements where possible to make a strong impression.

Q5. What programming languages are most important for Cloud DevOps Engineers?

Python is widely used in DevOps for automation and scripting tasks. Bash scripting is also essential for Linux environments. Additionally, familiarity with languages like JavaScript, Go, or Ruby can be beneficial depending on the specific tools and platforms you’ll be working with.