Cloud Engineer Roadmap

A step-by-step Cloud Engineer roadmap: the full stack, the skills to learn in order and the best places to learn each step.

The stack, end to end

  • Fundamentals: IP addressing, TCP and UDP, DNS, Firewalls, Load balancing, Linux command line, File permissions, Processes, Shell scripting
  • Cloud: AWS, EC2 and Lambda, S3, IAM, VPC, Azure, App Service, Azure Storage, Azure AD / Entra ID, Google Cloud, Cloud Run, BigQuery, Cloud Storage
  • DevOps: Terraform, Infrastructure as code, Ansible, Docker, Dockerfile, Docker Compose, Container networking, Kubernetes, Pods and deployments, Services and ingress, kubectl
  • Get hired: Portfolio projects, Technical resume, Interview preparation

  1. Networking basics

    Suggested pace: Start here

    Understand IP addresses, ports, TCP and UDP, DNS, firewalls, load balancers and how traffic gets from one machine to another. Cloud, DevOps and security work all depend on it.

    Skills

    • IP addressing
    • TCP and UDP
    • DNS
    • Firewalls
    • Load balancing

    Tips

    • Draw the path of a request from your laptop to a website, step by step.

    Where to learn

  2. Linux and the command line

    Suggested pace: Next

    Servers mostly run Linux. Learn to move around the file system, read and edit files, manage permissions and processes, and write small shell scripts.

    Skills

    • Linux command line
    • File permissions
    • Processes
    • Shell scripting

    Tips

    • Use the terminal for everyday tasks for a few weeks and it will start to feel natural.

    Where to learn

  3. Amazon Web Services (AWS)

    Suggested pace: Then

    Learn the core services: compute (EC2, Lambda), storage (S3), databases (RDS, DynamoDB), networking (VPC), identity (IAM) and monitoring. Use the free tier and set a budget alert.

    Skills

    • AWS
    • EC2 and Lambda
    • S3
    • IAM
    • VPC

    Tips

    • Set a billing alert before you create anything, and delete what you are not using.

    Where to learn

  4. Microsoft Azure

    Suggested pace: After that

    Learn the core Azure services: virtual machines, App Service, storage, databases, networking, identity and monitoring.

    Skills

    • Azure
    • App Service
    • Azure Storage
    • Azure AD / Entra ID

    Tips

    • Choose one cloud first. The concepts carry over to the others.

    Where to learn

  5. Google Cloud

    Suggested pace: Later

    Learn the core Google Cloud services: Compute Engine, Cloud Run, Cloud Storage, BigQuery, networking and identity.

    Skills

    • Google Cloud
    • Cloud Run
    • BigQuery
    • Cloud Storage

    Tips

    • Use the free tier carefully and watch your spending.

    Where to learn

  6. Infrastructure as code

    Suggested pace: Later

    Describe servers, networks and databases in code so they can be reviewed, repeated and rolled back. Terraform is the most common tool; Ansible helps configure machines.

    Skills

    • Terraform
    • Infrastructure as code
    • Ansible

    Tips

    • Create and destroy a small environment several times until it is boring.

    Where to learn

  7. Docker and containers

    Suggested pace: Later

    A container packages an app with everything it needs so it runs the same everywhere. Learn images, containers, volumes, networks, Dockerfiles and Docker Compose.

    Skills

    • Docker
    • Dockerfile
    • Docker Compose
    • Container networking

    Tips

    • Containerise one of your own projects end to end.

    Where to learn

  8. Kubernetes

    Suggested pace: Later

    Kubernetes runs and scales containers across many machines. Learn pods, deployments, services, config, storage and how to debug a failing workload.

    Skills

    • Kubernetes
    • Pods and deployments
    • Services and ingress
    • kubectl

    Tips

    • Learn Docker properly first. Kubernetes builds on it.

    Where to learn

  9. Build your portfolio, resume and interview skills

    Suggested pace: When you are ready

    Employers want proof. Finish two or three projects you can show and explain, put them on GitHub, write a clear resume that matches the jobs you apply for, and practise the interview questions for the role.

    Skills

    • Portfolio projects
    • Technical resume
    • Interview preparation

    Tips

    • Describe what you built, why, and what you would improve. That is what interviewers ask about.

    Build your resume · Check your resume (ATS) · Interview questions · Salaries · Browse jobs

Frequently asked questions

Where should I start with Cloud Engineer?

Start at step 1 and work down in order, because later steps build on earlier ones. If you are signed in, the roadmap compares your resume with each step and marks where you could start.

Do I need a degree to work as a Cloud Engineer?

It depends on the employer and the country. Many employers accept proven skills and projects, while others ask for a degree. Read the adverts for the roles you want and ask the employer if it is unclear.

How do I know I am ready to apply?

When you can build a small project from start to finish without copying a tutorial, and explain why you made your choices. Apply while you keep learning; you do not need to know everything.