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How to Become a Cloud Engineer from Scratch: A 6–12 Month Roadmap



Introduction 

Cloud computing is no longer the future — it’s the present, and it’s transforming how companies operate, scale, and innovate. Whether it's launching AI-powered applications, hosting massive datasets, or building resilient infrastructure, the cloud is at the heart of it all.

If you’re dreaming of becoming a Cloud Engineer — congratulations! You’re targeting one of the most in-demand, rewarding, and forward-thinking roles in tech today.

In this post, I’ll walk you through what cloud computing is, why it matters, and how to become a Cloud Engineer from scratch in 6–12 months. I’ll also share my thoughts as someone who has been diving deep into Google Cloud and how you can stand out in this exciting space.

What Is Cloud Computing?

Cloud computing is the delivery of computing services — including storage, databases, servers, networking, software, and more — over the internet (“the cloud”). It allows businesses to access technology resources on demand without having to invest in and maintain physical infrastructure.

The Big Three Providers:

  • Google Cloud Platform (GCP)
  • Amazon Web Services (AWS)
  • Microsoft Azure

Each offers similar services but with slightly different pricing, tools, and ecosystems.

Why Become a Cloud Engineer?

  1. High Demand: Companies in every sector — fintech, healthcare, education, media — need cloud experts.
  2. Great Pay: Average salaries range from $80K to $150K+ depending on experience and location.
  3. Flexibility: Cloud Engineers can work remotely, freelance, or full-time at global companies.
  4. Future-Proof Career: Cloud skills lead to other roles like DevOps Engineer, Cloud Architect, or Site Reliability Engineer.

Cloud Engineering Roles You Can Grow Into

  • Cloud Engineer – Builds and manages cloud-based infrastructure.
  • Cloud Developer – Builds software applications on cloud platforms.
  • Cloud Architect – Designs cloud systems and infrastructure.
  • DevOps Engineer – Manages continuous integration/deployment (CI/CD) in the cloud.
  • SRE (Site Reliability Engineer) – Ensures cloud systems are stable and scalable.

My Thoughts on Google Cloud

While AWS may dominate in market share, Google Cloud Platform (GCP) is rapidly growing — and it’s becoming a go-to platform for AI, data, and cloud-native applications.

I’ve personally loved working with GCP. Its clean UI, deep integrations with open-source tools, and tight AI/ML support make it my favorite cloud platform. If you're new to cloud and excited by innovation, GCP is a fantastic place to start.

6–12 Month Roadmap to Becoming a Cloud Engineer

Let’s break it down month-by-month. This path assumes you can dedicate 8–10 hours/week. Go faster if you’re full-time.

Month 1–2: Learn the Basics of Cloud & Linux

What to Learn:

  • What is cloud computing?
  • Difference between IaaS, PaaS, SaaS.
  • Regions, zones, availability.
  • What is virtualization?
  • Intro to Linux commands and basic shell scripting.

Resources:

Tasks:

  • Set up a free tier on Google Cloud.
  • Launch your first virtual machine.
  • Play with CLI and SSH.
  • Practice basic Linux commands.

Month 3–4: Focus on Core Cloud Services

What to Learn:

  • Virtual machines (Compute Engine)
  • Storage (Cloud Storage, S3)
  • Databases (Cloud SQL, Firestore, BigQuery)
  • Networking (VPCs, firewalls, load balancers)

Resources:

Tasks:

  • Build a simple 2-tier web app (frontend + database).
  • Store and retrieve data using Firestore or SQL.
  • Practice IAM (Identity & Access Management).

Month 5–6: Learn DevOps & Automation

What to Learn:

  • Infrastructure as Code (Terraform or Google Deployment Manager)
  • CI/CD pipelines (Cloud Build, GitHub Actions)
  • Monitoring and logging (Cloud Monitoring, Cloud Logging)

Resources:

Tasks:

  • Create a simple Terraform script to deploy a VM.
  • Set up a CI/CD pipeline that deploys a container app.
  • Use logging and monitoring tools to check resource health.

Month 7–8: Containers & Kubernetes

What to Learn:

  • Docker fundamentals
  • Kubernetes architecture
  • GKE (Google Kubernetes Engine)

Resources:

Tasks:

  • Containerize a basic app.
  • Deploy it on GKE.
  • Scale and update the container with kubectl.

Month 9–10: Real Projects & Certifications

What to Learn:

  • Real-world use cases.
  • Cost optimization.
  • Building production-grade systems.
  • Start prepping for Associate Cloud Engineer exam.

Resources:

Tasks:

  • Build 2–3 complete projects (deploy a portfolio site, API, or data dashboard).
  • Document and share them on GitHub or a personal blog.
  • Book your certification exam.

Month 11–12: Specialize or Apply for Jobs

What to Learn:

  • Specialize in AI/ML, DevOps, Security, or Data Engineering (based on interest).
  • Learn about hybrid cloud and multi-cloud strategies.
  • Brush up on interview prep.

Resources:

Tasks:

  • Apply for internships or junior roles.
  • Network in communities (Reddit, LinkedIn, Discord).
  • Keep learning and iterating!

Top Free Tools & Communities to Join

Final Thoughts

Becoming a cloud engineer in 6–12 months is ambitious but absolutely possible — if you stay consistent, build projects, and engage with the community.

I genuinely believe that Google Cloud is the best starting point, especially for beginners interested in AI, serverless computing, and scalable apps. The documentation is clean, the tools are modern, and the platform is deeply integrated with open-source standards.

Cloud engineering isn’t just about technical skills — it’s about solving real-world problems. Keep building, keep asking questions, and don’t be afraid to break things. That’s how you learn.

Ready to start your journey? I’d love to hear where you are and help guide you along the way. Drop a comment or share your cloud goals!

Tholumuzi Kuboni here - a cloud and software developer passionate about the web. My specific interest lies in building interactive websites, and I'm always open to sharing expertise with fellow developers.