Cloud Career Planning

Obsolesce

Posting this here for discussion - opinions, improvement, constructive criticism, etc.

I've been doing a lot of Cloud work lately along with API automation (Azure, AWS, ServiceNow). This type of work, along with a primary focus on Cloud Security, and skills in DevOps technologies (jenkins, terraform, packer, etc) is the direction I want to go. MDM via the Clouds is nice as well. Depending on how the CCSK goes, maybe even a main focus on Cloud Security career, with the other stuff as a skill/ability set.

The job market in the above aspect is growing and it pays very well in most locations. I feel I would enjoy spending a fair amount of time in this career, before moving to a focus in management, perhaps ending up at CIO level in the not-so-far-out future.

I put together a list of courses to to help get things moving along, where if I stick to it, should be able to complete within the next 4 months.

I will start with the Azure stuff, as that will have the most immediate benefits both personally and with my current job / role.

I'm going to stock up on Udemy courses as a "new student" for the discount of like $12 per course (except the $67 AWS course). I'm likely going to get these, and am wondering if you would alter this list in any way?:

AZ-103 (Microsoft Azure Administrator) - https://www.udemy.com/70533-azure/
AZ-300 (Azure Architect Technologies) - https://www.udemy.com/microsoft-az-300-azure-architect-technologies/
AZ-301 (Azure Architect Design) - https://www.udemy.com/microsoft-az-301-certification-azure-architect-design/
AZ-500 (Azure Security Engineer Associate) - https://www.udemy.com/a-to-z-of-azure-security-covers-az-500-and-more/
AWS Certified Solutions Architect - https://www.udemy.com/aws-certified-solutions-architect-associate-exam/
CCSK 1/2 - https://www.udemy.com/preparation-course-for-ccsk-v40-section12cloud-governance/
CCSK 2/2 - https://www.udemy.com/preparation-course-for-ccsk-v40-section22cloud-operations/
Infrastructure Automation With Terraform, Packer, Docker, ECS, EKS, Jenkins - https://www.udemy.com/learn-devops-infrastructure-automation-with-terraform/

So for those 7 courses, I'm looking at roughly $150. I think that's a good buy and since those courses are good for life and currently being updated according to reviews. It could be the best $150 I ever spent. Time availability for this stuff... we will make it happen.

What do you all think of that career path in regards to viability, market, etc.? What about the course list?

I'm thinking about careers such as Cloud Architect, Cloud Administrator, Cloud Security Architect, Cloud Engineer, Cloud Infrastructure... etc., pick your word.

EDIT: After all the feedback considered, I added the AZ-103 course to the pool, and will do the following in order:

AZ-103 Microsoft Azure Administrator
CCSK Certificate of Cloud Security Knowledge

Job experience - Current Azure / AWS cloud and DevOps experience with prior experience.

DevOps Course
AWS & the deeper Azure courses/certs.

IRJ

Good plan, but seems a little cert heavy towards azure. Don't get me wrong if you can accomplish all of that you will be in great shape! I just think it's a little ambitious. On the azure side, I'd work on azure administrator first (which is more professional level) and then try to tackle CCSK. You will show yourself as a cloud security asset by only taking two tests and probably little effort as you mentioned you work with Cloud technology every day.

Also, the job competition is very weak right now in this field, the quicker you can cert up on two easy certs, the quicker you can land a job you want. IMO even with those two certs, you'll find a job in 2-3 weeks max. If you had the whole gauntlet mentioned here you would probably be looking at 2-3 hours max lol

IRJ

I'm not sure you need a course on CCSK the material is very minimal. I would just buy practice tests and read through the 100ish page pdf.

Obsolesce

@IRJ said in Cloud Career Planning:

seems a little cert heavy towards azure

it looks that way at quick glance, but it's actually:

2 Azure certs (1 azure, 1 azure security)
4 AWS certs (that single AWS course includes 73.5 hours video, 412 lectures)
1 general cloud security cert
1 devops skill building course

Obsolesce

@IRJ said in Cloud Career Planning:

On the azure side, I'd work on azure administrator first (which is more professional level) and then try to tackle CCSK. You will show yourself as a cloud security asset by only taking two tests and probably little effort as you mentioned you work with Cloud technology every day.

Good point, I'll take that into consideration.

Obsolesce

@IRJ said in Cloud Career Planning:

Also, the job competition is very weak right now in this field, the quicker you can cert up on two easy certs, the quicker you can land a job you want. IMO even with those two certs, you'll find a job in 2-3 weeks max. If you had the whole gauntlet mentioned here you would probably be looking at 2-3 hours max lol

Heh, that's good to know. Better than I thought then!

Obsolesce

@IRJ said in Cloud Career Planning:

I'd work on azure administrator first (which is more professional level)

This one: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/learning/exam-AZ-103.aspx

versus the 300 and 301?

IRJ

@Obsolesce said in Cloud Career Planning:

@IRJ said in Cloud Career Planning:

I'd work on azure administrator first (which is more professional level)

This one: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/learning/exam-AZ-103.aspx

versus the 300 and 301?

Yes. Believe it or not just having Azure Administrator and security cert will get you to almost any interview. You can then leverage more advance topics in your interview.

IRJ

My Udemy reccomendations

Terraform - Absolutely loved this one!! It is all lab

https://www.udemy.com/share/101lhUA0UZdF9QTHg=/

AWS Security - Loved this course. It is all labs and extremely thorough

https://www.udemy.com/share/101lhWA0UZdF9QTHg=/

Ansible - Good course. I havent finished yet

https://www.udemy.com/share/101dMKA0UZdF9QTHg=/

CCSK practice tests - Decent practice tests. Helped prepare me for CCSK.

https://www.udemy.com/share/101lhYA0UZdF9QTHg=/

Then pick you Az103 course. As I mentioned earlier I did Az101 and Az102

Obsolesce

Revised OP after latest community feedback.

stacksofplates

I'm a bad one to ask for this because I only have my RHCSA. I don't know why I don't do more certs, I still do all of the learning for these things, Im just not a good test taker so I think that makes me hold back a lot when I look at this stuff.