How To Become DevOps Engineer

DevOps is a rapidly growing profession that offers some of the most lucrative opportunities in the tech sector. If you have been considering making a career shift or beginning your professional journey, now may be a great time to pursue becoming a DevOps Engineer. It requires knowledge of software development, automation engineering, agile methodology principles, and operations management. With the right combination of skills and education, anyone can learn how to become a practical DevOps engineer. This blog post will discuss the key steps to becoming a successful DevOps engineer: learning relevant technologies and building relationships with other engineers in your field. Keep reading for some important advice that could help you take your tech career down the path toward DevOps engineering.

Who is a DevOps Engineer?

A DevOps Engineer is an IT professional having technical expertise and deep knowledge of the software development lifecycle (SDLC). They check coding, server administration and software maintenance throughout the software development life cycle. They automate tools and processes, bridging the gap between development and operations teams.

What are the Responsibilities of a DevOps Engineer?

1. Design, develop, and maintain DevOps solutions that automate the software release process.

2. Collaborate with development, operations, and other teams to coordinate releases and ensure application stability.

3. Develop automation scripts and tools to improve system performance from end to end throughout the entire SDLC (software development lifecycle).

4. Monitor and troubleshoot the application in production to identify potential areas of improvement.

5. Improve the reliability and scalability of existing applications through process automation, code refactoring, and system configuration changes.

6. Help teams adopt DevOps best practices such as continuous integration, continuous deployment, infrastructure as code (IaC), version control, test automation, and monitoring.

7. Design and implement automated workflow pipelines to streamline software deployment processes.

8. Create comprehensive documentation for all DevOps-related procedures and systems.

9. Implement security measures into the infrastructure design and system configuration changes.

10. Stay up-to-date with industry trends and best practices in DevOps and related areas.

What does a DevOps Engineer do?

DevOps engineers are essential for successful software development, as they bridge the gap between development and operations by automating processes, improving system reliability, and optimizing performance. With their help, teams can more easily and quickly release applications that meet user needs with fewer bugs and improved scalability. Ultimately this leads to a better user experience while saving teams time and money in the long run.

Basic Skills Required to Become a DevOps Engineer

1. Knowledge of Linux/Unix Administration: A DevOps engineer should understand the underlying operating system used to manage code, applications and systems.

2. Learn Programming language: Any DevOps engineer must write code and understand programs. Knowing one or more scripting languages, such as Python, Perl, Bash, Java, Ruby etc., will prove beneficial.

3. Version Control Systems: Version control systems are tools to manage different source code versions and other documents. For DevOps engineers, it's important to understand how version control systems work and be comfortable using them.

4. Infrastructure Automation Tools: These tools are used to provision and manage servers in the cloud or on-premise. Examples include Terraform, CloudFormation, Ansible, Chef and Puppet.

5. Container Technologies: Container technologies such as Docker provide a way to package applications and their dependencies into isolated environments, which can easily be deployed and managed across different systems. A DevOps engineer should have experience using containers.

6. Monitoring and Logging Tools: Monitoring services and systems is important for DevOps engineers. They should be familiar with monitoring tools such as Nagios, DataDog or Prometheus and logging solutions such as ELK stack or Splunk.

7. Cloud Computing Knowledge: DevOps engineers need to understand cloud computing concepts and deploy applications in the cloud. Knowing different cloud providers, such as AWS, GCP or Azure, will also give a competitive edge.

8. Database Management: Understanding how to manage databases is a must-have skill for DevOps engineers. Knowing about relational (MySQL, Postgres) and NoSQL (MongoDB, Cassandra) databases will also be useful.

9. Continuous Integration/Continuous Delivery: CI/CD pipelines are used to automate the process of testing, building and deploying applications. DevOps engineers should be familiar with popular tools such as Jenkins or TravisCI and understand how to use them to automate deployment processes.

10. Troubleshooting Skills: Identifying and resolving issues quickly is a key skill for DevOps engineers. They should be able to diagnose and debug any problems in the system or application as promptly as possible.

Steps to Become a DevOps Engineer

1. Develop an understanding of the fundamentals of DevOps: Learn about the principles, philosophies, and practices that make up a successful DevOps strategy. Identify which tools are used to implement each component of a DevOps workflow.

2. Acquire the necessary technical skills: Familiarise yourself with coding languages like Python or Ruby and popular automation and configuration management tools like Chef, Puppet, Ansible, and Jenkins.

3. Get hands-on experience: Try building a few real-world projects to get the hang of working with DevOps tools in practice. Consider joining online communities or attending meetups to interact with other developers and share ideas.

4. Master cloud technologies: Learning about cloud infrastructure such as AWS, Google Cloud Platform, and Microsoft Azure is critical for a successful career in DevOps.

5. Read up on security: Security is an important aspect of DevOps and must be considered at every step. Learn about authentication protocols, encryption algorithms, access control models and more to stay ahead of potential threats.

6. Automate processes: Automation is at the heart of DevOps. Get familiar with the various tools available for automating common tasks and look for ways to automate your projects.

7. Track and analyse data: Data management and analytics are key components of a successful DevOps strategy. Learn how to use monitoring tools to collect metrics, generate reports, and troubleshoot issues quickly.

8. Keep up with the latest industry trends: DevOps constantly evolves as new technologies are developed and adopted. Follow key influencers, read blogs and attend conferences to stay updated with the latest developments in the field.

9. Pursue certifications: DevOpsCertifications demonstrate your expertise in using DevOps tools and techniques and can help you.

Roadmap for a successfully DevOps Career for Beginners

1. Learn the basics of software engineering: You must understand core concepts such as coding languages, programming paradigms, systems design, and software architecture. It's also important to know about databases and networking systems.

2. Develop your technical skills: Ensure you are familiar with the various technologies involved in a DevOps environment, such as version control, containerization, automation, continuous integration/continuous delivery (CI/CD), monitoring & logging tools, cloud computing platforms, and scripting languages like Python or Bash.

3. Get certified: Several DevOps certifications will help demonstrate your proficiency and give you an edge in the job market.

4. Expand your knowledge with hands-on experience: You should strive to gain practical skills and build projects that showcase your abilities as a DevOps engineer, such as automating deployment pipelines, configuring network infrastructures, or optimizing database performance.

5. Network and build relationships with other DevOps professionals: This is an important step for any engineer who wants to stay up-to-date on trends and best practices. Attend conferences, join online communities, and follow people in the industry whose work you admire.

Also Read: DevOps Learning Path

Conclusion

Becoming a DevOps Engineer is achievable with the right certifications and training. It requires dedication, hard work, and an understanding of modern development techniques. With proper preparation, anyone can become a successful DevOps engineer and make an impact in their field. Get certified from star Agile DevOps courses and start your journey as a DevOps engineer. DevOps Certification from StarAgile is one of the most valued in the industry. This certification will open up a world of opportunities for you and help you reach your dream job as a DevOps engineer faster. Take advantage of their comprehensive DevOps courses that fit all experience levels.

FAQs

1. What is DevOps?

DevOps is a software engineering practice that combines software development (Dev) and IT operations (Ops). DevOps focuses on automation, continuous delivery of code, and improved collaboration between teams. DevOps aims to help organisations produce better quality software faster and more efficiently.

2. How do I become a DevOps Engineer without experience?

A: If you have no experience in coding or system administration, you can still become a DevOps engineer. You may need to take additional steps to gain the expertise or certifications required for DevOps engineering positions.

For example, an online course on software development and automation tools is a great way to start in this field. Additionally, enrolling in a DevOps certification program can help you gain the necessary knowledge and skills to become a DevOps engineer.

3. What is a DevOps certification?

A: A DevOps certification is a professional credential that demonstrates an individual's proficiency in the DevOps field. To receive this certification, individuals must demonstrate their understanding of various automation tools, coding languages, and analytics used by DevOps professionals.

Additionally, they must present their knowledge of system administration, cloud-based systems, and virtual servers.

4. How can I get started in a DevOps training program?

A: The best way to get started in a DevOps training program is by taking an online course or attending an onsite program. Online courses can help you gain the necessary knowledge and skills for this field, while onsite programs provide hands-on experience and guidance from experienced professionals.

Additionally, enrolling in a DevOps certification program would be best to demonstrate your knowledge and skills and increase your chances of landing a DevOps engineering job.

5. What type of jobs can I get with a DevOps certification?

A: With a DevOps certification, you can pursue various positions such as system engineer, software developer, database administrator, cloud operations specialist, or automation engineer.