Is multi-cloud worth learning as a Beginner or Expert in the cloud industry?
Cloud computing has undergone significant evolution over the past decade, transforming the way businesses and individuals store, process, and access data and applications.
Due to the high demand for cloud skills, a lot of people transition from different careers to learn how cloud computing works from popular cloud service providers such as AWS, AZURE, and GCP.
There are lots of perspectives individuals, companies, cloud experts, or professionals have about multi-cloud, especially beginners trying to learn or get started with cloud computing.
This write-up reveals the perspective of cloud experts on learning multi-cloud and why companies are adopting multi-cloud.
Disclaimer
The information provided in this article is intended to offer insights and guidance but should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional advice or recommendations. You are encouraged to conduct your own research and consult with relevant experts before making any decisions based on the content of this article.
I recently asked this question in a cloud community, and the feedback was really insightful, so I will share some here:
Firstly, why multi-cloud?
I have seen some cloud job descriptions requiring multi-cloud skills even for entry-level roles (see sample image below). The question is: why are companies adopting multi-cloud and not just focusing on building their infrastructure on a single cloud?
I have come to understand that multi-cloud environments can help organizations achieve greater resilience and redundancy in their business operations and business continuity.
The multi-cloud strategy enables companies to distribute their applications and data across multiple cloud providers, which in turn reduces the risk of downtime or data loss due to outages or other disruptions affecting a single cloud provider.
Another question that pops into my mind is:
Does multi-cloud prove an organization's operational continuity?
We are all aware that every advantage has a disadvantage. Adopting a multi-cloud strategy does not 100% guarantee operational continuity because it brings complexity and potential points of failure, such as integration, visibility, operability challenges, or security risks.
However, this challenge has been addressed by a company called Aviatrix. You can check out my write-up Here. I highlighted how the Aviatrix product solves the common challenges and key limitations when utilizing multi-cloud infrastructure.
Cloud Experts' Point-of-View on Learning Multi-Cloud
I recently read a blog by THE CLOUD CAREER MENTOR PROGRAM titled: “Should you go multi-cloud as a junior engineer (DevOps)?” In summary, “Understanding a single cloud platform is actually difficult because there are many complexities and challenges that novices might not be aware of; as a result, trying to understand a second cloud platform before fully understanding the first can inhibit your progress.” Additionally, most recruiters for DevOps prefer to hire individuals who have years of experience with one cloud provider over individuals with knowledge of multiple cloud providers, and their experience might be void. Read More
Cloud Security Experts' Point-of-View on Learning Multi-Cloud
The following are perspectives and recommendations from cloud security experts:
Person One highlighted that:
“You’re better off being an expert in one cloud than a generalist in all clouds.” He further said that the specialization of an individual in cloud security also matters when considering multi-cloud or single-cloud. For example, if an individual is considering a threat detection (TD) role at the network or OS level, there is a need for multi-cloud knowledge because it is consistent across all the cloud providers.
He strongly recommends that any individual starting in cloud security stick to learning single-cloud first, which provides a deep understanding of how that logging works and how developers typically misconfigure resources in that cloud.
Person Two completely agreed with Person One, but added that
Trying to learn the three major CSPs at once is like setting yourself up for not learning anything at all.
Person three said
Take multi-cloud certifications if you can, but they don’t replace real-world experience. So get your hands dirty the first chance you get.
Person four said:
I agreed with what everyone said. For example, suppose you start with AWS since they are the market leader. Once you have a firm understanding of AWS and find yourself working with Azure, it’s easier to apply your AWS knowledge to how Azure functions. It’s not always apples to apples, but at least you understand that it’s a fruit that grows on a tree (apples vs. oranges).
He recommended Azure for AWS professionals an excellent reference put together by Azure. It consists of a series of articles that help Amazon Web Services (AWS) experts understand the basics of Microsoft Azure accounts, platforms, and services.
Person Five said:
I strongly recommend setting up OpenStack. That journey lays the foundation for understanding the primitives, constructs, and boundaries of different services and how they comprise higher-level services... and what system or data center constraints exist. For me, the AWS/Azure implementation was relatively easy to learn and understand after that.
OpenStack is an open source cloud computing infrastructure software project and is one of the three most active open source projects in the world.
Lastly, Eyal Estrin, a cloud security architect and author of the book “Cloud Security Handbook” said if you are new to cloud and cloud security, and would like to learn how to secure AWS, Azure, and GCP, you are welcome to read my book “Cloud Security Handbook”, which covers most topics.
ChatGPT point-of-view on learning multi-cloud
Multi-cloud is worth learning for both beginners and experts in the cloud industry. For beginners, understanding the basics of cloud computing is crucial before delving into multi-cloud environments. Once a strong foundation is established, learning about multi-cloud can provide exposure to different cloud providers and their unique offerings, as well as an understanding of how to manage and integrate multiple cloud environments. Additionally, many organizations are adopting multi-cloud strategies, so having knowledge of this area can provide a competitive advantage in the job market.
For experts in the cloud industry, understanding multi-cloud is becoming increasingly important as more organizations adopt multi-cloud strategies to achieve greater flexibility, resilience, and cost savings. As a result, experts who possess knowledge of multi-cloud can provide valuable insights and guidance to organizations seeking to leverage these environments.
Overall, regardless of experience level, learning about multi-cloud can broaden one’s knowledge of cloud computing and provide valuable skills for success in the industry.
Finally
In your cloud learning journey, it is worth noting that having a structured learning route is one thing, but being consistent and dedicated to learning is quite another.
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Happy learning !!✌️
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