How to Become a DevOps Engineer - An Ultimate Guide

Do you also wonder How to Become a DevOps Engineer? Why DevOps is Important? DevOps Engineers often have a solid understanding of development and operations and knowledge of automation, infrastructure management, and Continuous Integration and Continuous Delivery (CI/CD). In this blog, we comprehensively discuss How to Become a DevOps Engineer and what skills and techniques are required to become a better DevOps Engineer.

It is not a surprise that the demand for DevOps Engineers has increased recently as more organisations adopt DevOps to improve their Software Development and deployment processes. It has become a promising career opportunity with immense growth potential. Do you want to become one? Read more to learn more on How to Become a DevOps Engineer.

Table of Contents

1) What is a DevOps Engineer?

2) How to Become a DevOps Engineer?

3) Skills Needed to Become a DevOps Engineer

4) Roles and responsibilities of DevOps Engineer  

5) Top DevOps interview questions and answers

6) Conclusion  

What is a DevOps Engineer?

A DevOps Engineer is an expert in the application of DevOps principles and practices for software system development, deployment, and maintenance. They collaborate closely with IT operations teams, Software Developers, and other stakeholders to ensure the efficient delivery of software products.

DevOps Engineers are responsible for implementing automation, continuous integration, and continuous delivery (CI/CD) practices to enhance Software Development efficiency and quality. They also play a crucial role in identifying and resolving issues that may arise during software development.

DevOps Engineers typically have extensive backgrounds in IT operations, system administration, Software Development, scripting, automation, and cloud computing. They are proficient in various tools and technologies, including source code management systems, build and deployment tools, virtualisation and container technologies, and monitoring and logging tools.



 

How to Become a DevOps Engineer? 

You might be wondering What is DevOps and who is a DevOps Engineer.  A DevOps Engineer must have a blend of technical knowledge, practical experience, and ongoing learning. The following are the general stages you can take to become a DevOps Engineer: 

1) Learn programming and Linux fundamentals  

Begin by learning the principles of programming languages like Python, Java, and Ruby, as well as the operating system Linux, which forms the foundation for learning DevOps skills. A Linux shell and networking commands are mandatory Linux skills.   

Programming languages are essential, whether you are debugging code, making database changes, or even automating development and deployment. You can learn languages like Java, Python and Ruby to get into DevOps.   

If you have a bachelor's degree in computer science, you will already be familiar with programming languages and all the fundamental concepts in Linux. If not, you can get certifications from reputed training institutes.   

2) Understand the version control system and learn source code management  

As a DevOps Engineer, you will collaborate with other developers. It becomes essential to efficiently manage code and have a backup in repositories. For this reason, knowing Git and GitHub is vital.   

You can also learn CVS or Mercurial, but Git is one of the most popular source code management and Version Control tools. Git lets you manage large code bases efficiently, collaborate, and help roll back to the source code if necessary.   

3) Learn software configuration and deployment  

Learning to build an application is an essential aspect of DevOps as they are responsible for development too. DevOps Engineers are responsible for running things efficiently from development to deployment, so being familiar with all the processes involved is essential.   

4) Understand the CI/CD pipelines  

One essential aspect of the pipeline delivery process is the CI/CD. Similarly, it is also critical for a DevOps Engineer. Continuous Integration refers to integrating code into the common repository, while CD refers to the automation of the release of the integrated code to the repository. You should be familiar with CI/CD tools like Jenkins (the most popular), TeamCity, CircleCI, and GitLab. 

5) Understand network and security  

The networking knowledge is essential for DevOps since you will deal with various network connections, servers, data, etc., to manage IT workflows. Security is also necessary from development to deployment or any other stage. You can learn networking and security from online courses and get certified to improve your knowledge and gain credibility. 

6) Learn automation, monitoring and testing  

Automation is a central aspect of DevOps. Source code management, configuration and deployment all require automation. You must learn DevOps tools like Git, Docket, Puppet, Ansible, etc. You must also collect feedback and execute changes as soon as possible. Feedback and timely implementation of changes keep the workflow efficient. Monitoring tools like Nagios and Splunk should be a part of your arsenal if you want to become a DevOps Engineer.   

7) Learn cloud services  

Cloud computing is essential to DevOps, and you need to familiarise yourself with various cloud applications. One popular and widely used cloud provider is Amazon Web Services (AWS). You also must focus on Cloud Formation & Architecture, Cloud deployment models, Virtualisation and Cloud computing, etc. 

Understand the architecture and working of Puppet, and learn how to install and configure it with Puppet Training Course.  

Skills needed to become a DevOps Engineer  

You might become overwhelmed looking at the required skills, but it becomes easier to learn them when you take a planned and systematic approach. In addition to the skills needed to become a DevOps Engineer, you must also be familiar with the DevOps Concepts. Following are the important tools and skills you need to learn to become a DevOps Engineer:  

Linux  

Linux is essential for DevOps because many tools used in DevOps, like Git, Ansible, Docker, etc., are made for and primarily used on Linux systems. Linux is also known for its stability, security, and flexibility, essential for maintaining and managing large-scale systems and applications. Linux is also used as the primary OS in servers which is also an aspect for DevOps Engineers.   

AWS (Cloud Platform)  

For DevOps, it is crucial to understand how public cloud services work, and AWS is the leading name in this space. There is no other reason to learn about AWS than this. You can also learn Google Cloud or Microsoft Azure, but AWS dominates this space.   

Python Java or Ruby (Programming language)  

Python and Java are the two dominating backend programming languages. Without learning any kind of programming language, it is impossible to become a DevOps professional.  

DevOps Tools  

Tools like Jenkins, Git, Kubernetes, Chef, Ansible, Nagios, and Docker are essential in development, testing, monitoring and deployment.   

Apart from these, you must also understand concepts like Infrastructure as Code and CI/CD Pipelines. Soft skills like communication, team, and management are also integral for a DevOps professional. Since you will be collaborating with different teams and focusing on operations, soft skills like communication and management are crucial too. 

Keen on transforming your DevOps Strategy, refer to our blog on "Ansible Tower"

Roles and responsibilities of DevOps Engineer

DevOps Engineer is not a specific role and has no fixed definition. It is not a job but more of a "culture", and in that context, DevOps Engineer doesn't have a specific role.   

However, DevOps Engineer encompasses a lot of different roles and carries a lot of responsibilities. Some of roles and responsibilities are as follows: 

1) Designing and implementing automation frameworks and tools for software development, testing, and deployment.   

2) Creating and maintaining the infrastructure and systems needed for software development and deployment, such as servers, networks, and cloud services.   

3) Implementing and maintaining software delivery and deployment pipelines using CI/CD.   

4) Setting up and managing software and infrastructure monitoring and logging systems and utilising data to discover and troubleshoot problems.   

5) Implementing and maintaining software and infrastructure security mechanisms and best practices, such as access control, encryption, and vulnerability monitoring.   

6) Using configuration management technologies such as Ansible, Puppet, or Chef to set up and manage servers, network devices, containers, etc.

Top DevOps interview questions and answers

The following are the top DevOps interview questions and answers:

1) What are the different phases in DevOps?

The DevOps lifecycle encompasses several key phases:

1) Planning: Initially, it is essential to create a blueprint for the application's development, providing an overarching view of the process.

2) Coding: Develop the application in accordance with end-user specifications.

3) Building: Construct the application by amalgamating various code components generated in the prior stages.

4) Testing: This phase stands as a critical juncture in application development. Evaluate the application and revise it if necessary.

5) Integration: Merge multiple code contributions from different programmers into a unified whole.

6) Deployment: Transfer the code to a cloud environment for further use, ensuring that it does not disrupt the operation of a high-traffic website.

7) Operations: Execute any necessary actions on the code to guarantee optimal performance.

8) Monitoring: Continuously observe the application's performance and adjust to align with end-user demands.

2) What is the role of AWS in DevOps?

AWS plays a pivotal role in DevOps with the following contributions:

1) Versatile services: AWS offers adaptable services that are pre-configured and readily available, eliminating the need for software installation or setup.

2) Scalability: With AWS services, you can manage a single instance or effortlessly scale up to thousands as your needs evolve.

3) Automation capabilities: AWS empowers you to automate tasks and processes, enabling you to save time and focus on innovative initiatives.

4) Robust security: Utilising AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM), you can establish user permissions and define security policies to enhance the protection of your resources.

5) Extensive partner network: AWS boasts a vast ecosystem of partners that seamlessly integrate with and extend the functionality of AWS services, amplifying their capabilities.

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3) What are the benefits of using version control?

The following are the advantages of utilising Version Control:

1) Enhanced collaborative freedom: With a Version Control System (VCS), all team members can work on any file at any time. The VCS facilitates seamlessly integrating all modifications into a unified version.

2) Detailed change records: The VCS prompts concise summaries of changes every time a new project version is saved. It provides a granular view of what was altered within the file content. Therefore, it becomes easy to track who made specific project changes.

3) Comprehensive version history: Within the VCS, a comprehensive archive of past iterations and versions is meticulously preserved. This enables the retrieval of any version at any moment, putting a snapshot of the entire project at your fingertips.

4) Distributed VCS benefits: Distributed VCS systems like Git offer an extra layer of resilience. Team members can access a complete project history from local Git repositories, even if the primary server experiences downtime, ensuring continuous productivity.

4) Mention some core benefits of DevOps

The following are the technical advantages of DevOps:

1) Uninterrupted software delivery: DevOps enables continuous, automated software delivery, reducing deployment time and errors.

2) Simplified problem management: Automation and standardised processes streamline issue identification and resolution.

3) Early defect detection: Continuous testing and monitoring catch defects early, lowering rectification costs.

The following are the business advantages of DevOps:

1) Faster feature deployment: DevOps accelerates feature releases, enhancing agility and customer satisfaction.

2) Stable environments: Automation ensures consistent, reliable operational environments, minimising downtime and outages.

3) Enhanced collaboration: DevOps fosters interdepartmental cooperation, improving efficiency and communication.

5) How will you approach a project that needs to implement DevOps?

DevOps can be effectively implemented in a specific project through the following standardised phases:

1) Stage 1: Conduct an assessment of the current processes and their implementation, spanning approximately two to three weeks. This assessment aims to pinpoint areas for improvement, enabling the team to chart a roadmap for the DevOps implementation.

2) Stage 2: Initiate the creation of a Proof of Concept (PoC). Once the PoC is reviewed, accepted, and greenlit, the team can proceed with the actual project implementation, moving forward with the established plan.

3) Stage 3: The project is now poised for integrating DevOps practices, encompassing version control, integration, testing, deployment, delivery, and monitoring. These steps are systematically followed to ensure a successful DevOps implementation in the project.

Conclusion  

To become a DevOps Engineer, you might have to learn many things, and everything listed here might intimidate you. In truth, given enough time and dedication, learning all these skills isn't that difficult. The key is to grasp technology fundamentals and not just learn the applications. Applications and services may become outdated, but the fundamentals remain the same. We can say that the Future of DevOps is bright with several opportunities and scope for growth. We hope this guide has answered your "How to Become a DevOps Engineer" question. What are you still doing here? Get started on your journey! 

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