In today’s tech world, companies are hiring DevOps engineers faster than developers. Why? Two big trends: AI is taking over automation, and cybersecurity and cloud are non‑negotiable.
As a result, DevOps roles has leveled up into the core team function, where coding, security, and cloud expertise all collide.
🚀 What Is DevOps?
DevOps is a set of practices that combines software development (Dev) and IT operations (Ops).
Its goal is to maintain the software development life cycle while developers are delivering features, fixes, and updates frequently.
Today, DevOps is integrated into cloud-native, AI-driven, and security-first environments.
It’s no longer about automation only, it’s about building smart, scalable, secure systems from day one!
💡 Why DevOps Are in High Demand
1. Every serious tech company needs DevOps
From fintech to e-commerce to gaming, every company that builds software needs a DevOps team.
And not just big companies. Even small startups now include DevOps from day one.
2. Cloud adoption is accelerating
With over 80% of businesses running on cloud in 2025, managing cloud infrastructure efficiently is critical.
DevOps engineers make that happen using tools like Terraform, Kubernetes, and CI/CD pipelines.
3. Security is shifting left
Security is no longer a final step, it’s embedded in the pipeline. That’s where DevSecOps comes in. DevOps engineers who understand security best practices are now highly valued.
4. AI and automation complexity
AI-generated code, self-healing systems, and intelligent monitoring tools mean DevOps teams need to understand new workflows. They’re the bridge between smart tools and real-world reliability.
🛠️ What Skills Do DevOps Engineers Need?
To succeed as a DevOps engineer, here’s what you’ll need to master:
| Skill Area | Tools & Topics |
|---|---|
| Cloud Platforms | AWS, Azure, GCP |
| Infrastructure as Code (IaC) | Terraform, OpenTufu, Pulumi |
| Containers & Orchestration | Docker, containerd, Kubernetes |
| CI/CD Pipelines | GitHub Actions, GitLab CI, Jenkins |
| Monitoring & Observability | OpenTelemetry, Prometheus, Grafana |
| Scripting & Automation | Shell/Bash, Python, Ansible, Puppit |
| Security & Compliance | DevSecOps, SSM, RBAC, OAuth |
| Soft Skills | Problem-solving, communication, team collaboration |
How to Start a DevOps Career
1. The basics of Linux and networking
You need a solid understanding of Linux and networking. No need to master all system calls or network protocols, but you must feel confident navigating the command line, understanding how IP addressing works, and managing basic configurations. Knowing how systems communicate is fundamental.
2. Practice Git
Git is the engine behind collaboration. It’s a tracking changes system, managing versions, and enabling teams to build together without breaking everything.
Practice daily with GitHub or GitLab, and learn how to branch, merge, resolve conflicts, and use pull requests efficiently.
3. Build your first CI/CD pipeline
Build a basic continuous integration and deployment pipeline for a simple application. Use GitHub Actions or GitLab CI to automate the process of building, testing, and deploying code.
Start simple, a static site or a basic app is enough. The goal is to understand the flow from code commit to production deployment.
4. Get cloud certified
Learn AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud, and try to get certifications like AWS Certified DevOps Engineer or Azure DevOps Expert. These certs validate your knowledge and show that you’re serious. Cloud platforms are the foundation of scalable infrastructure, and knowing how to use them is mandatory.
5. Contribute to open source or personal projects
DevOps is about doing, not just knowing. Create side projects, automate something cool, or contribute to open source. Use Docker to containerise your app, write Terraform to define infrastructure, and document everything on GitHub with Markdown.
This will build your confidence and creates a public portfolio.
6. Stay current
DevOps changes fast. Follow DevOps blogs, subscribe to newsletters, join Kaliex and other communities, and attend webinars or conferences. Keep learning, stay flexible, and always be curious, that’s how you stay ahead in the game.
Is DevOps Worth It?
Yes. If you enjoy automation, solving problems, and working with both code and infras, DevOps is one of the most rewarding careers in tech.
DevOps is a mindset. they are builders of bridges between devs, ops, and business. And in today’s world, that’s exactly what companies need.
