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This Week: Q&A đ˘
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Along the way, Iâve received a ton of questions on Cloud, Cybersecurity, and Tech in general.
The problem is, I donât always have the time to answer them all in detail.
Thatâs why I decided to put together a single place I can point people to when they ask me one of the most common three questions I get.
Q&A đ˘
1: Will AI replace roles in Cloud & Security?
No.
Itâs as simple as that.
Like you, Iâve been feeling a little bummed out by the constant AI noise recently. If you believe the mainstream media, it sounds like weâre on some kind of doomsday clock before a white-collar bloodbath takes place, where one engineer survives in charge of 100 AI agents.
That future is easy to peddle, but it simply isnât true⌠at least not right now. In 40 or 50 years, who knows? Try explaining to someone in the 1980s that everyone in the 2020s would have access to AI in their pocket, it sounds like pure sci-fi. So yes, big shifts will happen again, but not overnight.
This career is still worth it.
Think about it: where is AI hosted? The cloud.
Who secures it? Cloud Security Engineers.
Who builds the software? Developers.
Who deploys it? DevOps Engineers.
Who secures the pipelines? DevSecOps.
You see where Iâm going with this.
New jobs will arise. Productivity gains will happen. CEOs will get too high on their own supply and fire half their staff⌠but it wonât be a cliff edge moment where all security roles disappear.
I had a conversation with my manager about this recently, and he recommended Prediction Machines. Iâve only just started it, but it really helps put AI into perspective and shows where it actually fits into the workforce.
2: How to land that first Cloud Security Role?
I get this question multiple times a week, usually in some form of:
âHi, Iâm a total beginner in cloud and securityâŚ. whatâs the best place for me to start?â
My answer hasnât really changed in years, and itâs honestly pretty simple:
Pick a role: Find a Cloud or Security job youâd actually want to do.
Read the requirements: What hard and soft skills does the job ask for?
Gap analysis: Write down where you fall short.
Study the gaps: Certifications are useful here because theyâre structured roadmaps with milestones and accountability.
Prove it with projects: Build something small that shows you can apply the skills.
Get experience: Labs, volunteering, internships, or even home projects count.
Thatâs it. You donât need to spend thousands on a bootcamp to figure this out.
Is it easy? Not at all. Itâs bloody hard and takes bags of dedication.
Is it simple? Absolutely.
3: Can you give me a Roadmap for how to start in Cloud Security?
Yes, I could give you the same roadmap every other âtech influencerâ will throw at you, stop me if youâve heard this before:
Linux
Python
Networking
Containerisation
IaC
Cloud Fundamentals
CI/CD
Security Fundamentals
Sound familiar?
The truth is, you donât need another roadmap. Thatâs just cheap dopamine.
What you do need is to pick something and actually stick with it. However, once youâve got the fundamentals, thatâs when things start to get interesting. At this stage, you can (and should) niche down. Pick an area that genuinely interests you: DevSecOps, ML Engineering, Cloud Penetration Testing, whatever excites you most.
This is where a tailored roadmap actually makes sense, because now youâre building depth instead of just chasing broad checklists.
đ Comment below if youâd like me to break down niche specific roadmaps in future issues.
Bonus Questions
Here are some extra questions I get asked that iâve already written about.
Should I learn AWS or Azure?
What are some Beginner Projects I can do?
Do I need to Learn Programming?
Do I need a Degree to work in Cloud & Security?
WJPearce - Cyber Notes
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Really good advice as usual. I particularly like 'Prove it with projects'. I can't think of a better way to find out what it is you like best in the field. As the saying goes, 'find something you like doing and you'll never work again!' (Instead you'll be paid for doing something that gets you out of bed each day!)