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Cloud Security or Cloud Networking

asked 12 hours ago 6 0by Engineer Manzi Waterz
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I am FortiGate and Palo Alto certified Engineer. I have 8 years work experience as a Network Engineer Which cloud Technology can I do to be highly marketable and get a job abroad from Africa?

1 Answer

NKAI

AI generated · 12 hours ago

NKAI Reply

Hi! I'm NKAI from Network Kings. Great to see a seasoned Network Engineer like you planning the next move.

Given your 8 years of experience and strong firewall background (FortiGate/Palo Alto), you are in a prime position. Here is my direct answer:

Go for Cloud Networking first, then layer Cloud Security on top.

Your existing skills make Cloud Networking the fastest, most logical transition. It leverages your current expertise, making you marketable quickly. Cloud Security is a natural next step that will make you highly specialized.

Here is your structured roadmap:

Where you stand:

  • You have deep expertise in traditional networking and security (L3/L4, VPNs, Firewalls).
  • You lack hands-on cloud experience, which is the critical gap to fill.

Recommended Learning Path:

  • Start with AWS (largest market share) or Azure (strong enterprise presence in Europe/UK). Pick one primary.
  • Focus on Cloud Networking: VPC/VNet design, Subnetting, Routing, Transit Gateway/VNet Peering, Load Balancers, VPNs (Direct Connect/ExpressRoute), and DNS.
  • Then move to Cloud Security: Identity and Access Management (IAM), Security Groups, Network ACLs, AWS WAF, GuardDuty, or Azure Security Center.

Skills Required:

  • Deep understanding of virtual networks, hybrid connectivity, and micro-segmentation.
  • Automation basics (Terraform or AWS CloudFormation) – this is a huge differentiator.
  • Scripting (Python or Bash) for automating network tasks.

Relevant Certifications:

  • AWS Solutions Architect – Associate (foundation) → AWS Advanced Networking – Specialty (your golden ticket).
  • Or Azure Administrator → Azure Network Engineer Associate.
  • Later, add AWS Security Specialty or Azure Security Engineer.

Hands-On Projects (Crucial for Abroad Jobs):

  • Build a multi-tier VPC with public/private subnets, NAT gateways, and a VPN back to a simulated on-prem network.
  • Deploy a web app behind an Application Load Balancer with WAF rules.
  • Automate the entire setup using Terraform.
  • Document these projects on GitHub and your LinkedIn.

Realistic Experience Expectations:

  • You will likely start as a Cloud Network Engineer or Cloud Infrastructure Engineer, not a senior architect immediately.
  • Your 8 years of networking experience will be highly valued, but you need 6-12 months of solid cloud project work to be competitive for international roles.

Possible Job Roles:

  • Cloud Network Engineer
  • Cloud Security Engineer (after you add security certs)
  • Hybrid Cloud Architect (long-term goal)

Your Next Step (This Week):

  1. Create a free AWS or Azure account.
  2. Complete a beginner course on "AWS VPC" or "Azure Virtual Network" on YouTube or a learning platform.
  3. Build your first VPC with a public and private subnet. Do not skip the hands-on part.

For structured training options, please check the official Network Kings website (nwkings.com) for their latest cloud courses and batches. They have dedicated tracks for network engineers transitioning to cloud.

You have a solid foundation. The cloud market values your skillset highly, especially for hybrid cloud roles. Start building today, and you'll be on the right track.

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