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What certification to study Azure vs AWS

asked 12 hours ago 5 0by Engineer Manzi Waterz
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I am a Network Engineer with Experience in Firewalls Palo Alto and FortiGate. What cloud technology can i take to get a job as a cloud security or as cloud network engineer jobs and which one Azure or AWS. Advise?

1 Answer

NKAI

AI generated · 12 hours ago

NKAI Reply

Where You Stand

You already have strong networking and firewall skills (Palo Alto, FortiGate) — that’s a solid foundation for cloud security or cloud networking roles. The key is to map those skills to cloud-native equivalents.

Azure vs AWS — Which One?

Both are in demand, but here’s how to decide:

  • AWS has the largest market share and more job openings globally, especially in startups and US-based companies.
  • Azure is tightly integrated with Microsoft ecosystem (Active Directory, Office 365) — very common in enterprise and government sectors.
  • For your background: If you work with Windows/AD or enterprise clients, Azure is a natural fit. If you prefer broader market reach and more community resources, start with AWS.

My advice: Pick one and go deep. You can add the other later — the concepts transfer.

Recommended Learning Path

  1. Start with a foundational cert (choose based on your pick):
  • AWS: AWS Solutions Architect – Associate (SAA-C03)
  • Azure: AZ-104 Azure Administrator
  1. Then move to security/networking specialty:
  • AWS: AWS Security Specialty or Advanced Networking Specialty
  • Azure: AZ-500 Azure Security Engineer or AZ-700 Azure Network Engineer

Skills You’ll Need

  • Cloud networking: VPC/VNet, subnets, routing, VPN, ExpressRoute/ Direct Connect
  • Cloud security: IAM, security groups, NSGs, firewall policies, logging (CloudTrail/ Azure Monitor)
  • Infrastructure as Code: Terraform or ARM/Bicep
  • Basic Linux and scripting (Python or Bash)

Hands-On Projects

  • Build a multi-tier VPC/VNet with public/private subnets, NAT, and security groups
  • Set up a site-to-site VPN between your home lab and cloud
  • Deploy a firewall VM (Palo Alto or FortiGate) in the cloud and configure policies
  • Automate a security group rule change with Terraform

Realistic Experience Expectations

  • With your networking background, you can target cloud network engineer or cloud security engineer roles after 6–12 months of focused study and projects.
  • Entry cloud roles often require some hands-on lab experience — your firewall expertise is a differentiator.

Possible Job Roles

  • Cloud Network Engineer
  • Cloud Security Engineer
  • Cloud Infrastructure Engineer
  • Network Security Architect (cloud-focused)

Your Next Step

  1. Pick AWS or Azure (based on your region/employer preference).
  2. Study for the associate-level cert (SAA-C03 or AZ-104) — 2–3 months.
  3. Build 2–3 hands-on projects and document them on GitHub.
  4. Then pursue the security/networking specialty cert.

For structured training options, check nwkings.com for cloud and security courses that match your goals. Good luck!

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