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cloud network engineer roadmap & certifications

A Cloud Network Engineer designs, implements, and manages cloud networking solutions for platforms like AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud. This roadmap will guide you step-by-step from fundamentals to advanced networking concepts.

Table of Contents

📆 Week 1-2: Learn Networking Basics

📌 Goal: Build a solid foundation in traditional networking before moving to cloud networking.

✅ What to Learn?

  • OSI & TCP/IP Models (Layers, Protocols)
  • IP Addressing & Subnetting (IPv4, IPv6, CIDR)
  • Routing & Switching (Static & Dynamic Routing, VLANs, STP)
  • Firewall & VPN Basics
  • DNS, DHCP, NAT Concepts

🎓 Resources:

🛠 Hands-on:
✅ Set up a basic network using Packet Tracer or GNS3
✅ Configure a router, firewall rules, and NAT

📆 Week 3-4: Introduction to Cloud Computing & Cloud Networking

📌 Goal: Understand cloud computing basics and cloud-specific networking.

✅ What to Learn?

  • Cloud Computing Models (IaaS, PaaS, SaaS)
  • Cloud Service Providers Overview (AWS, Azure, GCP)
  • Cloud Networking Basics (VPC, Virtual Networks, Subnets)
  • Cloud Security Concepts (IAM, Security Groups, ACLs)

🎓 Resources:

🛠 Hands-on:
✅ Create a VPC in AWS
✅ Configure subnets, internet gateway, and security groups

📆 Week 5-6: Advanced Cloud Networking (AWS, Azure, GCP)

📌 Goal: Learn networking services across cloud platforms.

✅ What to Learn?

  • AWS Networking:

    • VPC, Route Tables, Internet/NAT Gateways
    • VPC Peering & Transit Gateway
    • Elastic Load Balancer (ELB) & Application Load Balancer (ALB)

  • Azure Networking:

    • Virtual Networks (VNets), Subnets, NSGs
    • Azure Load Balancer & Azure Application Gateway
    • ExpressRoute & VPN Gateway

  • GCP Networking:

    • Virtual Private Cloud (VPC), Subnetworks
    • Cloud Load Balancing & Cloud VPN
    • VPC Peering & Interconnect

🎓 Resources:

🛠 Hands-on:
✅ Set up VPC peering between two AWS VPCs
✅ Deploy Azure VNet with a VPN Gateway
✅ Configure GCP Load Balancer for high availability

📆 Week 7-8: Security & Automation in Cloud Networking

📌 Goal: Secure cloud networks and automate deployments.

✅ What to Learn?

  • Cloud Security Best Practices (Zero Trust, DDoS Protection)
  • Identity & Access Management (IAM) in AWS, Azure, GCP
  • Cloud Networking Automation using Terraform
  • Monitoring & Logging (CloudWatch, Azure Monitor, Stackdriver)

🎓 Resources:

🛠 Hands-on:
✅ Use Terraform to deploy AWS networking components
✅ Configure AWS CloudWatch to monitor VPC traffic

📆 Week 9-10: Hybrid & Multi-Cloud Networking

📌 Goal: Learn how to connect on-premises data centers to the cloud.

✅ What to Learn?

  • Hybrid Networking Concepts (AWS Direct Connect, Azure ExpressRoute, GCP Interconnect)
  • Multi-Cloud Networking (Connecting AWS, Azure, GCP networks)
  • Software-Defined Networking (SDN) & SD-WAN

🎓 Resources:

🛠 Hands-on:
✅ Connect an on-premises network to AWS using Site-to-Site VPN
✅ Deploy multi-cloud connectivity using Terraform

📆 Week 11-12: Real-World Projects & Certification Prep

📌 Goal: Gain practical experience & prepare for cloud networking certifications.

✅ Certifications to Target:

  • AWS Advanced Networking – Specialty
  • Microsoft Azure Network Engineer Associate
  • Google Cloud Professional Network Engineer

🎓 Resources:

🛠 Final Projects:
✅ Project 1: Deploy a high-availability VPC in AWS with load balancers
✅ Project 2: Configure a multi-region hybrid network (AWS & on-premises)
✅ Project 3: Automate VPC & security group creation using Terraform

🔥 Real-World Cloud Network Engineer Projects

💡 1. Multi-Region AWS VPC Setup

  • Tools: AWS VPC, Route Tables, Transit Gateway
  • Outcome: Create a scalable, secure, multi-region AWS network

💡 2. Hybrid Cloud Network (AWS + On-Prem)

  • Tools: AWS Direct Connect / VPN, BGP
  • Outcome: Securely connect on-premises network to AWS

💡 3. Cloud Networking Automation

  • Tools: Terraform, Ansible, CloudFormation
  • Outcome: Automate VPC, subnets, and firewall rules deployment

🚀 Final Steps to Become a Cloud Network Engineer

✅ 1. Build Hands-on Cloud Networking Projects
✅ 2. Earn Cloud Networking Certifications
✅ 3. Apply for Cloud Network Engineer Jobs

Best Certifications for Cloud Network Engineers 

If you want to become a Cloud Network Engineer, getting certified can boost your career by proving your skills in cloud networking, security, and automation.

Here are the top certifications categorized by Cloud Provider (AWS, Azure, GCP) and Networking (CCNA, CCNP, SD-WAN, etc.)

☁️ Cloud Networking Certifications (AWS, Azure, GCP)

1️⃣ AWS Advanced Networking – Specialty (Best for AWS Cloud Networking)

✅ For: Cloud Network Engineers working with AWS
✅ Covers:

  • VPC, Subnetting, Routing, NAT
  • Hybrid Cloud Networking (AWS Direct Connect, VPN)
  • AWS Load Balancers, Transit Gateway
  • Network Security (WAF, NACL, Security Groups)
    ✅ Prerequisites: AWS Solutions Architect (Recommended)
    📌 Exam Guide
    💰 Cost: $300

2️⃣ Microsoft Azure Network Engineer Associate (AZ-700)

✅ For: Engineers working on Azure cloud networking
✅ Covers:

  • Azure Virtual Networks (VNet), Subnets
  • Azure Load Balancers & Application Gateway
  • Azure ExpressRoute, VPN Gateway
  • Network Security (NSG, Firewalls, DDoS Protection)
    ✅ Prerequisites: Azure Fundamentals (Recommended)
    📌 Exam Guide
    💰 Cost: $165

3️⃣ Google Cloud Professional Network Engineer

✅ For: Engineers working on GCP networking
✅ Covers:

  • Google Cloud VPC, Subnets, Firewall Rules
  • Cloud Load Balancing & Traffic Management
  • Interconnect & Peering (Hybrid & Multi-cloud)
  • Network Security (Cloud Armor, IAM)
    ✅ Prerequisites: Google Associate Cloud Engineer (Recommended)
    📌 Exam Guide
    💰 Cost: $200

🌐 Core Networking Certifications (Cisco, Juniper, Arista, SD-WAN, etc.)

4️⃣ Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) (Best for Networking Fundamentals)

✅ For: Beginners in networking
✅ Covers:

  • IP Addressing, Routing, Subnetting
  • VLANs, Switching, Network Security
  • Network Automation Basics
    ✅ Prerequisites: None
    📌 Exam Guide
    💰 Cost: $300

5️⃣ Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP – Enterprise, Security, Data Center)

✅ For: Experienced network engineers specializing in cloud & SD-WAN
✅ Covers:

  • Advanced Routing (BGP, OSPF, EIGRP)
  • SD-WAN & Multi-Cloud Networking
  • Network Security (VPNs, Firewalls, Threat Defense)
    ✅ Prerequisites: CCNA (Recommended)
    📌 Exam Guide
    💰 Cost: ~$400 per exam

6️⃣ Juniper Networks Certified Internet Specialist (JNCIS-ENT, JNCIS-Cloud)

✅ For: Cloud & Data Center networking professionals
✅ Covers:

  • Cloud Networking (AWS, Azure, GCP)
  • BGP, MPLS, VXLAN, EVPN
  • Network Security & Automation (Ansible, Terraform)
    ✅ Prerequisites: JNCIA (Recommended)
    📌 Exam Guide
    💰 Cost: $300

7️⃣ VMware Certified Professional – Network Virtualization (VCP-NV)

✅ For: Engineers working on SDN & Virtualized Networks
✅ Covers:

  • VMware NSX-T & SDN Concepts
  • Multi-Cloud Networking & Security
  • Network Automation & Orchestration
    ✅ Prerequisites: VMware NSX Fundamentals (Recommended)
    📌 Exam Guide
    💰 Cost: $250

🌍 SD-WAN & Multi-Cloud Networking Certifications

8️⃣ Cisco SD-WAN Solutions (300-415 ENSDWI)

✅ For: Engineers working on Software-Defined WAN
✅ Covers:

  • Cisco SD-WAN (vEdge, vManage)
  • Cloud Connectivity & Security
  • Traffic Engineering & Policy Control
    ✅ Prerequisites: CCNP (Recommended)
    📌 Exam Guide
    💰 Cost: $300

9️⃣ Nutanix Certified Professional – Multi-Cloud Infrastructure (NCP-MCI)

✅ For: Engineers working on hybrid & multi-cloud networking
✅ Covers:

  • Networking in Multi-Cloud Environments
  • Cloud Infrastructure & Security
  • SDN & Network Automation
    ✅ Prerequisites: Basic cloud networking knowledge
    📌 Exam Guide
    💰 Cost: $199

🔹 DevOps & Cloud Automation Certifications (Bonus for Cloud Engineers)

1️⃣ HashiCorp Certified: Terraform Associate

✅ For: Cloud engineers automating network infrastructure
✅ Covers:

  • Terraform Basics & State Management
  • VPC, Subnets, Security Groups Automation
  • Multi-Cloud Networking Automation
    📌 Exam Guide
    💰 Cost: $70

2️⃣ AWS Certified DevOps Engineer – Professional

✅ For: Engineers working on CI/CD, automation, & cloud security
✅ Covers:

  • AWS Networking, Security, & IAM
  • Automation with Terraform & CloudFormation
  • Monitoring & Incident Response (CloudWatch, GuardDuty)
    📌 Exam Guide
    💰 Cost: $300

🚀 Which Certification Should You Choose?

🔹 Beginner? → CCNA or Azure Network Engineer (AZ-700)
🔹 Cloud Networking? → AWS Advanced Networking / GCP Network Engineer
🔹 Multi-Cloud & SD-WAN? → Cisco SD-WAN, VMware NSX-T
🔹 Cloud Infrastructure & Automation? → Terraform Associate, AWS DevOps

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