10 Most Demanding DevOps Engineer Skills that Make a Perfect DevOps Engineer

As we adopt new technologies across businesses, the DevOps platform also gains acceptability. It is gradually increasing in popularity. The DevOps market is forecasted to reach US$ 12.5 billion by 2025, leading to a CAGR of 25% between 2020 and 2025. This platform can help by ensuring improved productivity and eliminating capital expenses in IT. 

Given the high demand for this platform, there is an increasing need for DevOps engineers too. Software engineers will be at the forefront of projects that require speed and quality. The engineers must use the optimal combination of tools and techniques to ensure the project is successful. While various teams must combine effort, the DevOps engineer skills must also be adequate. We will learn some skills they must possess to ensure successful projects.

10 Critical DevOps Engineer Skills needed to Master in Development Field

Knowledge of Linux and Scripting

Linux is a popular open-source operating system that finds use in several frameworks. It is also secure, and many businesses are using Linux-based solutions. Moreover, Linux is the basis for numerous DevOps applications. Being customizable, it can allow developers to modify it according to their requirements. Apart from being highly secure, Linux-based systems are scalable. DevOps engineers must have the requisite Linux skills and hands-on experience. Knowledge of Linux will help engineers grasp infrastructure automation, a significant component of DevOps. 

Proper Understanding of CI/ CD

Continuous Integration and Continuous Delivery (CI/ CD) is a DevOps best practice that addresses the misalignment between developers who look for frequent changes and the requirement for stable applications. It is a critical KPI to measure success, and engineers should adequately understand this practice. Software professionals must collaborate on various practices and technologies. CI can help integrate the newer codes with the incumbent application. The CD ensures the code is available for deployment with fewer manual processes.

Addressing Security Aspects

All software experts must consider the security aspect of the applications they are designing. The proliferation of hacking systems makes it a prime requirement for all applications to be secure. There can be issues in delivery with crunching milestones in place, but application security must take center stage. While DevOps is about automation, experts must ensure they have the skills to address the security aspect of the applications. DevOps engineers must write code that is free from all vulnerabilities. The reliable code must protect the program from attacks. 

Learning about Virtualisation and Cloud Concepts

DevOps practitioners are working when virtualization is prevalent. There is a requirement for a virtual machine at all steps in the testing and delivery processes. Several tools can allow us to avail ourselves of the benefits of virtualization software for free. DevOps experts must know the basics of virtualization and learn about the core concepts of the public cloud and cloud computing. It is also essential to know about VPNs, VirtualBox, Identity and Access Management, etc. In addition, they must have themselves certified in Public Cloud setup.

Clear Concepts on Infrastructure as Code

Infrastructure as Code (IAC) is another DevOps best practice. This practice allows the provisioning and management of infrastructure. You can apply the features available in the source code to the system architecture, including knowing about repositories, version control, etc. The advent of IAC has seen manual infrastructure scripts become defunct. Software experts who know IAC can create consistent applications that have fewer errors. Automation is critical for DevOps applications, so software professionals must automate all manual tasks. For completing various DevOps workflows, it is essential to ensure that developers can integrate the automation with the available tools.

Being Experienced in Configuration Tools

All DevOps professionals must be well acquainted with configuration tools. They can help in configuring various network elements and systems. It allows developers to minimize the time needed to deploy an application. DevOps professionals use two popular configuration tools. A puppet is a popular tool that automatically allows engineers to provide the desired state. Chef is open source, and the Chef Server is the foundation of this tool. The Chef Server handles the nodes and workstations in the network. It is used by several big brands too.

Know about Containerisation

Containerizing is very popular now, and DevOps consultants must have the proper knowledge. They are helpful due to their portability, easiness, and support capabilities. The developers must know about the working of containers and gather expertise about container tools. It helps to package the underlying code and deploy it in smaller containers. Hence, systems can be more effective and run faster in all environments. Docker allows you to build and deploy code by acting as a Platform-as-a-service. Kubernetes is an open-source system that provides batch execution, configuration management, load balancing, etc.

Monitoring is a Crucial Concept

Monitoring is a crucial component in DevOps applications. Anyone working on this platform must also be an expert in monitoring. It allows the engineers to develop an infrastructure to oversee any potential issues. They can accomplish various other tasks by mastering these tools. The application's success will also depend on the usage and choice of the monitoring tools. Tools like Raygun offer real-time capabilities for mobile and web apps. It can monitor how users interact with the application and customer experience. Nagios is an open-source application that can track your infrastructure in the background. The developers will be alerted of any issues.

Being Experts in Project Management

The DevOps experts must oversee the project that is in operation. Dedicated software can help them manage development projects with ease. You can leverage checklists and Gantt charts to track the tasks. You can use Jira, which can ideally help the teams working on DevOps. You can keep track by using boards and cards for the project. It supports hosting several users simultaneously. Trello is another board-based software that can formulate boards with many lists. The cards can be moved across the list as desired by the user. It allows many users to make changes to each board.

Non-Technical Skills are Essential Too

DevOps requires developers to gather knowledge about various tools. But they must not discount the requirement for soft skills. They must have exceedingly brilliant collaborative skills. You must also be patient when listening to your clients and clearly understand their needs. They must be mindful when discussing it with the client. It may require them to be assertive at times, too. They must also enthuse trust among their team members through effective communication to have a positive work environment. Being empathetic will also enable them to listen to their peers and prevent friction in the team.

Conclusion

The use of DevOps is rapidly increasing globally due to various factors. It also leads to the need for able experts with proper skills in DevOps. They must optimize the team's work and interact with the client appropriately. In addition, it will require them to be adept at the various DevOps engineer skills necessary to perform everyday activities. 

If you wish to be a domain expert, keep yourself familiar with the renowned cloud services. There are various aspects that you must consider too. The article discusses some skills you will need. Moreover, the DevOps engineer's roles and responsibilities are not limited to technical knowledge. You must also have the proper soft skills to handle clients.