What Do Azure Cloud Engineers Actually Do?

In my experience, there's a distinction between cloud engineers and cloud developers. Engineers often focus on the infrastructure side, like deploying resources with Terraform or Bicep, while developers work on building the applications that run on that infrastructure. If you want to be in engineering, consider gaining skills in infrastructure as code and learning about different Azure services. There’s definitely a lot of configuration and deployment involved.

The main role of a cloud engineer can vary a lot, but generally, they handle the practical implementation of cloud solutions. This usually involves working with infrastructure as code to deploy resources, configuring networking, and maintaining the cloud environment. Engineers often collaborate with architects who devise the high-level plans, making sure those ideas are translated into reality. They might also create low-level designs and handle everything in between, from networking to setting up environments for apps.

Honestly, a lot of the job is about staying on top of changes that Azure makes, which can be a bit frustrating. On a daily basis, you might be tasked with fixing issues, testing new features, or even just figuring out the latest updates in the Azure portal. It’s important to be adaptable and ready for anything, since cloud environments can shift rapidly. Don't forget, troubleshooting skills are super valuable!