I'm a computer science student who wants to specialize in infrastructure rather than application development. I'm especially interested in network engineering, Linux administration, cloud platforms, and DevOps, but there are so many topics that I'm struggling to decide what to learn first.
My current plan includes networking fundamentals such as TCP/IP, VLANs, routing, OSPF, BGP, DNS, DHCP, firewalls, VPNs, and Wireshark; Linux administration covering permissions, systemd, storage, Bash, and Python; AWS topics such as VPCs, IAM, load balancers, gateways, Route 53, and security groups; and infrastructure tools including Git, Terraform, Ansible, Docker, Kubernetes, and CI/CD.
I'm planning to build a home lab with virtual machines and containers on my MacBook. For someone trying to become employable, should I study networking, Linux, cloud, and DevOps sequentially or in parallel? How deeply should I learn traditional networking if my eventual goal is cloud infrastructure? Which entry-level roles should I target, such as help desk, NOC, junior sysadmin, cloud support, or junior DevOps? Should I prioritize certifications like CCNA or AWS certifications, or focus on projects first? Finally, what practical projects would make a beginner's résumé stand out?
I'm not looking for a list of courses. I'd like to understand which skills matter on the job and how to build useful experience from scratch.
5 Answers
For a first role, be realistic and consider help desk, junior systems administration, NOC, or cloud support. Those jobs can give you exposure to ticketing, monitoring, incident response, access control, and troubleshooting. A degree helps open doors, but employers will still want evidence that you can operate systems and keep learning.
Start with a small lab, earn an entry-level certification if it gives your studies structure, and expand the lab as you progress. Certifications can help get past initial screening, but you should be able to explain exactly what you built, why you designed it that way, and how you diagnosed problems.
Start with Linux and networking, preferably from the command line rather than relying on graphical tools. Learn the fundamentals, then immediately use them in practical labs. A good sequence is Linux and networking first, followed by Docker, cloud basics, Terraform or Ansible, and Kubernetes later. You want to understand what the systems are doing manually before hiding the details behind automation.
For a home lab, OpenWrt or VyOS can provide useful routing and firewall practice. VyOS is also interesting because its configuration can be managed in a way that leads naturally into infrastructure as code. Build one complete environment that you can explain end to end instead of collecting dozens of unfinished projects.
Treat any roadmap as a guide, not a checklist. Networking, Linux, cloud, and automation overlap, but trying to master everything at once can turn into endless studying. Learn enough networking to understand addressing, routing, DNS, NAT, firewalls, and troubleshooting; then reinforce it while building Linux and cloud projects.
Kubernetes is worth postponing until you are comfortable with Linux, containers, networking, and basic cloud deployments. Practice environments that give you broken systems to troubleshoot can be more valuable than simply following tutorials.
There is a huge amount to cover, and becoming genuinely strong across networking, operating systems, cloud, security, and automation takes years. You do not need to know everything before applying for internships or entry-level jobs. Focus on solid fundamentals, practice troubleshooting, and learn to see the overall system while still understanding the details underneath it. That ability is often more valuable than racing through advanced tool names.
A strong beginner project could include a virtual network with separate subnets, a Linux server, DNS, a firewall, logging, backups, and a small application deployed in containers. Document the architecture, automate part of the setup with Terraform or Ansible, and deliberately create and fix a few failures. That demonstrates more than a list of services.
If possible, a small nonprofit or community organization can provide useful real-world experience, but only take on work that can be maintained after you leave. A simple, documented system that someone else can support is much better than an impressive setup that becomes a liability.
The key is learning to connect the layers. A cloud application might look like an application error while the real cause is DNS, routing, permissions, storage, or a firewall rule.