How to prioritize which DevOps skills to learn first

To prioritize which DevOps skills to learn first, focus on building a strong foundation in the core competencies that will enable you to effectively contribute to DevOps processes and projects early on. Here’s a recommended approach

Step 1: Learn Operating Systems + Scripting

DevOps runs mostly on Linux — so start here!

  • Learn Linux basics (commands, users, permissions, services)
  • Practice Shell scripting (Bash)
  • Learn Python to automate tasks

This gives you the power to control systems efficiently and it is must DevOps skills to learn.


Step 2: Master Git + CI/CD Pipelines

Version control is required everywhere:

  • Learn Git (branching, merging, GitHub/GitLab)
  • Understand CI/CD concepts
  • Start using tools like:
    • Jenkins
    • GitHub Actions
    • GitLab CI

This helps automate software delivery.


Step 3: Infrastructure as Code (IaC) + Configuration Management

DevOps = automation everywhere.

  • Learn Terraform for provisioning infrastructure
  • Learn Ansible or Puppet to configure servers automatically

These tools help manage systems at scale.


Step 4: Containers + Kubernetes

Most modern apps run in containers.

  • Start with Docker (images, containers, registries)
  • Then learn Kubernetes (pods, deployments, clusters)

This skill is one of the most important for DevOps jobs in 2025 and beyond.


Step 5: Monitoring + Logging

To keep systems healthy, you must track performance:

Tools to learn:

  • Prometheus (metrics & alerts)
  • Grafana (dashboards)
  • ELK Stack or Splunk (log analysis)

This helps detect issues before users are impacted.


Step 6: Networking + Security Basics

Every DevOps role requires:

  • Basic networking (DNS, firewalls, ports, routing)
  • DevSecOps awareness
  • Security best practices

Security must be integrated into every step of DevOps.


Step 7: Soft Skills

DevOps = collaboration between teams.

Work on:

  • Communication
  • Teamwork
  • Problem-solving
  • Analytical thinking

These skills make you stand out.


Learn Based on Your Career Goals

If you’re already working in:

  • Cloud environments → Learn AWS/Azure + cloud certifications
  • Development teams → Focus more on CI/CD + automation
  • Operations roles → Start with Linux + IaC + monitoring

There’s no single right path — choose skills that match your interests.


Final Thoughts: Keep Learning and Building

DevOps is a fast-changing world.
The best way to grow is by practicing:

Work on labs
Build real projects
Contribute to automation
Experiment with new tools

Following this roadmap gives you:
A strong foundation
Job-ready skills
Clear path to senior DevOps engineering roles

Next Steps :

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