March 29, 2024
Updated April 4, 2025
18 minute read
Cloud Engineer: Building the Future in the Cloud
A Cloud Engineer is a technology professional responsible for designing, implementing, managing, and maintaining an organization's cloud computing infrastructure. Think of them as the architects and builders of the digital world that exists not on a single computer, but across vast networks of servers known as "the cloud." They ensure that applications and data are accessible, secure, and performant, leveraging services from major cloud providers like Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform (GCP).
axek3u|
Find a path to becoming a Cloud Engineer. Learn more at:
OpenCourser.com/career/axek3u/cloud
Reading list
We've selected some books
that we think will supplement your
learning. Use these to
develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a
deeper understanding of the topics covered in
Cloud Engineer.
A comprehensive and authoritative work on computer programming, covering a wide range of topics from algorithms to data structures.
Provides a comprehensive overview of cloud computing and big data, covering topics such as cloud computing architectures, big data analytics, and data management. It is an excellent resource for understanding the convergence of cloud computing and big data.
Provides a comprehensive guide to cloud architecture patterns, including patterns for designing scalable, resilient, and portable cloud applications. It valuable resource for architects and developers who want to design and build cloud-based systems.
Provides a comprehensive overview of building serverless applications specifically on the AWS platform. It covers key AWS services like Lambda, API Gateway, and Kinesis, offering practical insights and real-world use cases. It's valuable for understanding the practical application of serverless principles within a major cloud ecosystem and is suitable for those looking to implement serverless solutions on AWS.
A recent publication focusing on leveraging AWS Lambda for building scalable and cost-effective serverless solutions. It covers basics to advanced deployment, including event-driven design, hyper-scaling, and operational techniques. is highly relevant for those specifically focused on AWS Lambda and seeking to deepen their expertise.
Offers a vendor-agnostic view of serverless computing, covering AWS, Azure, GCP, Kubernetes, and open-source options. It provides a broad understanding of the serverless landscape and helps in selecting appropriate technologies. It's a good resource for gaining a wider perspective beyond a single cloud provider.
Presents a collection of proven patterns for designing and building cloud-native applications. It covers topics such as microservices, containers, and serverless computing. It valuable resource for architects and developers who want to adopt cloud-native practices.
Provides a comprehensive overview of cloud computing concepts, technologies, and architectures. It is an excellent resource for understanding the fundamentals of cloud computing and how to design and build cloud-based applications.
Provides a comprehensive overview of cloud computing and software engineering, covering topics such as cloud computing architectures, software development methodologies, and cloud-based software engineering. It is an excellent resource for understanding the relationship between cloud computing and software engineering.
Provides a hands-on approach to cloud computing, covering topics such as cloud computing architectures, service models, deployment models, and security considerations. It is an excellent resource for readers who want to learn how to build and deploy cloud-based applications.
Covers the latest AWS certification exam blueprint and provides comprehensive coverage of all exam topics. It is an excellent resource for anyone preparing for the AWS Certified DevOps Engineer - Professional exam.
Covers the latest AWS certification exam blueprint and provides comprehensive coverage of all exam topics. It is an excellent resource for anyone preparing for the AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Professional exam.
Comprehensive guide to concurrency in Java 8. It covers everything from the basics of thread safety to advanced topics like lock-free programming and reactive programming. It great resource for developers who want to learn how to write concurrent code effectively.
This handbook focuses on best practices and real-world applications of serverless architecture, particularly using the AWS Well-Architected Framework's Serverless Lens. It's designed for technology leaders and architects, offering insights into operational excellence, security, reliability, performance, cost optimization, and sustainability in a serverless context.
Provides a comprehensive overview of AWS for architects and covers topics such as cloud design principles, architectural patterns, and best practices. It valuable resource for anyone looking to design and deploy cloud applications on AWS.
Provides a comprehensive overview of cloud security, covering topics such as cloud security risks, compliance, and best practices. It valuable resource for security professionals who want to protect cloud-based systems.
Focuses on the architectural challenges of building data-intensive applications, such as choosing the right data storage and processing technologies and designing scalable and fault-tolerant systems. It valuable resource for architects and developers who want to build robust and efficient cloud-based applications.
While not solely focused on serverless, this book foundational text for understanding microservices architecture, which is highly relevant to serverless computing. It covers design, testing, deployment, and operational concerns of microservices. It is essential background reading for anyone designing complex serverless systems and is widely regarded as a key resource in the field.
Provides a practical guide to cloud computing, covering topics such as cloud computing models, deployment strategies, and best practices. It valuable resource for architects and developers who want to design and build cloud-based applications.
Classic guide to writing clean code. It covers a wide range of topics, including naming conventions, code organization, and testing. While it does not cover Java 8 specifically, it valuable resource for any Java developer.
Provides a comprehensive overview of AWS security best practices and covers topics such as identity and access management, data protection, and network security. It valuable resource for anyone looking to secure their AWS environment.
Classic guide to writing effective Java code. It covers a wide range of topics, including object-oriented design, concurrency, and performance. While it does not cover Java 8 specifically, it valuable resource for any Java developer.
Practical guide to using Java 8 features in real-world applications. It covers a wide range of topics, including lambdas, streams, and functional programming. It great resource for developers who want to learn how to use Java 8 effectively.
Practical guide to tuning Java applications for performance. It covers a wide range of topics, including profiling, garbage collection, and memory management. It great resource for developers who want to learn how to make their Java applications run faster.
Comprehensive guide to network programming and distributed computing in Java. It covers a wide range of topics, including sockets, networking protocols, and remote method invocation. It great resource for developers who want to learn how to write Java applications that can communicate over networks.
Comprehensive guide to persistence with Hibernate in Java. It covers a wide range of topics, including object-relational mapping, caching, and transactions. It great resource for developers who want to learn how to use Hibernate to manage data in their Java applications.
Comprehensive guide to the Java programming language. It covers a wide range of topics, including the basics of the language, object-oriented programming, and advanced topics like concurrency and functional programming. It great resource for developers who want to learn more about the Java programming language.
Comprehensive guide to building cloud-native Java applications. It covers a wide range of topics, including microservices, containers, and serverless computing. While it does not cover Java 8 specifically, it valuable resource for any Java developer who wants to learn how to build cloud-native applications.
Provides a deep dive into serverless architectures, covering topics such as serverless computing models, event-driven programming, and cloud functions. It valuable resource for architects and developers who want to build and deploy serverless applications.
A classic textbook on computer networks, providing a comprehensive overview of the field.
A widely-used textbook on operating systems, covering topics such as process management, memory management, and file systems.
An example-driven tutorial focusing on building event-driven serverless applications using AWS Lambda. It covers fundamental concepts, common patterns, and building larger applications by combining smaller examples. While published in 2016, it remains a useful resource for understanding the core mechanics of AWS Lambda and event-driven design, particularly for those new to the service.
Delves into the fundamental concepts behind building scalable and reliable data systems, which are critical for serverless applications. It provides a deep understanding of data storage, processing, and communication, offering valuable insights for designing robust serverless architectures. It's a highly regarded book for anyone working with distributed systems.
Another valuable resource for understanding microservices patterns, which are highly applicable to serverless architectures. It explores various patterns for decomposing applications into smaller services, communication styles, and data management. provides architectural depth for designing serverless solutions.
Serverless architectures often leverage event-driven patterns. provides a deep dive into designing and implementing event-driven systems, which is highly relevant for building reactive and scalable serverless applications. It offers valuable architectural knowledge that complements serverless-specific technical guides.
Provides a practical approach to building Function as a Service (FaaS) solutions using Azure Functions with C#. It good resource for developers specifically working with Azure Functions and the C# language.
Serverless computing key aspect of cloud-native development. explores various patterns for building cloud-native applications, including concepts relevant to serverless, microservices, and distributed systems. It helps in understanding how serverless fits within the broader cloud-native landscape.
Targets developers looking to build full-stack applications using serverless technologies, specifically with React, AWS, and GraphQL. It provides a practical, hands-on approach to building modern applications leveraging serverless services. It's a good resource for those interested in the practical application of serverless in a full-stack context.
Provides a comprehensive overview of serverless computing on AWS and covers topics such as building and deploying serverless applications, using AWS Lambda, and managing serverless infrastructure. It valuable resource for anyone looking to build serverless applications on AWS.
Given the mention of 'Serverless on Kubernetes' in the course list, this book provides essential knowledge on Kubernetes, a platform often used in conjunction with or as an underlying layer for serverless deployments. It covers deploying and managing containerized applications, which is relevant for understanding serverless options like Cloud Run or AWS Fargate.
Provides a broad overview of Google Cloud Platform, including a section on serverless applications with Cloud Functions and managing containers with Kubernetes. While not exclusively serverless, it offers valuable context for those exploring serverless options within the Google Cloud ecosystem.
Discusses the shift to the 'Modern Cloud' and the principles behind it, with serverless being a significant component. It focuses on the socio-technical aspects and how organizations can leverage modern cloud technologies, including serverless, for business advantage. It's relevant for understanding the strategic importance of serverless.
Beginner-friendly introduction to Java. It covers all the basics of the language, including object-oriented programming, data structures, and algorithms. While it does not cover Java 8 specifically, it good foundation for learning the language.
A textbook on computer architecture, covering topics such as processor design, memory hierarchy, and I/O systems.
DevOps principles are crucial for successfully implementing and operating serverless applications. This foundational book on DevOps provides valuable insights into creating a culture and practices that support rapid, reliable, and secure software delivery, which is highly applicable to serverless environments.
An introduction to algorithms, covering topics such as sorting, searching, and data structures.
Offers a comprehensive guide to serverless computing, including a self-assessment tool. It covers integrating recent advances and process design strategies according to best practices. It can serve as a reference for understanding various aspects of serverless computing and identifying areas for improvement.
A book aimed at absolute beginners to serverless architecture. It introduces core concepts, benefits, and how to leverage serverless for efficient and scalable applications, focusing on best practices. This is an excellent starting point for anyone with no prior knowledge of serverless.
A comprehensive textbook on deep learning, covering topics such as neural networks, convolutional neural networks, and recurrent neural networks.
For more information about how these books relate to this course, visit:
OpenCourser.com/career/axek3u/cloud
Save
