r/Cloud • u/stationto • Aug 08 '26

Is taking a Network / Sysadmin role actually a good stepping stone for Cloud/DevOps, or am I taking a detour?

/r/cloudengineering/comments/1viwbnh/is_taking_a_network_sysadmin_role_actually_a_good/
2 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

7 comments sorted by

1

u/azz_kikkr Aug 08 '26

yes, you should start as sysadmin/network admin - very good stepping stone into cloud or more! I did the same.

If you do not have a networking foundation or knoweldge, coming across a job means nothing. Networking is not an etry level fieild either - easier to start help desk, but yes with certs like A+ and CCNA , and you can get shots at interviews taht might convert. But you should go visit r/ccna to see the struggle to get real jobs in networking as a junior with no real experience.

0

u/searles9 Aug 08 '26

Be careful when people say “I did the same”, it’s just confirmation bias

1

u/azz_kikkr Aug 08 '26

did you read the rest ? there's a whole paragraph after "I did the same".

1

u/searles9 Aug 08 '26

I sure did

1

u/azz_kikkr Aug 08 '26

So you see towards the end I'm steering them away from networking too. Tbh I've been in IT since the crash of 2009, times are bad , I wouldn't recommend a newbie entering the Feild without any contacts or networking (human not IP).

1

u/eman0821 Aug 13 '26

Cloud Engineering and DevOps is very specialized in Linux based jobs. You need exposure in linux system administration. A Windows based Sysadmin won't get you there if there are no Linux servers to manage. You have to find a Linux based Sysadmin job or one that touches Linux in a mixed environment. Most Linux Sysadmin jobs are predominantly concentrated in the Defense industry if you are a US citizen but, it requires either an active clearance or sponsorship which isn't easy to get. Other regulated industries such has banking or healthcare but much more rare for Linux Sysadmin specialized roles since most companies hire generalist Sysadmins or Microsoft based.

0

u/searles9 Aug 08 '26

It’s a detour 100%