What Is the Best Way to Learn DevOps? | 2025 Complete Step-by-Step Guide

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Introduction

If you’re searching online for “what is the best way to learn DevOps”, you’re already on the right track to one of the most promising IT careers in 2025.

DevOps has become the heart of modern software development, integrating coding, testing, deployment, and monitoring into one continuous process. It bridges the gap between developers and operations teams to deliver faster, more efficient, and reliable applications.

The demand for skilled DevOps engineers has skyrocketed, with companies actively hiring professionals who understand automation, cloud computing, and CI/CD pipelines. But with so many courses, tools, and tutorials available, many learners feel lost on where to start and how to master DevOps the right way.

This guide explains the best way to learn DevOps step by step, including:

  • What DevOps is and why it’s important
  • The skills and tools you need to master
  • A practical roadmap to learn DevOps efficiently
  • Common mistakes to avoid
  • Certifications and career scope in 2025

By the end, you’ll have a complete, actionable plan to start your DevOps learning journey and become job-ready in less than 6–9 months.

What Is DevOps?

DevOps is a cultural and technical movement that combines Development (Dev) and Operations (Ops) teams to improve software delivery speed, quality, and collaboration.

Core Objectives of DevOps:

  • Automate the software delivery process
  • Improve collaboration between teams
  • Enhance system reliability and scalability
  • Enable continuous integration and deployment (CI/CD)
  • Reduce downtime and improve customer experience

Key DevOps Practices:

  • Continuous Integration (CI)
  • Continuous Delivery (CD)
  • Infrastructure as Code (IaC)
  • Monitoring and feedback loops
  • Automation at every stage

In essence, DevOps is not just a toolset — it’s a mindset and workflow that accelerates digital transformation in every industry.

Why Learn DevOps in 2025?

The IT industry is rapidly moving toward automation, AI integration, and cloud infrastructure. DevOps sits at the intersection of all these trends, making it one of the most valuable career skills today.

Top Reasons to Learn DevOps:

  • High Demand: Over 80% of IT organizations have adopted DevOps practices.
  • Career Growth: DevOps professionals are among the top 5 highest-paid in IT.
  • Cross-Domain Opportunities: Opens doors in cloud, security, AI, and data engineering.
  • Future-Proof Skills: Integrates AI/ML, Cloud, and Automation.
  • Global Recognition: DevOps engineers are in demand across India, the USA, and Europe.

In short: Learning DevOps now means securing your place in the future of IT.

What Is the Best Way to Learn DevOps?

There isn’t a single “shortcut” to mastering DevOps — but there is a proven, structured approach that ensures steady learning and practical expertise.

The best way to learn DevOps is to follow a step-by-step roadmap combining theory, practice, tools, and real-world projects.

Here’s how to do it.

Step-by-Step Roadmap: Best Way to Learn DevOps in 2025

Step 1: Learn the Fundamentals of DevOps

Before touching tools, you must understand what DevOps really means.

Learn These Basics:

  • The DevOps lifecycle: Plan → Code → Build → Test → Deploy → Monitor → Feedback.
  • DevOps vs Agile vs Traditional IT models.
  • Key concepts: automation, CI/CD, continuous feedback, and collaboration.

Why It Matters:
You’ll understand why DevOps exists and how it solves modern IT challenges.

Step 2: Build a Strong Foundation in Linux and Networking

DevOps relies heavily on servers and cloud systems, which typically run on Linux environments.

Learn the Following:

  • Linux commands (navigation, permissions, processes, files).
  • Shell scripting for automation.
  • Basic networking (DNS, IP, firewalls, load balancers).

Practice Daily:
Use a cloud-based Linux environment or install Ubuntu locally to practice.

Step 3: Learn a Scripting or Programming Language

While DevOps engineers don’t need to be full-time programmers, scripting knowledge is essential for automation.

Best Languages to Learn:

  • Python: For automation and integration.
  • Shell/Bash: For system-level scripting.
  • YAML/JSON: For configuration files.

Why It Helps:
Automation scripts and infrastructure as code (IaC) require coding familiarity.

Step 4: Learn Version Control (Git & GitHub)

Version control systems are the backbone of DevOps collaboration.

Learn:

  • Basic Git commands (init, clone, commit, branch, merge, push).
  • Branching workflows.
  • Repository management in GitHub or GitLab.

Practice:
Create a GitHub repo, make commits, and collaborate on open-source projects.

Step 5: Understand Continuous Integration (CI) and Continuous Deployment (CD)

CI/CD pipelines are the core of DevOps automation.

Learn These Tools:

  • Jenkins – for automating build and deployment pipelines.
  • GitLab CI/CD – for end-to-end integration.
  • Azure DevOps – for enterprise-level CI/CD management.

Practice Project:
Automate the build, testing, and deployment of a simple web app using Jenkins.

Step 6: Learn Containerization and Orchestration (Docker & Kubernetes)

Containers allow applications to run consistently across environments.

Learn:

  • Docker fundamentals: images, containers, volumes, Dockerfile.
  • Kubernetes: pods, deployments, services, scaling.

Practice:
Containerize an application using Docker and deploy it with Kubernetes locally or on the cloud.

Step 7: Learn Cloud Computing (AWS, Azure, or GCP)

Cloud computing is the foundation of modern DevOps pipelines.

Start With:

  • AWS Free Tier or Azure Student Program.
  • Basics of compute, storage, networking, and IAM.
  • CI/CD integration with cloud platforms.

Pro Tip: Choose one cloud platform first — AWS is most widely used for DevOps.

Step 8: Learn Infrastructure as Code (IaC)

IaC helps automate infrastructure provisioning and configuration.

Key Tools to Master:

  • Terraform: For infrastructure provisioning.
  • Ansible: For configuration management.

Practice:

  • Automate the setup of a cloud instance using Terraform.
  • Configure it automatically using Ansible playbooks.

Step 9: Learn Monitoring and Logging

Monitoring ensures system reliability and performance.

Tools to Learn:

  • Prometheus – for metrics and alerting.
  • Grafana – for dashboards.
  • ELK Stack (Elasticsearch, Logstash, Kibana) – for logging.

Practice:
Set up monitoring for your deployed application on the cloud.

Step 10: Build Real-World DevOps Projects

Hands-on practice is the best way to learn DevOps.

Project Ideas:

  • CI/CD pipeline for a Node.js app using Jenkins.
  • Dockerized deployment on AWS or Azure.
  • Terraform and Ansible for automated infrastructure.
  • Kubernetes-based scalable web application.

Tip: Document your projects on GitHub to showcase your portfolio.

Step 11: Learn DevSecOps and AIOps (Advanced Topics)

As DevOps evolves, security and AI integration are becoming key areas.

Learn:

  • DevSecOps: Integrate security in CI/CD pipelines (e.g., SonarQube, Vault).
  • AIOps: Use AI tools for predictive monitoring and automation.

Why It Matters:
These advanced skills make you future-ready and increase your employability.

Step 12: Get Certified

Certifications validate your skills and make your profile stand out.

Top DevOps Certifications (2025):

  • AWS Certified DevOps Engineer
  • Microsoft Certified: DevOps Engineer Expert
  • Docker Certified Associate (DCA)
  • Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA)
  • HashiCorp Certified Terraform Associate

Pro Tip: Focus on certifications aligned with your cloud provider (AWS, Azure, GCP).

The Best Learning Methods for DevOps

Different learners prefer different learning modes. Here’s how to choose the best learning method for you.

1. Instructor-Led Training (Offline or Hybrid)

Benefits:

  • Learn directly from experts.
  • Access to real-time projects and mentorship.
  • Interactive, guided learning.
  • Placement assistance for freshers.

Ideal For:
Students, fresh graduates, and professionals looking for structured training.

2. Online Self-Paced Learning

Benefits:

  • Learn at your own pace.
  • Access recorded sessions anytime.
  • Cost-effective and flexible.

Ideal For:
Working professionals or independent learners.

3. Bootcamp and Project-Based Learning

Benefits:

  • Intensive, hands-on training.
  • Focus on practical application and portfolio development.
  • Short-term, result-oriented learning.

Ideal For:
Learners who want to become job-ready quickly.

DevOps Learning Roadmap (6-Month Plan)

Month

Focus Area

Tools / Skills to Learn

1

Basics + Linux

Linux, Shell Scripting

2

Git + CI/CD

Git, Jenkins, GitLab

3

Containers

Docker, Kubernetes

4

Cloud

AWS / Azure / GCP

5

IaC + Automation

Terraform, Ansible

6

Monitoring + Projects

Prometheus, Grafana, DevSecOps

Outcome: By the end of 6 months, you’ll have a complete DevOps skill set with deployable projects and certifications.

DevOps Learning in India

India is one of the best countries to learn DevOps due to its growing IT ecosystem and vast learning opportunities.

Why India Is a Hub for DevOps Training:

  • Affordable, high-quality training programs.
  • Real-time project exposure.
  • Placement-focused learning environments.
  • Rapid job growth in cities like Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Pune, and Chennai.

Fact: According to NASSCOM, India will need over 10 lakh DevOps professionals by 2030 to support its digital economy.

Career Opportunities After Learning DevOps

Once you complete DevOps training, multiple career paths open up.

Top DevOps Roles:

  • DevOps Engineer
  • Cloud DevOps Engineer
  • Site Reliability Engineer (SRE)
  • Automation Engineer
  • Platform Engineer
  • DevSecOps Specialist

Average Salary (India 2025):

Experience Level

Average Salary (₹/Year)

Entry-Level

₹6 – ₹9 LPA

Mid-Level

₹12 – ₹20 LPA

Senior / Architect

₹25 – ₹40 LPA+

Insight: Indian DevOps engineers working remotely for global companies earn 2–3x domestic salaries.

Common Mistakes to Avoid While Learning DevOps

  • Jumping into tools without understanding fundamentals.
  • Learning too many tools simultaneously.
  • Ignoring Linux and scripting basics.
  • Skipping real-world projects.
  • Focusing only on theory.

Tip: Follow a structured roadmap, practice daily, and focus on practical problem-solving.

Future of DevOps (2025 and Beyond)

DevOps continues to evolve with new technologies like AI, ML, and automation.

Emerging DevOps Trends:

  • AIOps: AI for predictive monitoring and automation.
  • GitOps: Using Git for managing infrastructure.
  • DevSecOps: Integrating security early in pipelines.
  • Serverless DevOps: Automating serverless architecture deployment.

Insight: The DevOps job market will continue to grow at 25–30% annually, making it a top skill for the next decade.

Final Thoughts

So, what is the best way to learn DevOps?

The answer is simple: follow a structured, hands-on, and consistent learning roadmap.

Key Takeaways:

  • Learn Linux, scripting, and Git first.
  • Master CI/CD, Docker, Kubernetes, and Cloud Platforms.
  • Build real-world projects to showcase your skills.
  • Get certified to validate your expertise.
  • Stay updated with DevSecOps and AIOps trends.

With dedication, the right platform, and consistent practice, you can become a DevOps engineer in 6–9 months and launch a high-paying career in India’s booming IT industry.