Want to become a cloud engineer? Here is what a cloud engineer does, what employers look for and the quickest honest route in. Comfortable with tech but never worked in it? You start with cloud and networking basics and build up to Azure administrator. Earn 6 certifications, including Microsoft Azure AZ-104 and CompTIA Cloud+, and get placed on a live, fully remote cloud project for a real business within 48 hours. Three months later, you have the hands-on cloud experience every advert asks for.
A cloud engineer designs, builds and runs the infrastructure that applications live on, in platforms such as Microsoft Azure. That means virtual machines, networks, storage, identity and security, increasingly managed as code with Terraform and packaged with Docker. Linux skills matter too, because a large share of cloud workloads run on it, and so does clear documentation that the rest of the team can follow.
If you are researching how to become a cloud engineer, the usual answer is a mix of certifications and experience. The cloud engineer qualifications employers mention most are AZ-900, AZ-104 and CompTIA certifications such as Network+ and Security+. A degree helps but is not essential, and many employers will happily interview someone without one if the certifications and practical evidence are strong.
The part most people miss is experience. Experiencely trains you for CompTIA Cloud Essentials+, Network+, Security+ and Cloud+, plus AZ-900 and AZ-104, about 175 hours in total, and places you with a real UK business within 48 hours so you do real cloud engineer work for at least 3 months.
Most people do one cloud course and still can't get hired. You get the CompTIA and Microsoft Azure certifications employers look for, all included in one programme, with a mentor in your corner.
The business side of cloud. Proves you understand cloud services, costs and the shared responsibility model.
Instructor-led training for just one certification like CCNA or AZ-104 can cost £1,000 to £2,500 in the UK. And you still finish with no experience.
Course prices based on published UK instructor-led CCNA and AZ-104 courses, 2026.
This is what a hiring manager screens for on a junior cloud role. Your qualification gets you to the starting line. Without commercial experience, you're one of 205 applicants per digital and IT graduate role, and you look the same as everyone else.
Applications per role: Institute of Student Employers, 2024
Two tracks run side by side, so you're never just studying. You're placed within 48 hours and building real experience from week one.
On a phone? Swipe the chart sideways to see all 12 weeks. Example timeline. [Confirm the certification timeline: some certifications may continue after the 12 weeks.] Already hold some of these? Skip them and go straight into your placement.
Real cloud, real client, real feedback. All online, in your own time. This is the commercial experience that gets you past the CV screen. Example workspace for illustration.
You could be placed with any of these kinds of businesses, each with real cloud infrastructure to look after.
Review cloud spend, find waste and set up cost alerts.
Set up monitoring and alerts across production systems.
Rebuild a manual setup in Terraform and document it.
No. Here's exactly what you're paying for.
Briefs are chosen so you practise exactly what cloud teams hire for, not to fill a to-do list.
Every change you make is reviewed by an experienced cloud engineer, with weekly feedback.
It goes on your CV as a real role, with a client, results you can quote and references who have seen your work.
Three months later, the experience section employers read first is no longer empty. It has a job title, a client, real numbers and references.
Example CV for illustration.
Degree, course or self-taught IT skills
"This is a great experience to work on recent, real-world cases in your choice of program. I found the assigned mentors to be patient, considerate, and ready to provide a fresh perspective…"
"What I like the most about the Experiencely program is its real-world applicability. The tasks are relevant to current industry practices, which makes the experience truly valuable."
"My mentor has assigned meaningful tasks that are helping me develop real-world skills in my field… Highly recommend it to anyone looking for hands-on experience and mentorship."
Reviews copied word for word from our Trustpilot and Google profiles.
Everything on the receipt above: training for 6 certifications, a live remote placement within 48 hours, mentor reviews, references, CV rebuild, interview prep and being put forward to employers.
Our recruitment team puts you forward to employers hiring for cloud roles, preps you for interviews and helps with your own applications.
Tell us where you are, ask anything, and find out if you're eligible for funding. No pressure, no hard sell.
It depends on your starting point. Our programme includes about 175 hours of training and at least 3 months of real experience at as little as 1 hour a day.
You need scripting and infrastructure as code rather than full software development. Terraform, PowerShell and Bash are common.
AZ-900 or CompTIA Cloud Essentials+ for foundations, then AZ-104 and CompTIA Network+ and Security+.
Yes. Many people move from IT support, networking or unrelated careers. Real experience is what makes the switch credible.
Yes. Your project, your client and your mentor calls all happen online. You can take part from anywhere in the UK.
Yes. It takes as little as 1 hour a day, on evenings, weekends or both.
Yes. Funding is available for university graduates. Book a free call and we will check your eligibility.
Complete your 3 months, actively apply with our support, and if you have not landed a role within 60 days of completion, you get your money back. No questions asked.
Train for Azure and CompTIA certifications and get real cloud engineer experience around your job. Hired within 60 days of completion, or your money back.
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