Why Learn Linux and Amazon Web Services (AWS) at Yellow Tail Tech?

In recent years, more and more companies are embracing a cloud-first policy. According to an Accenture study, at least 90 percent of businesses in 2021 “have adopted cloud in some form”.

The reasons are clear—cloud adoption is necessary to keep businesses viable in a world that revolves around data. As Gartner’s Research Vice President Michael Warrilow puts it, “Technology and service providers that fail to adapt to the pace of cloud shift face increasing risk of becoming obsolete or, at best, being relegated to low-growth markets.”

However, some companies still struggle to achieve optimal results following cloud adoption. One of the reasons is the lack of skilled talent in cloud computing. Put another way, if you’re interested in breaking into tech, this is a good opportunity to gain the skills necessary to operate and maintain cloud services.

In this article, we will look at how you can expand your skill set and utilize a leading cloud computing platform and a popular operating system to your professional advantage with the help of Yellow Tech Tail.

Linux and Amazon Web Services (AWS) Explained

What Is Amazon Web Services (AWS)?

Amazon Web Services (AWS) is a versatile cloud computing provider offering an array of services for a diverse clientele. They include infrastructure as a service (IaaS), platform as a service (PaaS), and packaged software as a service (SaaS), among others.

4 Reasons to Learn AWS

Enterprises are rapidly migrating to the cloud and Cisco even estimated global data center IP traffic to exceed 20.6 Zettabytes (ZB) by the end of 2021. Meanwhile, Gartner forecasted cloud services to grow roughly three times faster than overall IT services through 2022. That means more opportunities for you. Below are some more reasons to learn AWS.

• According to Synergy Research, AWS led the cloud market with a 32 percent share in the first quarter of 2021. With such expansion comes a greater need for talent to fill open positions.
• Indeed has over 160,000 AWS-related job postings.
• Payscale records an average annual salary for AWS-related jobs at $108,000.
• As a solutions architect, you can work as a project manager, solutions manager, information technology project manager, or application manager, according to Zippia. You can then advance to positions such as contractor-senior project manager, senior engagement manager, global information technology manager, and corporate information technology manager, among others.

What Is Linux?

Linux is an open-source embedded operating system used in various applications including household appliances, car entertainment systems, and network file systems. In fact, Linux powers “most of the Internet” and all Android devices. It is known for being secure and accessible to a large community of users.

4 Reasons to Learn Linux

Linux is well-known for its security, stability, ease of maintenance, and flexibility, in addition to being free, open-source, and flexible in running on any hardware. More than its features, Linux is worthwhile to learn because of the career opportunities it provides.

• Learning Linux and becoming certified puts you in high demand. According to the 2020 Open Source Jobs Report, hiring managers expect Linux skills among their prospective cloud talent, but 93 percent of them struggle to find qualified talent.
• There are numerous job opportunities available, with over 100,000 Linux-related jobs listed on Indeed.
• According to Payscale, the annual salary is competitive at $93,000 on average, so you’re looking at quite a lucrative career.
• You have paths that you can thread. According to Zippia, Linux Administrators can begin their careers as build-release engineers, Linux systems administrators, or VMware administrators. They could eventually work as infrastructure project managers, systems engineers, or information technology operations managers, among many other positions.

An Overview of Yellow Tail Tech’s Linux and AWS Programs

Now that you have a rough idea of what AWS and Linux are, you may be wondering, “How do I get started?”

The first step is to develop the skills that employers seek. Yellow Tail Tech’s Linux and AWS programs can be the stepping stone that connects you to your new cloud computing job. Both programs will expose you to the fundamentals of IT infrastructure and networking through a six-module course, designed to help you become familiar with common IT vocabulary and concepts. This course is also aimed at getting you excited about your new future profession.

“We believe that [knowing] the proper technical fundamentals is important,” Marketing Lead Yana Capa-Pasco said. She added, “We equip them to be ready for the job market as well.”

Each program culminates with a certification as a capstone. “We believe that certifications can replace the lack of experience. So when you have certification, it actually shows that you put in the work and you already know the foundations,” Yana elaborated.

Let’s delve deeper into each program.

Linux For Jobs

The Linux For Jobs program includes three courses: IT Infrastructure and Networking, Linux for Jobs, and Red Hat Certified System Administration (RHCSA) Prep. It requires seven to 10 hours of learning a week and can be completed in six months. By the end of the program, you’ll have learned how to set up virtual machines, manage users, administer web servers, and write bash scripts.

It’s also designed to be beginner-friendly, as evident in the structure. You begin with basic commands and history and gradually work your way through more advanced lessons like directory structure, user management, networking, storage, and troubleshooting.

This is followed by a unique course that prepares you for the RHCSA exam, an assessment that validates your ability to “perform the core systems administration skills required in Red Hat Enterprise Linux environments”. Upon passing, you will get a certification that Yana described as “the most robust Linux certification out there”.

In the RHCSA Prep course, you can take practice exams that mimic the certification test. This can help you set your expectations as you become familiar with the question types and time constraints.

AWS For Jobs

In the AWS For Jobs, you’ll learn to deploy and monitor fault-tolerant and resilient web service architectures in AWS, optimize cloud service infrastructure for cost and performance, use Terraform to globally provision and configure AWS services, evaluate cloud security vulnerabilities, and write code to automate tasks using AWS APIs and AWS Lambda.

This program is a little longer than the Linux for Jobs program, comprising five courses in total and running for about nine months. After the IT Infrastructure and Networking course, you’ll take four more toward completion: Linux System Administration, AWS for Jobs Training, AWS SysOps Certification Prep, and Python Automation.

Unlike the other program, AWS For Jobs ends with a Python course during which you will learn the core concepts and automation processes using AWS APIs and Lambda.

This ties back to Yellow Tech Tail’s mission of providing you with career-oriented training. It believes automation is going to be a priority for IT companies so this curriculum structure can help you keep up with the trend.

The same attention to detail is also given when choosing a Certification Prep course for AWS. According to Yana, instead of preparing learners for the AWS Certified Solutions Architect exam, Yellow Tech Tail chose AWS Certified SysOps Administrator because it offers more opportunities for students.

“We don’t always choose the easiest; we choose what can give you the most opportunities,“ Yana stressed.

Become Job-Ready with Yellow Tail Tech

Most jobs now rely heavily on new technology. That’s why digital literacy is third on Indeed’s list of new skills to learn for professional advancement and cloud computing tops the hard skills to develop in another list. It means to stay marketable, you need to keep up with the programs that today’s companies use. Better yet, get certified in cutting-edge technologies.

This demand for digital literacy, let alone cloud computing, is what makes Yellow Tail Tech’s Linux and AWS programs relevant because they support your growth from the ground up. See if Yellow Tail Tech is a good fit and schedule a Career Strategy Session.