DevOps bridges the gap between software development and IT operations, enabling teams to deliver software faster and more reliably through shared processes, automation, and continuous feedback. As adoption grows across organizations of all sizes, engineers and administrators who can demonstrate hands-on DevOps skills are increasingly in demand.
The following courses are widely recognized starting points for building or deepening a DevOps skill set. They span beginner introductions through hands-on project work with real-world toolchains.
1. Learn DevOps: The Complete Kubernetes Course
Kubernetes has become the de facto standard for container orchestration at both small startups and large enterprises. This course covers the full lifecycle: building containerized applications with Docker, deploying them onto a Kubernetes cluster, and maintaining that cluster over time.
Practical topics include setting up a local cluster on your desktop and provisioning a cloud-based cluster on AWS, using real-world examples throughout. It is a strong choice for DevOps engineers who want Kubernetes in their toolkit but have limited hands-on experience with it.
What you will learn
- Containerizing applications with Docker
- Deploying and scaling workloads on a Kubernetes cluster
- Setting up clusters locally and on AWS
- Ongoing cluster maintenance and troubleshooting
2. DevOps Project: CI/CD with Jenkins, Ansible, Docker, and Kubernetes
Jenkins is one of the most widely used continuous integration servers in DevOps pipelines. This project-based course gives you hands-on experience building end-to-end CI/CD pipelines by combining several core tools: Git for source control, Jenkins for continuous integration, Ansible for configuration management and deployment automation, Docker for containerization, and Kubernetes for orchestration.
Because the course is project-oriented rather than introductory, it suits engineers who already understand the theory of DevOps and want to apply it in a realistic pipeline scenario.
Prerequisites
- Basic working knowledge of Git, Maven, and Docker
- Familiarity with Jenkins and Ansible concepts
- Some exposure to Kubernetes
3. Learn DevOps: Continuously Deliver Better Software
This course takes a broad view of the DevOps toolchain, covering configuration management, infrastructure provisioning, deployment automation, and continuous delivery practices. Tools explored include Vagrant, Git, Ansible, Docker, Jenkins, Kubernetes, and Chef.
It is aimed at system administrators, IT managers, developers, and operations team members who want to improve software delivery processes. The course assumes familiarity with software delivery concepts; complete beginners may find the pace challenging and should consider an introductory course first.
Key topic areas
- Configuration management with Ansible and Chef
- Infrastructure provisioning with Vagrant
- Container workflows with Docker
- CI/CD pipeline construction with Jenkins
- Container orchestration with Kubernetes
4. Introduction to DevOps and Site Reliability Engineering (Linux Foundation)
Offered by the Linux Foundation, this beginner-level course explains how DevOps practices are reshaping software delivery and why IT operations professionals need to adapt. It also introduces Site Reliability Engineering (SRE) as a complementary discipline.
Although it is positioned for beginners, it is not entirely without prerequisites. Students are expected to have a working knowledge of Linux systems, basic networking concepts and troubleshooting, scripting fundamentals, computer and network security principles, virtualization concepts, and general system administration skills.
This course is a practical entry point for those looking to transition into DevOps or SRE roles, or for engineering managers who want to understand how DevOps tools can transform their organizations.
5. Fundamentals of Containers, Kubernetes, and Red Hat OpenShift (Red Hat)
Red Hat’s course introduces container and container orchestration technology through a combination of Docker, Kubernetes, and the Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform. It walks through containerizing applications and services, testing them, and deploying them onto a Kubernetes-backed OpenShift cluster.
A notable feature of the course is coverage of OpenShift’s source-to-image (S2I) build process, which allows developers to build and deploy applications directly from source code without writing Dockerfiles manually.
Who this course suits
- Developers who want to containerize their applications
- Administrators new to containers and orchestration
- Architects evaluating container platforms
Prerequisites
- Comfort using a terminal and running OS-level commands
- Experience with web application architectures and related technologies
6. DevOps for Developers: How to Get Started (Microsoft)
Microsoft’s introductory DevOps course is designed for software developers who want to understand the value and history of DevOps before diving into tooling. It covers how DevOps merges development and operations processes, improves cross-team collaboration, and delivers software more reliably.
Topics include continuous testing, continuous integration, continuous deployment, release management, configuration management, and monitoring — giving learners a conceptual map of the full DevOps lifecycle before they specialize in specific tools.
Prerequisites
- Experience working in a software-delivering organization
- Basic understanding of source control systems
- Familiarity with Agile software development practices
Choosing the Right Course for Your Level
| Course | Level | Primary Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Introduction to DevOps and SRE (Linux Foundation) | Beginner | Concepts, SRE, Linux fundamentals |
| DevOps for Developers: How to Get Started (Microsoft) | Beginner | DevOps principles and lifecycle overview |
| Learn DevOps: The Complete Kubernetes Course | Intermediate | Kubernetes and Docker |
| Fundamentals of Containers, Kubernetes, and Red Hat OpenShift | Intermediate | Containers and OpenShift |
| Learn DevOps: Continuously Deliver Better Software | Intermediate | Broad toolchain and CD practices |
| DevOps Project: CI/CD with Jenkins, Ansible, Docker, Kubernetes | Intermediate–Advanced | Hands-on CI/CD pipeline project |
If you are new to DevOps, start with the Linux Foundation or Microsoft introductory courses before moving to tool-specific or project-based courses. Engineers already comfortable with individual tools like Docker or Jenkins will get the most value from the hands-on CI/CD project course or the deep-dive Kubernetes course.
Original source: analyticsindiamag.com (as cited in the original post).