Cloud Engineer
Navigating the Skies and the Cloud: Powering Aerospace Innovation with Cutting-Edge Cloud Engineering
Hello Edgar, nice to meet you! Can you introduce yourself and describe how you embarked on a career as a Cloud Engineer?
I'm Edgar, and I am a Cloud Engineer from RAiD. Prior to joining RAiD, I served as an Air Warfare Officer in the RSAF in the Ground Based Air Defence and Air Intelligence areas. These experiences instilled a strong work ethic and the ability to thrive in fast-paced environments. My passion for technology, combined with my Computer Science degree and certifications, led me to the exciting field of cloud engineering!
What are some of the biggest challenges you face in managing cloud infrastructure, and how do you address them?
Some of the challenges that we as Cloud Engineers face are:
a. Cost Management: Cloud resources can be easily over-provisioned, leading
to high costs. Solutions include:
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Utilising tools for cost optimisation and setting spending alerts.
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Right-sizing resources based on actual usage.
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Leveraging automation to eliminate manual overhead.
b. Security: Cloud environments introduce new security considerations. Best practices include:
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Implementing access controls like IAM roles and least privilege principles.
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Utilising security monitoring tools to detect and respond to threats.
c. Scalability: Cloud infrastructure needs to adapt to changing demands. Solutions include:
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Using auto-scaling policies to scale resources up or down automatically.
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Designing infrastructure with redundancy for high availability.
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Implementing infrastructure as code (IaC) for faster and more consistent deployments.
How do you ensure security and compliance in the cloud environments you manage?
We ensure security and compliance by:
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Following Best Practices: Adhering to industry best practices like the CIS Controls and the Instruction Manual for ICT&SS Management (Also known as IM8).
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Collaboration with Security Teams: Maintaining close communication and working together with the cybersecurity team to identify and address potential risks.
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Vendor Guidance: Utilising the security expertise and recommendations provided by cloud vendors.
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Automation: Implementing automated security assessments and vulnerability scanning.
What emerging technologies or trends in cloud computing are you most excited about, and why?
I'm particularly excited about Kubernetes because it offers a powerful way to automate containerised application deployment, scaling, and management. Kubernetes enables:
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Scalability and Efficiency: Easily scale applications up or down based on demand.
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Portability: Deploy applications across different cloud environments (on-premises, multiple public clouds).
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High Availability: Ensure applications remain responsive despite container or node failures.
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Self-healing capabilities: Automate container restarts and recoveries for increased uptime.
If you had to explain the importance of cloud engineering to someone outside the tech industry, how would you describe it?
Cloud engineers are the essential architects and builders behind secure, efficient, and scalable cloud applications. We develop reusable, managing, and maintaining these applications throughout their entire lifecycle. By ensuring our cloud applications are secure, efficient, and scalable, cloud engineers play a critical role in enabling RAiD to achieve our business goals.
Responsibilities
Develop cloud architecture solutions aligned with best practices and organisational requirements.
Enhance Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment setups for automating build, test, and deployment processes.
Identify, address, and mitigate risks and compliance issues in development and deployment processes.
Work closely with engineers, developers, and stakeholders to onboard onto cloud service providers (Azure, Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Google Cloud Platform (GCP)
Keep abreast of the latest cloud technologies and trends, and share insights with the team.