Can a Non-IT Person Learn DevOps?

Many people think that can a non IT person learn DevOps? The answer to this is an absolute YES! DevOps has been transformed into a diversified field that truly welcomes people having no previous IT knowledge and coming from various non tech backgrounds. This blog will take you through DevOps for beginners, it shows practical DevOps roadmap for non technical students, explain how to start DevOps without an IT background, explores how to make a career switch to DevOps, and how to learn DevOps from scratch even if you are a beginner to technology.

Can a Non-IT Person Learn DevOps?

DevOps is not just coding or old IT operations. It’s a mindset that combines software development and IT operations to fasten and improve application delivery through automation, collaboration and continuous improvement. Some programming and scripting skills also help, many Non IT individuals become proficient in DevOps overtime by learning it step by step. This was about technical skills, but soft skills like problem solving, communication, and teamwork etc are equally important.

With Consistency, Hardwork, Focus and Attention To Detail when combined with the right learning path, a non technical person can master the required tools and industry best practices over time, making DevOps an excellent field to start your tech career in, even without no IT background.

DevOps for Beginners: A Starting Point

If you’re a beginner, below is what DevOps for beginners should focus on:

• Understanding what DevOps means and its culture of collaboration: A person starting out in DevOps should first understand what DevOps means, how it works, and understand how the collaboration between development and operations team work.
  
  

• Learning key concepts: continuous integration (CI), continuous delivery (CD), automation, monitoring: Beginners should know how continuous integration, continuous delivery work and better the software delivery process, and they should also learn how automation work and then how to monitor applications once they are deployed.
  
  

• Familiarizing yourself with basic tools like Git for version control, Jenkins for CI/CD, and Docker for containerization: In DevOps, beginners should focus on using basic tools to familiarize themselves with basic DevOps tools like Git for version control, Jenkins for Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment, Docker for containerising applications and Kubernetes for orchestrating containers. 
  
  

• Grasping scripting basics with Python or Bash to automate tasks: In DevOps, as a beginner you should learn the basics of scripting with python or bash to automate tasks.
  
  

Several online courses and tutorials cater specifically to beginners and walk you through practical labs and projects.

Majority online courses and tutorials are designed specifically for beginners and takes you through practical and real world tasks and projects.

DevOps Roadmap for Non-Technical Learners

To strengthen your foundation, follow the below steps:

1. Basic IT Concepts: Understand operating systems (Linux basics), networking, and cloud computing fundamentals.
   
   

2. Learn Scripting: Start with beginner-friendly languages like Python or Bash scripting.
   
   

3. Version Control: Master Git and GitHub for code management and collaboration.
   
   

4. Automation Tools: Explore tools like Jenkins, Ansible, and Terraform to automate builds, deployments, and infrastructure.
   
   

5. Containerization: Learn Docker and Kubernetes for managing application containers and orchestration.
   
   

6. Monitoring & Logging: Get familiar with tools such as Prometheus, Grafana, and ELK Stack.
   
   

7. Cloud Platforms: Study AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud basics since cloud skills are essential for DevOps engineers.

By following the right steps, even non technical learners can build strong DevOps skills in 6 to 9 months with consistent effort

How to Start DevOps Without an IT Background?

Entering DevOps from no IT experience may seem hard, but is achievable when you:

• Embrace a learning mindset and commit to continuous improvement: Mindset is the only skill that can decide your future, a growth mindset is what you need, a positive mindset is what you only need to enter DevOps without no prior IT background.
  
  

• Enroll in beginner-level online DevOps courses that explain concepts clearly and practically. These types of courses take you from a beginner level to advance level with practical labs and tasks with real world projects.
  
  

• Practice hands on labs in safe environments such as virtual machines or online sandboxes, if you want to enter DevOps without IT background, only theory wont help, you have to practice it as well through virtual machines or sandboxes.
  
  

• Join communities and forums to ask questions and learn from peers: when starting DevOps, it will not be like a straight path, you will face problems, and when you face them, you need to discuss in online communities and forums or learn from your seniors.
  
  

• Focus initially on fundamental skills before diving into advanced tools: When entering into DevOps, people commonly try to jump into advanced tools rather than grasping the fundamental tools.
  

Don’t Forget This! Many expert DevOps professionals started as a non technical and learned coding and tooling gradually through projects and practical tasks

Career Switch to DevOps: What You Need to Know

Transitioning to DevOps from a non IT background requires:

• Developing technical skills in automation, cloud, and scripting
  
  

• Highlighting transferable skills like problem-solving, teamwork, and project management
  
  

• Building a portfolio of projects that demonstrate your DevOps capabilities (e.g., CI/CD pipelines, infrastructure setups)
  
  

• Gaining certifications such as AWS Certified DevOps Engineer or Certified Jenkins Engineer to validate skills
  
  

• Starting with entry-level roles such as Junior DevOps Engineer, Release Manager, or Automation Specialist and progressing with experience

The need for DevOps professionals continues to grow, providing excellent opportunities for people wanting to change careers.

Learn DevOps from Scratch: A Step-By-Step Approach

Those who want to learn DevOps from scratch, below is a plan that you can implement:

• Learn the basics first: Get comfortable with Linux commands, understand how computer networks work, and learn the basics of cloud services like AWS or Azure. These are the building blocks for anything you’ll do in DevOps.

• Pick a programming language: Start with something like Python or Bash. These help you automate tasks so you don’t have to do everything manually — a huge time saver!

• Get good with Git: This is how developers keep track of their code and work together. Learn how to save your work, switch between versions, and collaborate with others using GitHub or GitLab.

• Try out popular DevOps tools: Play around with Jenkins to automate building and releasing your apps, Docker to package your apps so they run anywhere, and Terraform to set up servers and infrastructure automatically.

• Use online courses and projects: Follow tutorials, take online classes, and do small projects so you really get how everything fits together. Hands-on practice is key!

• Stay on top of new trends: Once you’re comfortable, explore Kubernetes to manage lots of containers and learn about DevSecOps to keep your pipelines secure and reliable.

• Give yourself time: Depending on how much time you can spend, plan to learn this stuff over 6 months to 2 years. Keep going steadily, and before you know it, you’ll be confident with DevOps tools and practices.

Decide to spend around 6 to 18 months mastering skills, depending on your pace and dedication

Summary Checklist for Non-IT Beginners Starting DevOps

 Keep learning and practicing: The best way to get good at DevOps is by doing hands-on labs and trying things yourself.

Start with easy coding: Try learning Python or Bash scripts to help you automate stuff.

Get to know the main DevOps tools: Learn how to use Git for tracking code, Jenkins for automating builds, Docker for running apps in containers, and Terraform for setting up cloud resources.

Learn the basics of the cloud: Get familiar with cloud platforms like AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud since most DevOps work happens there.

Make your own projects: Build simple apps, create pipelines, and automate infrastructure to show off what you can do.

Think about getting certified: Certifications can help you stand out and boost your chances of landing a job.

Join DevOps communities: Hang out in forums and groups to ask questions, learn from others, and stay up to date.

Final Thoughts

Can someone without an IT background learn DevOps? Absolutely yes! No matter who you are, with focus and a clear plan, you can learn DevOps from scratch. It takes time to master the technical tools and also develop teamwork and communication skills, but it will pay off, better job opportunities and real satisfaction in your work. So start your DevOps journey today by finding beginner-friendly courses, practicing regularly, and building your own projects to show what you can do. One similar DevOps diploma is offered by Al Nafi International College which teaches you from basic to advance level with 1000s of practical tasks and labs.

Powered by Froala Editor