Getting Your Career Started in Cloud and DevOps Engineering with Deepanshu Katara

Getting Your Career Started in Cloud and DevOps Engineering with Deepanshu Katara

If you’ve ever wondered who keeps your favorite apps running smoothly or how businesses deploy new software updates in seconds, there’s a good chance a cloud or DevOps engineer is behind it. These are the professionals who make modern technology work by quietly building, automating and maintaining the modern systems we all depend on. 

For those looking to enter the tech industry, this path offers immense opportunity. But where do you start?

Deepanshu Katara, a Lead Systems Engineer at EPAM India, knows the journey well. With nearly a decade of experience in the cloud and DevOps engineering space, he transitioned from an uncertain beginner to a recognized Microsoft Azure MVP (Most Valuable Professional). He readily shares insight into his career development from mastering the basics and finding mentors to giving back to the tech community through knowledge sharing and leadership.

For those new to the tech industry, it is helpful to understand the distinct but connected worlds of cloud and DevOps engineering and how they work together.

Exploring the Cloud

Although there are many cloud computing providers, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud Platform (GCP) are the most frequently used, controlling the majority of the market. 

Instead of companies buying and maintaining their own servers on site, they can employ a cloud computing provider, renting computing power, storage and networking resources over the internet. This approach offers many benefits, including the ability to scale easily, improve reliability and only pay for what they need.

A cloud engineer is a specialist who designs, implements and manages cloud-based solutions, ensuring the reliability, scalability and security of cloud environments. Deepanshu’s expertise lies in Microsoft Azure, although he often explores and upskills in other areas.

Cloud technology plays a critical role in the modern landscape for clients in all industries. Deepanshu explains, “In my current project, we are migrating from on-premises machines to cloud-based virtual machines (VMs) using an Azure VM service. This allows our client to reduce costs and eliminate the need for a designated data center and associated maintenance fees.”

The Modern Engineer: Connecting Cloud and DevOps

If cloud is the “where,” then DevOps is the “how.” A DevOps engineer helps connect software development and IT operations by implementing and automating processes that streamline the software development lifecycle. DevOps brings developers and operations teams together to deliver software faster, safer and smarter. It’s not just about tools — it’s a focus on collaboration, automation and continuous improvement.

As a cloud and DevOps engineer, Deepanshu’s role blends both worlds. He builds landing zones in Microsoft Azure and uses Azure Pipelines to automate deployments, Kubernetes to orchestrate services architecture and Terraform to provision the infrastructure of the project. The result: fewer manual steps, faster updates and more reliable systems.

Whether optimizing cloud infrastructure for efficiency or sharing his knowledge to elevate team capabilities, Deepanshu has made a lasting mark on EPAM’s projects and the teams he collaborates with.

From Junior to Mentor

Like many engineers, Deepanshu didn’t set out to become a cloud specialist. Early in his career, he was uncertain which path to take. The further Deepanshu explored, the more he saw how cloud computing was able to reshape entire industries. 

After joining EPAM, he quickly found inspiration in his colleagues' work on various projects, sparking his enthusiasm to continue learning and growing in the field.

“One colleague who was a Microsoft Azure MVP (Most Valuable Professional) brought an energy that really empowered me to gain more skills and knowledge, and eventually inspired me to become an MVP myself,” notes Deepanshu. “After three years of perseverance, I gained the MVP title. I’m very thankful to EPAM and my colleagues for their support and contributions to my success,” he says.

The Microsoft Azure MVP award is given to individual technology experts who share their deep knowledge of Microsoft Azure with the community and demonstrate their exceptional technical leadership and community impact through activities like speaking, writing, content creation and mentoring. Microsoft recognizes MVPs for their technical expertise and community leadership.

“What makes EPAM unique,” Deepanshu explains, “is our significant community of Azure MVP-certified professionals. This concentration of expertise highlights us as a leader in the space — not just for Azure, but across all Cloud providers.” 

EPAM is made up of teams consisting of highly skilled experts who can solve a wide range of problems, quickly identify root causes and cultivate a collaborative environment. This enables the company to approach complex challenges with confidence, leveraging deep expertise and innovative solutions. 

In addition to his technical achievements, Deepanshu has played a pivotal role in talent development and scaling EPAM’s practice. “I have completed 500+ technical interviews and contributed significantly to practice scale-up during my time at EPAM,” he shares. “Contributing to the community — whether through interviews, mentoring or knowledge sharing — helps others grow, sharpens my own skills and broadens my perspective. It’s incredibly rewarding to see the impact of my work and to be part of a culture of continuous learning,” says Deepanshu. 

This commitment to mentoring and talent development has enhanced EPAM’s ability to adapt, innovate and thrive in a rapidly evolving industry.

Navigating the Shifting Cloud & DevOps World

With the tech landscape constantly changing and evolving, Deepanshu emphasizes that cloud engineers should develop skills in Cloud-native architecture and automation, GenAI and AI integration, FinOps and cybersecurity to remain at the forefront of industry developments. “With technology, what’s best or smartest today may not be the same in the next two years,” Deepanshu explains. “We have to pursue a culture of continuous advancement and become comfortable with the ever-changing evolution of the field.”

Ready to build the future of technology? Explore exciting cloud and DevOps career opportunities at EPAM and join our team of innovators today! Visit epam.com/careers

Learn more about cloud at EPAM: https://www.epam.com/services/cloud
Learn more about DevOps at EPAM: https://www.epam.com/services/engineering/devops