In this article, I want to share my journey from my beginnings as a system administrator in 2005 to my transition to the cloud, focusing on AWS. Throughout my professional evolution, I have tirelessly sought scalable solutions, and this narrative highlights the key moments that have shaped my path.

I started my professional career in 2005 as a system administrator, but it was in 2007, when I pivoted to full-stack development—a change I’ve always valued. This role provided me with a deeper understanding of how my applications worked in production, enabling me to focus on scalable programming. My journey has been a continuous process of learning.

My beginnings as a professional

My initial steps involved managing bare-metal servers, implementing scalability manually, and attempting to automate processes through scripts. I managed Windows systems with .Net and SQL Server, as well as Linux servers with technologies like Java, PHP, and so on.

Despite a promising start, increased requests and users over time brought scalability challenges, hardware issues, and constant investment, leading to a high opportunity cost.

If you don’t understand the details of your business, you are going to fail.

Encounter with AWS

It was around 2013, while working as a Team Lead in a multinational, that I experienced AWS for the first time. In a fast-paced environment, orchestrating international deployments became increasingly challenging. The implementation of a CDN in Japan drastically reduced the latency of our applications, marking a significant milestone in my journey to the cloud.

This milestone was a turning point, as with AWS, I could quickly and flexibly solve problems that previously took a considerable amount of time and investment.

Reasons to Migrate to AWS

After working with AWS and several projects, I decided to specialize in AWS to address scalability challenges. I adopted infrastructure as code, leading teams in different companies, and launching startups using AWS as a foundation.

AWS always facilitated faster production, cost improvement, and meeting the demand for our solutions.

Benefits and Challenges

Quickly, I focused on the “go to market” concept, achieving flexible scalability and benefiting from AWS’s extensive capabilities to become more competitive.

Over time, I benefited from all the innovation from AWS, and different services entering the market where I saved on implementation—I just had to adopt them.

Specialization Process

I initiated the development of deployable solutions in multiple countries, adopting serverless architectures for efficient scalability. Obtaining certifications, such as AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate, supported my professional experience and was a crucial component in my evolution.

Highlighted Experiences

My experience ranged from solving scalability issues to migrating from bare metal to the cloud, cost reduction projects, and creating successful MVPs. Each challenge taught me the importance of versatility and choosing the right tools.

Certifications and Leadership

Throughout this journey, I obtained key certifications, including AWS Certified Security – Specialty, AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional, and AWS Certified Developer. These certifications, coupled with my professional experience, paved the way for me to lead teams and evolve my focus toward technical excellence.

Conclusion:

My journey to scalability with AWS has been a constant process of learning and adaptation. The cloud has transformed not only my technical approach but also my ability to lead teams and tackle business challenges with innovation.

Now it’s your turn to share. Comment with your experiences in the systems field or ask questions. Explore more about AWS and consider migrating to the cloud to empower your own professional journey!

Remember, sharing personal experiences is key. I hope this article inspires and adds value to you!