Cloud computing has changed how many organizations handle their IT infrastructure, moving from traditional on-premises setups to flexible, scalable cloud services. This shift has expanded the day-to-day work of network engineers.
From physical to virtual networks In the past, network engineers focused mainly on hardware like routers, switches, and firewalls. Today, much of their work involves virtual networks, software-defined networking (SDN), and services from major cloud providers. Familiarity with APIs, automation tools, and cloud-native features has become part of everyday tasks, especially in hybrid or multi-cloud setups.
Key day-to-day responsibilities
- Designing virtual private clouds (VPCs), subnets, and gateways
- Setting up secure connections like VPNs or direct links between on-premises systems and the cloud
- Configuring load balancers and auto-scaling groups to handle traffic efficiently
- Monitoring performance and costs, then adjusting resources as needed
- Working with identity/access controls and encryption to keep data protected
- Using built-in cloud security tools alongside custom policies
Core principles stay the same Even with new tools and platforms, the fundamentals remain unchanged: building reliable, secure, and high-performing connections. Experienced network engineers now apply those same principles across both traditional and cloud environments.
Skills that help in modern roles Many professionals in this space find value in hands-on experience with:
- Major cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, etc.)
- Infrastructure-as-code tools (Terraform, CloudFormation)
- Automation and scripting (Python, Ansible)
- Monitoring and logging solutions
Organizations of all sizes rely on skilled network engineers to make cloud migrations smooth and keep hybrid environments running effectively.
Whether you’re already in networking or looking to expand your skill set, understanding both traditional and cloud-based approaches opens up a wide range of opportunities in today’s IT landscape.