Choose the Right Cloud Native Experts with the Right Skills
Find the right talent with the right skills—no need for interviews or reviews; just pick from Beginner, Practitioner, or Expert levels.
How InfraCloud Skill Rubrics help you?
Faster, better onboarding for cloud-native engineers starts with our skill rubrics
Save your Time
Eliminates the need to figure out the level of expertise required for your projects. With predefined competency levels and clear skill benchmarks, you can quickly identify the skills needed for your tasks—no guesswork involved.
Set Clear Expectations
Provides clear criteria for the skills required at each level, helping you set specific, measurable goals for each engineer. Everyone knows exactly what is expected, removing confusion and aligning performance with your goals.
Transparent Evaluation
By focusing on predefined criteria and a standardized system, the skill rubric approach helps eliminate biases often affecting traditional interviews, leading to more objective and fair talent assessment & early onboarding.
Get the Right Cloud Skills in Minutes, Not Days
No more trial and error. Select cloud pros with skills that align perfectly with your project
- Observability
- Monitoring
- Kubernetes
- Product Engineering
- SRE
- Platform Engineering
- Cloud Providers
- Bare Metal
- Backup and DR
- Policy and Governance
- Storage
- Messaging
Beginner
Knowledge & Understanding
- Basic understanding of monitoring and logging concepts
- Introduction to the PLG stack
- Basic setup and configuration
- Familiarity with common monitoring metrics
Skills
- Install and configure Prometheus, Loki, and Grafana
- Create basic dashboards in Grafana
- Use PromQL and LogQL for basic queries
- Perform basic health checks and troubleshooting
Performance
- Successfully install and configure the PLG stack
- Monitor and log basic system metrics
- Create simple dashboards
- Perform initial health checks and respond to simple alerts
Practitioner (Everything in Beginner plus)
Knowledge & Understanding
- In-depth understanding of the PLG stack components
- Knowledge of advanced configurations
- Familiarity with advanced features and optimization
- Understanding of application-specific metrics
Skills
- Configure advanced features and optimizations
- Create complex Grafana dashboards
- Use advanced queries to analyze metrics and logs
- Set up comprehensive health monitoring and alerts
Performance
- Design and manage comprehensive monitoring solutions
- Ensure high availability and performance
- Develop complex dashboards
- Efficiently debug and resolve application issues
Expert (Everything in Practitioner plus)
Knowledge & Understanding
- Expertise in architecture, deployment, and scaling
- Deep understanding of internals
- Advanced knowledge of security and compliance
- Mastery of system health monitoring and alerting
Skills
- Architect large-scale PLG stack solutions
- Develop custom exporters and plugins
- Implement advanced security measures
- Lead incident response and troubleshooting
Performance
- Deliver robust, scalable monitoring solutions
- Provide expert guidance on performance tuning
- Ensure compliance with industry standards
- Proactively monitor and ensure system health
Beginner
Knowledge & Understanding
- Basic concepts of Elasticsearch (indices, documents), Logstash (role and plugins), and Kibana (visualizations)
Skills
- Install and configure Elasticsearch, set up simple Logstash pipelines, create basic Kibana dashboards
Performance
- Performs basic tasks effectively with minimal performance issues. May require guidance for scaling and optimizing
Practitioner (Everything in Beginner plus)
Knowledge & Understanding
- Understanding of Elasticsearch cluster architecture, Logstash pipeline design, and advanced Kibana visualizations
Skills
- Optimize Elasticsearch queries and indices, design complex Logstash pipelines, create and manage advanced Kibana dashboards
Performance
- Handles a variety of tasks independently, implements performance optimization strategies, and resolves common performance issues effectively
Expert (Everything in Practitioner plus)
Knowledge & Understanding
- Expertise in Elasticsearch internals, custom Logstash plugins, and enterprise Kibana solutions
Skills
- Develop large-scale Elasticsearch clusters, build custom Logstash plugins, and implement complex Kibana integrations
Performance
- Consistently achieves high performance with large-scale and complex deployments
- Demonstrates advanced skills in optimizing, scaling, and troubleshooting ELK Stack components
Beginner
Knowledge & Understanding
- Knows basic components (Elasticsearch, Fluentd, Kibana) and their roles
- Understands basic use cases
Skills
- Installs and configures EFK stack with default settings
- Performs basic operations and queries
Performance
- Sets up basic EFK stack and ingests logs from a simple source
- Resolves common setup issues with guidance
Practitioner (Everything in Beginner plus)
Knowledge & Understanding
- Understands advanced features and data flow
- Knows basic security and performance tuning practices
Skills
- Customizes Fluentd configurations
- Optimizes Elasticsearch performance
- Creates advanced visualizations in Kibana
- Integrates EFK with other systems
Performance
- Deploys EFK stack in complex environments
- Manages and processes logs from various sources
- Diagnoses performance and configuration issues
Expert (Everything in Practitioner plus)
Knowledge & Understanding
- Deep understanding of architecture and internals
- Expertise in scaling, optimizing, and securing EFK stack
Skills
- Develops custom plugins/extensions
- Manages complex setups
- Diagnoses advanced issues
Performance
- Manage EFK stack for high-throughput, high-availability scenarios
- Optimize large-scale deployments
- Integrate EFK with other systems for robust solutions
- HA: Setup HA for overall logging solution
- Data Retention: Setup data rethention policies and long term storage
Beginner
Knowledge & Understanding
- Importance of monitoring, alerting, and tracing
- Key concepts: metrics, logs, traces, alerts
- Overview of tools like Prometheus, Grafana, ELK, Jaeger, and Zipkin
- Basic logging, alerting, and tracing workflows
Skills
- Set up basic monitoring and alerting
- Collect basic metrics (CPU, memory)
- Use tools like Grafana for dashboards and visualizations
- Set up centralized logging with ELK/EFK
- Perform basic log queries
Performance
- Deploy basic monitoring for systems
- Detect threshold breaches and trigger alerts
- Use simple dashboards for visualization
- Identify basic application issues using logs and traces
Practitioner (Everything in Beginner plus)
Knowledge & Understanding
- Advanced concepts in metrics collection (Prometheus, exporters)
- Log management and aggregation techniques
- Alerting best practices
- Observability in distributed systems
- Using service mesh tools like Istio
Skills
- Configure scraping intervals and retention policies in Prometheus
- Use advanced log parsing/filtering tools (e.g., Kibana)
- Create interactive dashboards with templating
- Monitor distributed systems
- Collect and analyze traces
Performance
- Implement efficient monitoring for containerized applications
- Generate actionable insights from logs and traces
- Manage complex alerting rules for multi-condition scenarios
- Visualize system health through advanced dashboards
Expert (Everything in Practitioner plus)
Knowledge & Understanding
- Scalable monitoring architectures for dynamic environments
- Distributed tracing for complex systems
- Security monitoring concepts (SIEM, compliance)
- Open observability standards (e.g., OpenTelemetry)
Skills
- Design scalable monitoring solutions for Kubernetes
- Optimize distributed tracing (e.g., sampling, deep analysis)
- Implement advanced alert escalation and on-call rotations
- Monitor security events and anomalies
Performance
- Deliver end-to-end monitoring pipelines
- Optimize and scale observability systems
- Ensure compliance monitoring
- Integrate advanced alerting strategies and improve security observability
Beginner
Knowledge & Understanding
- Basic knowledge of Datadog's architecture, including its core components like the Agent, Metrics, Logs, and APM
- Familiar with fundamental features such as dashboards and alerts
Skills
- Can install and configure the Datadog Agent on various systems
- Creates basic dashboards, sets up simple alerts, and manages log collection and visualization
Performance
- Effectively deploys Datadog in development environments and configures basic monitoring and alerting setups
- Handles initial troubleshooting related to data collection and visualization
Practitioner (Everything in Beginner plus)
Knowledge & Understanding
- Deep understanding of advanced Datadog features like distributed tracing, anomaly detection, and complex dashboard creation
- Knowledgeable about integrations with cloud platforms and third-party tools
Skills
- Develops and manages complex dashboards with multiple widgets
- Configures advanced alerting systems, uses log management features for in-depth analysis, and sets up APM for application performance monitoring
Performance
- Manages Datadog in production environments with a focus on optimizing performance and ensuring comprehensive visibility
- Troubleshoots complex issues and continuously improves monitoring strategies
Expert (Everything in Practitioner plus)
Knowledge & Understanding
- Mastery of Datadog’s architecture, including internal components and advanced features
- Expertise in designing and implementing sophisticated monitoring strategies and integrations
- Active contributor to Datadog community and best practices
Skills
- Develops custom integrations and dashboards to meet unique needs
- Performs expert-level performance tuning and manages complex integrations
- Provides strategic leadership in monitoring practices and innovation
Performance
- Leads large-scale Datadog implementations, drives innovation in monitoring solutions, and mentors teams on advanced topics
- Engages with the Datadog community to influence best practices and contribute to development
Beginner
Knowledge & Understanding
- Basic understanding of Prometheus architecture, components, and PromQL
- Familiarity with time-series data and common exporters
Skills
- Install Prometheus, configure basic settings, write simple PromQL queries, set up basic alerts, and visualize metrics with Grafana
Performance
- Deploy Prometheus for basic monitoring in development environments, configure metric scraping, and respond to simple issues
Practitioner (Everything in Beginner plus)
Knowledge & Understanding
- Detailed knowledge of Prometheus architecture, advanced PromQL, Alertmanager, scaling strategies, and the Prometheus ecosystem
Skills
- Configure Prometheus for high availability, implement advanced settings, write complex queries, develop custom exporters, long term storage, disk encryption and optimize performance
Performance
- Successfully implements and scales Prometheus setups for complex environments
- Optimizes performance and manages integrations effectively
Expert (Everything in Practitioner plus)
Knowledge & Understanding
- Mastery of Prometheus internals, custom monitoring solutions, advanced scaling strategies, and community contributions
Skills
- Develop custom Prometheus components, conduct advanced performance tuning, integrate with complex systems, resolve challenging issues, and contribute to best practices
Performance
- Lead large-scale Prometheus implementations, drive monitoring innovation, mentor teams, and engage with the Prometheus community
Beginner
Knowledge & Understanding
- Basic understanding of Thanos components like Sidecar, Store, Query, Storage Gateway and Ruler
- Familiar with Thanos’ role in extending Prometheus for high availability and global querying
Skills
- Can install and configure Thanos with a Prometheus instance
- Queries data using Thanos Query and performs basic troubleshooting of Thanos components
Performance
- Successfully sets up Thanos with Prometheus and resolves basic issues
- Queries and retrieves metrics from multiple Prometheus instances effectively
Practitioner (Everything in Beginner plus)
Knowledge & Understanding
- Detailed knowledge of Thanos architecture, including its interaction with object storage and advanced features such as downsampling and data retention policies
- Understands how to manage Thanos for high availability and scalability
Skills
- Configures Thanos for advanced use cases, including object storage integration and high availability setups
- Manages long-term storage, implements downsampling, and configures advanced alerting and recording rules with Thanos Ruler
Performance
- Deploys scalable Thanos solutions and manages them effectively across large environments
- Optimizes Thanos performance, handles complex configurations, and integrates it with other observability tools
Expert (Everything in Practitioner plus)
Knowledge & Understanding
- Mastery of Thanos, including designing solutions for large-scale, multi-region deployments
- Deep expertise in performance tuning, customization, and advanced use cases
Skills
- Leads the design and implementation of complex Thanos architectures
- Customizes and extends Thanos components to meet specific organizational needs and contributes to the Thanos open-source community
Performance
- Drives large-scale Thanos deployments with optimal performance and reliability
- Sets organizational standards for observability, mentors teams, and contributes thought leadership to the Thanos community
Beginner
Knowledge & Understanding
- Basic knowledge of Kubernetes components (api-server, controller-manager, scheduler, kubelet, kube-proxy, CRI (docker), control-plane, worker-nodes, controller-pattern/operators)
- Understanding of Containers and hypervisors terminology and concepts (images/containers/layers/hypervisor/CRI/CNI/registry/orchestration)
- Familiarity with workloads like Pods, ReplicaSet, Deployment, Daemonsets, Statefulsets, Jobs, and CronJobs
- Awareness of Kubernetes Service Types (ClusterIP, NodePort, External IP, Headless Service, LoadBalancer)
- Basic understanding of Kubernetes storage configurations and RBAC Authorization
Skills
- Install Kubernetes (Minikube, MicroK8s, or similar) as a local testing environment
- Build Docker images and push/pull to any private/public registry
- Configure labels, selectors, and annotations for Pods and workloads
- Create ServiceAccounts, Roles, and RoleBindings
- Configure Kubernetes Storage Classes, static and dynamic volume provisioning, and Docker secrets
Performance
- Deploy applications using various strategies (progressive rollouts, canary, blue-green)
- Troubleshoot Kubernetes workloads by checking pod status and logs
- Verify API server connectivity and Kubernetes cluster health
Practitioner (Everything in Beginner plus)
Knowledge & Understanding
- Detailed understanding of Kubernetes application packaging (Helm charts, Grafana Tanka, Kustomize)
- Knowledge of deploying Kubernetes clusters on cloud providers (AWS EKS, GCP GKE, Azure AKS)
- Awareness of logging tools like Promtail, Loki, and Grafana Stack
- Understanding metrics and alerting with kube-prometheus-stack, Thanos, Cortex, and Mimir
Skills
- Create, install, and upgrade Helm charts to simplify application deployment
- Configure Kubernetes Autoscalers (Horizontal/Vertical) with Pod Disruption Budgets
- Set up scheduling policies using Taints, Tolerations, and NodeSelectors
- Integrate external tools for DNS, secrets, and TLS certificates (external-dns, Vault)
- Configure Kubernetes addons (e.g., external-secrets operator)
- Manage Kubernetes ETCD backup/restore, permissions, and encryption
Performance
- Deploy and monitor applications on cloud-based Kubernetes clusters
- Ensure high availability and scalability using Autoscalers
- Implement effective alerting systems and long-term metric retention
Expert (Everything in Practitioner plus)
Knowledge & Understanding
- Comprehensive understanding of Kubernetes control-plane setup and high availability
- Expertise in CRDs and Custom Application Operators (e.g., MongoDB Operator, Redis Operator)
- Advanced knowledge of Kubernetes security benchmarking (CIS, kube-hunter, Chekov)
- Understanding of service meshes like Istio, Linkerd, or Cilium
Skills
- Set up Kubernetes control-plane manually ('Kubernetes the Hard Way')
- Configure Admission Controllers (ImagePolicyWebhook, Open Policy Agent Gatekeeper)
- Manage runtime security and auditing tools (Falco, AquaSec)
- Configure application delivery pipelines (ArgoCD, FluxCD, Jenkins X)
Performance
- Design and manage production-grade Kubernetes clusters
- Analyze security vulnerabilities and apply best practices (UFW, SECCOMP, CIS hardened OS images)
- Integrate and enforce service mesh policies for microservices
- Implement CI/CD pipelines to achieve GitOps-based deployments
Beginner
Knowledge & Understanding
- Basic Kubernetes concepts and Rancher architecture
- Docker containers and images
- Rancher UI navigation
Skills
- Deploy/manage single Kubernetes clusters
- Create/manage projects/namespaces
- Basic troubleshooting and monitoring
Performance
- Deploy/manage basic Kubernetes clusters
- Perform basic administrative tasks
- Monitor and troubleshoot cluster issues
Practitioner (Everything in Beginner plus)
Knowledge & Understanding
- Multi-cluster management
- Kubernetes RBAC, Helm charts, Network Policies
- Rancher security and external integrations
Skills
- Deploy/manage multi-cluster environments
- Implement Kubernetes RBAC/Network Policies
- Use Helm charts
Integrate with CI/CD and monitoring tools
Performance
- Design/maintain multi-cluster setups
- Implement advanced configurations
- Integrate/troubleshoot external services
- Optimize performance
Expert (Everything in Practitioner plus)
Knowledge & Understanding
- Rancher advanced features (Global view, Rancher K3s)
- Kubernetes architecture and scaling
- Rancher API, CLI, IaC tools
Skills
- Manage complex multi-cluster/multi-cloud environments
- Automate with Rancher API/CLI
- Deploy/manage Rancher K3s
- Implement security practices and IaC
Performance
- Deliver high-performance, scalable solutions
- Guide advanced configurations
- Ensure security/compliance
- Optimize and automate infrastructure
Beginner
Knowledge & Understanding
- Understands basic containerization concepts and OpenShift components
- Can navigate documentation and basic configurations
Skills
- Performs basic operations such as deploying and scaling applications
- Can troubleshoot simple issues and deploy basic applications
Performance
- Completes tasks with minimal errors
- Communicates effectively and follows guidelines
Practitioner (Everything in Beginner plus)
Knowledge & Understanding
- Understands intermediate concepts like OpenShift architecture and networking policies
- Can manage configurations and apply documentation for complex tasks
Skills
- Manages deployments, customizes configurations, and implements CI/CD pipelines
- Diagnoses and resolves intermediate issues
Performance
- Works efficiently with minimal supervision
- Contributes to team knowledge and suggests improvements
Expert (Everything in Practitioner plus)
Knowledge & Understanding
- Mastery of advanced topics such as Operators and Helm charts
- Expert in complex configurations, network security, and comprehensive documentation
Skills
- Manages complex environments, advanced deployments, and custom automations
- Resolves intricate issues and optimizes performance
Performance
- Demonstrates exceptional efficiency and innovation
- Leads initiatives and mentors team members
Beginner
Knowledge & Understanding
- Basic Kubernetes concepts and PF9 overview
- Understanding of cluster components and PF9 interface
- Basic cloud environments (AWS, Azure, GCP)
Skills
- Deploy Kubernetes clusters and manage resources with PF9
- Use PF9 dashboard and apply basic security
- Deploy applications in cloud environments
Performance
- Set up and configure clusters
- Manage simple applications and troubleshoot basic issues
- Use PF9 interface and deploy apps across clouds
Practitioner (Everything in Beginner plus)
Knowledge & Understanding
- Advanced PF9 features and Kubernetes components
- Networking, storage, and security knowledge
- Multi-cloud and hybrid cloud strategies (AWS, Azure, GCP)
Skills
- Manage complex deployments
- Integrate with CI/CD, monitor with tools like Prometheus
- Implement advanced security and manage multi-cloud deployments
Performance
- Design complex environments with high availability
- Optimize configurations and ensure effective monitoring
- Deploy and manage across multiple clouds
Expert (Everything in Practitioner plus)
Knowledge & Understanding
- Expertise in PF9 architecture, scaling, and multi-cluster deployments
- Advanced security, compliance practices, and hybrid cloud experience
- Cloud cost management and optimization (AWS, Azure, GCP)
Skills
- Architect enterprise-scale solutions
- Optimize performance and design multi-cloud strategies
- Implement advanced security measures and custom integrations
Performance
- Deliver scalable solutions
- Provide expert guidance and resolve complex issues
- Lead integrations, optimize costs, and manage hybrid clouds
Beginner
Knowledge & Understanding
- Understand Go packages, import statements, structure of Go project
- Data types and variables: Primitive: int, float, bool
- Understand imported and exported variables, functions, data type conversion, constants, zero value for data types
- Can write programs related to strings, time, and date conversions
- Should understand and use the GO environment (GOPATH, GOROOT)
Skills
- Should be able to build and execute the Go program
- Can write a program using data structures like struct, slice, map, array
- Use Slice and Array effectively based on the problem to be solved
- Can create a For loop, if-else, and switch statements
- Can write normal functions that use an identifier
- Can write anonymous or lambda functions
- Can use functions as values
- Should be able to use defer statements and functions effectively
- Should be able to initialize the Go project using Go modules and use them effectively
- Marshaling/Unmarshaling of JSON/YAML
- Should be able to write unit tests
Performance
- Deploy basic applications
- Troubleshoot syntax and compilation issues in Go
- Verify correctness of program outputs
- Write simple programs to demonstrate Go basics
Practitioner (Everything in Beginner plus)
Knowledge & Understanding
- Understanding of interfaces and their implementation
- Can make use of Nil interface values, type assertions, and type switches
- Can use pointers effectively in a program
- Should be able to use receivers wherever required
- Should understand the difference between receivers and pointer receivers and use them appropriately
- Knowledge of error handling (panics, errors interface, panic, recover, defer statements)
- SUnderstanding of file operations and reader interface
- Concepts of function closures
- Can write REST APIs
- Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) principles: encapsulation, composition, inheritance, and polymorphism using Go
- Writing documentation using GoDoc
Skills
- Can implement a program using interfaces
- Handle errors effectively in Go programs
- Read and write to files using Go
- Write function closures
- Write basic test cases for REST APIs
- Can design and develop OOP-based programs using Go
- Document code and programs using GoDoc
Performance
- Deploy and monitor intermediate-level applications
- Handle advanced debugging scenarios
- Develop programs demonstrating robust error handling, file operations, and APIs
Expert (Everything in Practitioner plus)
Knowledge & Understanding
- Expertise in testing with Go: mock functions/variables/objects and use them effectively in tests
- Can write tests for HTTP endpoints
- Go concurrency concepts: goroutines, sync.WaitGroups, channels, buffered channels, sync.Mutex
- Databases: implementing complex database operations using interfaces
- Understanding of Golang design patterns and their effective use
- Knowledge of GRPC and protocol buffers
- Go Generics: defining functions, types, and data structures that can operate on different data types using type parameters
- Makefile: automating workflows for testing, building, and installing Go binaries
- Common Makefile commands and syntax for development processes
Skills
- Can implement and test complex concurrency models
- Develop programs with advanced database operations
- Write and maintain reusable and efficient code with generics
- Automate development workflows using Makefiles
- Implement GRPC-based programs
- Design programs utilizing Golang design patterns effectively
Performance
- Manage production-grade Go applications
- Design and optimize highly concurrent systems
- Implement and automate CI/CD workflows for Go projects
- Write efficient, reusable, and maintainable codebases
Beginner
Knowledge & Understanding
- Python syntax rules, data types, operations
- Global vs. Local variables
- Modules vs. Packages
- Using built-in libraries
- Defining and using functions
- Function scope, parameters, and return values
- File and Exceptions:- File read/write modes
- Handling errors using try-except
- Data Structures:- Lists, tuples, sets, dictionaries
- Basic operations and use cases.OOP Basics: Classes, objects, inheritance
- Encapsulation and polymorphism
- Debugging basics
- Writing unit tests.Package Managers
- Using virtual environments and PIP
Skills
- Build and execute Python programs
- Write scripts for file handling and exceptions
- Create simple functions and classes
- Debug with print statements and tools
- Perform basic unit testing
Performance
- Deploy basic Python scripts
- Troubleshoot syntax errors and runtime issues
- Write programs demonstrating Python fundamentals
Practitioner (Everything in Beginner plus)
Knowledge & Understanding
- Problem Solving: Break down problems and develop logical solutions
- Advanced OOP:- Design patterns, abstract classes, and interfaces
- Build complex class hierarchies
- Use lambda, map, filter, reduce
- Write functional-style code
- Concurrency & Parallelism: Threads, asyncio, multiprocessing
- Synchronization mechanisms (locks, semaphores)
- Database Knowledge:- Use SQLAlchemy/ORMs
- Write SQL queries and perform migrations
- Web Development:- Work with Flask/Django
- Write maintainable code with docstrings and comments
- Use tools like pylint, flake8
Skills
- Implement OOP designs
- Process data with functional programming
- Develop APIs and database integrations
- Write SQL queries
- Ensure code quality with tools
Performance
- Deploy intermediate-level apps
- Debug and optimize performance bottlenecks
- Deliver maintainable code with proper documentation
- Ensure efficient API-driven and database-backed apps
Expert (Everything in Practitioner plus)
Knowledge & Understanding
- Decorators, context managers, metaclasses
- Advanced libraries for data and scientific computing
- Identify and mitigate common vulnerabilities
- Advanced Web Dev: Build complex apps with Django/FastAPI
- Design RESTful and real-time APIs
- Design scalable, maintainable apps
- Advanced Git usage and workflows
- Use Docker, Kubernetes
- CI/CD pipelines and automation
- Performance Optimization: Identify bottlenecks, optimize code
- Use profiling tools
- Advanced testing: Implement and automate comprehensive testing strategies
Skills
- Architect and implement complex Python applications
- Write efficient, reusable, and maintainable code
- Develop robust testing strategies
- Manage CI/CD pipelines
- Optimize performance
Performance
- Manage production-grade applications
- Ensure security and reliability
- Deliver scalable solutions
- Automate deployment workflows
- Maintain high standards for performance, security, and testing
Beginner
Knowledge & Understanding
- Basic understanding of JavaScript syntax, data types, control structures, and DOM manipulation
- Familiar with basic functions and event handling
Skills
- Can write and debug simple functions and scripts
- Utilizes basic asynchronous operations and manipulates the DOM
Performance
- Builds and maintains simple JavaScript applications
- Troubleshoots basic errors and manages small projects
Practitioner (Everything in Beginner plus)
Knowledge & Understanding
- Proficient in advanced JavaScript concepts like closures, promises, and modern ES6+ features
- Knowledgeable about frameworks and performance optimization
Skills
- Writes modular code using modern features, handles complex DOM manipulations, and integrates third-party libraries and APIs
Performance
- Develops and maintains medium to large-scale applications, optimizes performance, and troubleshoots complex issues
Expert (Everything in Practitioner plus)
Knowledge & Understanding
- Mastery of JavaScript internals, advanced patterns, and multiple frameworks
- Expertise in performance tuning and large-scale architecture
Skills
- Architects complex applications, implements advanced patterns, and contributes to open-source projects
Performance
- Oversees large projects, drives innovation, provides mentorship, and actively participates in the JavaScript community
Beginner
Knowledge & Understanding
- Basic understanding of TypeScript syntax, type annotations, interfaces, and basic types (e.g., string, number, boolean)
- Familiar with simple concepts like type inference and type assertions
Skills
- Can write and debug TypeScript code using fundamental types and interfaces
- Utilizes TypeScript features for basic application development
- Manages basic type-related errors.
Performance
- Develops and maintains small TypeScript projects
- Handles basic configuration in tsconfig.json and resolves simple type issues
Practitioner (Everything in Beginner plus)
Knowledge & Understanding
- Proficient with advanced TypeScript features such as generics, union types, intersection types, and advanced type inference
- Knowledgeable about TypeScript integration with modern frameworks and libraries (e.g., React, Angular)
Skills
- Develops complex applications using TypeScript’s advanced features
- Configures TypeScript with various build tools (e.g., Webpack, Babel) and frameworks
- Implements complex type manipulations and utility types
Performance
- Manages medium to large-scale TypeScript projects
- Optimizes type checking, refactors complex codebases, and resolves intricate type issues
Expert (Everything in Practitioner plus)
Knowledge & Understanding
- Mastery of TypeScript’s deep features, including advanced generics, conditional types, mapped types, and utility types
- Expertise in integrating TypeScript with large systems and multi-framework architectures
- Understanding of TypeScript’s compiler internals and custom transformers
Skills
- Architects sophisticated TypeScript solutions with complex type hierarchies and custom utilities
- Contributes to or creates custom type definitions and TypeScript tooling
- Leads TypeScript best practices and implements advanced patterns
Performance
- Oversees large TypeScript projects, drives innovation in type safety and performance
- Mentors teams on advanced TypeScript concepts, contributes to the TypeScript community, and influences best practices and standards
Beginner
Knowledge & Understanding
- Basic understanding of Node.js and its non-blocking I/O model, core modules, JavaScript fundamentals, and npm usage
Skills
- Set up Node.js environment, run basic apps, use npm, handle file operations, and create simple HTTP servers
Performance
- Develops basic applications efficiently, utilizes core modules, manages dependencies, and applies async programming concepts
Practitioner (Everything in Beginner plus)
Knowledge & Understanding
- In-depth understanding of the Node.js event loop, asynchronous programming, popular frameworks, RESTful APIs, and debugging techniques
Skills
- Build and deploy RESTful APIs, implement middleware, use async/await, manage configurations, ensure basic security, and write tests
Performance
- Develops scalable APIs, handles async operations efficiently, manages configurations securely, and writes reliable tests
Expert (Everything in Practitioner plus)
Knowledge & Understanding
- Develops scalable APIs, handles async operations efficiently, manages configurations securely, and writes reliable tests
Skills
- Architect complex Node.js apps, design microservices, perform performance analysis, implement advanced security, and lead development teams
Performance
- Architects scalable solutions, ensures security, optimizes performance, leads teams effectively, and contributes to the Node.js community
Beginner
Knowledge & Understanding
- Basic understanding of Istio architecture, control and data plane components, and service mesh concepts
- Familiar with basic traffic management and security features
Skills
- Can install Istio on a Kubernetes cluster, configure basic components, and manage traffic using virtual services and destination rules
- Sets up mutual TLS and RBAC policies, and configures basic telemetry features
Performance
- Successfully deploys Istio for simple use cases, manages basic traffic routing and security policies, and resolves common issues related to installation and configuration
Practitioner (Everything in Beginner plus)
Knowledge & Understanding
- Detailed knowledge of Istio architecture, advanced traffic management features, and security configurations
- Comprehensive understanding of telemetry, observability, and integrations with external systems
Skills
- Configures Istio for high availability, implements complex traffic management scenarios, and sets up advanced security features
- Customizes telemetry setups and integrates with external monitoring and logging systems
Performance
- Manages and scales Istio in large environments, implements multi-cluster deployments, diagnoses complex issues, and optimizes Istio configurations for performance and security
Expert (Everything in Practitioner plus)
Knowledge & Understanding
- Mastery of Istio's internal mechanisms and custom solution design
- Deep understanding of advanced security configurations and active contributions to the Istio community
Skills
- Designs and implements advanced Istio configurations, develops custom extensions and plugins, and conducts detailed performance tuning
- Implements advanced security features and compliance measures
Performance
- Leads large-scale Istio deployments, establishes best practices, mentors teams, and drives innovation and thought leadership in Istio deployment and usage
Beginner
Knowledge & Understanding
- Infrastructure as Code (IaC): Understands the basics of IaC and Terraform’s role in creating, managing, and provisioning infrastructure
- Installation: Familiar with downloading and installing Terraform, understanding basic command-line interface (CLI) usage
- Terraform Files: Understands the structure of main Terraform files such as main.tf, variables.tf, providers.tf, and terraform.tf.
- Backend Configuration: Basic knowledge of configuring the backend with providers like AWS S3 and DynamoDB for state management
- Configuration Language: Basic familiarity with providers like AWS, Azure, and null providers; understands key concepts like resources, data, and variables
- Coding Standards: Basic coding practices, including the use of local variables
Skills
- Installation: Installs Terraform on local systems and uses CLI commands to initialize and apply Terraform configurations
- File Management: Creates basic Terraform files and uses Terraform commands (init, plan, apply)
- Backend Configuration: Configures simple backends in AWS (S3 for storage, DynamoDB for state locking)
- Basic Queries: Runs basic queries on resources using terraform state list
- Coding Standards: Implements basic coding practices, using local variables effectively to maintain clarity in configurations
Performance
- Deployment: Successfully deploys basic infrastructure setups using Terraform in a development environment
- State Management: Manages simple state files and locks state in backend storage
- Configuration: Demonstrates a basic understanding of creating infrastructure resources and variables in Terraform
- Documentation: Documents basic configurations and usage instructions for beginner-level projects
Practitioner (Everything in Beginner plus)
Knowledge & Understanding
- Reusable Code: Understands modularity and reusable code principles; proficient in using loops, modules, and conditions in Terraform
- Remote State Management: Knowledgeable in managing state files remotely, pulling/pushing state files as required
- Providers and Functions: Advanced understanding of null providers, local providers, and functions (e.g., string, numeric functions, collection functions)
- Kubernetes Integration: Understands how to deploy Kubernetes resources using Terraform
- Upgrades and Security: Knowledge of upgrading Terraform and securing sensitive data
- Targeted Resource Management: Able to identify and apply changes to specific resources
Skills
- Modular Design: Creates reusable Terraform modules for complex deployments
- Remote State Management: Configures and manages remote state, enabling collaboration on Terraform projects
- Advanced Functions: Uses functions for string manipulation, numerical operations, and encoding data
- Kubernetes Deployment: Uses Terraform to manage Kubernetes clusters and resources
- Version Control and Security: Implements version control for Terraform configurations and uses secrets management tools to secure sensitive data
- Resource Targeting: Manages targeted changes to specific resources to optimize deployment
Performance
- Resource Targeting: Manages targeted changes to specific resources to optimize deployment
- Reusable and Scalable Code: Designs Terraform configurations that are modular and reusable for medium-scale deployments
- Security Compliance: Secures sensitive data and follows best practices for managing secrets
- Intermediate Troubleshooting: Diagnoses and resolves mid-level issues related to configuration errors, state management, and performance optimization
Expert (Everything in Practitioner plus)
Knowledge & Understanding
- Scalable Architecture Design: Deep understanding of Terraform design patterns for large-scale deployments; organizes projects with reusable and scalable directory structures
- Automation and Testing: Proficient in automating infrastructure lifecycle processes and integrating Terraform with CI/CD pipelines (e.g., GitHub Actions, CircleCI)
- Advanced Tools: Knowledge of advanced tools like Terragrunt for DRY principles and Terraform Cloud for managing deployments at scale
- Testing and Validation: Expertise in using testing tools like Terratest and checkov for validating Terraform configurations
- Community Contributions: Actively contributes to the Terraform community through documentation, code, or thought leadership
- Compliance and Governance: Ensures Terraform configurations comply with organizational standards and regulatory requirements
Skills
- Architecture Design: Creates and manages complex Terraform projects that scale and adhere to industry best practices
- Automation Integration: Automates the deployment and lifecycle management of infrastructure using CI/CD tools and Terraform Cloud
- Testing and Compliance: Uses tools like Terratest and checkov for configuration testing and ensures compliance
- Customization: Develops custom Terraform modules, integrations, and scripts to meet advanced requirements
- Incident Response and Troubleshooting: Resolves the most complex issues related to large-scale infrastructure, security, and Terraform state management
Performance
- Efficient and Reliable Deployments: Manages and optimizes Terraform for high-volume, production-grade deployments
- CI/CD Implementation: Integrates Terraform into automated deployment pipelines, ensuring consistent and reliable releases
- Knowledge Sharing: Actively shares expertise with the Terraform community and within the organization
- Compliance Adherence: Implements configurations that meet organizational and regulatory compliance
- Leadership: Provides strategic guidance on infrastructure as code practices across the organization
Beginner
Knowledge & Understanding
- Understand CICD Concepts: Continuous Integration, Continuous Delivery, Continuous Deployment, GitOps concepts, and shell scripting
- Basic Installation and Setup: Install and set up Jenkins, Admin User and Jenkins Plugins
- Groovy Basics
- ArgoCD Basics: Configure ArgoCD in a Kubernetes cluster, deploying and managing applications using ArgoCD, sync options, refresh, prune
Skills
- Create and manage Jenkins jobs: Configure jobs, add parameters, logical input
- Basic Pipeline Usage: Understand pipeline structure, create and run pipelines
- Security and User Management: Create users, manage credentials in Jenkins
Performance
- Deploy basic CI/CD pipelines
- Troubleshoot issues in basic Jenkins configurations
- Manage basic application deployments using ArgoCD
Practitioner (Everything in Beginner plus)
Knowledge & Understanding
- Advanced Job Configuration: Anatomy of the build, Git Clone, build application with Jenkins, capture build artifacts, configure Jenkins jobs to trigger by poll SCM
- Plugin Management: Introduce Jenkins Plugin Model, install and use plugins
- Pipeline Advanced Usage: Approve build stages, use parallel multiple stages, refactor Jenkins pipeline, build triggers, parameterized projects
- Environment and Variables: Create global and custom environment variables in Jenkins
- Jenkins Agents and Integrations: Create and configure Jenkins slaves, build Jenkins Docker agents, integrate script with AWS CLI
- Environment and Variables: Create global and custom environment variables in Jenkins
- ArgoCD Projects: Create and configure projects, define project source and destination, manage project roles, quotas, and limits, set up namespace and cluster scope, use Helm with Argo
Skills
- Develop and manage advanced Jenkins pipelines
- Handle complex build stages and pipeline refactoring
- Configure Jenkins agents for different environments
- Design and manage ArgoCD projects with advanced configurations
Performance
- Deploy and monitor intermediate CI/CD pipelines
- Optimize pipeline performance and execution
- Troubleshoot issues in advanced Jenkins pipelines and ArgoCD deployments
Expert (Everything in Practitioner plus)
Knowledge & Understanding
- Advanced Pipelines and Shared Libraries: Manage build version dynamically, manage releases and artifacts, write shared libraries for pipelines, manage shared libs
- Advanced Security and User Management: Restrict jobs to users using project roles, enable SSO
- Advanced Integrations and Automations: Integrate Ansible and Jenkins, SAST integration, use code coverage tools
- Jenkins DSL: Seed jobs, DSL structure, parameters, SCM, triggers, steps, mailer
- Argo Advanced Topics: Argo workflows, Argo ApplicationSets, Argo rollbacks, Argo Vault Plugin for secrets, Argo multi-cluster setup, enabling SSO for Argo
Skills
- Design and manage scalable Jenkins pipelines
- Implement Jenkins DSL for pipeline automation
- Develop and manage Argo workflows and multi-cluster setups
- Configure advanced security settings in Jenkins and ArgoCD
Performance
- Manage production-grade CI/CD pipelines
- Automate complex workflows and integrations
- Ensure security and compliance in CI/CD processes
- Optimize performance for large-scale deployments using Jenkins and ArgoCD
Beginner
Knowledge & Understanding
- Understands basic GitOps principles and ArgoCD’s role in Kubernetes deployments
- Can navigate ArgoCD documentation and perform basic configurations
Skills
- Performs basic ArgoCD operations such as setting up applications and viewing deployments
- Troubleshoots simple sync and deployment issues
Performance
- Completes tasks with minimal errors
- Communicates effectively and follows guidelines
Practitioner (Everything in Beginner plus)
Knowledge & Understanding
- Comprehends ArgoCD’s architecture and advanced features such as sync policies and health checks
- Understands integrations with other CI/CD tools and Kubernetes resources
Skills
- Manages and customizes applications with ArgoCD, configures advanced sync strategies, and integrates with CI/CD pipelines
- Diagnoses and resolves intermediate issues
Performance
- Works efficiently with minimal supervision
- Contributes to team practices and suggests improvements
Expert (Everything in Practitioner plus)
Knowledge & Understanding
- Mastery of advanced topics such as custom ArgoCD plugins and complex GitOps workflows
- Expertise in scaling, security, and performance optimization of ArgoCD deployments
Skills
- Manages complex ArgoCD setups, customizes controllers, and integrates with diverse CI/CD systems
- Resolves intricate issues and optimizes system performance
Performance
- Demonstrates exceptional efficiency and innovation
- Leads initiatives, mentors team members, and drives operational excellence
Beginner
Knowledge & Understanding
- Basic CI/CD concepts and Jenkins architecture
- Jenkins terminology (pipelines, jobs, nodes)
- Triggers (SCM, schedule)
- Workspace and build artifacts
- Basic backup and restore principles
Skills
- Create simple jobs and pipelines
- Use common plugins
- Configure basic triggers
- Basic parameterization
- Backup and restore Jenkins using standard methods
Performance
- Configure and run basic pipelines
- Utilize plugins
- Set up triggers
- Perform basic backup and restore tasks
- Manage artifacts and workspaces
Practitioner (Everything in Beginner plus)
Knowledge & Understanding
- Pipeline types (Declarative, Scripted)
- Jenkins node management (master/agent)
- Plugin management and customization
- Credentials and secrets management
- SCM integrations (Git, SVN)
- Monitoring and alerting
- Configuration management with Puppet and Chef
Skills
- Create/manage complex pipelines
- Configure nodes and executors
- Manage credentials and secrets
- Use advanced plugins
- Optimize pipeline performance
- Set up monitoring and alerting
- Manage Jenkins with Puppet and Chef
Performance
- Design and maintain complex pipelines
- Manage nodes and scale Jenkins
- Securely handle credentials
- Optimize performance and monitor Jenkins
- Automate Jenkins with Puppet and Chef
Expert (Everything in Practitioner plus)
Knowledge & Understanding
- Jenkins Pipeline as Code
- Advanced security practices
- Performance tuning and scaling
- Job orchestration and dependency management
- Large-scale and multi-tenant environments
- Advanced features (Jenkins X, Blue Ocean)
- Backup and restore strategies
- Monitoring and disaster recovery
- Automation with Puppet and Chef
Skills
- Optimize performance
- Create/manage Shared Libraries
- Implement advanced security
- Manage complex orchestration
- Integrate with enterprise tools
- Backup, restore, and disaster recovery
- Advanced monitoring
- Automate Jenkins management
Performance
- Deliver optimized CI/CD solutions
- Maintain secure and scalable Jenkins environments
- Provide expert guidance
- Manage large-scale infrastructure
- Ensure reliable backup and disaster recovery
- Automate and monitor efficiently
Beginner
Knowledge & Understanding
- Basic CI/CD concepts
- GitHub Actions terminology
- Basic YAML syntax
- Triggers (push, pull request, schedule)
- Job dependencies and conditions
Skills
- Create simple workflowsUse pre-built actions
- Configure triggers
- Use job dependencies
- Debug basic workflow failures
Performance
- Set up and run pipelines
- Use pre-built actions
- Configure basic triggers
- Implement job dependencies
- Resolve workflow issues
Practitioner (Everything in Beginner plus)
Knowledge & Understanding
- Workflow structure and syntax
- Types of actions (JavaScript, Docker, Composite)
- Environment variables and secrets
- Events and triggers (workflow_dispatch, repository_dispatch)
- Caching and artifact management
Skills
- Create/customize workflows with multiple jobs
- Develop custom actions
- Implement variables and secrets
- Configure advanced triggers
- Optimize with caching
- Manage artifacts
Performance
- Design efficient workflows
- Use custom actions
- Securely manage secrets
- Optimize execution with caching
- Manage artifacts across jobs
Expert (Everything in Practitioner plus)
Knowledge & Understanding
- Advanced features (matrix builds, reusable workflows)
- Performance and cost optimization
- Security best practices
- Self-hosted runners and scaling
- Conditional execution and concurrency
Skills
- Optimize workflows (matrix, caching)
- Create reusable workflows
- Implement advanced security
- Manage self-hosted runners
- Use advanced triggers
- Set up conditional execution
Performance
- Deliver high-performance pipelines
- Maintain secure workflows
- Mentor on best practices
- Manage self-hosted runners
- Implement advanced triggers and controls
Beginner
Knowledge & Understanding
- Understands basic IaC concepts, CloudFormation components, and basic AWS services
Skills
- Creates simple templates, defines basic resources, and performs basic stack operations
Performance
- Should be able to deploy basic infrastructure with guidance and troubleshoots basic issues
Practitioner (Everything in Beginner plus)
Knowledge & Understanding
- Understands advanced features like conditions and intrinsic functions. Knows AWS service integrations
Skills
- Develops intermediate templates, manages stack lifecycle, and automates with CLI/SDKs
Performance
- Manages intermediate stacks, resolves issues proactively, and uses nested stacks
Expert (Everything in Practitioner plus)
Knowledge & Understanding
- Deep understanding of custom resources, macros, and cross-stack references
Skills
- Develops complex templates, integrates with CI/CD pipelines, and manages stack sets
Performance
- Optimizes large-scale deployments, resolves complex issues, and leads best practice initiatives
Beginner
Knowledge & Understanding
- Understands basic identity and access management concepts and Keycloak’s role
- Can navigate Keycloak documentation and perform basic configurations
Skills
- Performs basic operations such as setting up realms, clients, and users
- Troubleshoots simple authentication and authorization issues
Performance
- Completes tasks with minimal errors
- Communicates effectively and follows best practices
Practitioner (Everything in Beginner plus)
Knowledge & Understanding
- Comprehends Keycloak’s architecture, including realms, clients, and identity providers
- Understands advanced configurations such as roles, groups, and federated identity
Skills
- Manages and configures advanced Keycloak features, including user federation, custom authentication flows, and single sign-on (SSO)
- Diagnoses and resolves intermediate issues
Performance
- Works efficiently with minimal supervision
- Contributes to team practices and suggests improvements
Expert (Everything in Practitioner plus)
Knowledge & Understanding
- Mastery of advanced Keycloak topics such as custom extensions, multi-tenancy, and performance tuning
- Expertise in integrating Keycloak with complex systems and compliance requirements
Skills
- Manages large-scale Keycloak deployments, customizes authentication and authorization processes, and integrates with various external systems
- Resolves complex issues and optimizes system performance
Performance
- Demonstrates exceptional efficiency and innovation
- Leads initiatives, mentors team members, and drives strategic improvements
Beginner
Knowledge & Understanding
- Understands basic concepts of OpenID and its role in authentication
- Can navigate OpenID documentation and perform basic configurations
Skills
- Performs basic operations such as setting up OpenID Connect providers and configuring simple authentication flows
- Troubleshoots basic authentication issues
Performance
- Implements basic OpenID Connect flows and ensures secure, reliable authentication for standard use cases
- Adheres to best practices for security and user management
Practitioner (Everything in Beginner plus)
Knowledge & Understanding
- Comprehends OpenID’s architecture, including identity providers, claims, and tokens
- Understands advanced configurations like scopes, claims, and token handling
Skills
- Manages and configures advanced OpenID features such as custom claims, advanced token handling, and integrating with various applications
- Diagnoses and resolves intermediate issues
Performance
- Optimizes OpenID Connect implementations for performance and scalability
- Ensures robust security configurations and compliance with authentication standards
Expert (Everything in Practitioner plus)
Knowledge & Understanding
- Mastery of advanced OpenID topics such as custom extensions, multi-tenancy, and advanced security considerations
- Expertise in integrating OpenID with complex systems and compliance requirements
Skills
- Manages complex OpenID implementations, customizes authentication processes, and integrates with diverse enterprise systems
- Resolves intricate issues and optimizes system performance
Performance
- Drives advanced OpenID Connect solutions with high efficiency and innovation
- Leads strategic initiatives, ensures system resilience, and mentors team members on best practices
Beginner
Knowledge & Understanding
- Basics of Kubernetes and cloud infrastructure provisioning
- Importance of cluster virtualization and isolation
- Role of vCluster in managing isolated Kubernetes clusters
- vCluster architecture overview (Cluster creation, Virtual Kubelet, Multi-tenancy)
- Basic customization of vCluster (resource limits, basic configurations)
Skills
- Install vCluster on Kubernetes
- Use Helm, YAML for installation
- Create basic virtual clusters
- Manage isolated Kubernetes environments using vCluster
- Apply basic customizations to vClusters
Performance
- Relies on documentation and community resources
- Can follow tutorials and guides for basic setup and troubleshooting
- Seeks assistance for complex configurations or issues
Practitioner (Everything in Beginner plus)
Knowledge & Understanding
- In-depth understanding of vCluster architecture (Virtual Kubelet, Networking, Storage)
- Advanced concepts (Multi-tenancy, Resource Quotas, Role-Based Access Control)
- Integrating vCluster with existing Kubernetes tools and workflows
- Knowledge of Loft Labs Enterprise platform features and capabilities
- Customizing vCluster for specific use cases (network policies, storage classes)
Skills
- Configure vCluster for production environments
- Use Helm charts and advanced configurations for complex deployments
- Manage multiple virtual clusters and dependencies
- Customize vCluster with advanced settings and integrations
- Implement Loft Labs Enterprise platform features for enhanced management and governance
Performance
- Independently handles configuration and management tasks
- Proficient in troubleshooting and resolving deployment issues
- Explores and integrates new Crossplane features actively
- Effectively uses Loft Labs Enterprise features to manage vClusters
Expert (Everything in Practitioner plus)
Knowledge & Understanding
- Deep knowledge of vCluster internals (API Server, Controllers, CRDs)
- Expert in Kubernetes and vCluster integration (multi-cluster, hybrid cloud)
- Latest updates, best practices, and community involvement
- Deep understanding of customizing vCluster and adding new features
- Expert knowledge of Loft Labs Enterprise platform for advanced management
- Comprehensive knowledge of integrating vCluster with other ecosystem tools (CI/CD, monitoring, logging)
Skills
- Design scalable and resilient infrastructure solutions with vCluster
- Implement advanced configurations (multi-cluster, cross-cloud)
- Develop custom integrations and extensions for vCluster
- Deep-level troubleshooting and optimization
- Leverage Loft Labs Enterprise platform for complex deployments
- Seamlessly integrate vCluster with other tools and systems
Performance
- Provides expert support for complex vCluster deployments
- Innovates and optimizes infrastructure automation with vCluster
- Contributes actively to the vCluster community
- Mentors and trains teams on advanced vCluster usage
- Provides strategic guidance on vCluster implementations and integrations
Beginner
Knowledge & Understanding
- Basics of Kubernetes and cloud infrastructure provisioning
- Importance of Infrastructure as Code (IaC)
- Role of Crossplane in managing cloud resources declaratively
- Crossplane architecture overview (Providers, Compositions, Resources)
Skills
- Install Crossplane on Kubernetes
- Use Helm, YAML for installation
- Define basic infrastructure resources with Providers
- Manage cloud services using Crossplane
Performance
- Relies on documentation and community resources
- Can follow tutorials and guides for basic setup and troubleshooting
- Seeks assistance for complex configurations or issues
Practitioner (Everything in Beginner plus)
Knowledge & Understanding
- In-depth understanding of Crossplane architecture (Claims, Bindings, Configuration)
- Advanced concepts (Composition Templates, Package Manager, Stacks)
- Cloud provider integrations and extending Kubernetes with Crossplane
- Composite Resource Definition (XRD)
Skills
- Configure Crossplane for production environments
- Use Helm charts and Crossplane Stacks for complex deployments
- Manage advanced infrastructure resources and dependencies
Performance
- Independently handles configuration and management tasks
- Proficient in troubleshooting and resolving deployment issues
- Explores and integrates new Crossplane features actively
Expert (Everything in Practitioner plus)
Knowledge & Understanding
- Deep knowledge of Crossplane internals (Controllers, CRDs, reconciliation loops)
- Expert in Kubernetes and Crossplane integration (multi-cluster, hybrid cloud)
- Latest updates, best practices, and community involvement
- Understanding of Upbound Cloud and its role in managing Crossplane instances and governance
- Integration of Crossplane with Upbound Cloud for enhanced management and control
- Expertise in using Upbound Cloud features for governance and policy enforcement
Skills
- Design scalable and resilient infrastructure solutions with Crossplane
- Implement advanced configurations (multi-cloud, cross-cluster)
- Develop custom Providers and extensions
- Integrate Crossplane with Upbound Cloud for centralized management
- Implement governance policies and controls using Upbound Cloud
- Leverage Upbound Cloud APIs for automation and integration
Performance
- Provides expert support for complex Crossplane deployments
- Innovates and optimizes infrastructure automation with Crossplane
- Contributes actively to the Crossplane community
- Mentors and trains teams on advanced Crossplane and Upbound Cloud usage
- Provides strategic guidance on Crossplane and Upbound Cloud implementations
- Actively contributes to Upbound Cloud community and development
Beginner
Knowledge & Understanding
- Basic understanding of cloud computing and AWS
- Understanding of Regions & Availability Zones (AZs)
- Core AWS concepts: EC2 instance types and use cases
- How to create AMIs, EC2 instances in different regions, and manage SSH access
- AWS CLI usage: IAM policies, EC2 keys, and storage snapshots
Skills
- Create IAM users and groups
- Attach policies to IAM groups
- Configure VPC and subnets
- Create security groups for EC2
- Use CloudWatch to monitor metrics and send notifications
- Set up basic network configurations such as NAT gateways and Route Tables
Performance
- Launch EC2 instances and configure for SSH
- Troubleshoot basic connectivity issues
- Manage storage with EBS volumes and snapshots
- Use CloudWatch for monitoring basic metrics and debugging services
Practitioner (Everything in Beginner plus)
Knowledge & Understanding
- Networking concepts: NACL vs. Security Groups
- Elastic Load Balancer and Auto Scaling
- Cloud storage and lifecycle rules for S3
- Databases: DynamoDB, RDS, and Aurora
- Encryption basics and KMS keys for secure data storage
Skills
- Configure advanced VPC networking with Flow Logs
- Create and manage Auto Scaling Groups
- Implement S3 bucket policies and enable encryption
- Design databases with read replicas and backups
- Set up alarms and metrics using CloudWatch Logs
- Manage backup/restore strategies for databases
Performance
- Design and deploy scalable architectures using Auto Scaling
- Implement lifecycle policies for S3 storage optimization
- Configure databases for high availability and performance
- Optimize costs through reserved instances and storage management
Expert (Everything in Practitioner plus)
Knowledge & Understanding
- Advanced networking: Site-to-Site VPNs, Transit Gateways
- Disaster recovery: RTO, RPO strategies
- AWS security: IAM advanced policies, Shield, and WAF
- Multi-account management using AWS Organizations and Control Tower
- Serverless and decoupled application design
Skills
- Implement advanced VPC networking with Transit Gateways
- Set up global DNS using Route 53
- Configure AWS WAF for application security
- Manage multi-account environments with Control Tower
- Use Lambda and API Gateway for serverless architectures
- Deploy CI/CD pipelines for infrastructure automation
Performance
- Build resilient multi-region architectures
- Perform security audits and implement WAF/Shield for protection
- Deploy and manage serverless applications with API Gateway and Lambda
- Use AWS Well-Architected Framework to identify improvement opportunities in infrastructure design
Beginner
Knowledge & Understanding
- Overview of cloud computing and Azure services
- Understanding Azure portal and resource groups
- Familiarity with basic Azure services (e.g., VMs, storage, networking)
- Basic concepts of cost management and budgeting
Skills
- Navigate the Azure portal and CLI
- Create and manage resource groups
- Deploy and configure basic resources (VMs, storage accounts)
- Monitor resource usage and estimate costs
- Set up basic networking (VNets)
Performance
- Successfully deploy and manage simple workloads in Azure
- Monitor and manage costs effectively
- Ensure availability of basic resources and services
- Set up basic security for resources
Practitioner (Everything in Beginner plus)
Knowledge & Understanding
- In-depth understanding of Azure compute, storage, and networking services
- Azure IAM (Identity and Access Management) concepts
- Azure Monitoring and Application Insights
- Basic understanding of serverless architecture and Azure Function
Skills
- Manage and configure advanced networking (NSGs, VPNs, Load Balancers)
- Implement role-based access control (RBAC)
- Automate deployments using Azure Resource Manager (ARM) templates
- Use monitoring tools for insights and alerts
Performance
- Deliver efficient cloud-based solutions for mid-level complexity workloads
- Ensure secure access to resources with proper RBAC
- Monitor applications using Application Insights and Log Analytics
Expert (Everything in Practitioner plus)
Knowledge & Understanding
- Expertise in designing scalable and resilient architectures on Azure
- Proficient in CI/CD pipelines with Azure DevOps
- Deep understanding of Azure security (Key Vault, Sentinel, Defender)
- Advanced cost optimization strategies
Skills
- Design and deploy complex, multi-region architectures
- Implement and manage CI/CD pipelines
- Set up advanced monitoring and security practices
- Leverage advanced Azure services (e.g., Kubernetes, Logic Apps)
Performance
- Architect and manage enterprise-level solutions on Azure
- Optimize performance and costs for large-scale deployments
- Implement best practices for security and compliance
- Ensure high availability and fault tolerance
Beginner
Knowledge & Understanding
- Basic cloud concepts and GCP Console navigation
- Core GCP services (Compute, Storage, Networking)
- Intro to IAM and GCP regions/zones
Skills
- Setting up GCP account and projects
- Launching VMs and creating Cloud Storage buckets
- Configuring basic IAM roles
Performance
- Following tutorials for basic tasks
- Deploying simple apps and configuring basic network settings
- Basic troubleshooting
Practitioner (Everything in Beginner plus)
Knowledge & Understanding
- Deeper GCP architecture and advanced services (Cloud SQL, BigQuery, GKE)
- GCP networking and security best practices
- IAM policies and machine learning tools
Skills
- Deploying scalable apps, managing databases, and Kubernetes clusters
- Implementing IAM roles, policies correctly
- Configuring advanced VPC and network settings
Performance
- Independently performing intermediate tasks
- Optimizing resource usage and costs
- Troubleshooting intermediate issues
Expert (Everything in Practitioner plus)
Knowledge & Understanding
- Mastery of GCP architecture and multi-cloud strategies
- Expertise in advanced services (Anthos, AI Platform)
- Deep security and compliance knowledge
Skills
- Designing complex, scalable architectures
- Implementing multi-cloud solutions and leveraging AI/ML services
- Advanced Network, automation, and security measures
Performance
- Executing large-scale deployments
- Optimizing enterprise workloads and ensuring high availability
- Solving complex issues and leading incident response
Beginner
Knowledge & Understanding
- Basic understanding of vCenter's role in VMware environments
- Familiarity with core concepts like ESXi hosts, VMs, and basic vCenter functions
Skills
- Install and configure vCenter Server
- Perform basic VM management tasks, such as power on/off and snapshot management
- Use the vSphere Client for everyday operations
Performance
- Performs basic vCenter tasks effectively with minimal issues. Requires guidance for more complex scenarios
- Basic understanding of performance considerations but may not be able to implement advanced optimizations
Practitioner (Everything in Beginner plus)
Knowledge & Understanding
- Knowledge of vCenter architecture, including clusters, resource pools, and distributed switches
- Understanding of performance metrics, storage, and networking within vSphere
Skills
- Configure and manage vCenter features such as Distributed Resource Scheduler (DRS), High Availability (HA), and vMotion
- Perform routine monitoring, performance tuning, and troubleshooting
Performance
- Independently manages various aspects of vCenter operations, demonstrates effective performance optimization, and resolves common issues
- Applies best practices for resource allocation and performance tuning
Expert (Everything in Practitioner plus)
Knowledge & Understanding
- Deep expertise in vCenter’s advanced features, including VMware vSphere Distributed Switches (VDS), VMware vSAN, and advanced security configurations
- Knowledge of complex architectures and integration with other enterprise systems
Skills
- Design and implement large-scale vCenter deployments.
- Develop and manage advanced automation with PowerCLI or other scripting tools
- Integrate vCenter with other systems like backup solutions, monitoring tools, and third-party applications
Performance
- Consistently delivers high-performance solutions in large and complex environments
- Demonstrates advanced skills in optimizing, scaling, and troubleshooting vCenter deployments
- Provides expert-level guidance on best practices and performance tuning
Beginner
Knowledge & Understanding
- Basic understanding of Equinix Metal’s infrastructure, web console, API, and CLI
- Familiarity with bare metal servers, provisioning, and basic networking concepts
Skills
- Can navigate the web console, use the API for basic tasks, and implement simple networking setups
- Performs basic troubleshooting with minimal support
Performance
- Efficiently provisions and manages bare metal servers through the web console
- Uses the API for simple automation tasks and resolves common issues
Practitioner (Everything in Beginner plus)
Knowledge & Understanding
- Proficient in advanced features like custom OS installs, automated provisioning, and cloud integration
- Knowledgeable about advanced networking (BGP, VRFs) and monitoring tools
Skills
- Manages complex infrastructure, writes automation scripts, implements advanced networking, and uses monitoring tools for performance tracking
Performance
- Manages medium to large-scale deployments, ensures high availability, and resolves complex issues independently
Expert (Everything in Practitioner plus)
Knowledge & Understanding
- Mastery of Equinix Metal’s platform, hardware options, network configurations, and security best practices
- Expert in integrating with multi-cloud environments
Skills
- Architects large-scale solutions, develops custom tools, optimizes network performance and security, and leads DevOps practices
Performance
- Oversees large projects, provides strategic guidance, mentors teams, and contributes to the Equinix Metal community
Beginner
Knowledge & Understanding
- Basic Kubernetes backup and recovery concepts
- Kasten K10 architecture
- Data protection terminology
- Kubernetes storage classes and persistent volumes
- Navigating Kasten K10 UI
Skills
- Basic Kasten K10 backup configuration
- Manage backup policies
- Use UI for monitoring and restores
- Basic issue resolution
- Understand Kubernetes storage classes
Performance
- Set up and manage basic backups
- Use Kasten K10 UI effectively
- Resolve basic issues
- Implement backup policies
- Manage storage classes and volumes
Practitioner (Everything in Beginner plus)
Knowledge & Understanding
- Advanced Kasten K10 features
- Advanced Kubernetes concepts (RBAC, Helm, Network Policies)
- Data protection strategies
- Kasten K10 CLI and API
- External tool integration
Skills
- Advanced Kasten K10 features
- Advanced Kubernetes concepts (RBAC, Helm, Network Policies)
- Data protection strategies
- Kasten K10 CLI and API
- External tool integration
Performance
- Design comprehensive backup solutions
- Troubleshoot complex issues
- Optimize performance
- Integrate with monitoring and CI/CD
- Manage Kubernetes storage effectively
Expert (Everything in Practitioner plus)
Knowledge & Understanding
- Advanced Kasten K10 features (Global view, Rancher integration)
- Kubernetes architecture and scaling
- Scalability and high availability features
- Multi-cloud backup practices
- Advanced data protection strategies
Skills
- High-availability solutions
- Multi-cloud backup strategies
- API and CLI for automation
- Backup testing and validation
- Scale Kasten K10 deployments
- Advanced storage management
Performance
- Deliver scalable, high-performance solutions
- Expert Kasten K10 guidance
- Ensure high availability
- Resolve complex issues
- Ensure compliance and security
- Advanced automation and infrastructure management
Beginner
Knowledge & Understanding
- Understands basic concepts, terminology
Skills
- Can install, configure, and run basic Velero commands
Performance
- Successfully sets up Velero and performs basic backups/restores. Troubleshoots simple issues
Practitioner (Everything in Beginner plus)
Knowledge & Understanding
- Knows advanced features, architecture, and data management implications
Skills
- Configures advanced settings, automates operations, and integrates with CI/CD pipelines
Performance
- Can Perform and automates backups/restores. Resolves intermediate issues
Expert (Everything in Practitioner plus)
Knowledge & Understanding
- Has in-depth knowledge of Velero’s workings, optimization, security, and disaster recovery
Skills
- Manages complex environments, develops custom plugins, and optimizes performance
Performance
- Ensures high availability, resolves complex issues, and configure correct alerts
Beginner
Knowledge & Understanding
- Basic understanding of Kyverno’s role in Kubernetes policy enforcement
- Familiar with policy creation, validation, and management
Skills
- Can create and apply simple Kyverno policies
- Understands basic policy enforcement and can use Kyverno for straightforward Kubernetes security and compliance tasks
Performance
- Effectively deploys and configures Kyverno in development environments
- Performs initial troubleshooting of policy-related issues
Practitioner (Everything in Beginner plus)
Knowledge & Understanding
- Proficient in advanced Kyverno features like policy exceptions, external data sources, and policy generation
- Understanding of integration with CI/CD pipelines and complex scenarios
Skills
- Develops and manages complex policies with policy exceptions and external data
- Creates custom policies, integrates Kyverno with external tools, and automates policy generation
Performance
- Manages Kyverno in production environments, optimizes policy performance, and resolves complex issues
- Implements best practices for policy enforcement and management
Expert (Everything in Practitioner plus)
Knowledge & Understanding
- Mastery of Kyverno’s architecture and advanced features
- Expertise in policy optimization, complex policy management, and contributions to Kyverno’s development and best practices
Skills
- Designs and implements sophisticated policies, integrates Kyverno with diverse systems, and customizes policy generation
- Provides strategic guidance on policy management and enforcement
Performance
- Leads large-scale Kyverno deployments, drives policy innovation, and mentors teams
- Actively contributes to Kyverno community and advances best practices
Beginner
Knowledge & Understanding
- Basic policy-based access control concepts
- Overview of OPA and its architecture
- Intro to Rego language
- Basic OPA components (policy engine, decision API)
- Integration basics with apps
Skills
- Install and configure OPA
- Write basic Rego policies
- Query policies via REST API
- Integrate OPA with a sample app
- Use OPA’s default data store
Performance
- Deploy and configure OPA
- Write, test, and debug basic Rego policies
- Implement access control in an app
- Query policies and interpret results
- Resolve basic integration issues
Practitioner (Everything in Beginner plus)
Knowledge & Understanding
- Advanced OPA policy management
- Proficiency with Rego features (functions, sets)
- OPA integration with Kubernetes, microservices
- Policy testing and validation techniques
Skills
- Develop and manage complex policies
- Implement OPA policies in Kubernetes and API gateways
- Conduct policy testing and validation
- Use OPA’s debugging tools
- Integrate OPA with CI/CD pipelines
Performance
- Manage policy enforcement across multiple environments
- Implement advanced management strategies
Expert (Everything in Practitioner plus)
Knowledge & Understanding
- Advanced OPA features (policy bundles, distributed deployments)
- In-depth Rego knowledge
- OPA in large-scale architectures
- Policy management at scale
Skills
- Architect and deploy OPA for high availability
- Manage complex policy bundles
- Optimize Rego policies
- Integrate with monitoring and alerting systems
Performance
- Deliver scalable OPA solutions
- Implement OPA in large, multi-cloud environments
- Provide expert policy design and optimization
Beginner
Knowledge & Understanding
- Basics of containerization and Kubernetes architecture
- Importance of container-native storage
- Portworx role in providing persistent storage
- High-level Portworx architecture (Storage Pool, Volume Driver, Metadata Manager)
Skills
- Install Portworx on Kubernetes
- Use Helm, Operator, YAML for installation
- Manage volumes and PVCs/PVs
- Basic kubectl and pxctl commands
Performance
- Relies on documentation for troubleshooting
- Can resolve common issues with guides
Practitioner (Everything in Beginner plus)
Knowledge & Understanding
- In-depth Portworx architecture understanding (dataplane, control plane)
- Advanced storage concepts (replication, snapshots, backups)
- Integration with Kubernetes distributions
Skills
- Configure production clusters
- Use Helm charts
- Manage storage pools and volumes
- Advanced operations (snapshots, backups, DR)
- Troubleshoot effectively
Performance
- Independently handles tasks
- Occasional help for complex issues
- Optimizes performance and reliability
Expert (Everything in Practitioner plus)
Knowledge & Understanding
- Deep Portworx internals knowledge (data path, control path, metadata management)
- Kubernetes storage best practices with Portworx
- Latest features and updates
Skills
- Design scalable solutions
- Secure deployments (encryption, access control)
- Complex operations (multi-cloud, migrations)
- Automate and integrate workflows
Performance
- Provides expert-level support
- Innovates for peak performance
- Shares insights through writing and mentoring
- Active in community contributions
Beginner
Knowledge & Understanding
- Basic NoSQL vs. SQL concepts
- MongoDB terms: database, collection, document, field, BSON
- Basic JSON syntax
Skills
- Install MongoDB
- Use MongoDB shell (mongosh)
- Perform basic CRUD operations
- Write simple queries ($eq, $ne, $gt, $lt, $in)
- Manage databases and collections
Performance
- Configure a local MongoDB instance.
- Execute basic CRUD operations and simple queries
- Utilize MongoDB documentation
Practitioner (Everything in Beginner plus)
Knowledge & Understanding
- MongoDB data modeling principles
- Index types and impacts
- Replication concepts
- Basic sharding for scaling
Skills
- Use aggregation framework
- Create/manage indexes
- Set up/manage replica sets
- Implement basic sharding
- Use advanced update operators
Performance
- Implement effective data models
- Efficiently process data with aggregation
- Maintain and manage replica sets
- Manage sharding and chunk distribution
- Apply indexes to improve query performance
Expert (Everything in Practitioner plus)
Knowledge & Understanding
- Deep understanding of MongoDB internals (storage engines, journaling, write concerns)
- Advanced features (multi-document transactions, change streams, Atlas Data Lake)
- In-depth security knowledge (encryption, authentication, RBAC)
Skills
- Optimize indexing and query performance
- Implement/manage multi-document transactions
- Perform advanced data migrations with minimal downtime
- Set up/manage complex sharding configurations
- Implement robust security measures and audits
Performance
- Deliver high-performance MongoDB solutions.
- Execute transactions in high-concurrency environments
- Plan and execute complex migrations
- Efficiently manage sharded clusters
- Secure deployments and perform regular audits
- Provide expert guidance and mentorship
Beginner
Knowledge & Understanding
- Basic understanding of Kafka architecture, including brokers, topics, partitions, producers, consumers, and Zookeeper
- Familiar with Kafka’s role in data streaming and messaging
Skills
- Can install and configure a single-node Kafka cluster, create and manage topics, and produce and consume messages using CLI tools
- Writes basic producer and consumer applications
Performance
- Successfully deploys Kafka for simple use cases, manages topics and partitions, monitors basic metrics, and troubleshoots common issues
Practitioner (Everything in Beginner plus)
Knowledge & Understanding
- Detailed knowledge of Kafka's architecture, performance tuning, Kafka Streams, Kafka Connect, and security features such as SSL/TLS and ACLs
Skills
- Configures and manages high-availability Kafka clusters, optimizes performance, implements Kafka Streams and Connect, and configures security policies
Performance
- Manages and scales Kafka clusters for large data volumes and high throughput, implements complex deployments, integrates Kafka with other systems, and handles advanced troubleshooting
Expert (Everything in Practitioner plus)
Knowledge & Understanding
- Mastery of Kafka internals, advanced replication strategies, custom solutions, advanced security configurations, and active contributions to the Kafka community
Skills
- Designs and implements advanced Kafka configurations, develops custom Kafka extensions, conducts detailed performance analysis, and implements advanced security features
Performance
- Leads large-scale Kafka deployments, establishes best practices, mentors teams, drives innovation, and contributes to industry standards and practices
Beginner
Knowledge & Understanding
- Basic understanding of RabbitMQ components such as exchanges, queues, and bindings
- Familiar with message queuing concepts and RabbitMQ's role in messaging systems
Skills
- Can install and configure RabbitMQ, create and manage exchanges and queues, and perform basic message routing
- Writes and executes simple producer and consumer scripts
Performance
- Successfully deploys and configures RabbitMQ for basic messaging needs
- Manages queues and exchanges effectively and troubleshoots basic issues
Practitioner (Everything in Beginner plus)
Knowledge & Understanding
- Detailed knowledge of RabbitMQ's advanced features, including high availability, clustering, and federation
- Understands message durability, reliability, and performance tuning
Skills
- Configures RabbitMQ for high availability, sets up clustering and federation, and manages large-scale deployments
- Implements complex routing patterns and advanced message handling
Performance
- Effectively manages and optimizes large RabbitMQ deployments
- Handles complex messaging scenarios and integrates RabbitMQ with other systems for enhanced functionality
Expert (Everything in Practitioner plus)
Knowledge & Understanding
- Mastery of RabbitMQ, including expertise in advanced clustering, high-availability configurations, and performance tuning
- Deep understanding of RabbitMQ's internals and custom extensions
Skills
- Designs and implements large-scale, high-availability RabbitMQ solutions
- Customizes RabbitMQ for specific needs and contributes to the RabbitMQ community
Performance
- Leads complex RabbitMQ deployments with optimal performance and reliability
- IEstablishes best practices, mentors teams, and drives improvements in messaging systems
What do our Customers Say about us
From growing startups to Fortune 500 companies, our clients are our biggest advocates. Hear straight from our customers how we helped them navigate their cloud native journey.
"We engaged with InfraCloud to build a Kubernetes based platform for running insurance apps. InfraCloud’s experience and deep knowledge helped us in building this platform quickly using best practices for Kubernetes."
Nilesh Dambe
Head of Platforms 
"InfraCloud was quickly able to set up a small team and realize our elasticity vision. Their expertise in working with early-stage features of Kubernetes was second only to their flexibility in quickly adjusting course as we discovered simpler/better tech options along the way."
Ashwani Wason
VP Engineering 
"InfraCloud has been of tremendous value to the core development work we have been doing. Their engineers are thorough professional, very knowledgeable, and have adapted to the demands of the work quite well. They are always proactive and helpful to the other team members as well. A great asset for any team!"
VP, Engineering & Head, India Product Operations
Computer and Network Security
"My heartfelt appreciation for your exceptional work especially on the development of automation test framework. Your technical expertise, attention to detail and willingness to go above and beyond expectations have not gone unnoticed. We are fortunate to have InfraCloud developers as a valued member of our team!"
Senior Project Manager
Motor Vehicle Manufacturing
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