Why IaC Now?

As a Network Engineer with a strong focus on Cisco ISE, identity services, and Python automation, I’ve reached a point where I want to level up significantly. Declarative infrastructure, GitOps workflows, and true repeatability are no longer “nice to have” — they’re essential.

I’m starting a structured 9-month IaC learning path (5–10 hours per week) to:

  • Deepen my current role with better automation
  • Build toward potential MLOps / NetSecDevOps opportunities
  • Make my homelab (Proxmox NUC + AWS + Cisco CML) truly reproducible and version-controlled
  • Document everything publicly on this site as proof of work

My Learning Plan

Phase 1: Terraform Foundations (Current)

  • HashiCorp Certified: Terraform Associate (2026) – Udemy course by Zeal Vora
  • Focus: Writing clean, maintainable Terraform for Proxmox, networking, and cloud resources
  • Goal: Get comfortable with modules, state management, and real-world patterns

Phase 2: Ansible + Configuration Management

  • Ansible for Network Engineers - Hands-On & Capstone Projects - Udemy course by Abhishek Das
  • Deep dive into Ansible for network device management and server configuration
  • Integrate with Terraform (Terraform → Ansible pattern)

Phase 3: Kubernetes & GitOps

  • Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA) - Udemy course by Mumshad Mannambeth
  • Kubernetes on Proxmox
  • ArgoCD, Flux, and policy-as-code tools

Phase 4: Tying It All Together

  • Machine Learning Specialization - Coursera specialization by Andrew Ng
  • Integrating IaC with my existing Cisco ISE / identity workflows
  • Adding ML components (Ollama + automation pipelines)
  • Building real homelab projects I can write about

Why I’m Documenting This Publicly

  1. Accountability — Writing forces clarity
  2. Portfolio Building — Future employers and my future self will see real progress
  3. Knowledge Retention — Teaching what I learn is the best way to internalize it
  4. Community Value — Hopefully help other network engineers on the same journey

What to Expect on This Blog

You’ll see regular updates as I progress:

  • Honest reviews of courses and resources
  • Working code examples from my homelab
  • Lessons learned (including failures)
  • Before/after comparisons of manual vs declarative approaches

Stay tuned — the first deep-dive Terraform + Proxmox post is coming soon.

Last updated: June 12, 2026