What programming languages should a Cloud Support Engineer know?

Cloud Support Engineers play a critical role in maintaining and optimizing cloud infrastructure, resolving technical issues, and enabling businesses to scale reliably. To do this effectively, they need more than just a general understanding of cloud platforms—they need programming and scripting skills to automate tasks, debug code-related issues, and interact with cloud APIs. While the exact language requirements vary depending on the organization and cloud provider, certain languages are particularly valuable for success in this role.

1. Python

Python is arguably the most essential language for Cloud Support Engineers due to its versatility and extensive use in scripting, automation, and working with cloud SDKs.

• Automate tasks such as instance provisioning, log parsing, and alert configuration
• Use cloud-specific libraries like Boto3 (AWS) or google-cloud-python (GCP)
• Build internal tools and scripts for troubleshooting and infrastructure operations

Its readability and extensive library ecosystem make Python an ideal first choice.

2. Bash / Shell Scripting

Shell scripting is crucial for working with Linux-based virtual machines and automating system-level operations:

• Start, stop, or monitor services on cloud instances
• Create startup scripts for VM configurations
• Integrate command-line tools for log collection and diagnostics

Proficiency in Bash is particularly important in environments using Linux distributions or managing container orchestration systems like Kubernetes.

3. PowerShell

For Cloud Support Engineers working with Microsoft Azure or Windows-based environments, PowerShell is a must-have skill:

• Automate tasks such as resource deployment, policy management, and user permissions
• Use Azure PowerShell modules for interacting with the Azure Resource Manager (ARM)
• Manage Windows-based virtual machines and Active Directory in cloud environments

PowerShell is the scripting backbone of Windows cloud operations.

4. JavaScript (Node.js)

While not always a core requirement, knowledge of JavaScript—especially Node.js—is beneficial for interacting with serverless environments and APIs:

• Create Lambda functions (AWS), Cloud Functions (GCP), or Azure Functions
• Support frontend teams deploying full-stack applications to the cloud
• Use Node.js SDKs for custom automation scripts

Cloud-native apps often rely on JavaScript for backend and middleware components.

5. Go (Golang)

Go is gaining popularity for building scalable cloud services, especially in DevOps and Kubernetes ecosystems:

• Contribute to or extend cloud-native tooling (e.g., Terraform, Kubernetes controllers)
• Write high-performance scripts for interacting with APIs and event-driven systems

Go is ideal for engineers seeking to go beyond support and build internal infrastructure tools.

6. SQL

Cloud Support Engineers often troubleshoot data-related issues in cloud databases like Amazon RDS, Google Cloud SQL, or Azure SQL Database:

• Write queries to validate data integrity or diagnose latency
• Perform access audits and permission checks in cloud-native databases

SQL proficiency is essential when working with cloud-based relational databases.

Complementary Skills

Beyond programming languages, Cloud Support Engineers should also be comfortable with:

• YAML & JSON: For defining infrastructure as code (IaC), API payloads, and Kubernetes configs
• REST APIs: To interact with cloud services and troubleshoot API-based integrations
• CI/CD tools: Experience with scripting within Jenkins, GitHub Actions, or Azure Pipelines

Final Thoughts

Cloud Support Engineers sit at the crossroads of operations, development, and support. The more fluent you are in automation and scripting, the more effective you'll be in managing infrastructure, resolving incidents, and collaborating with DevOps or development teams. Start with Python and Bash, then expand into PowerShell, JavaScript, or Go based on your cloud platform and career goals. In the cloud era, code isn’t just for developers—it’s a vital skill for cloud professionals too.