I'm new to this, what should I know?

Question

I’m new to this, what should I know?

Bobby Iliev · Accepted Answer

Hey there,

Welcome to the DigitalOcean community! It’s great to have you onboard. Diving into the world of cloud computing can be thrilling, and there’s a lot to explore. Here are some key points to get you started on the right foot:

1. Understanding DigitalOcean’s Offerings:

Droplets: These are the bread and butter of DigitalOcean, essentially virtual private servers that you can use for hosting websites, applications, databases, and more.
Managed Databases: If you’re working with databases, DigitalOcean offers managed services like PostgreSQL, MySQL, and Redis. They handle maintenance tasks like updates, backups, and scalability.
Kubernetes: For orchestration and managing containerized applications, DigitalOcean Kubernetes (DOKS) is a managed service that simplifies deployment and scaling.

2. Basic Cloud Concepts:

Virtual Machines (VMs): Understanding how VMs work is crucial as they form the core of cloud services.
Storage: Learn about block storage and object storage, and when to use each.
Networking: Concepts like VPCs, load balancers, and firewalls are important for ensuring your applications are secure and accessible.

3. Security First:

Always prioritize security. Use SSH keys for Droplets, set up firewalls, and regularly update your systems.
Familiarize yourself with DigitalOcean’s security practices and recommendations.

4. Backup and Disaster Recovery:

Regular backups are a lifesaver. DigitalOcean offers easy solutions for backing up your Droplets and volumes.

5. Monitoring and Optimization:

Keep an eye on your resources with monitoring tools. DigitalOcean provides monitoring services that help you track performance and optimize costs.

6. Learning Resources:

DigitalOcean has a vast library of tutorials and documentation – make the most of these to learn and troubleshoot.
Join the community! Participate in forums, Q&A sessions, and webinars.

7. Cost Management: