Firefighting in the Cloud: AWS War Games
Matt Lea
This week, we welcome Matt Lea, the creator of Cloud War Games, a hands-on training experience that puts DevOps engineers in real-world AWS firefighting scenarios. Matt shares the inspiration behind the project, which evolved from his years of troubleshooting complex incidents, journaling failures, and building creative training exercises for his teams.
The discussion covers the challenges of incident response, why after-action reports are critical, and how teams can inoculate themselves against stress in high-pressure situations. They also explore the impact of AI on DevOps hiring, the importance of standing out in an AI-driven job market, and why engineers should document their failures just as much as their successes.
The conversation also dives into broader industry trends, including the impact of AI on DevOps hiring and the challenge of standing out in an AI-driven job market. Matt explains how engineers can showcase their skills, build credibility, and find creative ways to differentiate themselves in a competitive landscape. Whether you're an experienced DevOps pro or just starting, this episode offers valuable insights into handling incidents, career growth, and learning from real-world cloud disasters.