Bangalore, India : In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, where artificial intelligence and cloud computing are redefining the boundaries of business transformation, few individuals stand out as true architects behind the scenes. One such name is Naga Surya Teja Thallam, a dynamic Indian tech leader and Senior Cloud Infrastructure Engineer at Salesforce. Originally from Hyderabad, India, and now based in San Francisco, California, Naga is leading global-scale infrastructure initiatives and development of Core CRM infrastructure builds.
With over 7 years of experience in cloud infrastructure and big data engineering, Naga’s journey is a testament to how passion, innovation, and a relentless drive for excellence can lead to impactful success on a global stage.
Rising Through the Ranks: From Startups to Salesforce
Starting his career in the bustling world of big data platforms and enterprise data ecosystems, Naga held key roles at Seagate and multiple startups before transitioning to Cisco Systems, where he left a lasting mark. At Cisco, he managed AWS infrastructure for more than 2,000 enterprise customers, delivering enterprise-level cost optimization strategies that saved over $3 million annually. His deep understanding of cloud governance and automation led to the creation of a cutting-edge vAnalytics infrastructure, streamlining operations across 50+ AWS accounts.
The recognition came pouring in—28 Connected Recognition awards during his three-year stint at Cisco speak volumes about his cross-functional excellence and leadership.
His journey didn’t stop there.
Driving Cloud Innovation at Salesforce
Today, as a Senior Cloud Infrastructure Engineer at Salesforce, Naga leads an elite team of 18 engineers, driving infrastructure automation, AI platform deployments, and global cloud expansion. His role spans across supporting mission-critical applications such as Core CRM, and the broader Salesforce ecosystem—platforms used by millions of users worldwide.
One of his most groundbreaking contributions has been in the development of Core CRM infrastructure builds, support across 22+ AWS regions. By leveraging cloud-native architecture and DevOps best practices, he ensures that these systems are not just scalable but also secure, reliable, and cost-effective.
His leadership was instrumental in the cross-cloud expansion of Salesforce CRM across 22+ AWS regions globally, enabling seamless customer experiences and operational efficiency at an unprecedented scale.
A Passion for Problem-Solving at Scale
When asked what fuels his continued enthusiasm in such a high-pressure domain, he simply says, “What excites me most is the opportunity to solve complex problems at scale—whether it’s enabling core buildinfrastructure, automating global deployments, or supporting mission-critical cloud applications.”
This clarity of purpose is evident in the way he tackles challenges. One major hurdle he overcame was balancing cost efficiency, compliance, and scalability during global deployments. He met this head-on through Terraform-driven infrastructure-as-code (IaC), cloud automation pipelines, and tight collaboration with engineering, product, and security teams.
His mantra? “Automation-first thinking is key to sustainable growth in cloud.”
Words of Wisdom for Aspiring Cloud Engineers
For those looking to follow in his footsteps, Naga’s advice is clear and actionable:
“Start by mastering the basics—cloud computing, Linux, networking, and infrastructure as code. Don’t just read—build, break, fix, and repeat. The field is always evolving, so being curious and adaptable is just as important as being skilled.”
He also stresses the importance of soft skills like collaboration and communication, especially in cross-functional roles where alignment between teams can make or break a project.
Conclusion: An Indian Engineer Shaping Global Digital Experiences
In an age where businesses rely on digital platforms more than ever, the work of cloud infrastructure engineers is both critical and invisible. Naga Surya Teja Thallam’s journey—from Hyderabad to global cloud leadership at Salesforce—shows that with the right mix of passion, perseverance, and technical depth, Indian talent can not only keep pace with but actively shape the future of global technology.
As organizations continue to scale their cloud footprint and explore AI transformation, the demand for such leaders is only set to grow—and Naga is already ahead of the curve, building the next-generation platforms that power the world.
