Cloud computing is a growing trend. With over 68 percent of all global businesses migrating to a cloud platform for their daily operations, cloud computing is sure to become a $330 billion industry in 2022. The recent shift to remote work due to the COVID-19 pandemic will likely increase cloud usage by 59 percent in enterprises. This is an excellent opportunity for IT professionals with cloud computing skills, who are increasingly being sought by hiring managers.
What is Cloud Computing?
Cloud computing is a term that refers to cloud-based services such as storage, software and data analytics. Cloud computing uses the internet to store data or services rather than a hard drive on a computer's hard drive. Cloud computing services are being touted by many companies and organizations as a way to help employees improve their performance and allow them to experiment in areas like machine learning and AI.
Cloud technology adoption has been accelerated by increased internet access, lower costs, new technology and pandemic-driven digitization. Gartner, a business advisory firm, predicts that cloud computing will account for 14 percent of global enterprise IT spending by 2024. This is up from the 9 percent spent in 2020.
Cloud computing is transforming the way businesses do business. More companies are shifting to the cloud because of changing business requirements. This provides strategic organizational benefits as well as growth opportunities for cloud computing professionals. Cloud engineers will be needed as companies continue to reap the benefits of cloud computing. The demand for cloud computing professionals is high and those who enter the field can expect a generous salary. The Robert Half Technology 2020 Salary Guide states that cloud engineers can expect to earn between $94,750-$159,000 annually depending on their industry, geographical location and years of experience.
What is the role of a Cloud Engineer?
Cloud engineers, in a broad sense, are responsible for the management of an organization's cloud-based processes and systems. This can include the following:
Using cloud providers such as AWS, Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud for building architectures
Migration of existing infrastructure to cloud-based systems
Security and access management of cloud-based systems
Operational administration, maintenance as well as troubleshooting on an ongoing basis
Career Paths for a Cloud Engineer
A cloud computing engineer can take up several different career paths, including:
Cloud developer
Front-end/backend developer
Solutions architect
Cloud architect
Data engineer
Security engineer
Engineer for development operations
Full-Stack developer
SysOps Administrator
How you can become a Cloud Engineer
It is common for IT professionals to shift their focus to cloud computing, due to the promising career outlook and the rapid growth of this field. Indeed.com currently lists the average cloud engineer's base salary at $118,000 USD as of January 2022. Other perks include unlimited time off and a $10,000 annual bonus. Follow the steps below to gain an understanding of how you can empower yourself to become a cloud engineer.
Step 1: Gain Cloud Computing Platform Proficiency
To become a cloud engineer, you must be proficient in one of the major cloud computing platforms such as AWS, Azure and Google Cloud Platform (GCP). To get a good understanding of cloud computing, there are many resources available online, including YouTube videos, educational articles and virtual or physical training. After you have mastered the basics, you can go on to become certified in any of these environments.
Step 2: Get at least one programming language experience
Cloud computing is different from general-purpose programming languages such as C++. It requires data-oriented programming languages such as Clojure, Java and Python. These languages can be learned through blogs, videos, classes online/offline, and other free resources.
Step 3: Specializing
You will need to be able to understand the following key concepts:
Storage and networking
Storage is all about knowing the various ways data can be stored and how you can access it. You should also have experience with AWS services, such as AWS S3 or Azure Storage in Microsoft Azure. It is also important to understand the basic concepts of networking.
Virtualization and Operating Systems
Although you may be using physical infrastructure to host cloud data centers, the majority of what you will configure and manage are virtual machines (VMs), which run on hardware. Understanding how VMs interact with virtual networks in the cloud is also important. Public clouds can be used with any OS, so it is important to have an understanding of Windows and Linux operating systems.
Security and Disaster Recovery
Cybersecurity threats and malicious attacks must be prevented from affecting data, infrastructure, and applications. To be ready for anything, ensure that your systems are secure and regularly backed up to avoid data loss.
Web Services and DevOps
Are you able to understand how cloud computing can be used to provide a central platform on which you can test, deploy, and produce DevOps automation? Do you also understand DevOps and the need for collaboration between operations and development teams? This is essential in today's dynamic, agile world.
Cloud Certifications
Yes, you do need a cloud certification. Of course, as with many IT professions, hands-on experience is often more important than a certification. But certification can help you show your skills to hiring managers and give you experience in areas where you may be lacking. An entry-level IT certification might be a good option if you are just getting started in the IT field.
The following certifications are highly recommended for professionals who hope to be able to work in the cloud.
1. Amazon Web Services (AWS), Solutions Architect - Associate
AWS Solutions Architect – Associate certification is a multi-choice exam that measures your ability to use, manage and deploy various services on AWS, the most popular cloud platform. This certification can help you qualify for similar jobs by proving your knowledge of the fundamental concepts of AWS cloud engineering.
Are you just starting with AWS? Candidates with less than a month of experience can earn the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner certification. This certification will help them prepare for the AWS Solutions Architect – Associate certification.
2. Microsoft Certified: Azure Fundamentals
Azure is the cloud platform with the largest market share. The AZ-900 exam is the foundational certification for Azure. It is open to both technical and non-technical backgrounds. This certification will get you up to speed with basic Azure knowledge. You can then go on to earn the Azure Administrator Associate and Azure Developer Associate certifications.
3. Google Associate Cloud Engineer
To become a Google Associate Cloud Engineer, you will need to demonstrate competency in the basic aspects of using Google Cloud. This includes configuring access and security and setting up cloud solutions.
4. IBM Certified Technical Advocate Cloud v3
Although IBM cloud services have a smaller market share than other options, they can still be used in industries that use IBM Cloud Platforms. The foundational certification for IBM Cloud is the IBM Certified Technical Advocate Cloud v3. This was previously known as IBM Certified Solution Advisor. This certification is useful if you work in a company that designs solutions using the IBM cloud or plan to do so in the future. There are many more advanced IBM cloud certifications available, such as the IBM Certified Professional Architect – Cloud v5.
5. Cloud Security Alliance: Certificate of Cloud Security Knowledge - CCSK
The Cloud Security Alliance is a neutral certification provider and issues the CCSK. The certification you receive can be used to apply the knowledge gained on other cloud platforms. The CCSK focuses only on cloud security basics. Other advanced certifications such as the CCSP (ISC.2) indicate a professional level in cloud security.
Cloud computing is changing the way businesses work. Nearly 80 percent of companies now run some aspect of their business via cloud computing platforms like AWS or Azure. This has opened up many opportunities for cloud engineers but the skill gap is alarming. This is the time to get started in cloud computing if you're interested in becoming a cloud engineering professional.
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