In this article, you will learn:
- Which cloud systems and technologies are worth knowing
- What a candidate for a cloud role needs to know
- How to gain knowledge and certify your skills for cloud work
- Where to look for jobs in cloud technology
Cloud computing is an increasingly popular specialization in the IT industry. This is hardly surprising—the market is developing dynamically, and job opportunities are popping up everywhere. Cloud specialists can earn a lot, but first, they must answer the question: how do you prepare for a career in the cloud? Which cloud technologies are worth knowing?
It is a fact that cloud technologies are becoming increasingly popular—they can be used for both business and personal purposes, and the multitude of applications for this technology makes the future of cloud computing look very optimistic. This does not change the fact that the market will likely be divided among the three dominant modern solutions, which are treated almost synonymously with cloud technology. These are:
- Amazon Web Services (AWS), the largest cloud service provider in the world,
- Microsoft Azure,
- Google Cloud Platform.
Each of these platforms offers a wide range of services—from computing, storage, and databases to artificial intelligence. They also occupy the largest share of the market—together they
control 66% of the market (AWS 31%, Azure 24%, Google Cloud 11%)—which means that knowledge of their solutions is required of almost all cloud technology specialists. This does not change the fact that other platforms exist globally. Companies such as IBM, Salesforce, DigitalOcean, and Oracle also provide their own cloud solutions. They are not as popular, but specializing in one of them can provide a competitive edge in the job market. Beyond the cloud systems themselves, it is also worth knowing technologies related to cloud computing. This includes, among others, Kubernetes, a tool for container management and orchestration, or Docker, which enables packaging, delivering, and running applications in containers. It is also worth knowing at least the basics of technologies such as P2P (peer-to-peer) clouds or serverless computing. It may also be a good idea to gain knowledge in the field of
mobile cloud computing, especially since it is a growing branch of the industry.
What are the technical requirements?
Working in the cloud requires not only knowledge of how cloud platforms work—knowledge of technologies related to cloud computing is equally important. One useful skill is understanding containers and orchestration, as well as working with them, as they often form the foundation of cloud systems. Knowledge of DevOps and CI/CD can also be useful, as tools such as Jenkins, Git, or Docker are commonly used when working with cloud platforms. Every cloud computing specialist should also know how to program—it could even be said that this is an essential skill, and knowledge of programming languages such as Python, PowerShell, or Ruby, as well as tools like Terraform and Ansible, is required by many companies using the cloud. Other requirements for working in the cloud include knowledge of database principles and configuration skills, as well as an understanding of basic networking concepts such as VPC (Virtual Private Cloud), routing, firewalls, or load balancing. Beyond technical skills, a person wanting to work in a cloud environment should also stand out with the right approach to knowledge. In this context, an emphasis on security is important, so knowledge of methods and tools, access management, or data encryption can be a major asset. Furthermore, problem-solving skills and a mindset for continuous learning are important—problems are an everyday occurrence when working with clouds, and the industry is constantly changing, so without the ability to continuously improve, you can quickly say goodbye to a career in this sector.
How to get certified?
To start working in the cloud, you must first get to know it, and it is good to certify the knowledge you have gained. Practically every cloud solution provider offers a range of different certifications to earn, and being able to boast an AWS Certified or Microsoft Certified credential can be a significant boost when looking for a job in the cloud. But how do you get these certificates? First of all, you should start by choosing a specific solution—it is worth considering whether a general knowledge of many solutions or a specialization in one of them is a better choice. The final decision depends on each person’s individual preferences as well as market requirements. Next, you should familiarize yourself with the available certification offerings—providers offer a range of different credentials, so finding a certificate that aligns with your career goals should not be difficult. The next stages may be more difficult—to get a certificate, you have to pass an exam, and to pass an exam, you have to learn the material. Fortunately, providers offer plenty of online courses, tutorials, and other resources, and they also provide access to practice exams. You can also use specialized e-learning platforms such as Coursera or Udacity. Do not forget that besides theory, practice is useful, so it is worth constantly working with your chosen cloud platform. Then, all that remains is to register for the official certification exam (do not forget that they are usually paid) and prepare for it accordingly. Successfully completing a course does not end the learning process—it is only the beginning, as certifications can be deepened, and knowledge must be constantly developed.
Where to look for a job in the cloud?
After obtaining a certificate confirming your knowledge of a specific cloud technology, all that remains is to find a job where you can use your acquired skills. You can look for this in many places, but it is worth starting with the official websites of large cloud providers—they usually publish job offers on their career pages, which gives you the opportunity to work directly for them. The next choice should be LinkedIn. Not only can you find profiles of companies in the cloud industry there, but you can also use keywords in the search engine (e.g., cloud computing or cloud services) to find current job offers. LinkedIn also provides the opportunity to connect with industry specialists, as well as to obtain information about conferences and webinars dedicated to cloud technologies—these can be an opportunity for networking, and thus, for landing a job. Similar opportunities are offered by specialized portals such as JustJoinIt or BulldogJob, although they focus exclusively on publishing job offers. It is also worth regularly checking the websites of companies working with cloud technologies—the best or most promising ones can be identified in industry rankings and reports. However, you must remember that finding a job in the cloud may take some time—although the IT industry is constantly developing and the demand for employees is not falling, it is sometimes difficult to take the first steps. However, you should not give up, and after some time, your search will eventually end in success.
