High demand for cloud computing skills. Businesses have been moving to the cloud for years, reducing investment in on-premises data centers. But cloud adoption has accelerated due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the need for remote work.
This led to increased use of cloud-based video conferencing, productivity, and collaboration tools, and streaming services.
Key General Cloud Computing Skills Required
You need to know that becoming a cloud professional requires several skills you must master, especially now that technology is growing. It would help if you kept abreast of existing developments, especially in cloud computing. Below is a list of skills that you must be You, master as a cloud professionals
1. Cloud Service Platform Expertise
Having a strong knowledge of the cloud service platform (CSP) marketplace is crucial. Familiarize yourself with the top three public cloud platforms:
AWS, Microsoft Azure, and GCP. Other players in the market include IBM, Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, DigitalOcean, and Alibaba Cloud.
Additionally, gain an understanding of open-source technology platforms such as OpenStack and Apache CloudStack, which are widely used by organizations and CSPs for building public and private clouds.
To select the best platform for your needs, compare providers based on their suitability for hosting different applications and running different workloads. You should also be aware of each platform’s strengths and the cost structure of each CSP.
2. Programming Languages
To build cloud applications, you need to be proficient in mainstream programming languages such as Java, JavaScript, and Python. Knowledge of SQL and data structure concepts, including data schemas, is also necessary for developing database-powered applications.
3. APIs (Application Programming Interfaces)
APIs play a crucial role in modern software development, both on-premises and in the cloud. They allow different services and apps to interact and exchange data. As a cloud professional, proficiency in coding APIs and integrating workloads into the cloud using links is vital. REST and GraphQL are the most widely used API types in cloud computing.
4. Database Management Databases
It is widely used application services in the cloud and offer organizations the benefits of managed solutions with high scalability and availability.
Cloud providers offer various database services, including relational databases, NoSQL, graph databases, and data warehouses. Understanding these database types and their functions is crucial for aspiring cloud professionals.
5. Network Management
Having a basic knowledge of networking, including establishing connections across resources and locations, is crucial for cloud computing.
Cloud resources are often connected to on-premises locations for services such as a virtual private cloud and secure connectivity. Effective access to cloud resources may also require network management.
Virtual networks are commonly used in cloud deployments to enable networking across resources and multi-cloud deployments. Networking skills are essential.
6. DevOps (Development and Operations)
Gone are the days of developers and operations support personnel working in silos.
DevOps involves harmonizing development and operations activities throughout the software development and application service lifecycle, reducing time to market for applications and eliminating bottlenecks.
DevOps workflows often involve using CI/CD services in the cloud and monitoring for operations.
7. AI and Machine Learning
Aspiring cloud professionals should have a strong foundation in AI and machine learning fundamentals.
In cloud environments, many activities occur without human interaction, making AI and machine learning skills highly sought-after and scarce. All major public cloud platforms offer AI and machine learning services to help build new capabilities.
8. Cloud Security
Security is an essential function in cloud computing environments, just like in any other IT environment. Identity and access management is a crucial cloud service, and the skills to manage and configure it are vital.
Securing personally identifiable information stored in the cloud is also crucial to prevent data loss or breaches that can have devastating reputational and financial impacts.
Demand for cybersecurity talent exceeds supply, and with the growth of cloud technologies, this trend is expected to continue.
9. Hybrid Cloud
While the cloud has numerous benefits, it may not be suitable for all parts of a business’ IT infrastructure, apps, and workloads. Hence, the adoption of a hybrid cloud approach has become popular in recent years.
In a hybrid cloud model, some elements are retained on-premises or in a private cloud, while less sensitive or modern apps are migrated to a public cloud. Cloud professionals need an understanding of each cloud model and how to unify them into a hybrid arrangement.
10. Storage
Data is at the heart of cloud computing, so understanding how and where to store it is essential.
Depending on a business’s needs and data type and volume, it may choose one or more of the following storage types: personal cloud storage, public cloud storage, private cloud storage, or hybrid cloud storage.
The benefits of cloud storage include accessibility, reliability, fast deployment, data backup and recovery, and lower cost. In-depth knowledge of each type of cloud storage is valuable for cloud professionals.
Key Advanced Cloud Computing Skills
1. Automation
Advanced Cloud Computing Skills: Automation is a major advantage of cloud services, as it allows applications to operate correctly without human intervention, boosting efficiency.
Cloud professionals play a crucial role in enabling automation by having a thorough understanding of the cloud architecture and how its components interact.
A common form of automation in the cloud is autoscaling, which adjusts applications and services based on demand. Proficiently configuring autoscaling policies is a must-have skill for cloud professionals.
2. Cloud Orchestration
Effective cloud deployments require seamless coordination of multiple services. Manually managing this at scale is impossible, making cloud orchestration a vital skill. It involves automating and coordinating multiple tasks for efficient operation.
3. Linux
Proficiency Many cloud services, including Microsoft Azure, use the open-source Linux OS, as it offers low or no-cost delivery of applications and services.
It’s also customizable and secure. The demand for professionals skilled in designing, building, deploying, maintaining and administering Linux-based servers is increasing.
4. Performance Testing
Metrics and Analytics Performance testing helps gauge cloud efficiency and identifies areas for improvement. The right metrics and analytics are critical to understand the performance of cloud services or applications.
Skills in metrics and analytics and the ability to apply the right metrics to specific services demonstrate ROI of cloud technology.
5. Cost and Workload Management
Cost and workload management skills are in high demand, as they help monitor cost estimation and usage. These skills can prevent businesses from incurring unforeseen costs and identify unused features. FinOps is the discipline responsible for managing cloud costs.
6. Change Management
Cloud environments are fluid, with constant changes to infrastructure, databases, servers and network connections. The best cloud professionals are comfortable with this and can adapt to changes easily.