7 Skills You Need For A Career In Cloud Computing

With demand for cloud computing professionals at an all-time high, there’s never been a better time to specialise in the field. According to the latest research by Amazon Web Services (AWS), Australia will require an additional 6.5 million newly skilled (and reskilled) digital workers by 2025. The 43% who are currently unequipped with critical cloud computing expertise will see a mandatory need for such skills within that timeframe.

It’s thus no surprise that the field has become a hot topic in the tech industry, with initiatives in place – such as the development of courses, micro-credentials, and access to free training – to help bridge this growing skills gap. Additionally, generous salaries await those with the right skills, with an average base salary of $135,000 AUD per year for cloud computing experts, according to Payscale.

If you’re aspiring to the cloud computing sector yourself, we’ve broken down the top seven skills required of any cloud expert – and how training with Lumify Learn can help.

PLATFORM KNOWLEDGE

To start, it’s important to familiarise yourself with the various cloud platforms and providers available. This grants you valuable insight into the cloud computing marketplace, helping you pinpoint quality services and differentiating between them. You’ll also gain a much-needed understanding of which platforms work best with specific applications, workloads, or tasks; as well as the strengths and disadvantages of each type.

Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud Platform (GCP), and Microsoft Azure are among the leading providers of cloud computing tools, each with valuable features unique to their platform. AWS currently leads in infrastructure, offering scalable solutions that include storage, networking, servers, mobile development, and cybersecurity. Azure, its closest competitor, offers some of the best scalable and efficient software solutions. GCP allows for easy integration with other vendor products and offers high-end big data analytics solutions.

Each platform has its pros and cons, and solid knowledge of the industry’s key players can help you adopt the right one for your business.

PROGRAMMING SKILLS

Coding plays a critical role in most cloud computing careers, particularly those focused on cloud architecture, administration, and engineering. As such, technical skills in the top programming languages – such as Java, Python, and C++, are crucial. According to Tech Republic, newer languages such as AngularJS (used to quickly create applications for the cloud) and AWS (exclusive to Amazon cloud solutions) may also be in high demand on the job market.

Online courses can help in building your foundational coding skills, such as the certificate and introductory boot camp programs offered by Lumify Learn. Our ICT30120 – Certificate III in Information Technology explores the basics of networking, cybersecurity, and programming technologies, while our Certified Full Stack Developer program specifically targets the coding expertise required to build real-world applications. Both can help train one for further studies and potential entry-level roles in cloud computing.

DATA MIGRATION

As a cloud computing expert, the ability to safely and efficiently migrate data onto the cloud is imperative. The process is not as simple as copying files and documents; since applications are involved, professionals must be able to assess these programs and the complex code or files they hold – mapping out the best way to make the transfer.

This procedure may also require adept skills in business analysis, a sound knowledge of cloud architecture, and experience in project management.

With the pandemic driving massive digital transformation across industries, aspiring cloud professionals must all the more equip themselves with the skills to face increasing cloud adoption.

CYBERSECURITY

Cybercrime continues to thrive, with Australia experiencing a nearly 13% increase in threats from the previous financial year (2020-2019) – totaling to over 67,500 cybercrime reports. With cloud services providing exclusively online solutions for storage, servers, software development and network architecture; the skills to keep these platforms safe is a crucial requirement for any cloud professional.

One must be able to secure the data on the cloud itself, as well as the applications that use it and the servers that run these software programs. Devices connected to the cloud must also be protected.

Plenty of cloud computing courses online, such as Lumify Learn’s Cloud Computing Certified Professional program, also touch upon areas of cybersecurity as a critical element of the field.

NETWORKING SKILLS

A fundamental knowledge of computer networks and network management is essential for the integration of cloud services with a company’s existing network infrastructure. Different networks are often required depending on the cloud service at hand – and experts in the field must be able to assess these needs and map out the appropriate network solutions.

For example, access to sensitive information on the cloud will likely require a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to ensure maximum security. On the other hand, access to cloud-based teleconferencing services may use a different network due to bandwidth needs and performance requirements.

Knowledge of virtual networking is also crucial, as this helps one ensure the optimum performance of cloud-based networks.

DATABASE MANAGEMENT

Managing cloud-based databases are critically different from handling on-site company data, as you’ll often be grappling with all-new security, performance, and storage-related challenges. Understanding these intricacies and building your skills in prevalent database languages (i.e. SQL, Hadoop, MongoDB) are thus necessary for any cloud computing career.

Additionally, database solutions can differ depending on the vendor. For example, the databases used for analysing large sets of data may be different in size and structure compared to those used for processing simple transactions. Cloud professionals must familiarise themselves with the various database types and features, ensuring the proper option are chosen for their company.

AI AND AUTOMATION

Finally, a fundamental grasp of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and automation can help you stand out in the job market. Cloud environments typically run with little to no human interaction or manual management, implementing automated and AI-based tools in its place. This helps to further achieve workplace efficiency and productivity.

Experience in programming these automations, as well as an understanding of AI concepts and machine learning algorithms, can help you stay competitive in the cloud computing industry. The skills to assess and analyse a business’ cloud architecture is also necessary to pinpoint the various systems that interact and rely on each other; helping determine which tasks can be automated.

KICKSTART YOUR CAREER IN CLOUD COMPUTING TODAY!

So – looking to build on these skills for a cloud computing career?

As mentioned, Lumify Learn currently offers a Cloud Computing Certified Professional program, a 4-6 month course that delves into the technical, fundamental skills for a cloud computing profession. Comprised of globally-recognised certifications from CompTIA, AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud – you’ll explore the concepts of IT security, network architecture, APIs, web services, and more within a cloud environment.

Best of all, the course is delivered online, helping you train around your specific needs and schedule.

Enter the highly-demanded world of cloud computing today, and enquire with us on a course.   

Lumify Learn offers a wide range of courses:

ICT50220 Diploma of Information Technology (Cyber Security)
ICT50220 Diploma of Information Technology (Back End Web Development)
ICT50220 Diploma of Information Technology (Advanced Networking)
ICT40120 Certificate IV in Information Technology (Networking)
ICT40120 Certificate IV in Information Technology (Web Development)
ICT40120 Certificate IV in Information Technology (Systems Administration Support)
ICT30120 Certificate III in Information Technology

Certified Project Management Professional
Certified Full Stack Developer
Certified Artificial Intelligence Professional
Certified Cyber Security Professional
Certified Data Science Professional
Cloud Computing Certified Professional
Growth Marketing Professional