Cloud computing is the thing to take the world of technology by storm (no pun intended). It can substitute bulky work for an easy-to-use system.
This doesn’t mean that regular jobs will go away. However, there will be specialists whose expanded knowledge will allow them to simplify their work processes.
Cloud computing is relevant in different fields such as education, health care, defense, and others. As a matter of fact, studies estimate that cloud computing will create somewhere near 1 million new jobs in the fields listed above by the end of 2022.
It means that every sector we deal with would offer new workplaces with high compensation or would expand cloud computing skills in its workers, since these specialists have to know a lot.
Therefore, it's important to be in the know about the way cloud computing will shape the digital landscape of the future.
In this post I’ll share with you tips on how to develop a career in cloud computing, staying relevant in the workplace of tomorrow.
So What Is the Cloud?
Simply put, the cloud is the internet; it is virtual space. Therefore, cloud computing involves using that virtual space in new and exciting ways that can free up the need for physical server space.
If you want to jump onto the cloud computing bandwagon, and you are already familiar with information technology (IT), then you will be pleased to find that you already possess the basic knowledge and skill set necessary to advance into a cloud computing career.
Of course, the extent of this knowledge and skills will affect the smoothness of the transition to cloud computing. A college student will have a different learning curve compared to an experienced IT specialist.
With this in mind, let’s take a look at some ways in which you can prepare for a cloud computing career.
Begin With a Good Baseline
Before you can understand how cloud computing works, you must have a firm grasp of the concepts of IT because it is impossible to successfully immerse yourself in a new field without having basic knowledge in it.
In this case, it’s better to work in the regular IT first. Information technology careers include things like web coding, design and development, integration, and even technical support.
However, it is also important to understand that many future cloud computing opportunities such as cloud networking, managed clouds, cloud monitoring, and cloud security will fall outside of the realm of IT.
You should also have a thorough knowledge of business concepts. It means that a specialist should understand clearly how to apply different components and not cause problems with, for example, the financial side of a company they work for.
Research, Study, and Practice
It’s safe to say that cloud computing is a hot buzzword in the business world. It is definitely not a novel or obscure concept.
That means that it should be relatively easy for you to find sources to learn more about how cloud computing works, its actual function, pluses and minuses, etc. This research can help you understand whether this field suits your interests and abilities.
Remember that cloud computing is a vast new frontier, full of an almost endless variety of career opportunities—some of them still being created. The more you know about how the cloud works, the more you can find viable entry points into this exciting field. You can find a lot of information online attending various conferences, watching webinars, reading books, or taking lessons.
Once you are comfortable with your knowledge of technology, business, and cloud computing, it is time to find ways to apply that knowledge and turn it into experience.
For example, you can apply for an internship in a company you’d like to work for. In this case, you would get an opportunity to gain practical, not theoretical, knowledge.
Cloud Computing in Business
The truth is, businesses are eager to adapt their processes to cloud computing; they really just need individuals with the expertise to guide them.
If you can provide that expertise, then you are in the perfect position to leverage what you know into a career whether you’re into data storage or others. Just keep an open mind, and grasp every chance you can to implement what you know in the workplace.
For example, if you know how to run cloud phone systems, but a company you work for doesn’t use it, you can offer to introduce it.
In this case, you should understand that you’re completely responsible for everything you say. So you have to research and evaluate all opportunities, pros and cons, and create strong statements to support your thoughts.
Five Common Challenges That Can Influence Your Career
All fields contain unique challenges, and cloud computing is no exception. Some of them are more common, and being prepared for them can really be an asset.
Reliability
Reliability is one of the most common challenges faced by cloud computing workers, and it all comes down to choosing a cloud provider that is proven and established.
In general, employers, as well as customers, expect that cloud computing specialists know a lot about different providers so that they can evaluate, compare, and advise about the most suitable providers.
Besides, you should be ready to get your customers acquainted with the Service Level Agreement (SLA), as few providers assure a 100% rate of network uptime or refund customers for any downtime.
Despite the fact that hosts must keep their SLA as clear as possible and must try to meet all the needs of the customers, you should be attentive to notice pitfalls.
Support
Many cloud services lack the management support that is critical in the cloud computing arena.
Businesses first have to take a more extensive approach to cloud operations into account and then decide whether they would be running it 24/7 internally or whether they would get another third-party to do data recovery, automation controls, and scaling as and when required.
In this case, a person who wants to work in cloud computing should understand that the employer can entrust them to do a lot of tasks that don’t relate to their main responsibilities.
For example, a CEO may not comprehend the cloud computing field, which means that a worker should be ready to become an adviser and explain what a company should introduce and what specialists to hire.
Moreover, being a cloud provider, you need to assure your employer that your work will provide the needed scalable flexibility so that the company can focus on its main business rather than worrying about daily operations.
Flexibility
Flexibility in the choice of cloud computing solutions is one of the most difficult obstacles that workers need to get through because many companies want to get everything at once.
Some can provide you with a lot of tools you don’t need, while others fear loss of control as they move away from the threat of being locked into a single solution.
In this case, you should be ready to explain to your employer that different types of clouds don’t provide the same level of flexibility and customization. Clouds with standard technology aspects and which participate in standardization efforts are the best option to facilitate application mobility. There are several choices to suit varying customer needs.
Performance
When it comes to discussing website hosting with your team, the common issue is that the focus of several businesses is their present needs rather than their future. Therefore, your task is to find out more about the hosting providers you’d like to work with.
That’s an important task because some employers pay attention only to price, which is a common occurrence, because they don’t have to directly work with the product.
And so you should state that in most cases, performance is greater in the cloud, as the available scalability and capacity is obviously higher; whereas, in the remaining cases that run a database server, the traditional server’s performance may be quite poor.
Companies need to cautiously scale their cloud applications and decide when they may have an increase in demand, considering then the various hosting solutions available according to their needs.
Shifting Everything to the Cloud
It can be very challenging to make customers shift everything to the cloud. This is because cloud will not be a substitute for all conventional hosting deployments, even though it is a great choice.
There may be situations where flexibility, security needs, control, or performance will stop the cloud. So, it is crucial to take a tactically smart approach to those data elements in conventionally hosted servers.
The best way to safeguard this data is to keep copies of it because no system is perfect.
Cloud Computing Is the Future
Cloud computing is truly an exciting new business frontier. You have the chance right now to get in on the ground floor and create your own career with knowledge you can gleam on your own.
Especially if you already have the basics of IT in order, the transition should be smooth and easier than you think. And, in any case, there are many resources to use to learn and practice.
Cloud computing also involves challenges, as we saw. But knowing about them is halfway to facing them.
You’ve started at the right place. Now take what you know, and seize that opportunity.
