work in the cloudThose who desire a career in the information technology sector might want to consider cloud computing—one of the fastest-growing fields in the economy. Cloud computing describes a range of services, including Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS), and Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS). These services provide companies the capabilities to have increase computing power, storage, scalability, and a lot of flexibility.

The tremendous growth in this segment of the IT industry has created a demand for well-trained cloud computing professionals, with the knowledge and ability to help organizations transition to cloud-based information technology systems.

The Growing Need for Cloud Experts

Individuals who have the appropriate education, knowledge, and skills are invaluable to many small, mid-size, and enterprise-level organizations where cloud computing has become the preferred mode for IT operations. These companies need talented IT professionals who understand this burgeoning technology and how to help companies obtain the best results and return on investment in public, private, and hybrid cloud environments. This expertise should cover the following areas:

  • Knowledge of Cloud Platforms and Technologies — Even if you already work in IT, migrating to a career in cloud computing means acquiring additional knowledge, education, and skills.  You will need to understand and develop expertise in the public cloud environment, becoming familiar with one or more of the public cloud giants like Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud Platform, or Amazon Web Services.
  • Migration and Integration with Legacy Systems — Many of the companies that adopt cloud computing have a heavy investment in physical servers, personal computers, and proprietary and third-party applications. When adopting cloud services, these companies will need to migrate and integrate these legacy systems into the cloud environment. Some companies have hundreds of gigabytes or even terabytes of sensitive mission critical data, which requires expertise in migration planning.

At the same time, they need to maintain access to data and keep it secure. As they make the move to the cloud and integrate cloud services into their infrastructure, many companies don't have the resources or expertise to handle the issues that come along with this migration and integration.

Cloud professionals must also have the ability to manage multi-cloud environments because many organizations have service contracts with multiple vendors, which requires them to integrate a variety of platforms and applications into their networks, and have these systems communicate with each other.

Career Paths for Cloud Professionals

Cloud IT professionals must have the appropriate level of understanding of the cloud and how to use cloud solutions based on the organization's strategy.

Here are the three primary career paths in cloud computing:

  1. computer network architect salaryComputer Network Architect — According to BLS (BLS), IT architects with a bachelor’s degree earned a median annual salary of $91,000, in 2012. A cloud architect must design and build data communication networks, which can include a combination of physical infrastructure and cloud based systems. These networks can range from small connections between two offices to the connections necessary to run a global network.
  2. Network & Computer Systems Administrators  —  As organizations move their  systems to the cloud,  instead of  expertise in  physical software and hardware, cloud services providers will need  individuals who have the skills to manage  virtual systems and maintain and manage the service provider’s infrastructure. BLS reports that IT administrators with a bachelor’s degree earned a median pay of $72,560, in 2012.
  3. Cloud Consultants  —    This position requires you to develop a wide breadth of skills, including the ability to assess the need of each client, understand the various products and service offerings, and design  and implement cloud solutions.  Consultants must also have knowledge of business processes and rules, product capabilities, security and authorizations, problem-solving, and logical calculation.

Learning Cloud Computing

The growth of cloud computing has created a significant demand for people with the academic training and skills required to set up cloud environments. To meet the demand for qualified cloud professionals, many colleges have developed two-year and four-year degree IT programs, with a concentration in cloud computing for students who are interested in a career in cloud computing.

The best curriculums offer students a hands-on educational approach and the opportunity to learn a broad range of skills, including:

  • How to evaluate a client’s needs and determine network requirements
  • System design and security
  • Creating virtual solutions
  • Cloud storage and virtualization
  • How to deploy applications via thin clients

Cloud computing degree programs cover diverse topics, such as logic and decision processes, problem resolution, network security, customer service, and oral and written communication skills.

Want to Work in The Cloud?

If you would like to learn more about the exciting field of cloud computing, contact ECPI University TODAY. You could earn your Bachelor of Science in Computer and Information Science with a concentration in Cloud Computing in as little as 2.5 years and be on your way to becoming a highly sought after cloud computing professional. It could be the Best Decision You Ever Make!

Learn more about ECPI's College of Technology TODAY!

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