10 Top Cloud Skills To Master

If you are looking for a career in cloud solutions, it is vital to develop and pick up the necessary cloud skills in order to succeed in the field.

We are living in times where the cloud has changed the way we work, the way we learn, and the way we communicate.

According to market research, the cloud computing market has a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 26.2 percent for the 2021 to 2028 period.

The Growing Demand and Job Prospects in Cloud Computing: Expert Predictions for 2025 (Edoxi Training Institute)

It is predicted to balloon to more than $390 billion by 2028. While this unprecedented growth can largely be attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic, this industry was on a healthy upward trajectory long before 2020.

As such, the cloud job market looks bright for experienced cloud practitioners and fresh graduates looking to explore job opportunities in this industry.

Some of the top popular cloud job roles are cloud engineer, cloud architect, DevOps developer, .NET developer, and security analyst.

You can find a list of over 20,000 jobs in the cloud world alone!

Whether you’re looking for a new job, trying to advance in your current one, or looking to bridge the skills gap for your employees as part of your digital transformation strategy, here are the top ten in-demand cloud skills to have and the suggested certifications to consider taking.

Top 10 In-Demand Cloud Skills

#1 Cloud Skill: Cloud Service Platform (CSP)

You will need expert knowledge in the cloud service platform (CSP) marketplace and the three major public computing platforms- AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform (GCP).

Gain a thorough understanding of other platforms such as OpenStack, IBM, Alibaba Cloud, and Oracle.

Each of the different platforms has its pros and cons and comes with different pricing structures. You should be able to differentiate which is most suitable to host for different needs and able to select the best option.

AWS Platforms Certifications 

Below are two foundational certifications you may consider if you have basic knowledge of the AWS platform and a few months of experience.

Here’s a more advanced certification.

This certification shows your proficiency in the basic technical concepts of AWS (a leading cloud platform) cloud engineering that can position you to qualify for related jobs. It tests your ability to deploy, manage, and use various services in AWS. 

Other Platforms Certifications 

#2 Cloud Skill: Programming Languages

A typical cloud engineering job requires building applications in the cloud. You will need to know programming languages to write code to build, manage and deploy applications.

To get started with this, you’ll need to have a working knowledge of mainstream programming languages such as Ruby, PHP, Python, JavaScript, Java, and C++.

Some popular programming languages include Java, Python, and JavaScript, which are well-suited for cloud-based software.

Programming Certifications 

#3 Cloud Skill: Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) 

As a cloud professional, you should be able to build, link and integrate different workloads in the cloud using application programming interfaces (APIs).

You have to be proficient in coding these APIs and the links used to incorporate workloads into the cloud.

REST and GraphQL are commonly used APIs in the cloud.

API Certifications 

#4 Cloud Skill: Serverless

Serverless computing skills are increasingly in demand. Serverless computing is an emerging technology that allows you to write code to run your applications without having to manage any servers.

If you want to become a serverless developer, you first need to master serverless application development.

You need to know how to use tools such as AWS Lambda and API Gateway. You can learn more about serverless computing and how to become a serverless developer.

Serverless certifications 

#5 Cloud Skill: Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) are among today’s most sought-after skills.

If you aspire to become a cloud computing professional, expand your knowledge in these areas to stand out.

These skills will become even more important as the next generation of jobs is created by these technologies.

If you want to be on the front line of this digital revolution, learning how to apply AI and machine learning skills is one of the best ways to build a career that lasts.

Machine Learning and AI Certifications 

#6 Cloud Skill: Change Management

This type of skill helps you be flexible and adaptable to constant changes in the cloud environment.

This skill requires the ability to quickly adopt new tools, develop a plan for implementing these tools in the company and then manage the change to your processes.

For businesses, a key component of this skill set is the ability to adapt business processes to include these changes in a short period.

Change Management Certifications 

#7 Cloud Skill: Database and Network Management

The database is one of the cloud application services widely used today.

Knowing different types of databases, how they function, and what they can do is critical types of databases, how they function, and what they can do.

Network management skills are also important in cloud workload deployments.

They include enabling access to cloud resources through establishing connections across resources and locations.

Database and Network Management Certifications 

#8 Cloud Skill: Development and Operations (DevOps) 

Development and Operations (DevOps) refers to the software development approach that integrates development and operations activities.

The tools of DevOps include version control systems, continuous integration, automated testing, code review and peer code review, code promotion, continuous deployment, monitoring, and incident management.

Professionals with DevOps knowledge add value to organizations by improving operational efficiency and reducing the time to market for products.

DevOps Certifications 

#9 Cloud Skill: Cloud Security

Cloud security is a big deal, so it should be a big part of your skill set.

The rise in cloud computing technologies increases the demand for cybersecurity skills and knowledge.

It’s important to show that you have an understanding of common security vulnerabilities and risks associated with the cloud, cloud architecture security, and cloud application security.

Cloud Security Certifications 

#10 Cloud Skill: Containers

The cloud is becoming a necessity and container technology is at the forefront.

Today, containers are rapidly gaining popularity because they allow you to create an environment to run your application.

As the software container model takes off, it’ll become increasingly important to have container knowledge and experience.

Containers Certifications 

Conclusion

As we move towards a digital world economy, knowledge of cloud skills can help you stand out and build a successful cloud career in the digital age.

If you are looking at digitally transforming your business, you may explore the suggested courses and craft staff training and development plans as part of your digital transformation strategies.

For cloud beginners or professionals, updating your knowledge in the above-mentioned skills is essential to deal with the ever-changing cloud environment.

No doubt the cloud is here to stay and will continue to grow exponentially.

It’s indeed an exciting industry to be in.

So why not start exploring the courses and kickstart your cloud career now?

Check out relevant job vacancies in Websparks.