Have you stepped into the world of cloud computing yet? Well, if you are just starting your career or willing to switch your domain, then cloud computing is one of the best options available out there. The reason – there is a huge demand for cloud practitioners; there isn’t enough talent to fill the open positions; it’s a futuristic career and comes with a lucrative salary and other perks. With such benefits, it makes sense to know about a career in cloud computing and what steps you would need to take to become a cloud practitioner.
It’s not possible to talk about cloud computing without coming across the service providers that leverage this technology – Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud Platform, Salesforce, and more. Over 94% of businesses claimed they saw an improvement in security after migrating to the cloud and 91% said that cloud made it easier for them to meet government compliance requirements. Basically, cloud computing allows users to access software, platform as well as infrastructure as a service, meaning no system needs to be installed on a local computer and everything can be accessed remotely via the internet.
If you own a smartphone, you must already be using cloud-based applications like Gmail, Facebook, Twitter, Google Docs, among others. Needless to say, many professionals today are exploring their career opportunities in cloud computing. In fact, professionals are now giving a higher preference to cloud computing certification to gain job-ready skills and make their resumes stand out. Fortunately, the field of cloud computing involves a number of industry-recognized certifications to polish your cloud skills.
If you haven’t heard about cloud certifications yet but are curious to know, then you have come to the right place. This article introduces you to some of the most popular cloud certifications that professionals achieve to kickstart their careers.
Let’s get started DNS Content Filtering.
(ISC)2 Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP)
This certification is designed for professionals who want to gain the advanced technical skills and knowledge to design, manage, and secure applications in the cloud. They learn about the best practices, policies, and procedures documented by the ISC2 cybersecurity experts to secure cloud data and infrastructure. CCSP tops the list of best certifications in the 2021 survey conducted by Certification Magazine.
Some of the areas where you will be tested through this certification include cloud data security, cloud infrastructure security, cloud application security, and cloud security operations. ISC2 offers official textbooks, study guides, flash cards, and practice tests to prepare for the CCSP exam.
CompTIA Cloud+
Cloud+ is a global certification that professionals rely on to demonstrate their skills in deploying and securing cloud environments that support the high availability of business systems and data. It is a performance-based certification that considers cloud-based infrastructure services in the context of broader IT systems irrespective of the platform. It is best suited for cloud engineers who want to gain expertise across multiple systems and products.
Cloud+ is approved for DoD 8570.01-M and offers an infrastructure option for individuals who want to certify in IAM Level, CSSP Analyst, and CSSP Infrastructure support roles. The domains included in its exam are cloud architecture, cloud security, cloud deployment, operations and support, and troubleshooting.
IBM Certified Solutions Architect – Cloud
A professional who is capable of designing, planning, and architecting a cloud solution on IBM Cloud is known as the IBM Certified Solution Architect – Cloud. One needs to qualify for the IBM Cloud Solutions Architect v4 C1000-100 exam to achieve this certification. It demonstrates your knowledge of cloud concepts and architectural principles, the ability to assess customers’ current state and architect a cloud solution and provide solution recommendations based on the latest industry best practices.
Some of the top domains covered in the exam are – IBM cloud compute options, design solutions based on application platform capabilities, IBM cloud storage options, IBM cloud networking options, and IBM cloud security options.
Google Professional Cloud Developer
A Professional Cloud Developer is capable of designing scalable and highly available applications using Google-recommended tools and practices. He has expertise in developer tools, cloud-native applications, managed services, and next-gen databases. Through this certification, you will be tested on areas like deploying applications, integrating Google Cloud services, and managing application performance monitoring.
It is recommended that you have over 3 years of experience in designing and managing solutions through Google Cloud before applying for this credential. Go through the exam guide to understand what topics are covered, review the sample questions, and take training if required to achieve this cloud developer designation.
AWS Certified Solutions Architect Associate
The AWS Certified Solutions Architect Associate exam is beneficial for professionals who have relevant experience in designing fault-tolerant, cost-efficient, available, and scalable distributed systems on AWS. It always tops the list of highest-paying IT certifications surveys and demonstrates your skills in architecting and deploying secure and robust applications on AWS technologies.
The associated exam SAA-C02 validates your knowledge of defining a solution using architectural design principles based on customer requirements. Prior knowledge of various AWS services, global infrastructure, best practices, network technologies, and security features is essential before taking the exam.
Apart from the ones mentioned above, other certifications provided by AWS, Azure, Salesforce, and IBM are also worth it to start a promising cloud career. Whatever credentials you choose, remember to achieve a cloud certification from reputed places so as to gain the right skills and become ready for the corporate world.
