Gartner’s latest forecast predicts that global expenditure on public cloud services will increase by 21.7% to reach $597.3 billion in 2023, up from $491 billion in 2022. Whether Infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS), platform-as-a-service (PaaS) or large language models implementation – the cloud will remain the cornerstone of every technology shift in the upcoming years. In the same forecast, the Stanford-based consulting company states that, by 2026, 75% of organizations will utilize a digital transformation model that relies on the cloud as the primary platform.
Integrating cloud solutions can be a daunting task without sufficient expertise, which is why cloud computing specialists are essential to guiding businesses on their cloud journeys. With their knowledge and experience, they can navigate the complexities of the cloud and ensure a successful transition. In to b day’s technology-driven world, locating such qualified cloud professionals can be challenging, to say nothing of attracting them to your organization. What skills and qualifications do these cloud specialists have, and where can you find them?
Why are cloud specialists so crucial for every digital business?
For years, the term’ 10x employee’ has been used in Silicon Valley to describe exceptional engineers who are highly productive and deliver far greater results compared to the so-called average tech professionals. Fortune magazine has highlighted the value of such people who possess a rare combination of advanced technical skills and crucial interpersonal abilities. These individuals are highly sought-after in the current job market, and a cloud specialist should be regarded as one of these exceptional people.
The level of expertise of a cloud professional is crucial in ensuring the success of implemented cloud solutions. For IT projects, having a cloud expert with diverse experience in different industries and use cases can provide valuable insights and unique perspectives for the company and the team. Competence in implementing and overseeing cloud solutions can prove advantageous in detecting potential issues and devising practical solutions to address them. To successfully navigate the challenges present in cloud computing, including security, scalability, and cost optimization, organizations need to have someone on board who goes above and beyond their expected commitments. Companies can guarantee successful cloud implementations by enlisting the assistance of seasoned cloud professionals.
Read more: Enterprise cloud
What kind of skills does a cloud computing expert need to have?
Becoming an expert in cloud computing requires a variety of skills and competencies. To be proficient in cloud computing, specialists must profoundly understand different cloud platforms, including Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, Oracle Cloud and Google Cloud. They must also be skilled in programming languages commonly used in cloud development, such as Node.js. In addition, cloud experts need to possess knowledge of software development methodologies like the Agile approach, DevOps, and Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment (CI/CD).
Of vital importance, when choosing experts for a cloud computing environment, is to determine if they have the suitable competencies and certifications relevant to their area of expertise. Credentials such as AWS Certified Solutions Architect, Microsoft Azure Developer Associate, Microsoft Azure DevOps Engineer Expert or becoming a certified Google Cloud Platform Professional Cloud Architect separates true cloud specialists from the crowd. With in-field experience in various companies and the ability to work in every enterprise scenario, cloud experts genuinely empower businesses and boost productivity by designing custom solutions that address a company’s particular needs.
It’s essential to understand the roles and responsibilities of cloud specialists. Below are some essential details regarding their job titles and terms of reference:
Role | Responsibilities |
Cloud Leader | Project management and direction setting, alignment with organizational goals, budget and resources management, stakeholder communication and engagement |
Cloud Engineer | Implementing cloud infrastructure, migration of applications and data to the cloud, troubleshooting and supporting ongoing operations |
Cloud Architect | Designing and planning the cloud infrastructure, ensuring scalability, availability and cost optimization, providing guidance to engineers on architecture best practices |
Cloud Data Engineer | Designing and implementing data migration strategy, data storage and retrieval solutions in the cloud, data integrity and security |
Cloud Network Engineer | Designing and implementing network architecture in the cloud, ensuring seamless connectivity, performance and security |
Cloud Security Specialist | Ensuring that the deployed cloud environment adheres to security and compliance standards, performing security audits and risk assessments |
Cloud DevOps Engineer | Automating deployment, scaling and management of cloud infrastructure and applications, ensuring continuous integration and delivery of cloud services |
Where can you find cloud computing experts?
With such a vast array of skills, backgrounds and roles to fill, finding an outstanding cloud specialist and ensuring they work in-house for a company may be impossible, but you don’t need to hire a cloud specialist as a full-time employee. Cloud Engineering Service equips organizations with the ability to collaborate with proven cloud specialists who provide essential expertise and understanding to integrate cloud technologies effectively. By utilizing preselected cloud specialists in a time & materials model, businesses can optimize the productivity of their cloud technology, generate new sources of revenue, and stimulate overall growth.
Carefully chosen cloud experts strengthen internal teams and transfer knowledge, which boosts employees’ understanding of cloud technologies. Hiring external cloud specialists using services like Cloud Workforce can provide you with a highly skilled ’10x employee’ expertise without the burden of increased costs or unfavorable contract terms. This offer stands out even more as the cloud specialists available to work with continuously improve their skills, ensuring that the company is functioning with an up-to-date professional in an ever-changing cloud field.
Read more: Cloud software development
Increase your business’s efficiency with cloud specialists
Sid Nag, Vice President Analyst at Gartner, said, “Organizations today view cloud as a highly strategic platform for digital transformation, which requires cloud providers to offer more sophisticated capabilities as the competition for digital services heats up.” Undergoing such a change for small, medium or enterprise-level companies will only be achievable with a cloud specialist to support the cause.
To successfully implement cloud solutions, it is essential to have a team of experts and the right technology. With the guidance of a skilled and experienced cloud computing specialist, your company can navigate its cloud migration and optimize cloud native solutions. At the same time, your team gains the best practices and domain knowledge that can drive future endeavors. If you want to take advantage of the many benefits cloud computing offers and gain a competitive edge in your industry, contact us by using this form and take the first step in choosing your cloud specialist.
Read also: What is cloud adoption?
Read also: How does cloud warehouse work?
About the authorKlaudia Czarnecka
Head of Cloud & AI Unit
An experienced leader and strategist with over a decade of experience in the IT industry, Klaudia leverages her expertise in cloud consulting and generative AI to deliver innovative, scalable solutions to clients across industries. As Head of Cloud & AI Unit, she creates and implements tailored cloud strategies, while supervising consulting projects using leading public clouds, such as Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud Platform, Amazon Web Services and Oracle Cloud Infrastructure. Klaudia’s passion for process improvement and product development enables her to drive business growth, optimize operations and build strong partnerships with clients.