Is a Career in Cloud Computing Right for You?

Cloud technology is now an everyday part of our lives, often used without a second thought. This includes activities like streaming videos, managing bank accounts via mobile apps, backing up digital photos, collaborating remotely for work, and playing online games. With the rapid adoption of mobile work, entertainment, socializing, and business, the cloud computing industry has exploded, and now offers myriad opportunities for information technology professionals looking to follow a new and exciting career path. 

What Is Cloud Computing?

Cloud computing is the delivery of several computing services via the cloud, which is a global network of distributed remote servers. Instead of providing computing services using software housed on local hardware, cloud computing uses a distributed network accessed remotely through the internet.

Cloud computing includes cloud services, such as:

• Infrastructure as a service (IaaS)
• Platform as a Service (PaaS)
• Software as a Service (SaaS)

Cloud computing offers businesses adaptable resource utilization and cost savings through on-demand services. These services include data storage, processing capabilities, pooled resources, scalability, and outsourced management of the foundational infrastructure and security.

Why Consider a Career in Cloud Computing?

Careers in cloud computing currently feature rapid growth, opportunities for advancement, and job security, in addition to benefits, such as:

• High-Demand Industry - Cloud computing is experiencing rapid growth, providing plenty of opportunities for professionals with the right expertise and skills. In 2024, Grand View Research estimated the global cloud marketing to be worth over $752 billion. With more than 20 percent projected growth, it is expected to exceed $2.3 trillion by 2030.
• Career Mobility and Growth Potential - Rapid industry growth means new job openings will continue to spring up. As a result, skilled professionals will have opportunities and options regarding what they do and who they work for while they advance to increasingly senior positions.
• Impactful Work - The cloud computing industry also offers opportunities to solve problems across industries and make a difference through innovation while working with cutting-edge technology in data analytics, artificial intelligence, and machine learning.
• Remote-Friendly - With the primary feature of cloud computing being the cloud and the remote nature of the services it offers, many professional positions in the industry offer a high degree of flexibility with respect to remote work and work schedules.

Cloud Computing Career Paths and Roles

The cloud computing industry offers several different career paths and positions at various levels where cloud experts can work in positions that facilitate cloud architecture and design, in problem-solving positions, or in customer-facing roles with cloud providers.

Cloud Support or Cloud Administrator

A cloud administrator (cloud support from a customer's perspective) is responsible for maintaining, managing, and optimizing the cloud-based infrastructure that an organization uses.

Cloud Engineer

Cloud engineers have more visionary roles where they design, create, implement, and maintain cloud-based infrastructure and systems.

Solutions Architect

A cloud solutions architect also performs design, implementation, and maintenance, but with the specific goal of aligning cloud infrastructure with a business's goals, scalability needs, and cost limitations.

Cloud Developer or Cloud Software Engineer

A cloud developer is a type of software engineer responsible for designing, coding, deploying, and maintaining applications on cloud platforms.

DevOps or CloudOps Engineer

A cloud DevOps engineer focuses on strategically incorporating cloud computing technology with DevOps principles to eliminate silos between operations and development teams regarding cloud infrastructure.

Site Reliability Engineer (SRE)

An SRE uses software engineering principles and expertise to ensure the availability, optimal performance, and reliability of cloud-based systems.

Cloud Security Engineer or Architect

Cloud security engineers focus on the security and integrity of cloud environments, applications, and cloud-based data using tools such as access management, threat monitoring, and encryption. They also ensure system compliance with cybersecurity regulations.

Cloud Data Engineer

Cloud data engineers create pipelines for collecting data, a warehouse infrastructure to house data, and systems for organizing and reporting cloud-based data.

Cloud Machine Learning Engineer

Cloud machine learning engineers work at the forefront of IT, building cloud-based systems that use machine learning and artificial intelligence to improve services and infrastructure.

FinOps or Cloud Cost Analyst

A cloud cost analyst or cloud FinOps professional focuses on the cost and return of cloud computing for businesses, helping create financial accountability, maximum ROI, and improved financial health.

Platform Engineer

A cloud platform engineer designs, builds, codes, and maintains the cloud-based architecture and infrastructure that supports an entity's services and applications.

Is a Career in Cloud Computing Right for You?

Careers in cloud computing are generally a good option for individuals with experience and/or degrees in information technology and computer science. Additionally, individuals with interest and technical skills in networking, operating systems, programming, databases, security, and specific cloud platforms can find the industry rewarding and exciting.

How to Get Started in Cloud Computing

Pursuing a career in cloud computing requires a combination of technical skills, experience, and credentials. Plus, you can advance your career by completing higher education, obtaining certifications, and acquiring additional specializations.

Earn a Degree in Information Technology

The first step to starting a career in cloud computing is to earn an undergraduate degree in information technology. The curriculum covered in this degree program is designed to help students develop a solid foundation of core computer science subjects and IT skills that will be necessary for a career in cloud computing.

Develop Cloud Computing Skills

To work in cloud computing, an individual will need a well-rounded foundation of technical skills and some real-world experience with the following:

• Cloud Platforms
  • AWS (Amazon Web Services)
  • Microsoft Azure
  • Google Cloud
• Networking and Operating Systems (Linux) Basics
• Scripting and Automation
  • Python
  • Go
  • Java
  • JavaScript
  • Bash
• Infrastructure as Code
  • Terraform
  • CloudFormation
• Containers and Orchestration
  • Docker
  • Kubernetes
• Cloud Security and IAM
• Databases
  • SQL
  • NoSQL
• CI/CD Pipelines and DevOps Tools
• Monitoring and Troubleshooting

Pursue Certifications

Certifications provide proof of your knowledge and skills, and they will give you a competitive advantage during the process of searching and applying for jobs. Choosing a major cloud provider for which you want to work can help you determine which certifications would be most advantageous to obtain, as they all have their own requirements and certification programs.

Gain Work Experience

When new to an industry, it's common to find yourself in the conundrum of needing work experience to get hired for a job, but not being able to get work experience without first having a job. You can, however, demonstrate hands-on, real-world experience by applying for internships, building your own projects, participating in competitions, and demonstrating your work and skills with a cloud portfolio.

Apply for Jobs

Maximize your potential for offers and options by applying for as many jobs as you can. Look for positions that are commensurate with your experience level, and apply for positions for which you fulfill the application requirements regarding experience and education. Don't be afraid to start out in an internship or another type of entry-level position, which will help you make valuable contacts and gain valuable real-world work experience.

Consider a Master's Degree

An advanced degree can help you advance your cloud computing career by providing you with the opportunity to learn new skills, gain advanced knowledge, and select a more specific niche of information technology for your focus. Having an area of academic expertise can support a specifically directed career path, while advanced education can prove valuable regardless of your professional direction. Choosing an online master's degree in Information Technology can even make it possible to earn your master's while continuing to work in the industry.

Additionally, during a master's degree program, students have the opportunity to benefit from faculty mentorship, an extensive academic network, and additional opportunities for making valuable professional connections within the cloud computing industry.

Cloud Computing Job Outlook

The cloud computing sector is at the forefront of the computer and information technology industry, which is experiencing significant growth. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts faster-than-average growth for all occupations within the industry, with an estimated 317,700 new job openings anticipated each year between 2024 and 2034. Additionally, in 2024, the median annual wage of $105,990 for individuals working in the industry more than doubled that of all occupations across industries.

Individuals working in this industry can anticipate plenty of job opportunities, advancement, flexibility, and opportunities for career growth.

Cloud Computing and College: Explore IT and Develop Your Technical Skills With Champlain College Online

Another powerful, real-world application of cloud computing? Online education.

With Champlain College Online, students can learn about cloud computing by using the technology to attend school and pursue an online bachelor's degree in information technology. We've designed this degree program to help students develop well-rounded technical skills and expertise in information technology by strengthening critical thinking, adaptability, and a range of technical skills in cybersecurity, programming, networking, cloud computing, and emerging technology — all with the flexibility to study remotely on your own schedule.

To learn more about the online bachelor's and master's degree programs in information technology at CCO, contact our admissions office today.