In general cloud is the data servers available to many users over the internet. Cloud computing relies on sharing of resources to achieve economics of scale. It is classified into two categories: Enterprise cloud where the service is available to use by a single organization or public cloud allowing access to multiple organizations. The cloud aims to cut costs and helps the users focus on their core business instead of being impeded by IT obstacles. The characteristics of cloud computing includes cost reduction, device and location independence, improved agility, easy maintenance, increased productivity, centralization of infrastructure with lower costs, improved security, and scalability.
There are mainly three types of service models in cloud architecture: Infrastructure as a service (IaaS), Platform as a service (PaaS) and Software as a service (SaaS). In IaaS the user has control over operating systems, storage, and deployed applications but user does not manage the underlying cloud infrastructure. In PaaS user has control over the deployed applications and possibly configuration settings for the application-hosting environment but user does not manage or control the underlying cloud infrastructure. In SaaS users gain access to application software and databases.
The trend of using cloud computing is rapidly increasing which offers the IT professionals with cloud skills more hireable. For any IT professionals gaining cloud computing skills and certifications could boost salary as well as employability opportunities. The most popular cloud computing certifications for 2021 are: AWS Certified Solution Architect, AWS Certified SysOps Administrator, AWS certified Developer, Microsoft Certified: Microsoft Azure Fundamentals, Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate, Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP), CompTIA Cloud+ and Google Certified Professional Cloud Architect.
When you look at all these certifications and its demand on the industry, you might want to learn all the technologies and gain as much certifications as you can. But if you rush to get all the certifications you might fell overwhelm and you will have hard time understanding the basics and learning the skills that is required in the job. So, decide one or two cloud certifications to get in the next one or two months. After that choose one vendor which could be AWS or Microsoft depending on your career goal and the company you want to work with in the future. At this moment if you go solely on the cloud computing AWS is the giant in the market, but if you have experience with Microsoft systems and some certifications with Microsoft, then you can choose Microsoft cloud certifications. If you want to learn the cloud without going for any vendor specific certs, then CompTIA Cloud+ is the best option which covers all the core concepts related to the cloud.
How would you prepare for your next certs? That is very important question to ask yourself. First option you can do is prepare yourself, second option is to take an online course and the final option is to join an institute. Each of these have pros and cons, if you choose to prepare by yourself, it might take you very long time and you will be stuck to progress as well as it will be expensive to manage all the labs to gain practical knowledge. Online course is the good option if combined with proper labs and tutorials, otherwise you can join the training institute near you which might cost you some money considering their expert instructor as well as the physical labs.
So, take a next step to your IT career by gaining the cloud certifications. Always search for the better options in your area about how to get into the cloud computing tracks. You are one google search away from finding your best fit.
