Top Cloud Computing Skills You Need to Know in 2024

The Evolving Landscape of Cloud Computing

Cloud computing refers to delivering computing services, including servers, storage, databases, networking, software, analytics, and intelligence, over the Internet to offer faster innovation, flexible resources, and economies of scale. Since its inception, the cloud computing industry has continuously evolved, driven by technological advancements, changing business needs, and emerging trends. Below, we'll examine various facets of this evolution.

Key Trends in Cloud Computing

1. Hybrid and Multi-Cloud Adoption: Many organizations now embrace a hybrid cloud approach, combining public and private clouds, to optimize cost and performance. Multi-cloud strategies, using multiple cloud providers, are also gaining popularity to avoid vendor lock-in and enhance resilience.
2. Serverless Computing: Serverless computing, epitomized by AWS Lambda and Azure Functions services, is becoming a favored choice for deploying applications. It abstracts server management and allows developers to focus on code, enhancing productivity.
3. Edge Computing: Edge computing brings computation and data storage closer to data sources and endpoints, reducing latency and enabling real-time processing. This is crucial for applications like IoT and autonomous vehicles.
4. AI and Machine Learning Integration: Cloud providers offer AI and machine learning services, making it easier for data analysts to leverage advanced analytics capabilities without extensive infrastructure setup.
5. Containerization and Kubernetes: Containers and Kubernetes orchestration are widely adopted for building, deploying, and scaling applications. This technology facilitates portability across different cloud environments.

Types of Cloud Services

Let's delve into the various types of cloud services in detail. Cloud services play a crucial role in modern data analysis and data-driven decision-making. Here, we'll discuss the primary types of cloud services and their relevance to a data analyst like yourself.

1. Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)

IaaS provides virtualized computing resources over the Internet. These resources include virtual machines, storage, and networking. IaaS can be instrumental in data analysts provisioning scalable computing resources for tasks like data preprocessing, model training, and data storage. Services like Amazon EC2 and Microsoft Azure VMs fall under this category.

2. Platform as a Service (PaaS)

PaaS offers a platform with tools and services for application development and deployment. It abstracts infrastructure management. PaaS can streamline data analysis tasks by providing pre-configured environments for data analysis tools and databases. For example, Google Cloud's BigQuery or AWS Elastic Beanstalk can simplify the deployment of data-driven applications.

3. Software as a Service (SaaS)

SaaS delivers software applications over the internet on a subscription basis. Users access them through web browsers. SaaS solutions like Tableau, Power BI, and Google Data Studio are widely used for data visualization and reporting. They enable data analysts to create and share insights without worrying about software installation or maintenance.

4. Function as a Service (FaaS) / Serverless Computing

FaaS allows developers (and data analysts) to run individual functions or pieces of code in response to events without managing servers. Serverless computing can be advantageous for executing data processing tasks in response to triggers, such as ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) operations. AWS Lambda and Azure Functions are examples.

5. Database as a Service (DBaaS)

DBaaS provides managed database services, reducing the administrative burden of database management. Data analysts frequently work with databases. DBaaS offerings like Amazon RDS and Azure SQL Database simplify database provisioning, maintenance, and scaling.

6. Analytics as a Service

This emerging category offers cloud-based analytics tools and services, often with built-in machine learning and AI capabilities. These services, like Google's BigQuery ML and AWS SageMaker, empower data analysts to perform advanced analytics tasks, predictive modeling, and machine learning without extensive coding knowledge.

7. Storage as a Service

Cloud storage services provide scalable, secure, and highly available storage solutions. These services, such as Amazon S3 and Azure Blob Storage, are essential for storing large datasets, making them easily accessible for analysis and sharing.

8. Security as a Service (SecaaS)

SecaaS offers security services in the cloud, including identity and access management, threat detection, and encryption. Data security is paramount. SecaaS solutions help protect sensitive data and ensure compliance with data privacy regulations.

Top Cloud Computing Skills

1. Cloud Security

The very nature of cloud computing—outsourcing the storage and retrieval of often-sensitive business data—necessitates a profound focus on security and trust. IT security is (or should be) a top priority in most organizations since a single security breach can potentially expose customer data, steal valuable intellectual property, and damage a company’s reputation. The demand for cybersecurity talent, in general, is massive and growing daily, particularly in the cloud domain.

Simplilearn’s free Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP) course, consisting of seven hours of self-paced video tutorials, is a great place to start. This introductory course will help you understand common vulnerabilities and risks, cloud application security, and architecture security. When you’re ready to proceed toward your certifications, enroll in the full CCSP Certification Training Course. This program consists of 50 hours of applied learning (a combination of live, online, instructor-led courses, self-paced videos, and hands-on projects). It includes a voucher for the certification exam.

2. Machine Learning and AI

In general, machine learning and artificial intelligence are red-hot market segments, cloud computing aside. However, since the major cloud vendors have offered tools and services that provide greater access to cloud-based AI and machine learning applications, they have become vital cloud computing skills. Once referred to as “infrastructure as a service” by Amazon’s AWS division, cloud computing can deliver the computing power and infrastructure that organizations of every size need if they want to dabble in AI and machine learning.

As the machine learning industry has matured, the delivery of machine learning solutions over the cloud is now referred to as machine learning as a service or MLaaS. It is expected to experience a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 43 percent through 2024. As with cybersecurity, machine learning and AI need talent generally. However, combining the technical skills required for cloud computing with AI skills could exponentially raise your stock as a professional in the field.

Simplilearn offers a variety of AI, machine learning, and deep learning courses that can get you up to speed, including:

• Caltech Post Graduate Program In AI And Machine Learning
• Post Graduate Program in AI and Machine Learning
• Professional Certificate Course in Generative AI and Machine Learning
• Artificial Intelligence Engineer
• Applied Generative AI Specialization

3. Cloud Deployment and Migration Across Multiple Platforms

As organizations continue to migrate native IT systems to cloud platforms or from one cloud platform to another, they require professionals with deployment and migration skills. This isn’t as simple as flipping a switch but requires advanced cloud computing skills to protect the integrity and security of data while minimizing downtime. While it’s always wise to avoid limiting yourself, many organizations need professionals who understand all three major cloud platforms. With AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud skills, you’ll have more career opportunities and value within a given organization.

Simplilearn’s Post Graduate Program in Cloud Computing, designed in collaboration with CalTech CTME, offers a comprehensive, 12-month program focused on all three major cloud platforms. Best of all, it’s designed for working professionals. If you just need to brush up on one or two cloud platforms, you might consider the following courses:

• Google Professional Cloud Architect Certification
• AWS Solution Architect Certification Training
• Designing Microsoft Azure Infrastructure Solutions (AZ-305) Training Course

As a cloud computing professional, there are other technical skills you should have to thrive in your career. Being skilled in databases, DevOps, and other related technologies can help you to succeed and grow in the cloud computing industry.

4. Database Skills 

Globally, we create 2.5 quintillion bytes of data daily, much of it unstructured but potentially providing enormous value for organizations. As these databases are primarily hosted on cloud platforms, the interest in distilling valuable insights from this information fuels the demand for professionals with cloud computing skills to manage, store, and access data. If you’re an IT professional, this is the perfect time to invest in learning a database querying language and an associated database platform.

The de-facto standard database language to learn is SQL. You could consider learning MySQL, MongoDB, or Hadoop to further develop your skills. If you’re new to database querying languages, then an excellent place to start is with Simplilearn’s SQL Certification Training Course

5. DevOps

Derived from the term “developmental operations,” DevOps is a popular software development method considering the entire software lifecycle, from planning to maintenance. The DevOps method enables organizations to automate specific updates and get updates out much quicker and efficiently. It’s an important development process in cloud computing, so adding DevOps to your cloud computing skills is a smart move.

Simplilearn’s Post Graduate Program in DevOps, designed in collaboration with CalTech CTME, offers a comprehensive education in this process and will prepare you for roles where DevOps plays a significant role.

6. Programming

• Scripting Languages: Proficiency in scripting languages like Python, Ruby, or JavaScript is crucial for cloud computing. These languages are used for automation, managing cloud resources, and building cloud-native applications.
• Infrastructure as Code (IaC): Understanding and utilizing IaC tools like Terraform, Ansible, or CloudFormation is essential. IaC lets you define and provision cloud resources programmatically, making infrastructure management more efficient and reproducible.
• API Integration: Knowledge of working with cloud providers' APIs (e.g., AWS, Azure, Google Cloud) is vital for creating custom solutions, automating tasks, and integrating various cloud services into your applications.

7. Network Management

• Virtual Networking: Understanding virtual networks and concepts like VPC (Virtual Private Cloud), subnets, security groups, and routing is crucial for designing secure and efficient cloud architectures.
• Network Security: Knowledge of network security principles, including firewalls, VPNs, and access control lists, is essential for safeguarding cloud resources and data.
• Content Delivery: Familiarity with Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) like Cloudflare or AWS CloudFront can help optimize web content delivery and improve user experience.

8. Automation

• Orchestration Tools: Proficiency in orchestration tools such as Kubernetes or Docker Swarm for container management and orchestration is essential for deploying and scaling applications in the cloud.
• Serverless Computing: Understanding serverless computing platforms like AWS Lambda or Azure Functions is valuable for building event-driven, scalable applications without worrying about server management.
• Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD): Implementing CI/CD pipelines using tools like Jenkins, Travis CI, or CircleCI helps automate software delivery and deployment processes, increasing development and deployment efficiency.
• Monitoring and Alerting: Setting up automated monitoring and alerting systems (e.g., Prometheus, Grafana, CloudWatch) is essential for proactively identifying and resolving issues in your cloud infrastructure.

9. Linux

• Operating System Proficiency: Linux is a dominant operating system in the cloud computing world. Being proficient in various Linux distributions (e.g., Ubuntu, CentOS, Red Hat) is crucial. Managing file systems, users, permissions, and package management skills are essential.
• Shell Scripting: Knowledge of scripting languages like Bash is vital for automating repetitive tasks and effectively managing cloud resources. Scripting simplifies creating, configuring, and managing virtual machines in the cloud.
• Security: Linux security practices are crucial for securing cloud-based infrastructure. Understanding firewall rules, access control, and system hardening is essential to protect cloud resources.

10. Communication

• Effective Communication: Cloud computing professionals must communicate clearly with team members, stakeholders, and clients. They need to articulate technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders.
• Collaboration: Collaboration skills are crucial as cloud projects often involve cross-functional teams. Effective teamwork and collaboration lead to better cloud architecture and solutions.
• Documentation: Clear and concise documentation is vital for cloud deployments. It helps in troubleshooting, maintenance, and knowledge sharing. Strong writing skills are an asset.

11. Change Management

• Adaptability: Cloud environments are dynamic, and change is constant. Professionals must adapt to evolving technologies, services, and best practices.
• Planning and Implementation: To prevent disruptions, it is crucial to manage changes in a structured way. Skills in planning, testing, and executing changes with minimal impact on services are essential.
• Risk Management: Change management involves assessing and mitigating risks associated with cloud configuration changes. Professionals should be adept at identifying potential risks and developing strategies to handle them.

12. Virtualization

• Hypervisor Technology: Understanding different virtualization technologies (e.g., VMware, KVM, Hyper-V) is vital for deploying virtual machines (VMs) in the cloud.
• Containerization: Knowledge of containerization platforms like Docker and container orchestration tools like Kubernetes is valuable. Containers provide flexibility and scalability in cloud deployments.
• Resource Management: Proficiency in managing virtual resources, such as CPU, memory, and storage, is essential for optimizing cloud infrastructure and cost-efficiency.

13. Containers

Containers are a fundamental technology in cloud computing that allows you to package and run applications and their dependencies in a consistent and isolated environment. The most popular containerization technology is Docker. Skills related to containers include:

• Docker: Proficiency in creating, managing, and deploying Docker containers.
• Container Orchestration: Knowledge of container orchestration tools like Kubernetes, Docker Swarm, and Apache Mesos to efficiently manage and scale containerized applications.
• Container Security: Understanding container security best practices, such as image scanning, runtime security, and access control.
• Containerization Patterns: Familiarity with containerization patterns, such as microservices architecture, and how to design applications for containerization.

14. Disaster Recovery

Disaster recovery ensures business continuity during system failures, natural disasters, or other catastrophic events. Cloud computing offers robust disaster recovery solutions. Key skills in this area include:

• Disaster Recovery Planning: Developing comprehensive disaster recovery plans that outline processes, responsibilities, and resources needed to recover from various disasters.
• Backup and Restore: Proficiency in cloud-based backup and restore services, including scheduling backups, data retention policies, and automated recovery processes.
• High Availability: Designing cloud architectures with high availability and fault tolerance to minimize downtime and data loss.
• Testing and Simulation: Conducting regular disaster recovery tests and simulations to ensure the effectiveness of recovery procedures.

15. Data Migration

Data migration involves transferring data from one system or location to another, often when moving to the cloud. Effective data migration is crucial for minimizing downtime and ensuring data integrity. Skills related to data migration include:

• Data Assessment: Identifying and classifying data to be migrated, including structured and unstructured data, databases, and files.
• Data Transformation: Converting data formats, cleaning data, and resolving schema differences to ensure compatibility with the target cloud environment.
• Data Transfer: Cloud providers use tools and services for efficient data transfer, such as AWS DataSync, Azure Data Factory, or Google Cloud Storage Transfer Service.
• Data Validation: Verifying the integrity and consistency of migrated data through validation and reconciliation processes.
• Data Governance: Implementing data governance practices to ensure data privacy, security, and compliance during migration.

16. Cloud Orchestration

• Automated Deployment: Cloud orchestration involves automating the deployment, configuration, and management of complex, interconnected cloud infrastructure. It streamlines the process, reducing manual errors and ensuring consistency.
• Scalability: Orchestration enables dynamic scalability by automating the allocation of resources based on demand. It ensures efficient resource utilization, adapts to varying workloads and optimizes costs.
• Workflow Automation: Cloud orchestration coordinates various tasks and processes within a cloud environment, creating orchestrated workflows. This includes provisioning, configuration management, and scaling, facilitating seamless operation of applications.
• Integration and Interoperability: It allows integration and interoperability among cloud services and platforms. This ensures that diverse components of an application or system can work together cohesively, even if they are hosted on different cloud providers.

17. Performance Testing, Metrics, and Analytics

• Load Testing: Performance testing involves assessing a system's performance under various conditions. Load testing, a subset, evaluates how the system handles increasing workloads, helping identify bottlenecks and areas for improvement.
• Real-time Metrics: Monitoring real-time metrics provides insights into the system's health and performance. Metrics like response time, throughput, and error rates help proactively detect and resolve issues.
• Capacity Planning: Performance metrics aid capacity planning by predicting resource needs based on historical data. This ensures optimal resource allocation and prevents performance degradation during peak usage.
• User Experience Analytics: Beyond technical metrics, performance testing includes analyzing user experience. This involves understanding how end-users interact with the system, identifying pain points, and optimizing for a positive user experience.

Get Certified and Make Yourself Indispensable

It's essential to recognize that the fast-paced evolution of technology and the intricate nature of the digital era might leave you with skills gaps in your chosen field. Those aspiring to build a career in cloud computing and acquire up-to-date cloud computing expertise, including AWS skills, should enroll in the Post Graduate Program in Cloud Computing.

FAQs

1. What are the best certifications for cloud computing? 

The best certifications for cloud computing include AWS Certified Solutions Architect, Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator, Google Cloud Professional Cloud Architect, and CompTIA Cloud+. These certifications validate your cloud skills and can boost your career in cloud computing.

2. How can I transition to a cloud computing career? 

To transition to a cloud computing career, start by gaining foundational knowledge through online courses, books, or formal education. Practice on AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud, and pursue relevant certifications. Networking, joining cloud communities, and seeking internships or entry-level positions are helpful steps.

3. What are the future trends in cloud computing?

Future trends in cloud computing include serverless computing, edge computing, hybrid and multi-cloud adoption, increased focus on cloud security, AI and machine learning integration, and the continued growth of containers and Kubernetes for application deployment and management. Keeping up with these trends can help you stay competitive in the field.