Is Cloud Computing Career : Good or Bad Choice?
Indeed, it is an era of a seismic shift toward technology-driven roles led primarily by cloud computing. With businesses embracing the cloud to store, manage, and analyze data, there is growing demand for professionals skilled in cloud technologies.
Choosing a Cloud Computing Career today could just be among the most rewarding and future-proof decisions for those seeking a long-term career in the IT domain.
Is It a fit for all? The opportunities and challenges of every field are reflected in cloud computing.
This long article takes a deep dive into what makes cloud computing a good or bad career option.
We will look into job roles, learning paths , salary expectations, and realities experienced by freshers.
We also assess the scope of cloud computing, and offer you an idea of the cloud computing jobs landscape.
If you think a career in cloud computing is what suits you best, or if you’re a fresher looking to make a foray into the field, this guide will give you everything you need to take a well-informed decision.
Is Cloud Computing a Good Career Option?
Cloud computing has become an IT practice that is no longer a niche but a global necessity for every business in every industry.
Hence, while someone is deciding to pursue this area, understanding the benefits and drawbacks is a sine qua non for the right decision-making process about one’s career choice.
- High Demand and Growing Scope of Cloud Computing
The scope of cloud computing is vast. These days, the importance of cloud computing in modern business cannot be ignored.
Day after day, business houses move their data and applications to the cloud or shift their entire infrastructures to it to operate more efficiently and at cost savings.
As a result, an enormous demand has emerged for skilled professionals in the field of cloud computing.
Multi-cloud strategies, whereby organizations spread their services across different cloud platforms like AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud, further amplify the trends, demanding experts to deal with the optimization of such highly complicated environments.
As cloud computing accelerates in recent years, new jobs will emerge related to specialization: for example, there are jobs of cloud engineer, cloud architect, and cloud developer.
There is a possibility that these jobs will boom in the future of various industries due to the tremendous growth in the market size of cloud computing, up to $1.24 trillion by 2028.
- Diverse Career Opportunities in Cloud Computing
In a nutshell, it is wide-ranging in terms of careers due to these interests and specializations.
Whether it is coding, system architecture, security, or even sales, there is a cloud computing career which will make sense along your professional goals. Below are some of the key roles available:
Cloud Architect: The cloud architect is basically designing a cloud solution aimed at meeting the needs of an organization.
They evaluate technical requirements and can manage the process to implement such cloud infrastructure, ensuring their architecture is stable and scalable.
– Cloud Engineer: A cloud engineer designs, operates, and optimizes cloud systems.
For example, a cloud engineer works on designing cloud networks, implementing security protocols, and also ensuring cloud applications are working correctly.
– Cloud Developer: A cloud developer is one who develops applications and services that run over a cloud platform.
He can develop cloud-native applications that are scalable in nature, using tools for Platform as a Service (PaaS).
This is an area where security is the topmost concern in such cloud environments.
Here, the cloud security specialist ensures that data and applications are safeguarded from breaches, vulnerabilities, or other forms of threats.
This diversity of roles makes cloud computing a versatile career choice.
Whether you are inclined towards the management of infrastructure or towards the development of applications,
the cloud computing learning path allows you to go for ample varieties of specializations.
- Salary Potential in Cloud Computing
One of the most compelling reasons to consider a career after cloud computing courses is the high salary that cloud professionals can command.
The Cloud Computing Salary is usually above the average salary for IT professionals.
This is because of the strong demand for cloud skills combined with a limited number of qualified candidates in the job market.
In the United States, an average salary for a cloud engineer can be between 95,000 to 120,000 per year.
Salary allocations for more senior roles like cloud architect or cloud security manager exist at about 120,000 and 150,000, with experience, location, and company prevailing.
- Continuous learning and certifications
This is a constantly evolving field with regards to technologies, tools, and platforms.
Thus, in this environment, continuous learning about many tools and platforms becomes a necessity.
Of course, cloud providers such as Amazon Web Services (AWS) Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform (GCP) also keep updating the tools, that is, keep on adding new features and improvements.
One of the most prominent features of the cloud computing learning path is certification.
Certification in cloud usually indicates the individual’s capabilities and expertise when one attains that particular certificate on a specific cloud platform or service.
The following are some of the most in-demand certifications:
– AWS Certified Solutions Architect
– Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert
– Google Professional Cloud Architect
These certifications enhance your learning and expand your skills and, hence, increase the chance of becoming more employable and eventually increasing your salary.
Additionally, many employers target such candidates as they are sure that the individual has expertise about the most recent cloud-related technologies.
- Flexibility and Remote Work Opportunities
Probably, one of the major benefits of having a career in cloud computing is its flexibility.
Since cloud platforms are, in essence, online, a lot of jobs in cloud computing are practicable from anywhere.
It is because of this flexibility that cloud computing jobs have become particularly appealing and striking during times when being remote has become a norm, especially for most industries involved post-pandemic situations.
Work from anywhere definitely gives you a better work-life balance, and it opens the door for one to work for global companies without shifting to a new place.
Cloud professionals are hired remotely by AWS, Microsoft, and Google, to name a few companies, making cloud computing one of the most location-independent career choices around today.
Is Cloud Computing Good for Freshers?
- Availability of Entry-Level Opportunities
This brings us to one of the critical issues for freshers seeking to enter the job market-that is, are there enough entry-level cloud computing jobs available?
Fortunately, of course, cloud computing does offer many entry-level positions for people who have completed relevant cloud computing courses and other associated certifications.
There are suitable jobs for freshers, like cloud support engineer cloud operations specialist, or junior cloud developer.
Such job postings are intended to provide freshers with a solid foundation of cloud technology as well as the practical opportunity to grow their expertise.
The large cloud vendors, such as AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud, have dedicated graduate programs or internship opportunities for freshers.
So, that is another fantastic opportunity to have a fresh career in cloud computing and eventually progress to even more specialized or senior positions as the experience grows.
- Fast-Paced Learning Curve for Freshers
There are numerous entry-level positions in cloud computing, but the freshers should be prepared for an environment that is fast-learning, high-speed, and challenging.
Cloud computing requires different kinds of skills that include programming, networking, data management, and security.
Cloud computing has to be learned by freshers entering the cloud computing industry as it involves details about various types of cloud platforms, handling the troubleshooting of cloud systems, and depth about the cloud-based infrastructure.
The curve is bound to be steep, but it forms an excellent ground for personal and professional development.
- Cloud Computing Internships
An internship may be considered as one of the most excellent options for freshers looking to gain experience prior to eventually joining an organization on a full-time basis.
Of course, internships in cloud computing allow an opportunity for on-the-job experience with actual projects, which gives freshers the actual skills within a practical environment.
Internships also happen to be a great networking ground where freshers interact with the field professionals and also get them through renowned industry gurus.
An internship in cloud computing, therefore, does not just add value to a fresher’s resume but also serves as an assured route to a full-time job in the cloud.
Entry-Level Cloud Computing Jobs and Salary
- Most Popular Entry-Level Positions
To start, there are various entry-level cloud computing jobs, where the work is quite different as concerns responsibilities and learning opportunities for people.
Some of the most common entry-level positions include:
– Cloud Support Associate: Cloud support associates help clients and organizations troubleshoot and resolve issues with their cloud environments. This role requires basic knowledge of cloud infrastructure, as well as good communication skills.
– Cloud Operations Engineer: The key responsibility of a cloud operations engineer is the checking and maintaining of the health of the cloud. Their functions ensure that the environments keep running and troubleshoot problems when they occur.
– Junior Cloud Developer: The junior cloud developer reports to the senior developers during the development and deployment of applications using cloud.
They will primarily focus on writing code, configuration of the cloud environments, and debugging applications.
– Cloud Security Analysts: They ensure that systems based in the cloud are secure and meet the expected standards within their respective industries.
They track systems for vulnerabilities and implement security measures that protect sensitive information.
Entry-Level Salary Expectations
Entry level salary for cloud computing jobs varies with location, company size, and actually the work function.
However, cloud computing professionals normally receive higher salaries than other IT professionals at entry level.
In the United States, entry-level cloud roles usually offer a salary of 60,000 to 80,000 per year.
Experienced, certified professionals can command highly competitive salaries.
One cloud support associate might earn around 65,000 a year when just starting but easily cross above 90,000 with a few years of experience and the proper certifications.
Even junior careers in cloud computing have excellent pay potential, so it is a very lucrative career to opt for, considering financial stability and long-term growth.
Highest Recruiter in Cloud Computing
- Leading Cloud Service Providers
Major cloud service providers are the highest recruiters in cloud computing as they spread across the globe and hire cloud professionals at all points of operation.
Some of the leading cloud providers that employ cloud professionals include the following:
–Amazon Web Services (AWS) : AWS is the largest cloud service provider company in the world and known to employ thousands of cloud professionals in all walks of life, from solutions architects to DevOps engineers, cloud consultants, and many other roles.
The firm provides most of the necessary training programs for certifications.
A company which ranks as the second largest cloud service provider is Microsoft Azure, which is pretty strong within the cloud computing industry.
The company recruits many experts in job positions such as cloud engineers, developers, and security specialists while continuously recruiting professionals who complete a certification from Microsoft.
- Google Cloud Platform (GCP): Google Cloud is another one of the major recruiters for cloud professionals.
Google Cloud recruits job roles like cloud engineer, developers, and security analysts to people with experience in machine learning and big data on the cloud.
- Tech Giants and Enterprises
Besides the big cloud service providers, a lot of tech giants and large enterprises use cloud computing as the foundation for their operations.
These companies usually need cloud professionals either for setting up and running their cloud infrastructures, designing new cloud applications or checking for security and compliance. Some of the major ones among these are:
-IBM Cloud- IBM is well known for its cloud computing and AI facilities. This company recruits professionals with experience in hybrid cloud technology and AI-powered cloud solutions.
Oracle Cloud: Oracle stands atop the list of organizations employing individuals who are trained in different types of cloud services, particularly database management and enterprise resource planning (ERP).
- VMware: VMware specializes in cloud infrastructure and virtualization, and the company hires cloud engineers, architects, and consultants to support companies in developing and maintaining their cloud infrastructures.
- Non-Tech Companies That Provide Cloud Services:
It has found applications in almost every industry sector, ranging from healthcare to finance, manufacturing, and retail.
Also, as more non-tech companies go through digital transformation, the number of cloud professionals needed grows. Below are the industries that are always in need of cloud professionals:
Healthcare: While healthcare services by companies such as Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer, and the Mayo Clinic are provided in the cloud as well,
with the handling of sensitive patient data to remote healthcare services, the demand for cloud professionals is exponentially growing in the health care sector.
- Banking and Finance: In banking and finance, JPMorgan Chase, Goldman Sachs, and Mastercard make wide investments in cloud computing.
- It enables them to manage their system more efficiently and keep data intact. Compliance and security experts are at the top in cloud profiling for this sector.
Manufacturing: These firms will be able to run their supply chain, optimize their manufacturing processes, and analyze any given data, amongst others.
For instance, there are several manufacturing firms that make use of cloud computing to improve on their efficiency include General Electric (GE) and Siemens.
Good and the Bad for Freshers in Cloud Computing
The Good
- Growth in Demand of Cloud Professionals : The demand for cloud professionals is increasing exponentially, and not a single day passes without opening opportunities for freshers in this field.
– Competitive Salary Packages : Cloud computing jobs offer not only competitive salaries but also decent pay even at entry-levels, making it an extremely rewarding career from the very day of joining.
– Never-Ending Learning Opportunities: There are numerous learning opportunities in cloud computing.
This is one of the most major pros for the fresher candidates who like to keep themselves updated with the latest technologies.
There is no dearth of flexibility in various positions related to this field, which happens to be one of the main attractions for the fresher candidates.
Quite often, remote work is also a feature associated with cloud computing.
This is especially useful for the fresher candidates who are interested in getting a better work-life balance or for the fresher candidates who are interested in working for global companies.
The Ugly
- Steep Learning Curve: The subject of cloud computing may prove to be complex for those who are freshers, especially if they are not IT- savvy.
The full mastery of the different cloud platforms, tools, and security protocols does indeed take time and deliberate effort.
High competition in job – Due to an increasing number of people who choose to work under this sphere, many applicants can vie for entry-level positions.
Getting first-time trainees differentiate themselves with good certifications or practical exposure through internships.
Initial investment in certifications: The certifications provided by cloud are very significant but kind of costly and time-consuming when it comes to freshers.
This might be a challenge for those who have just started out.
Conclusion
Choosing a career in cloud computing would be an exciting and rewarding opportunity for those who are passionate about technology and innovation.
With the growth happening in the demand for cloud professionals, higher salary packages, and job variety, cloud computing is going to be the best of the best for freshers and experienced professionals alike.
However, it is never without its challenges.
Freshers need to be ready for the steep learning curve and the amount of initial investment in getting those certifications that work wonders in the competitive job market.
Despite all these challenges, growth has been tremendous, and the opportunity to work with cutting-edge technologies suggests promising prospects for cloud computing as a solid career choice.
That is how the world will come to be in and with digital transformation. And, by many standards, cloud computing will not computing e alien to such tech advancements.
Thus, by right mindset and dedication and all the skills required, it waits for a brilliant and prosperous future for a career in cloud.