Why Cloud Computing is a Future-proof Skill

Remember the days when you were limited in storage space to what your computer could manage?

Cloud computing has changed all that – and businesses are more than happy to use it to their advantage.

Cloud computing makes use of what is probably the greatest modern resource: the internet. 

Using the networks that we’re all connected to, cloud computing can offer a variety of computing services, including servers, storage, and databases. 

What’s particularly innovative about it is that cloud providers allow everyone the same kind of services at varying price points, which means that businesses especially can benefit from the economies of scale.

Some cloud computing solutions you might already be aware of include Google Drive and Microsoft Azure, and you’ve probably come across forms of automation that use the technology, too.

You might be wondering ‘why is cloud computing becoming more popular now’? Well, as our economy shifts to embrace a more remote-working model post-pandemic, cloud services have become even more integral to our lives than they were before.

Employees can access company files and programmes from anywhere in the world. The world has been undergoing a digital transformation for some time now – you’ll rarely find someone without internet access in their pocket.

What’s more, new technologies like artificial intelligence are beginning to be integrated into cloud computing. It’s a combination of incredible machine learning and cloud services that mean you can ask Alexa to find your favourite Netflix show or rely on Siri to know what your calendar looks like.

And these cloud platforms don’t take hours to respond – their communication with AI devices is almost instantaneous, so you get your answers in real-time.

This kind of technology requires an in-depth knowledge of algorithms – but it’s not just data scientists who make use of cloud computing, it’s a valuable skill set across myriad industries.

You might not have considered it related, but digital marketing can benefit hugely from adopting cloud solutions. Vast amounts of data (known as big data) can be stored and analysed on the cloud – which means that marketing teams can get to know their customer base better than ever before. 

Plus, there are cloud-based CRM tools which help marketers to work out how they can increase retention rates.

Meanwhile, Amazon offers a cloud platform of their own to help businesses grow: AWS. Its functionality includes running web applications in the cloud and content delivery tools, management programmes, and analytics apps. The list goes on, and all your business needs are met.

Crucially, businesses only pay for the services they use – which means that cloud technology is ubiquitous whether you work for a tiny startup or a gigantic enterprise.

All this is essentially to say that cloud computing jos reach so many facets of various industries – and it’s not going away any time soon. Employers and recruiters are on the lookout for people who can easily streamline their business processes – whether they’re in the IT department or not.

There are no strict paths to becoming qualified in cloud computing – it’s a mix of hands-on work experience and practical knowledge combined with courses you can take.

Because it’s such a varied market, you can choose exactly which area you’d like to specialise in. For example, there are short courses in Security in Google Cloud Platform that are designed for those already in cybersecurity or cloud infrastructure fields.

There are more entry-level options like a class on how to become an AWS Cloud Practitioner, which goes over the core services of the platform.

Then, of course, there are both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in subjects like computer science. New graduates are likely to have a relatively rigorous knowledge of cloud computing, especially compared to their more experienced counterparts, if they haven’t been keeping up to date.

Expertise in cloud computing is only becoming more sought after. According to a recent report by Gartner, the public cloud services market is forecast to grow by another 6.3%.

Whether you’re interested in a career in information technology or you want to explore ways to streamline business processes in other areas, it’s a skill that is set to be useful for years to come.

The scalability of cloud platforms is essential here: SaaS, in particular, is booming, with small businesses able to access software and services they would never usually have been able to afford.

Whichever the business model, more and more employers are looking for people who can work using a hybrid cloud format.