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Cloud computing is rapidly becoming one of the busiest parts of the IT industry. In fact, this segment of IT services generated more than $300 billion in revenue in the US alone in 2020, and it doesn’t seem like it’s going to slow down any time soon. What’s more, AWS, the world’s biggest and most popular cloud platform, generated $45 billion in revenue the same year. Experts also claim that by 2025, the public cloud computing market will be worth a staggering $800 billion.
So, there’s no doubt that getting into cloud computing is a smart decision. But in order to do that, do you need cloud computing certifications? Also, what is the value of acquiring such a certificate? This article will take a closer look at the importance of being cloud certified to answer these and similar questions.
Let’s get started!
6 Reasons Why You Should Get a Cloud Computing Certificate As Soon As Possible
A continual desire to grow your skills and expertise is crucial for a successful career — no matter the field. But in the IT industry, such ambition can mean the difference between getting a promotion and losing your job. The cloud computing sector isn’t any different. Here are some of the reasons why it is important to become a certified cloud professional.
1. Cloud Computing Will Become a Core Competency of Every IT Organization
Some used to call cloud computing a “shadow IT.” To say that is no longer the case would be an understatement. According to Cloud Adoption Statistics, in 2020, 61% of businesses transferred their workload to the cloud. So, any IT organization today has to be ready to create, deploy, manage, and monitor applications on the cloud.
In such circumstances, having one of the available cloud computing certifications can be a big advantage. That is especially true if you are just starting your IT career. However, if you already have a job in IT, a cloud computing certificate will only secure your position further.
2. Cloud Computing Experts Are in High Demand
At the very beginning of cloud computing adoption, many raised the question of security as the number one problem. However, in 2016, a whole other situation prevailed in cloud computing: the lack of skilled professionals. Even research conducted by Algosec and CSA confirms that 47% of businesses are worried about their staff’s lack of cloud skills, while 32% are afraid there isn’t enough staff to manage the cloud workload.
Obviously, there are still not enough professionals who are skilled in cloud computing, and the demand for them will keep growing. So, investing in a cloud certificate can help you get employment or advance your career faster.
3. Cloud Certificates Help You Update Your Knowledge
Cloud computing technology is constantly evolving. So, even though you are already a skilled Cloud Architect or Data Engineer, you need to expand your knowledge from time to time. Certificates offer you a good way to do that because they show you a broader scope of a specific cloud’s offering. On top of that, during lessons, you can get a chance to see why previous methods are no longer effective.
So, getting certified will serve your personal growth and turn you into an invaluable asset for your company.
4. Certificates Improve Your Chances of Landing a Job
In most cases, companies looking to hire will choose a cloud computing expert who has a certificate (or better yet, a couple). That is because the hiring managers usually don’t know the position they are trying to fill in-depth. So, they rely on a third party to warrant the candidates’ skills. Your certificate will serve as proof of your expertise in such a case.
Furthermore, if you are willing to expand your knowledge and skill set, that usually means you are passionate about your job. Therefore, your certificates will signal your ambition and dedication to your future employers.
5. Cloud Certified Experts Earn More
While an average IT professional earns anywhere between $50,000 and $120,000 a year, a certified cloud expert’s salary can range between $130,000 and $176,000 per year. In fact, those who work in the cloud computing sector have the highest wages in the IT industry. So, investing in cloud certifications can prove to be a very profitable decision.
6. Certification Gives You More Networking Opportunities
Getting a certificate from a specific vendor will give you a chance to meet other cloud experts that have managed to do the same. Through the process of getting certified, you will get access to a valuable group of peers. As a result, you’ll always have someone to talk to about problems you encounter along the way and potential solutions. You will also be able to learn about new job opportunities faster.
Final Thoughts
Cloud computing is on the fast track of becoming mainstream. However, as you can see from the statistics, the lack of skilled staff is the main thing that prevents full cloud adoption. So, getting a cloud computing certificate is a great career move at this point.
Such certification can help you get a position faster, secure the one you already have, and quickly climb up the corporate ladder. But more importantly, certified cloud experts have the highest wages in the industry. Also, as the tech industry grows and cloud computing evolves, you will always have a chance to develop further as an expert and discover new talents and skills.