Cloud computing refers to the use of the internet, instead of a computer hard drive, to store data and services. It is one of the most sought-after skills among IT professionals today for several reasons. The global boom in interest in Cloud computing is because of its many advantages over conventional on-premise computing. These advantages include lesser costs for storing and managing data, better data security, easier data accessibility, and flexibility to use on an OS, to name a few.
However, the biggest reason is that experts with significant hands-on experience in Cloud computing are hard to come across and, therefore, in high demand. So, while almost all the global tech giants have dedicated sizable monetary investments for research and development in the Cloud sector, they are yet to find professionals with the Cloud skills who can build, maintain and develop their Cloud platforms and environments. Therefore, software professionals who have done Cloud computing bootcamp have a clear advantage over the others. So, as a beginner’s guide to aspiring future Cloud engineers and Cloud architects, we have provided a list of the world’s five most recognized Cloud computing certification courses.
Top Cloud certifications 2022
Below, we have provided details about the 5 best Cloud certifications globally. All these certifications are delivered online and are targeted at professionals who opted for the Cloud computing sector to begin their career or switch fields. These top Cloud computing certification courses have consistently resulted in significant returns for the time and money that professionals have invested in them. Read on to learn more about each one of them:
1. AWS certified solutions architect – associate
The AWS Solutions Architect certification is the most popular Cloud certification among IT professionals. One-third of all Cloud professionals have started their career with this Associate-level certification. Software engineers who have done this certification have reported over a 25 percent hike in income and better ease in handling complex real-world projects involving deployment, management, and use of various services in AWS, the leading platform in the Cloud market. Professionals with this certification are in demand as solutions and enterprise architects, systems engineers, and developers. They are often tasked with designing Cloud infrastructures and reference architectures and deploying systems and applications for the Cloud.
2. Microsoft Certified: Microsoft Azure Fundamentals
Microsoft Certified: Microsoft Azure Fundamentals is considered among the best Cloud certifications for beginners with no experience. It is an entry-level Cloud certification that helps professionals to showcase their understanding of Azure, the fundamental concepts of the Cloud, Azure pricing SLAs, Azure services, etc. The certification exam also tests a candidate’s knowledge of privacy, security, and compliance in Azure. This popular certification with a lifetime validity is considered a good foundation for those preparing for Azure Administrator Associate or Azure Developer Associate certifications. However, it is not a prerequisite for either.
3. Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate
The Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate certification is meant for professionals who are already familiar with the Microsoft Azure Cloud platform. This certification tests an associate’s ability to manage Azure storage, virtual machines, and networks, application services, etc. Moreover, the certification is a prerequisite for the more advanced Azure DevOps Engineer Expert certification. Before attempting this certification, it is advisable to gain at least a few months of practical working experience working with Azure portal, PowerShell, and Azure Command Line Interface (Azure CLI). Azure administrators with this certification are tasked with managing Cloud services that span storage, security, networking, and Cloud capabilities.
4. Google Certified Professional Cloud Architect
The Google Certified Professional Cloud Architect or GCP Cloud Architect certification is one of the best Cloud certifications for beginners who wish to pursue a career as a Cloud Architect. The GCP certification exam will test your ability to design, create, plan, and manage secure, robust, dynamic, and scalable Cloud solutions for an organization.
GCP Cloud Architect has been identified as the highest-paying IT certification in the United States. Professionals with GCP Cloud Architect Certification are hired as solutions and enterprise architects, systems administrators, and operations experts. Moreover, the Google Cloud ecosystem is expected to expand rapidly in the coming years. Therefore, more and more IT professionals seek validation of their ability to design, develop and manage Cloud architecture on the GCP platform through this certification.
5. AWS Certified Developer – Associate
Amazon Web Services (AWS) Certified Developer – Associate certification is the second most pursued Cloud certification worldwide. The certification is proof that a professional understands core AWS services and best practices and has expertise in developing, deploying, and debugging Cloud-based AWS applications. AWS Certified Developers have reportedly earned 18% more salary than the average tech professional in 2019.
However, this is an intermediate-level certification program. The AWS Cloud Practitioner certification is a prerequisite for this certification. Additionally, candidates are recommended to gain at least one year of hands-on experience in developing and maintaining AWS-based applications before taking this certification exam.
Why should you take top Cloud computing certification courses?
Certifications are generally considered secondary to hands-on experience in the technical world. However, since Cloud computing is a relatively new field, professional certification is a reliable marker for companies to identify the right professionals. Moreover, Cloud computing is a rare albeit highly in-demand skill. To offer a glimpse of the value of Cloud certifications, the average salary for Cloud computing professionals in North America was 40 percent higher than the industry average. Furthermore, Global Knowledge has included two Cloud professions—Cloud administrator and Cloud architect—among the top ten recession-proof IT jobs.
So, the top Cloud computing certification courses listed above are helpful regardless of whether you have some experience in computer programming or if you are a beginner in the software world. If you wish to step into the world of Cloud computing or move forward in this career path, taking up one of these certification courses is an excellent way to go.
