Cloud Certifications: A Differentiating Factor in the Tech Industry

Cloud computing technology is evolving at a rapid pace, and the depth of product offerings across vendors continues to grow with it. Increased internet access, reduced costs, new technology and a pandemic-driven digitization of many services have accelerated the adoption of cloud technology, and it doesn’t appear to be slowing down any time soon. In fact, a recent report from Gartner predicted that the cloud will make up 14% of all global enterprise IT spending in 2024 -- a 9% increase from 2020.

Cloud computing is one of the most sought after fields in IT right now, so how can you make your resume standout? Whether you’re a network professional looking to advance your career or a student who’s just getting started, a cloud certification has the power to unlock the door to a plethora of employment opportunities at higher salaries in a career field that can sometimes feel “recession proof” due to the importance of the cloud in day-to-day business.

Cloud Certifications: What Are They and Why Do You Need Them?

At its core, a cloud certification is a public demonstration of fundamental knowledge that allows you to showcase an understanding of cloud services and an ability to help an organization achieve business objectives with those services. Not only does a certification show that you know how to work with the "raw materials" of cloud services, but it also communicates that you have a starting point to build specific solutions in that space, even if you don't work with specific cloud technologies on a daily basis. Simply put, having experience with or knowledge of cloud computing technologies without a certification is super helpful, but can make it harder to get hired or promoted.

Related:Thiel’s Palantir Boosts Hiring While Others Are Cutting Jobs

Taking the Plunge

The best way to get started is to just get started. Seriously, do your research on which certifications are relevant to your current or dream job and dive in. There are tons of great resources that offer thorough content and prep for the major certifications. I highly recommend starting with LinkedIn Learning -- you can also take advantage of the platform’s free trial. If you’re a student, there are several free resources to help you get started, such as AWS Educate, Google Cloud for Students, Azure for Students and HashiCorp Learn.

Read the full article on our sister site Information Week.