The 2024 AWS Report states that 92% of organizations in the Asia-Pacific region intend to use artificial intelligence and cloud tools by 2028, and IT departments are expected to experience the most immediate advantages. Meanwhile, Microsoft Azure case studies report an average 118% ROI over three years when migrating enterprise workloads to the cloud.

Cloud computing provides many advantages that make it a good choice for organizations of any size. Agility is a main advantage of cloud computing, as it lets businesses quickly deploy and scale their applications and services to adapt to changing requirements. Elasticity, another important benefit, allows organizations to quickly change their computing resources in response to changes in workload. Because of this flexibility, businesses can manage high demand without having to pay for more resources than they need.

Cloud computing also offers the significant advantage of cost savings. Organizations can save a large amount of money by not having to make large initial investments in physical hardware and by lowering their operational costs. By no longer maintaining expensive physical servers, businesses can switch from fixed to variable costs and benefit from the ability to scale their operations and reduce their IT expenses. In addition, cloud computing offers improved scalability and reliability, so businesses can concentrate on innovation and growth instead of managing their IT infrastructure.

As cloud adoption accelerates, so does the demand for talent who can deploy, manage, and secure cloud infrastructure. In demand skills are essential for IT professionals to stay competitive in this rapidly evolving landscape. Malaysian employers are actively seeking:

Malaysia’s MyDIGITAL initiative provides a strong policy foundation for cloud growth. Some of the key mandates include:

• Cloud-first policy for all federal agencies
• Certification and standards via MAMPU to evaluate cloud providers
• End-to-end digital services rollout across ministries by 2025

Cloud architecture serves as the fundamental framework that supports all cloud technologies, ensuring efficient transitions to cloud operations and alignment with budgetary constraints. The government’s policies also emphasize the role of the service provider in managing and running the complete product, which allows end users to focus solely on utilizing the software without worrying about infrastructure maintenance or management.

The government’s goal is to achieve 80% cloud storage usage across agencies by 2022 and ensure 100% of civil servants are digitally literate. These efforts signal sustained public-sector demand for certified cloud professionals.

Cloud growth is not only being pushed by technology giants but also pulled by national policy.

On the enterprise front, Alibaba Cloud has played a pivotal role. Its data centers in Kuala Lumpur serve over 4 million customers in 200+ countries, with 84 availability zones globally. It supports sectors including banking, e-commerce, and education, helping them scale with AI, data intelligence, and hybrid cloud solutions (Alibaba).

Microsoft has also deepened its roots in Malaysia, recently announcing a RM10.5 billion investment to expand hyperscale cloud services and upskill 300,000 people across the country (MDEB).

This surge of investments reflects strong demand for cloud-skilled professionals who can help organizations transition from legacy systems to agile cloud-native architectures. Effective database management is crucial in utilizing various database options and data storage solutions offered by cloud services like AWS, simplifying processes of scaling and backup.

The most important providers of cloud services and applications are Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform (GCP). These companies provide a wide variety of services, which are grouped into three categories: Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), and Software as a Service (SaaS).

Amazon Web Services (AWS) is a major cloud provider known for its wide range of services, including computing, storage, databases, analytics, and machine learning. Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud Platform also provide strong cloud services that offer solutions for computing, storage, databases, and virtual machines. These cloud platforms allow organizations to use advanced technologies and tools to promote innovation and increase the efficiency of their operations.

Also, these platforms focus on smooth integration, which allows organizations to easily combine their cloud services with their current systems and other products.

Data science is integral to the value proposition of cloud computing, as it empowers organizations to derive actionable insights from their data. Cloud computing provides a scalable and flexible infrastructure that supports data science workloads, allowing data scientists to deploy and scale their applications and services efficiently.

With access to a wide array of data science tools and technologies, including machine learning, deep learning, and big data analytics, data scientists can analyse and visualize data, build predictive models, and deploy sophisticated machine learning algorithms. This capability, combined with in-depth knowledge of major cloud platforms, enables organizations to harness the power of their data to drive informed decision-making and strategic initiatives.

Even with the growth in cloud computing, a lack of skilled workers is a significant problem.

The 2024 AWS Report on AI Skills in the Workplace shows that 75% of employers in the Asia-Pacific region report that they are unable to find employees with the necessary cloud and artificial intelligence skills, which slows down innovation and the completion of projects.

The MyDIGITAL Blueprint in Malaysia has the objective of creating 500,000 new jobs in the digital sector and making sure that all government employees have digital skills. But there is still a large gap in skills, especially for jobs that require multi-cloud deployment, DevOps automation, cloud-native security and compliance, and network security.

It is necessary to develop, enforce, and update security rules to control access to cloud services and to maintain security and compliance in the cloud. Also, cloud security engineers need to watch cloud environments for security threats, create secure systems, and make sure that they follow all regulations.

Another issue is being dependent on a single vendor. The “Unpicking Vendor Lock-In” whitepaper recommends that organizations should use architectures that are not tied to a specific vendor, and that they should be supported by certifications from Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud.

Cloud certifications are not only for improving skills; they are also a strategic solution for dealing with technical challenges and difficulties in hiring. For individuals, these certifications show that they are ready for a job. For businesses, these certifications shorten the time it takes to train new employees and improve how the cloud is managed.

While technical skills are crucial for cloud computing professionals, soft skills and IT skills are equally important for success in this field. Effective communication, collaboration, and project management are essential for working within development and operations teams and managing complex cloud projects.

A solid foundation in technical support roles can develop essential troubleshooting and problem-solving skills, which are critical for advancing in fields like cloud computing and data science.

Cloud computing professionals must be able to articulate complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders, work seamlessly with cross-functional teams, and manage projects from inception to completion. Additionally, the rapidly evolving nature of cloud technologies necessitates continuous learning and professional development, ensuring that professionals remain adaptable and proficient in the latest advancements.

By cultivating a strong foundation of both technical and soft skills, cloud computing professionals can excel in their roles and contribute significantly to their organizations’ success.

Malaysia’s digital growth relies on cloud computing — not only as a platform but as a workforce imperative. As more organizations migrate to the cloud, professionals who upskill will find themselves in high-demand roles that offer mobility, security, and impact within the technology industry. The technology sector is an important part of the economy and is receiving more attention from government regulators, which makes it essential for digital operations to follow all regulatory rules.

Artificial intelligence is very important for improving cloud services and changing industries, and it is a necessary part of automation, data analysis, and making customer experiences better.