To be a competent IT Professional is to remain one step ahead of the game. Anticipating what your end users might need and potentially solving issues before it even crops up. It goes without saying that users are expecting better performance and you most definitely want it for them in return.

Now, enter, cloud computing.  

The last few years has seen many companies have integrated cloud computing into the DNA of digital business plans. And this has resulted in a magnificent growth and improved efficiency.

With the large scale growth of cloud computing, the cloud technology industry itself has experienced a substantial paradigm shift. More technology firms are empowered and confident in pushing the envelope with developing innovative products with the newfound capacity that the cloud affords them.

With most businesses adopting cloud and implementing its strategy into its operations the way in which this is approached is paramount. With the expansion and acceleration of cloud adoption, especially during and post pandemic, new trends in cloud usage are taking shape.

Business don’t view cloud technology as an option, it has now become a standard practice in most organizations, firmly fitted into daily operations. Technology and business leaders are constantly demanding for cloud services that are both efficient and powerful, to help mitigate workflow faster and smoother. It is also likely that there will be a shift on focus of cloud for specific functions as we move to hybrid work environments towards holistic strategies that are centered on enterprise-wide cloud migration.

Another aspect that has seen changes besides, strategies and approaches to cloud are that organizations have and will continue allocating larger budgets for cloud. It is estimated that 30 percent more will be spent on the technology vs 2021.

To ensure that we cover the basics of what cloud computing, so you can choose the right fit for you and your team, let’s also look at the three structures that make up cloud computing as we know it.

 The core elements of Cloud Computing. 

So, we know where cloud computing sits in today’s fast paced economy. We also touched on why it has become such an integral part, now let’s look at what makes constituent elements of this path breaking technology along with the different parts of its technology stacks and its use cases.

Cloud computing is essentially broken into three main pillars: 

1) Infrastructure as a Service

2) Platform as a Service? 

3) Software as a Service? 

What is Infrastructure as a Service?

Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) makes up the the fundamental building blocks of computing that can be rented: physical or virtual servers, storage and networking. This makes this build attractive to companies that would prefer to build applications from the very ground up and want to control nearly all the elements themselves, but it does require firms to have the technical skills to be able to orchestrate services at that level.  

What is Platform as a Service? 

Next up we have Platform as a Service (PaaS) and this is a one up from the former. In addition to the underlying storage, networking, and virtual servers, this layer also includes the tools and software that developers need to build applications on top, which could include middleware, database management, operating systems, and development tools. 

What is Software as a Service?  

And finally, Software as a Service (SaaS) is what you and I are most familiar with – if you are not quite the tech wiz, working behind the scenes. Essentially, the underlying hardware and operating system are irrelevant to the end user, who will access the service via a web browser or app; it is often bought on a per-seat or per-user basis. 

So, there you go, that’s a quick round up of all you need to know about cloud computing, as simply as we can put it. Now, we can’t emphasize how lucrative but also, how immensely in demand a career in cloud computing can be. If you were looking for a sign to start, take this blog post as one.

Pursuing a career in the Cloud  

Regardless of where you are in your career in relation to cloud technology you are at, there is a Cloud certification for every one, covering every stage.

 Let this blog post, be a guide to our most in sought after Cloud certification in the field. 

ACP: Alibaba Cloud Computing Professional

ACP Cloud Computing Certification is designed for those familiar with cloud computing and with a rich operational knowledge of Alibaba Cloud products. This certification covers a spectrum of Alibaba Cloud core services, including architecture, networking, cloud security, and best practices. 

AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate

The AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate credential validates technical expertise in designing and deploying scalable, highly available, and fault-tolerant systems on AWS. The AWS-ARC: Architecting on AWS training course is intended for solutions architects, solution-design engineers, and developers seeking an understanding of AWS architecting. 

Learn how to design resilient, high-performing, secure, and cost-optimized architectures and join the half-day, exam preparation course to learn how to prepare for the exam by exploring the exam’s topic areas and how they map to architecting on AWS and to specific areas to study. 

AWS Certified SysOps Administrator – Associate

This credential helps organizations identify and develop talent with critical skills for implementing cloud initiatives. Earning AWS Certified SysOps Administrator – Associate demonstrates experience deploying, managing, and operating workloads on AWS. 

The AWS Systems Operations course teaches systems operators and anyone performing system operations functions how to install, configure, automate, monitor, secure, maintain and troubleshoot the services, networks, and systems on AWS necessary to support business applications.