WHAT IS CLOUD ENGINEERING & A BASIC GUIDE OF WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

The adoption of cloud technology is rapidly increasing, with experts predicting a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 16.3% through 2026. According to Spacelift, the global cloud computing market is projected to reach an impressive value of $947.3 billion by 2026, indicating lucrative career opportunities in cloud enginerring ahead.

In this guide, we will discuss how you can become a cloud engineer. Before learning how to become one, however, you must first understand the fundamentals of cloud computing, and why you should think about becoming one.

WHAT IS CLOUD ENGINEERING?

Cloud engineering encompasses devising, managing and maintaining resources of computer infrastructure. With growing technology, the importance of Cloud engineering is gaining momentum. Cloud technology has enabled you to stream your favorite shows online and listen to songs with unlimited access. It uses engineering principles to design systems, and everybody wants to know how to be a cloud engineer.

Cloud engineers solve the computing problems of an entity or consumers. The services provided are software as a service (SaaS), platform as a service (PaaS) and infrastructure as a service (IaaS). As a cloud engineer, you will be in charge of storing, managing data and proceeding with timely software updates. In totality, you will supervise the cloud system running smoothly without any obstacles.

WHAT IS CLOUD COMPUTING?

Cloud computing refers to services like storage, databases, software, and analytics that are made accessible via the internet. According to Gartner, the cloud tech services market is expected to grow from $175.8 billion in 2018 to $206 billion in 2019—a rise of 17.3 percent in a single year.

As of 2020, it is expected that 90 percent of all organizations in the world will be using cloud services in some form. Today, various companies and organizations claim that cloud computing services have helped their employees perform better and experiment more, especially in fields like machine learning and artificial intelligence.

WHAT DOES A CLOUD ENGINEER DO?

A Cloud Engineer, proficient in technology, is responsible for designing, implementing, and managing cloud infrastructure and services. They overlook the technical workload associated with cloud computing and focus on building and sustaining the cloud-based framework. As a Cloud Engineer, your role involves identifying and integrating private and public cloud computing services to ensure secure and error-free operations for the organization. Additionally, you will deploy applications, monitor performance, and optimize cloud environments. Collaborating with cross-functional teams, you will troubleshoot issues, implement best practices for cloud security and cost optimization, and stay updated with the latest advancements in cloud technologies. Continuous improvement of cloud infrastructure to meet organizational needs is also part of your responsibilities.

BELOW MENTIONED ARE SOME OF THE DAY-TO-DAY CLOUD ENGINEERS.

Transferring an organization’s computer system data or infrastructure to their cloud systems.
Systematizing cloud infrastructure elements like networking and security services
Creation of applications and databases that function on the cloud.
Monitor the cloud management and data storage services.
Assuring the safety and security of the data.
Registering, overseeing and providing client services in case of cloud-based issues.

WHAT ARE THE CAREER PATHS OF A CLOUD COMPUTING ENGINEER?

A cloud engineer is an IT professional responsible for all the technical aspects of cloud computing like planning and design, maintenance, and support. A cloud computing engineer can take up several different career paths, including:

Cloud developer
Front-end/back-end developer
Solutions architect
Cloud architect
Data engineer
Security engineer
Development operations engineer
Full-Stack developer
SysOps administrator

SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS

Here are the steps you must undertake to become a cloud engineer:

Complete your bachelor’s

A bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or a related field is required to become a cloud engineer. Cautiously choose a bachelor’s program that concentrates on the technical perspective of software, computing and system framework. For further specialization, you can pursue a master’s degree for a bevy of opportunities.

Expertise in Programming Languages

Learning programming languages is a must to become a cloud engineer. Java, Python, Ruby, and so on are essential languages to add to your portfolio. Get acquainted with cloud services like Azure, AWS, GCP, Oracle and Hadoop.

Learn skills

Familiarize yourself with cloud security, machine learning, and cloud deployment. Advanced certifications. Additional technical knowledge always goes a long way. A combination of program management, Network+, Security+ and other certifications help the portfolio.

Hard Skills

A deep understanding of operating systems like Linux, Ubuntu and Windows is required.
Clarity in networking concepts is crucial for the development of a secure and scalable computing system.
A cloud engineer must be aware of terms like Hypertext transfer protocol secure (HTTPS), Virtual private network (VPN), Internet Protocol (IP), Domain name system (DNS) and others.
Devising an unassailable network and having knowledge of numerous security protocols is vital.
Cognition of open standards is required for tagging, driving and describing the data.

Soft Skills

Cloud engineers should be excellent in communication as they frequently collaborate with IT professionals.
Remarkable leadership skills are important since you might handle a team of tech professionals. As a leader, identifying a team’s strengths and weaknesses helps produce distinctive outputs.
Having a keen eye for detail is appreciated in a cloud architect. From design to troubleshooting, everything falls in your arena. So, being vigilant is important.
A relentless drive and hunger to learn new things and experiment will make you stand out from the rest.

Earn Relevant Certifications

Having professional certifications are a must for cloud engineers to help showcase their knowledge and skills. Popular certifications include:

AWS certifications – Cloud Practitioner, Solutions Architect, Developer, SAP on AWS, and SysOps Administrator.
Google Cloud Platform certifications – Professional Cloud Architect, Professional Cloud Developer, and Professional Cloud Security Engineer
Microsoft certifications – Microsoft Certified: Azure Developer Associate and Microsoft Certified: Azure Fundamentals
Specializing

Apart from gaining knowledge in cloud computing platforms and being experienced in at least one programming language, you will also need some understanding of key concepts like:

Storage and Networking

With storage, you need to know the different ways you can store data and where you can access it from. It is also vital that you have some experience with the services Azure and AWS provide, like AWS S3 and Azure Storage in Microsoft Azure. You also need to have a strong understanding of the fundamental concepts of networking.

Virtualization and Operating Systems

While you are leveraging physical infrastructure in cloud data centers, most of what you will be configuring and managing are virtual machines (VMs) that run on the hardware. You also need to understand how those VMs work on virtual networks in the cloud. Public clouds are also OS-agnostic, so you should have a good grasp of Windows and Linux operating systems.

Security and Disaster Recovery

Data, applications, and infrastructure must be protected from cybersecurity threats and malicious attacks. You should be prepared for any unexpected circumstances by making sure that your systems are safe and regularly backed up to circumvent any data loss.

Internships

Internships are a great way to gain experience in the cloud industry. They are also a great way to get your foot in through the door and also provides you with a hands-on approach to what the actual job will entail. You can start applying for internships while studying or for choosing your specialization

Types of Cloud Engineering Roles and Responsibilities

Let’s dive deeper into the job descriptions of each of them.

Cloud Developer

As the name suggests, a cloud developer is responsible for coding and devising applications. They must possess knowledge of Cloud architecture. From the development of applications to the deploying and debugging of cloud-based apps, cloud developers must know it all. They write. Correct and debug code modules.

System operating Engineers

SysOps Engineers compute potential issues that are likely to arise in the functioning of applications. They contemplate a backup strategy for unpredictable circumstances and have accurate access controls for maintaining the probity of the organization’s data. They act as the system administrators after the development of the application. They must have prior background in monitoring and auditing systems.

Career Outlook

Recent studies at The Bureau Of Labour Statistics show a whopping demand hike for Cloud Computing engineers. Between the years 2020 to 2029, it is expected to rise by at least 5 per cent. The arena of opportunities is high in the cloud computing sector which makes me all the more in demand. Below mentioned are a few roles

Front-end/Back-end developer
Data Engineer
Cloud Developer
Security Engineer
Solutions Architect

CLOUD ENGINEER SALARY

Cloud engineer salaries can vary significantly depending on several factors, including:

EXPERIENCE LEVEL

Entry-level cloud engineers, fresh out of college or with a few years of experience, can expect a starting salary in the range of $92,000 annually, according to Glassdoor . This number can climb to $134,128 for senior cloud engineers with a proven track record. For cloud architect positions, which typically require 10+ years of experience, salaries can reach even greater heights, averaging $146,099 according to ZipRecruiter.

CLOUD EXPERTISE

The specific cloud platform an engineer is skilled in can also influence their earning potential. Cloud engineers with expertise in Google Cloud Platform are reported to command some of the highest salaries, with Glassdoor suggesting a range of $200,000 to $333,000 annually. Proficiency in Microsoft Azure and Amazon Web Services (AWS) can also be highly lucrative. The ability to navigate multiple cloud platforms (multi-cloud expertise) is an emerging specialization that can lead to even higher salary negotiations.

CERTIFICATIONS

Earning relevant cloud certifications can boost your resume and open doors to higher-paying opportunities. Certifications like the Google Certified Professional Cloud Architect can equip you with valuable skills and potentially lead to an average salary of $175,761 according to a Global Knowledge report.

BENEFITS OF BEING A CLOUD ENGINEER

Secure Career

Cloud computing is for the long run, and the world knows it. Not only is it the backbone of many IT organizations, but also essential for day-to-day work. With cloud computing accessing data has become so easy. Hence, it will only boom shortly. Cloud computing is reaching new heights each day without giving any indications of its downfall. According to the World Economic Forum, more than half of the children in primary school will have a career that does not exist today.

Respectable Profession

Besides being the most in-demand, Cloud architect is also one of the most highly regarded professions. It is revolutionizing the face of IT and you will be the martial to lead the generation into the new light.