by Alexandra Woodford
Gone are the days of relying solely on in-office computing! If you’re hiring for a role in tech, we suggest adding cloud expertise and skills to the top of your “must-have” list.
The demand for cloud apps is growing, as they enable mobile, remote, and on-premises work while offering enhanced security, resiliency, and efficiency. For this reason, identifying the most essential cloud computing skills for a project or operation is important.
Whether you’re upskilling your current team, hiring new talent, or looking to improve your own expertise, here are six cloud skills to prioritize.
1. AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud Platform
No matter what you use the cloud for, a good starting point is to become familiar with Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform (GCP). These are the leading cloud service providers, so knowing your way around each ecosystem enables you to choose the best services for your company—and evaluate candidates for your team.
Look for candidates who are proficient or at least familiar with all three of these platforms. Adding a versatile skillset helps your team stay ahead of the curve and encourages innovation.
If you’re looking for a new job, consider seeking companies that are looking to integrate with open-source resources, such as those based on Linux or Azure. In being familiar with various platforms, you can pivot quickly from one to the next as needed and keep up with the evolving needs of your organization!
2. Application Programming Interfaces (APIs)
Application Programming Interfaces connect multiple applications and services, enabling them to exchange data. Since so many cloud applications use APIs, understanding how to incorporate them in apps is an essential skill for anyone looking to build cloud solutions.
Understanding API pricing structures is equally important. It’s easy to inadvertently overspend on API usage—even to the point of pushing your overhead beyond profitability boundaries. On the other hand, by knowing how to leverage API and manage spending, you bring essential cloud computing skills to a development team. For hiring managers, you want to make sure candidates know how to code APIs and ensure they can seamlessly process cloud workloads.
3. Database Management
Cloud databases are essential elements for organizations that require high availability without sacrificing the scalability of their applications. This makes database management a core skill for anyone who wants to work with the cloud.
At the same time, it’s also important to know how apps on multiple platforms interface with their most common database structures. For candidates new to database management, it may be easiest to learn how individual database structures work across each platform. For example, you could start with data lakes and explore how they’re used in GCP, AWS, and Azure.
4. Network Design and Management
The ability to manage networks in the context of the cloud requires an understanding of ways to ensure adequate security while dealing with fluctuating workloads. As a job seeker, you need to know how to optimize connections between on-premises and cloud-based systems. This can require knowing the minimum throughput requirements based on different app workloads. Additionally, you must consider the throughput of firewalls—whether on-premises or in the cloud—to ensure workloads are secure.
Hiring managers need to pay particular attention to network management skills, especially if your organization is undergoing a digital transformation involving the cloud at any time. A candidate with network management skills can save you money on both your cloud expenditures and internet service provider fees.
5. Cloud Security
Even though many cloud providers give you advanced security options, a qualified candidate also needs to understand how to design and maintain:
- Identity and access management systems
- Secure solutions for storing personal information
- Secure data integration solutions for sharing information between cloud and on-premises apps
The great news for both hiring managers and applicants is that many security concepts used in on-premises networks have similar functions in the cloud. This can make the onboarding process easier—even for those who aren’t already cloud security experts.
6. Cloud Storage, Backup, and Recovery
Those who understand how to leverage cloud storage, backup, and recovery systems give organizations a combination of versatility and business continuity. A cloud storage system integrated across a company’s digital ecosystem enables a range of applications to get the data they need no matter where users are—as long as they have internet access.
A backup system, especially when combined with a recovery solution, insulates digital assets from the effects of hacks, natural disasters, and other incidents that could impact continuity.
For example, a new hire who understands how to use cloud storage for back-ups and recovery can set up a system that minimizes the effect of a ransomware attack or a town-wide power outage. When essential data is safely stored and available, you can slash recovery times and maintain employee productivity and customer satisfaction.
Keep Pace with the Cloud Movement with Insight Global
Cloud skills are as important to modern business as email was in the early 1990s. Because agile, competitive companies are often cloud-dependent, having the above skills—or finding candidates that do—is crucial.
To find job opportunities that match your cloud skills or to build a proficient cloud team, connect with Insight Global. Start exploring the possibilities today.
by Brita Long