How To Become A Cloud Engineer – Forbes Advisor – Technologist

Many daily technology-based tasks—communication, entertainment, banking and health tracking—occur seamlessly through distributed storage centers beamed to our devices. The storage of these applications and their data occurs in a space called the cloud.

With so many moving parts involved in the process, creating the platforms that allow for these data transfers requires the expertise of cloud engineers: careful problem-solvers with strong attention to detail. These professionals design and maintain the platforms that allow businesses, organizations and government entities to store, share and transmit data between decentralized locations.

Discover what a cloud engineer is with this helpful guide, including details about career options, relevant certifications, professional organizations and a step-by-step pathway to these jobs.

What Is a Cloud Engineer?

Cloud engineers build, maintain and secure web-based applications and data storage functions for individuals and organizations. These information technology professionals work across many sectors, including health, business, finance, entertainment and commerce. They usually work in offices or from home.

What a cloud engineer does depends on their employer, industry and team. For example, these professionals may help companies migrate existing computer systems to cloud-based infrastructure or oversee security efforts for online storage. Cloud engineers may also use their knowledge of app and web development to create applications that run in the cloud.

Security is a key consideration and challenge for cloud engineering. To secure sensitive data, including medical patient records and customer information, cloud engineers must collaborate with other cybersecurity professionals to ensure functionality and effectiveness.

How To Become a Cloud Engineer

Step One: Earn a Bachelor’s Degree

Though there are no bachelor’s degrees specific to cloud engineering, you can start your journey to this career by completing a computer science-related program in a field like web development, cybersecurity, cloud computing or information technology. Within these programs, you can take classes or pursue concentrations relevant to cloud computing and engineering.

Step Two: Continue with Self-Directed Learning

Depending on your undergraduate major, you may need additional education in programming languages, cloud computing and data storage. You can take online classes, training opportunities and bootcamps to hone your skills.

Step Three: Develop Experience in an Entry-Level Role or Internship

Before becoming a cloud engineer, you may need to accrue real-world experience in an entry-level role in system administration, cybersecurity, web development or DevOps. In these roles, you can also build familiarity with specific operating systems and platforms that will help you pursue cloud engineering roles aligning with your experience.

Step Four: Consider an Optional Certification

Generally, cloud engineers do not need specific certifications to find work, but earning professional credentials can help you stand out in the job market and demonstrate your expertise to employers. Some cloud engineering certifications are vendor-specific, including credentials for Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud and Microsoft Azure. Some certifications have experience requirements, so investigate these stipulations to ensure you qualify.

Cloud Engineer Salary and Job Outlook

Cloud engineers earn higher-than-average salaries and can anticipate growing demand in the coming years. According to Glassdoor, these professionals earn a median salary of $148,000 as of June 2024, with the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry offering the highest median wage.

Though the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics does not report data specifically for cloud engineers, the agency projects faster-than-average growth for computer and information technology jobs from 2022 to 2032.

Cloud Engineer Specializations

Cloud engineers can work as generalists or develop expertise in specific subfields. They can specialize their skills in school by taking coursework concentrations or electives that align with their career goals. These professionals can also hone their knowledge in the workforce to prepare for niche roles.

Some of these specialized subjects relate to specific web-based storage tasks and functionality, while others focus on securing digital assets in these spaces. Cloud engineering areas of specialization include storage and networking, security and disaster recovery, DevOps and web services.

Certifications for Cloud Engineers

Amazon Web Services (AWS): One of the most popular cloud services, AWS offers certifications at four experienced-based levels: foundational, associate, professional and specialty. With no experience, candidates can pursue foundational-level cloud practitioner and AI practitioner credentials. As professionals spend more time in the field, they can also attain certification for solutions architects and DevOps engineers.

IBM Cloud Certifications: IBM delivers cloud engineering credentials in associate, professional/advanced and specialty categories. Emerging cloud professionals can consider the IBM Cloud Advocate path, which includes 24 courses that take seven hours to complete. This provider also offers advanced certifications, including Cloud Architect and Cloud Satellite for more seasoned professionals.

Google Cloud: Google reports that professionals with its cloud certifications earned some of the highest salaries in IT in 2023. The company offers foundational, associate and professional credentials, with each tier increasing in experience requirements. Current and aspiring cloud engineers may benefit most from its associate-level certification, while cloud architects, database engineers and developers can pursue credentials in the professional tier.

Microsoft Azure: Cloud engineers can acquire multiple Microsoft Azure certifications. Though these credentials typically do not have experience requirements, some certifications may better suit seasoned workers. For example, aspiring cloud engineers can pursue the Azure Network Engineer Associate credential, while established professionals can seek the DevOps Engineer Expert certification.

Certified Cloud Security Professional: The CCSP® credential from ISC2 requires five years of experience. The certification’s exam covers six domains, including cloud data security, application security and security operations. The three-hour test includes 125 items.

Professional Organizations for Cloud Engineers

• Cloud Security Alliance®: This professional organization offers training and certificate opportunities for various cloud and cybersecurity subjects, including an industry-first cloud IT auditing credential.
• Cloud Native Computing Foundation: CNCF hosts conferences and events to bring together top cybersecurity developers, engineers and vendors from around the world. Members can collaborate on projects, pursue cloud computing certifications, peruse a job board and find mentorship.
• Association for Computing Machinery: As the largest scientific computing society in the world, ACM hosts conferences, provides career guidance and publishes peer-reviewed journals across various computing subjects. This organization hosts a membership network of almost 100,000 professionals and students who receive full access to its digital library, publications and newsletters.
• Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers: IEEE aims to improve humanity through ongoing advancement of various technologies. With more than 460,000 members from nearly 200 countries, this organization offers publications and international conferences to its global community of scientists, engineers and other professionals.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Becoming a Cloud Engineer