How to Become a Cloud Architect [Everything You Need to know]

Cloud computing is attracting the businesses and the end users to a larger extent today that they are moving into the realm of cloud space by relying on either private, public, hybrid or the multi-cloud. This speedy transformation calls for more cloud architects.

Cloud computing is the most common term used for the hosted services over the Internet. The companies can use the application, storage, virtual machines, and other resources as a utility [Just like we use electricity, gas/water in a flat system instead of owning an individual connection/well] and pay for it instead of creating in-house computing infrastructures.  
 

Most of the enterprises today are getting adapted to the cloud. They are moving their IT infrastructure into the cloud space at a faster rate than ever before.
 

A few of the reasons that could be attributed to this intensive changes are mentioned as follows:
 

• The traditional need for IT administrators for provisioning and managing the computer resources could be eliminated as the end users are able to spin up the resources for any workload on demand.
• The company"s investments in local infrastructure are unpredictable because the needs may get shortened or in excess. With cloud computing, the needs could be scaled up/down without having a burden on the budget.  
• The companies/end users need to pay only for the resources they have consumed as the utilization can be measured at a granular level.
• The main workloads are unaffected even across the multiple global regions by the implementation of redundant resources and thus ensures resilient storage.
• The organizations have all the provision to move their workloads to different cloud platforms or the service providers as desired or utilize new services without any loss in investment cost.
   

Owing to these and many more advantages, cloud computing is running the show in the enterprises today. Cloud is getting totally incorporated into the IT architecture and will do so in the future too.
 

At this juncture, the cloud architecture has to accommodate people who can use the computing and services, run them and the networks that tie them. The cloud architecture refers to the best practices of the design, compose and orchestration to ensure that the technology serves the organization.
 

And here comes the role of the cloud architect
 

A Cloud Architect, an IT specialist is responsible for a company"s cloud computing strategy. The strategy includes the adoption of cloud, application design, architecture, management, and monitoring.  
 

Cloud architect is somewhat a new job profile and has its roots in software development. The cloud architect’s role is specified as below:
 

• Plan and design cloud environment
• Guide for developing/deploying the project
• Take ownership of systems throughout the entire lifecycle.
  [that includes initiation, running, retirement, and replacement]
• Deliver expertise in complete infrastructure
• Comprehend the functionality a business needs and its competitive advantages
• Acknowledge the right systems to the pertained business
• Decide the right vendors for the business
• Integrate the pieces/parts acquired from different suppliers
• Adopt the APIs and standards
• And more.
   

In brief, the job of a cloud architect is indeed big and challenging. Before you could take up the main skills for cloud architect, some of the initial work in the below-mentioned areas is highly recommendable:
 

How to become a Cloud Architect:
 

Operating Systems:

Familiarity with the concepts of pros and cons of using the different operating system like the Linux, Microsoft Windows server, Ubuntu, Windows, Red Hat, and, etc., so that you will be able to decide on which one of these to launch.   
 

Networking Systems:

It is recommended to be familiar with the concepts about IP addresses, DNS, TCP, and, etc. this will come in handy as your job profile as a cloud architect speeds up. This would be a day-to-term for you.
 

Programming Languages:

Though it may not be a must-know, a minimal understanding of the programming languages will help you a lot.  
 

Employability Skills:
 

Academic Eligibility:

You must have one/more degrees in informatics, Management Information System [MIS], Computer Science or the equivalent ones. In addition, a better understanding of how enterprises use information technology is appreciated.
 

Technical Skills:

Knowledge of building blocks of IT is essential. It includes Virtualization, Network infrastructures, disaster recovery, data center computing, storage [physical and virtual as well], backup and recovery technologies, business continuity technologies, and, etc.
 

The expertise is required not for groundwork, but to create a vision of what is needed or how can it be put together.  
 

Interpersonal Skills:
 

Communication:

They are required to run a meeting and manage all people from C-level executives down to technical personnel and the end users.
 

Leadership:

A convincing leader is a nerd who can make people work on a vision and a blueprint of a cloud environment.
 

Analytical Skills:

A perfect understanding of the users and stakeholders demand to design a solution is essential. He should be able to analyze to provide the proper security, integrity, and performance.
 

Planning and Organizing:

The cloud architects must be able to understand the business strategy, create a strong planning, focus on the required technologies and solutions, and manage the plans of actions.
 

Now, as you know the work profile and skills of a cloud architect, let us move further and know what are the cloud certification[s] one has to earn to validate these skills.  
 

Earn these IT certifications to become a Cloud Architect:
 

A professional cloud architect would be able to deliver the cloud technologies for the organization. A few of the popular certifications are briefed below:
 

Google’s Professional Cloud Architect:

The certification leverages the Google Cloud technologies. It helps you to understand the cloud architecture and Google Cloud platform so that you will be able to design, develop, and manage solutions in order to drive the business objectives.
 

AWS Cloud Architect:

If you are an AWS engineer, then you need to upgrade the learning skills in high availability, scalability, security, and, disaster recovery. You must be able to identify the recovery time objectives/point objectives. As per today’s industry standard, earning the AWS Certified Solutions Architect is recommended.
 

Cloud Institute Certifications:

The Cloud Institute provides the certification on Cloud architect Which enables you to design and deploy the software solutions in a cloud infrastructure. You will be able to make a decision on cloud computing operation models, the relevant providers and validate the cost estimation of the products.
 

Microsoft Cloud Architect:

You are able to extend your cloud skills with this certification. Earning the MCSE: Cloud Platform and Infrastructure certification lands you in the favorite job cloud architect. Your business and IT skills will enable to provide solutions to the customers’ on Microsoft cloud.  
 

IBM Certified Cloud Solutions Architect:

This certification enables you to deliver a reliable and valid method to assess knowledge and skills, demonstrate the design, plan, architecture, and management abilities for IBM’s cloud computing infrastructure.
 

VMware Certified Professional:

VMware offers the required certification in cloud management and automation. The certification helps to increase your credibility and value in the organization. It provides the advanced tracks for the architects and helps you to simplify the complex processes.
 

Cisco Certified Professional:

CCNP cloud, a job role-based career certification helps you to Work in the cloud environment for SMBs and also for an enterprise environment. You will be able to troubleshoot Cisco Cloud and intercloud solutions.
 

These are some of the popular certifications one can earn to position himself as a cloud architect.
 

Future of Cloud:
 

The studies depict that traditional IT infrastructure is declining and more companies are adapting to the cloud IT infrastructures.
 

Logic Monitor’s survey predicts that enterprise workloads would run as follows by 2020:
 

• 41% on public cloud platforms
  [ like the Google cloud platform, Amazon AWS, IBM cloud, Microsoft Azure, and others].
• 20% predicted on private clouds
• 22% would run on hybrid clouds  
• Shrinkage from 37% to 27% for on-premise workloads
   

This obviously creates a demand for the competent cloud architect professionals to rule the show. It is known that the national average salary for a Cloud Solutions Architect is $116,171.
 

And, this is the right time to kick-off your IT career into Cloud.
 

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