Cloud Architect – How Do You Become One?
Most enterprises today have a multi-cloud strategy. So, it is unsurprising that Cloud Architect jobs have risen phenomenally in recent years. The growth in cloud platforms means that cloud computing is a constantly evolving domain, and the job requires someone who can remain on top of cloud trends and technologies.
A Cloud Architect Master’s Program builds your expertise in the top cloud platforms — Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform (GCP), with stress on cloud architectural principles and services. It helps you develop your skills in designing and implementing dynamic cloud applications.
As cloud deployment and strategies become increasingly complex, the need for Cloud Architects to help organizations avert risk and manage the transition to the cloud has emerged. Companies are willing to pay top money for the Cloud Architect with expertise in cloud architecture and experience with leading cloud service providers. If you like to work on projects at the forefront of application development and cloud technology, upskill with a Cloud Architect certification at a leading institute and get placed at a reputed company.
If you are thinking of becoming a Cloud Architect, read on to learn how to become one and be successful in your chosen field.
What is a Cloud Architect
Cloud architecture pools resources through virtualization to build a front-end platform (access device), one or more back-end platforms (servers and storage), and cloud delivery shared across a network. Applications run on the cloud computing architecture, moving IT resources to the cloud and eliminating the need for on-premise servers and storage.
The Cloud Architect adapts a project’s technical requirements to the cloud architecture and design. As an IT professional, he is responsible for supervising a company’s cloud computing strategy, developing and coordinating cloud architecture, and designing, executing, and monitoring cloud computing solutions. He designs the cloud infrastructure, the application architecture, and the security architecture.
Cloud architects supervise the application architecture and deployment in various cloud environments, including public, private, and hybrid clouds. They support customers in architecting, developing, and re-engineering applications leveraged on the cloud. They help them choose the right cloud platform and build system components along their cloud journey.
Responsibilities of a Cloud Architect include:
- Selecting and vetting cloud providers and third-party services.
- Managing budgets and estimating cost
- Delivering on-site technical commitments with partners and customers.
- Overseeing migration of existing applications using the cloud platform.
- Engaging with the engineering and support teams of the cloud platform service to communicate customer needs and feedback.
- Meeting challenges of cloud deployment at scale
- Assessing applications, software, and hardware and making the necessary recommendations.
- Establishing best practices for cloud across the organization.
- Managing cloud governance and risk
- Establishing incident-response system
How do you become one
The pathway to becoming a Cloud Architect begins with the following qualifications:
- A Master’s degree in Computer Science or other technical fields.
- Proven achievement as a Cloud Infrastructure Architect or consultant with success working on various platforms
Expertise in architecting systems with load balancing, horizontal scalability, and high availability - Good understanding of Agile software development and DevOps practices
- Cloud certifications
Once these prerequisites are met, how do you become a certified Cloud Architect?
Develop skills that enhance your general cloud computing knowledge and support your Cloud Architect learning curve.
Know programming languages
You need to be a master in at least one programming language and have a good understanding of scripting languages. Although not a hard requirement, knowledge of programming languages is an asset if you are keen to carve your career in the Cloud and climb the ladder of success.
Knowledge of at least one operating system
Know any OS: Linux, Ubuntu or Red Hat, Unix, Solaris, and Windows. Previous hands-on experience as an administrator or architect in a major OS is valuable for a Cloud Architect wannabe.
Expertise in networking
To work in the cloud environment, it is a foregone conclusion that you have practical knowledge of TCP/IP, IP addresses, HTTP, DNS, etc. You must master these concepts well if you want to pursue a job role as a Cloud Architect.
Knowledge of Security
Cloud security is the single most critical feature of the cloud ecosystem, and expertise in the main elements of cloud security, such as firewalls and cybersecurity, is a must.
Even if you do not have the experience, build hands-on skills working in cloud environments.
Get trained in technology domains with the most updated libraries. Wrap up your experience and technical know-how with a certification. Ensure that the Bootcamp teaches you the major cloud platforms like AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud Platform and imparts skills in DevOps and security.
Get hands-on with any of the following cloud platforms:
AWS – Learn to design and deploy flexible, scalable, reliable, highly available, and fault-tolerant systems on the AWS platform. Some companies deploying big data in AWS include General Electric, Netflix, and IBM.
Microsoft Azure – Develop computing, network, storage, and security skills and learn how to design solutions that run on Microsoft Azure. Learning to develop, design, migrate, integrate, and configure an Azure infrastructure are other skills that come in handy in your role as a Cloud Architect. It helps you to decide workload requirements, run securely on Azure, and secure data. Some companies using Azure are Adobe, eBay, and Samsung.
Google Cloud Platform – Using Google Cloud technologies is very useful in any IT role as it functions as a suite of cloud computing services running on the same infrastructure that Google has for its products. Knowledge of cloud architecture and Google Cloud Platform can help you design, develop, and run scalable, highly available, and powerful solutions in a secure environment. Users include Twitter and PayPal.
Takeaway
Cloud Architect job roles are in high demand and have unlimited possibilities. A certification or master’s program in Cloud architecture can be a good career choice if you want to upskill in the hottest technology of the decade.