With the kind of sophisticated technology, there is today, it is not easy to become a cloud computing professional. Even though the cloud computing skills are on high demand on the market, people demand excellence in the execution of the tasks. It is why companies would hire someone with a 2-5 year experience in the field. Fortunately, there are a couple of things that can help you become an expert in cloud computing. Here are the top five tips that will help you:

1. Learn how to program

You cannot be a certified cloud practitioner without undergone training by an expert. Cloud computing has a language to it that you can only master when you learn how to program the cloud-based services and applications. Some of the common languages include cloud computing technology include Java, JavaScript, Perl, Python, and Ruby.

As an expert, you cannot afford to be oblivious of any of the languages thereof, especially Java, PHP, and .NET, which are very traditional languages of programming. Notice that developers have the ability to build, deploy, and manage applications quickly in the cloud ecosystem. If you are starting, you can start with a high-level language like Python, which is also very easy to learn and friendly to beginners.

2. Linux

If you are to become an expert in cloud computing, then skills in Linux are mandatory. Right now, the demand for these skills is very high globally. A considerable percentage of the servers in cloud computing service is Linux-based, which means you need an understanding of how to operate Linux. The Linux Foundation Certified Systems Administrator is a pretty good start for you to begin acquiring skills in Linux as you familiarize with the operating system thereof.

3. Mastery of DevOps

DevOps (Developmental Operations) is a software development that accounts for the entire system of the software lifecycle. It is a very popular concept in the field of cloud computing. That said, you need to study on this software development and have quite the insights on planning, usage, and maintenance. This framework can help you with understanding Microsoft and Linux even better.

4. Information security

As the internet population escalates by the day, cybercriminal attacks are also increasing. Hackers are continuously sniffing for security vulnerabilities to capitalize on, which means that businesses should always be vigilant with their security. That said, you cannot be a pro in cloud computing without a proper grasp of information security.

There is a lot to cover in this area, including identity and access management, asset security, and software development security. As you venture into the cloud computing industry, you will realize that the Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) is the most sort-after certification in the industry. Companies are more likely to take you seriously once they know that you can regard their data with utmost safety. Therefore, consider studying for this area, and taking an exam with the International Information System Security Certification Consortium.

5. Database skills

Database management is another huge concern in the cloud computing world. Every day, businesses generate tons of data that needs to be sorted out, organized, backed up and well-disposed when need be. Such an organization requires database skills. Since most of the databases are mostly hosted on cloud platforms, you need to learn about the database querying language along with any other information associated with the database platform.

The standard database language common in most companies is SQL. In that case, you can take your time to invest in learning about MySQL, MongoDB, or Hadoop.

6. Get cloud certifications

Getting cloud certifications may not seem as important to a self-taught practitioner, but they do come in handy. For one, they legitimize your practice in this field, they also give you the visibility you need to be relevant in the field regardless of the competition. Some of the certifications you can take include:

• AWS (Amazon Web Services) – is the leader in the cloud computing market
• Google Cloud Platform Cloud Academy
• Microsoft Azure Certifications

7. Experience

Becoming a professional, in pretty much anything, you need a lot of experience. Even then, cloud computing is not one of those fields you can wing it. You need all the skills mentioned above to figure your way around the cloud and everything that comes with this technology. As a newbie, you may have a hard time getting by or even securing a job with a company. Take some time to practice your skills and be better at cloud computing concepts. You need to get to a position where you are sure of which Cloud Providers to choose for the very services you want to offer to a company.

To become an expert in any field, you need to invest a lot of time and resources in gaining as many skills as possible and widen your knowledge scope in that area. School grades are needed to get a job but a specialized certification can be a great source of getting you the job of your choice. Opting for class takers can help a bit but, you definitely need to ensure you have gone through all assignments yourself when you get time. With the pointers mentioned above, you should be on the right track to becoming a pro in cloud computing.