In our modern era, there is hardly any business left that doesn’t rely on the cloud. Therefore, it is no surprise that most individuals wanting to build a career in IT are choosing cloud computing.
However, as a beginner, it can become overwhelming to understand what cloud computing is, especially if you are coming from a non-technical background. Moreover, it is also important to understand what in-demand certifications to aim for to boost your employability without spending years collecting different credentials.
Currently, the three industry-standard credentials are offered by Amazon (AWS), Microsoft, and Google. However, there’s more to this niche than these three certifications, and this guide will help you choose the right one for you.
Cloud Computing Explained
At its core, cloud computing is a modern approach to delivering computing services, such as servers, storage, databases, networking, software, analytics, and intelligence, over the internet or the “cloud”.
This is greatly beneficial for businesses, as instead of owning and maintaining physical data centers and servers in their own office, they access technology services provided by another company, known as a cloud provider, typically on a pay-as-you-go basis.
Importance of Cloud Certifications
Before diving into what certifications you should go for, it’s important to understand why these are essential.
Cloud computing certifications:
- Validates your skills in a standardized manner.
- Shows potential employers that you have a verified knowledge of the role.
- Helps you bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application.
- Gives you a competitive edge over other beginner candidates.
Top Cloud Computing Certifications for Beginners
NOTE: Cloud training is essential to ensure you clear the following certifications. It is recommended that you prepare thoroughly for these with reputed cloud computing courses online.
1. AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner (CLF-01)
If you want to begin your IT career with the cloud but later on want to specialize in the Amazon platform, this is the ideal choice for you.
By clearing the AWS CLF-01 certification exam, you show potential employers that you:
- Understand AWS Cloud core principles
- Are familiar with AWS security and compliance practices
- Are ready for advanced roles in the AWS Cloud network
2. Microsoft Certified: Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900)
Much like AWS, this is also a vendor-specific credential, and ideal for beginners who want to advance their cloud career in the Azure ecosystem.
It is also suitable for technical and non-technical candidates. Clearing the exam highlights that you:
- Understand differences between public, private, and hybrid clouds
- Are familiar with Azure services like storage, networking, and security
- Know how to manage Azure resources
3. Google Associate Cloud Engineer
While GCP is a vendor-specific credential as well, Google offers three types of cloud certification: Foundational, Associate, and Professional.
Beginners without any IT background should aim for Foundational GCP; however, if you have some basic understanding of the cloud, then associate credentials are recommended.
It should be noted that GCP Associate and Professional credentials are more technical than AWS and Azure.
4. CompTIA Cloud Essentials+ (CLO-002)
This is truly a vendor-neutral cloud certification, which means it can be used to pursue cloud computing roles across different organizations. Think of this credential as the foundation of cloud computing that’ll help you advance in the platform of your choice.
Being the foundational credential makes it ideal for individuals coming from non-technical roles, such as business managers or project coordinators. Clearing the CompTIA Cloud Essentials+ certification exam validates that you:
- Have a fundamental understanding of cloud concepts, including service and deployment models
- Can assess the business impact of cloud computing and relate it to business principles
- Are familiar with the management, governance, risk, and security aspects of the cloud
5. HashiCorp Certified: Terraform Associate
This cloud platform is owned and managed by IBM, and there is a high chance that you’ve never heard about this one. One of the biggest reasons why this is is that this credential requires fundamental knowledge of cloud computing.
The ideal way to approach it would be to get CompTIA Cloud Essentials+ certified, and then aim for it.
