Positioning For Cloud Technology Opportunities

At Accumentum, we often get asked about the roots of ‘cloud computing.’ It’s somewhat of a mystery, with some saying it was Google’s Eric Schmidt at a conference, while others argue it was when AWS introduced its Elastic Compute Cloud in 2006. Regardless of who actually coined the term, what’s clear is that it quickly captured the attention of tech professionals.

Cloud computing has been with us since the late ’90s, but its popularity has really exploded since the 2010s. We see cloud certifications as not just beneficial, but crucial for anyone looking to stay current with tech advancements and demonstrate their mastery in the field.

The move to cloud technologies has created a massive demand for skilled professionals who can manage, optimize, and secure these cloud environments. We’re excited to guide you through some of the most recognized and sought-after certifications to help you launch or elevate your career in cloud computing.

We’ve seen a surge in organizations seeking out certified professionals for their cloud teams. By securing cloud certifications, you’re not just showing you can deploy, manage, and maintain cloud infrastructure; you’re also setting yourself up for a more lucrative career. In 2024, the average base salary for cloud computing professionals stands at $150,000/year (USD).

Certifications are your badge of expertise, proving you’ve got what it takes to handle the complexities of platforms like:

• Amazon Web Services (AWS)
• Google Cloud Platform (GCP)
• Microsoft Azure

Currently, in 2024, AWS-certified professionals are at the forefront, holding a 31% market share. Microsoft Azure follows with 25%, and Google Cloud Platform with 10%.

But it’s not just about market share; these certifications are paving the way for leadership roles. If you’re certified as a solutions architect by AWS or Azure, or as a cloud architect by GCP, you’re significantly ahead in this competitive landscape, ready to take on more responsibilities and drive innovation in your organization.

At Accumentum, we’ve noticed that as more large organizations move their operations to the cloud, they’re increasingly relying on skills directories to find certified talent in platforms like Azure, Google Cloud, or AWS. These directories act like a Rolodex for expert support; when there’s an issue or project, they simply search for someone with the right credentials. If you’re certified, your name could very well be on that list.

These certifications aren’t just badges; they’re your proof of proficiency in cloud computing essentials, helping you shine as a cloud professional in a crowded field.

With an AWS SysOps Administrator certification, you’ll be showcasing your seasoned experience in systems administration, underpinned by deep knowledge of AWS technologies and a knack for translating on-premises systems to cloud environments.

This certification proves you can deploy, manage, and operate workloads, all while maintaining security and compliance standards.

You’ll also demonstrate your capability to navigate through a variety of other cloud services, preparing you for a broad spectrum of tasks in your career.

Exam Costs: $150 USD
Exam Length: 130 minutes with 65 scoring opportunities
Expected Salary: With this certificate, professionals can expect to earn salaries ranging from $105k to $139k.

With an AWS Certified Solutions Architect certification, you’ll master the art of managing AWS’s compute, networking, storage, and database services. You’ll become adept at deploying and managing workloads, all while enforcing security measures and meeting compliance standards. Operating the AWS Management Console and AWS Command Line Interface (CLI) will become part of your everyday toolkit.

Moreover, your comprehensive grasp of the AWS Well-Architected Framework, alongside networking, security services, and AWS’s global infrastructure, will empower you to pinpoint and outline the technical needs for applications built on AWS.

Exam Costs: $150 USD
Exam Length: 130 minutes with 65 questions
Expected Salary: In the United States, AWS Certified Solutions Architects typically earn an average of $153k.

We see the AWS Certified Developer certification as a testament to your deep knowledge of AWS’s core services, your commitment to architecture best practices, and your skill in developing, deploying, and debugging applications on AWS. This certification is your proof of competence in creating and managing cloud-based solutions.

Exam Cost: $150 USD
Exam Length: 130 minutes with 65 questions
Expected Salary: In 2024, professionals holding this certification can expect to earn an average of $120,000, according to Glassdoor.

With the Google Professional Cloud DevOps Engineer certification, you’ll showcase your ability to harness Google Cloud technologies to their full potential. You’ll be prepared to design, develop, and manage solutions that are not only secure and scalable but also agile, aligning perfectly with business goals.

As a Professional Cloud DevOps Engineer, your expertise will shine through in designing cloud solution architectures, handling infrastructure provisioning, ensuring security and compliance standards, streamlining both technical and business processes, overseeing cloud architecture implementations, and guaranteeing the reliability of solutions and operations.

Exam Cost: $200 USD, not including tax
Exam Length: 2 hours with 50-60 questions, which can be multiple choice or multiple select
Expected Salary: On average, Google Cloud DevOps Engineers are bringing in about $147,236.

With this certification, you’ll have a solid grasp of the core cloud concepts within the Azure ecosystem. You’ll be able to exhibit your knowledge in different cloud computing models, including public, private, and hybrid clouds, and understand the nuances of IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS. You’ll also show how well you comprehend Azure’s approach to security, privacy, compliance, and trust.

This certification is perfect for those with backgrounds in IT areas such as infrastructure management, database administration, or software development. Upon certification, you’ll be ready to tackle tasks like explaining cloud concepts, detailing Azure’s architecture, describing Azure services, and discussing Azure management and governance.

Exam Cost: $99 USD
Exam Length: 1 hour with 32-42 questions
Expected Salary: In the United States, professionals certified in Azure Fundamentals can expect an average salary of around $121,000.

With this certification, you’ll possess the expertise to navigate, manage, and monitor an organization’s Microsoft Azure environment. Your skills will include handling aspects like virtual networks, storage, compute, identity, security, and governance.

The return on investment for cloud infrastructure services is impressive, with about 50% of users noting a better ROI post-cloud investment. As an Azure Administrator, you’ll be a key player in a team focused on implementing cloud infrastructure, working alongside other specialists to provide Azure networking, security, database, application development, and DevOps solutions.

You’ll also be well-versed in operating systems, networking, server management, virtualization, and tools such as PowerShell, Azure CLI, the Azure portal, Azure Resource Manager templates, and Microsoft Azure Active Directory (Azure AD).

Your capabilities will extend to managing Azure identities and governance, implementing and overseeing storage solutions, deploying and managing Azure compute resources, setting up and managing virtual networks, and ensuring the ongoing monitoring and maintenance of Azure resources.

Exam Cost: $165 USD
Exam Length: 2 hours, with 40 to 60 questions
Expected Salary: Certified Azure Administrator Associates can expect an average salary of approximately $88k, according to ZipRecruiter.

With the CompTIA Cloud+ certification, you’ll be ready to tackle key tasks in secure cloud deployment and automation. You’ll gain the ability to assess different cloud models and tailor solutions to align with business needs.

You’ll also be skilled in managing and maintaining servers, from setting up operating systems and controlling access to implementing virtualization. This certification will enable you to effectively shift workloads to the cloud by evaluating system needs.

Moreover, you’ll be adept at maintaining and optimizing cloud environments, ensuring effective automation, orchestration, backup, restore, and disaster recovery processes. You’ll become a go-to expert for troubleshooting capacity, automation, connectivity, and security issues in cloud setups.

While pursuing the CompTIA Cloud+, prior experience in networking or system administration can enhance your understanding of managing virtual environments and cloud infrastructure, as well as addressing cloud-related problems. (You might consider looking into CompTIA’s A+ or Network+ certifications for this background knowledge.)

Exam Cost: $358 USD
Exam Length: 90 minutes with up to 90 questions
Expected Salary: According to ZipRecruiter, the average salary for a CompTIA Cloud+ certified professional is approximately $128k per year.


At Accumentum, we believe that whether you’re just stepping into the IT world or you’re a seasoned pro looking to sharpen your skills, pursuing any of these cloud certifications can be a pivotal move towards boosting your career. Remember, the certifications we’ve highlighted here are just the beginning; there’s a whole ocean of skills waiting for you to explore and master in your cloud computing journey.

Investing in your education and skill set is investing in your future as a cloud expert. So, keep this in mind — learning never stops. Embrace this journey, and let cloud computing unlock a world of opportunities for you.

Accumentum® is the leading training provider for a vast array of technology vendors including AWS, Cisco, CIW, CompTIA, EC-Council, Fortinet, GIAC, HRCI, ISACA, ITIL, Microsoft, Palo Alto, PMI, Scrum, SHRM, Veritas, VMWare, and more.