Introduction
Cloud computing is the name of the game in Web 2.0 and will continue to extend to Web 3.0. Many businesses, from small mom-and-pop corner stores to large multinationals and government agencies. With the shifting to online and virtual business models, cloud computing has helped enhance corporate workflow and reduce office infrastructure costs. The risk of contracting infections (Covid-19) at the workplace has beckoned the rise of cloud computing as a lean, agile, and cost-effective IT infrastructure methodology. Hence, the demand for professionals experienced in cloud computing implementation, network architectures, interfaces, and different types of cloud computing SaaS available in the market has become more pronounced in the last 5 years.
Today, we will look at some of the top certification courses in cloud computing for both beginners and experts in 2022.
AWS Certified Solutions Architect
Source: AWS Website
Amazon Web Services is the leading cloud computing service globally and offers an associate course for AWS Solutions Architect.
Skills Acquired
As an AWS Certified Solutions Architect, candidates will demonstrate the four key domains of cloud computing architecture, including designing resilient architectures, designing high-performing architectures, designing secure applications and architectures, and designing cost-optimized architectures.
Pre-Requisites
AWS recommends a prior hands-on experience with their storage solutions and an understanding of their technical requirements, global services, and security features.
Duration: 130 Minutes to complete with a 65 question assessment for certification.
Mode: Testing centers or online proctored platform
Cost: USD 150
Professional Google Cloud Architect
Source: Google Cloud Platform Website
The Google Cloud Platform is a suite of services that runs on the same platform that Google utilizes for in-house applications such as Search, YouTube, Gmail, and many more.
Skills Acquired
The examination assesses the candidate’s ability and skills in designing cloud solution architecture, managing the physical IT infrastructure, designing for security and regulatory compliance of various bodies, and building reliable operations of the solution.
Pre-Requisites
Google has recommended all potential exam candidates have a prior experience of at least three years working with cloud computing services and a minimum of one year with Google’s Cloud Platform management.
Duration: 120 minute assessment with 50 questions powered by Kryterion.
Mode: Taken remotely or at one of Google’s local testing centers.
Cost: USD 200
Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate
Microsoft Azure is another leading cloud computing service managed by Microsoft at their data centers across the world. The service is mostly used for application management.
Skills Acquired
Candidates who successfully clear the certification are expected to be competent in understanding, implementing, and troubleshooting an organization’s Azure environment and infrastructure management and monitoring. Candidates would also be quizzed on some basic aspects of cloud architecture and developer support.
Pre-Requisites
Microsoft’s official recommendation is for the candidate to have at least 6 months of hands-on experience as an Azure administrator at their organization. However, candidates with knowledge of PowerShell, Azure CLI, Azure Portal, and Azure Resource Management templates and a strong understanding of their services, workloads, and security options for the examination without any prior experience to land roles as Azure administrators.
Duration: 120 minute assessment with 40-60 questions
Mode: Remote proctored examination via Pearson VUE
Cost: USD 165
CompTIA Cloud+
The Computer Technology Industry Association is an American non-profit trading association that offers professional certifications for the information technology industry. It is considered one of the IT industry’s top trade associations.
Skills Acquired
The assessment gauges the candidates on the skills required for successful deployment and automation of secure cloud architectures for organizations of all sizes. Areas of focus include cloud architecture and design, operations and support, cloud security, troubleshooting, and cloud deployment. The best part, CompTIA is a vendor-neutral certification and is accepted and validated across the board for candidates looking for a career in cloud computing.
Pre-Requisites
CompTIA recommends potential test-takers have 2 to 3 years of experience in systems administration or networking.
Duration: 90 minutes assessment with 90 questions (multiple choice)
Mode: Can be taken remotely or at local testing centres powered by Pearson VUE. Online testing is not available in China, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, South Korea, Slovenia, Sudan, and Syria.
Cost: USD 348
CCSP: Certified Cloud Security Professional by (ISC)
The International Information System Security Certification Consortium is a globally-recognized non-profit initiative that specializes in training and certifying professionals for cybersecurity operations. It is unequivocally the world’s largest IT Security organization.
Skills Acquired
The assessment trains the candidates in designing, implementing, and maintaining secure data solutions. Candidates are hence expected to showcase advanced skills in managing secure cloud computing architectures for organizations of all scales.
Pre-Requisites
A minimum of 5 years of recommended experience in the IT industry and 3 years in information security. Candidates looking for growth in or transitioning to the following job roles can pursue the CCSP.
- Cloud Architect
- Cloud Engineer
- Cloud Consultant
- Cloud Administrator
- Cloud Security Analyst
- Cloud Specialist
- Cloud Auditor
- Professional Cloud Developer
Duration: 180 minutes assessment with 125 questions
Mode: Remote proctored and at local test centres by Pearson VUE.
Cost: USD 600
VMWare Cloud Management and Automation 2022- Professional
VMWare is a world-class cloud computing and virtualization technology company based in California. The company was the first one to successfully virtualize the x86 architecture. VMWare offers cross-cloud services under its flagship multi-cloud product which enables firms to securely build, run and manage applications across clouds.
Skills Acquired
The assessment validates the candidates’ ability to install, configure and administer a VMWare vRealize virtual environment, used to automate key processes within Data centres in a repeatable, scalable and secure way that leads to efficiency and increased productivity.
Pre-Requisites
There are different paths for cloud professionals with different levels of experience with VMWare’s virtual cloud platform
| Experience Type | Step 1 | Step 2 | Step 3 |
| No VCP Certifications | *Gain experience with vSphere 7.x and vRealize 8.x | *Attend VMWare vRealize Automation Course (cost USD 250) | *Pass qualifying exam |
| VCP-CMA 2021 | #Gain experience with vSphere 7.x and vRealize 8.x | Pass VMP-CMA 2022 | Attend VMWare vRealize Automation Course (cost USD 250) |
| VCP-CMA 2019 or newer | #Gain experience with vSphere 7.x and vRealize 8.x | #Attend VMWare vRealize Automation Course (cost USD 250) | *Pass qualifying exam |
| VCP-DCV 2019 or newer or other VCP- 2019 courses | #Gain experience with vSphere 7.x and vRealize 8.x | #Attend VMWare vRealize Automation Course (cost USD 250) | *Pass qualifying exam |
*Required steps
#Recommended steps
The remaining steps are optional but recommended by VMWare.
Duration: 145 minutes assessment with 60 questions
Mode: Remote proctored and at the local test centre.
Cost: USD 450
AWS Certified SysOps Administrator – Associate
Amazon Web Services is the leading cloud computing service globally and offers an associate course for AWS Certified SysOps Administrator.
Skills Acquired
The assessment aims to validate the candidate’s experience with handling the implementation of certain cloud services from the AWS suite of global services. It teaches candidates the selection and implementation of appropriate services for controlling the data flow within AWS.
Pre-Requisites
A minimum of 1 year of experience is recommended in deployment, management and operations on AWS. The certification is most suited for IT professionals on the Infra side of things including the following job roles:
- System administrators
- IT Support
- Cloud Support
- AWS Implementation Specialist
- Cloud Infrastructure Specialist
- Cloud Data Engineer
Duration: 180 minutes assessment with 65 questions
Mode: Remote proctored and at local test centres by Pearson VUE.
Cost: USD 150
Microsoft Certified: Azure Fundamentals
Microsoft Azure is another leading cloud computing service managed by Microsoft at their data centres across the world. Their service is mostly used for application management.
Skills Acquired
The successful candidates of this assessment will possess basic knowledge of cloud services and how these services are executed with Azure. They should also be able to demonstrate suitable fundamental knowledge in cloud concepts, along with Azure services, workloads, security, privacy, pricing, and support.
Pre-Requisites
Since this is a beginner or a refresher course for cloud professionals, Microsoft recommends a basic understanding of cloud operating principles. Candidates looking to prove their knowledge in cloud computing concepts, models, and services such as Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS) and SaaS.
Duration: 85 minutes assessment with 40-60 questions
Mode: Pearson VUE or Certiport
Cost: USD 99
Conclusion
While the best cloud computing certification depends on what avenues of IT cloud operations you want to pursue at your organization or what kind of cloud computing services and architecture is utilized by your dream company, the above list summarizes the best cloud computing certifications that one can opt for in 2022.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1) What is cloud computing?
Ans. Cloud Computing or simply referred to as “The Cloud,” is an online IT infrastructure that has the ability to run the organization’s business processes and IT workflows without the presence of physical and in-house IT infrastructure by outsourcing such applications and their functions using the Internet over to secure off-site and huge data centres operated by companies like AWS, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud, VMWare and many more.
Q2) What careers are there in cloud computing?
Ans. As a cloud computing professional, you could either work in the vendor organizations such as AWS, Microsoft Azure, Google CP, and VMWare in the design, implementation, and maintenance of new and existing cloud service clients. Additionally, you could look for a career in cloud design, architecture, implementation, maintenance, and management for any of the firms that utilize cloud computing to streamline their business operations.
Q3) What are the best cloud computing certifications in 2022?
Ans. Some of the best cloud computing certifications for both beginners and professionals in 2022 include the AWS Certified Solutions Architect, Google Certified Professional Cloud Architect, Microsoft’s Azure Administrator Associate, CompTIA’s platform-agnostic Cloud+ certification, and the CCSP by (ISC)2.
Q4) Is it safe to move to cloud computing for personal information?
Ans. With privacy becoming a major concern in recent times due to the myriad of data leaks and the evident disappearance of the curtain on personal lives, the security of data stored is of primary concern to all cloud computing service providers. Hence, it is considered safe to host your information on cloud platforms which are often powered by military-grade encryption and have to follow all regulatory and statutory guidelines.
Q5) What is the cost of Cloud Computing certifications in 2022?
Ans. While the beginner certifications such as Microsoft Certified Azure Fundamentals and AWS Certified Solutions Architect cost around USD 100-150, the more mature and platform-agnostic certifications from CCSP and CompTIA+ might cost upto USD 600.
Q6) How does a cloud computing certification in 2022 aid my personal ambitions?
Ans. Cloud computing is the future of Web3 and the entire emergence of Web3 technologies such as AR/VR, Machine Learning, Data Lakes, Metaverses and Crypto/NFTs are backed by the successful design, implementation, management and maintenance of such cloud infrastructures. Having a cloud computing certification boosts your professional growth prospects and makes you future-ready and more cognizant of the benefits of cloud computing in your life.
I am a passionate writer and avid reader who finds joy in weaving stories through the lens of data analytics and visualization. With a knack for blending creativity with numbers, I transform complex datasets into compelling narratives. Whether it's writing insightful blogs or crafting visual stories from data, I navigate both worlds with ease and enthusiasm.
A lover of both chai and coffee, I believe the right brew sparks creativity and sharpens focus—fueling my journey in the ever-evolving field of analytics. For me, every dataset holds a story, and I am always on a quest to uncover it.
