Cloud-Proofing Your Job | @CloudExpo @SolarWinds #AI #DX #DigitalTransformation

IT professionals who are operating or will operate in hybrid IT environments must develop new skills to remain relevant

Aug. 25, 2017 12:00 PM

Cloud-Proofing Your Job: Developing Skills for the Hybrid IT World

In the cloud era, you as an IT professional are being forced to adopt new roles and take on new responsibilities you may not feel equipped to handle. Businesses are becoming increasingly hybrid, leaving you to manage, secure, monitor, and remediate technology on-premises and in the cloud. Of course, this comes with risks because it means you must manage mission-critical layers of application services across networks, systems, and services you neither own nor control. In fact, in many cases, you may not even have visibility into all the environments you're responsible to ensure the performance of. Indeed, the SolarWinds IT Trends Report 2017 found that 50 percent of IT professionals surveyed lack control and visibility into their cloud environments.

Still, traditional and siloed roles are converging, and you as an IT professional need a laser focus on improving and cultivating fundamental skillsets - such as automation and data analytics - that will carry you into the cloud. Not only that, but you need to be able to speak to the latest technology trends affecting the business landscape, particularly those technologies impacting your organization. Getting "left behind" is a very real possibility; even a veteran IT professional runs the risk of losing out on interesting projects, a seat at the table with decision makers, or even a promotion to someone better equipped to handle the new responsibilities associated with the cloud and hybrid IT. In fact, 57 percent of IT professionals surveyed also indicated their organizations have either hired or reassigned IT personnel for the specific purpose of managing cloud and cloud-related technologies, or they plan to hire or reassign IT personnel for such in the foreseeable future.

An IT staff skills gap is one of the biggest challenges businesses face today. Consider the example of executives wanting to move a significant portion of infrastructure to the cloud. Without you, an IT pro who knows (from that IT Trends report) that 35 percent of those surveyed had to move something BACK on-premises, who would provide guidance on why that may not be such a wise decision? Otherwise the organization may wind up suffering twice - when it becomes difficult to move to the cloud, and then once again when it has to suffer through the recovery. The takeaway? Know which workloads to move to the cloud, how long the migration will take, implications of the move, the best vendor to choose to suit your purposes, and make appropriate configuration choices.

And although cloud migrations can be brought back on-premises - due mostly to security/compliance issues, poor performance, or other technical challenges, according the survey - it's more vital than ever to act as a knowledgebase for the organization and get it right the first time.

Developing Key Skills: Breadth, Depth, or Specialization?
Specializing in technology paradigms related to the cloud while developing a broad understanding of a variety of its facets is critical to success. Understand what "going to the cloud" means for your organization, because, for example, implementing a cloud-based solution in the legal industry will be materially different than in the healthcare industry.

As mentioned above, automation and data analytics are two very important skills to have. To work on these, refine your analytical reasoning skills. Statistics is a course to take rather than a skill to develop; while logical thinking and proper analytics are not needed for statistics, they are necessary to improve analytical thinking. In addition, focus on various facets of data such as data collection, curation, cleansing, analysis, and reporting.

Certifications are another way to develop a broad understanding of cloud technology-you can both develop skills to bring back to your companies, as well as uncover the possibility of discovering a new tech passion. Cloud certifications can make you more marketable; particularly Amazon Web Services^{^TM}certifications and certifications related to serverless computing. However, "general" cloud certifications such as those offered by CompTIA^® are great to get a broad knowledge of the topic and uncover areas in which you want to further specialize.

Best Practices To "Cloud-Proof" Your Job
Although there's no master certification that will give you your dream job or all the answers, there are some guidelines you can follow to quickly upskill and help you succeed in the hybrid IT era:

Learn the cloud: Explore free cloud offerings. Before making a budgetary commitment, discover the different cloud options. This not only holds business value, but also provides an opportunity for you to potentially discover a new passion.
Be a specialist and a generalist simultaneously: Hone skills that are specialized enough to do the job well, but broad enough to transfer to jobs in other platforms and verticals. Seven out of 10 IT professionals (69%) surveyed said their organizations currently use up to three cloud provider environments, with the largest percentage using two to three; however, one out of every 10 (9%) use 10 or more.
Get a starter certification: Certifications give you a sense of the scope and breath of the cloud environment. Potential cloud certifications for IT professionals to consider include CompTIA Cloud+^®, MCSE: Cloud Platform and Infrastructure, VMware^® VCP6 - Cloud, AWS^® Certified Solutions Architect - Professional, and Dell^® EMCCA: EMC^® Cloud Architect.
Become a data scientist: Learn to love the mathematics behind cloud. Develop logical thinking and proper analytics.
Learn interfaces: Know interfaces and adapt as they change. It's not always necessary to learn entirely new technologies, but it is necessary to polish existing scripting skills.

IT professionals who are operating or will operate in hybrid IT environments-and that's just about everyone - must develop new skills to remain relevant. Allowing the cloud era to pass you by without engaging puts you at a disadvantage, so to avoid getting left behind, learn the cloud both generally and specifically; exploring free tools and receiving starter certifications can help develop specific skills to bring to businesses and discover passion projects. While the cloud may seem daunting, developing the right skills can help you soar.

21st International Cloud Expo, taking place October 31 - November 2, 2017, at the Santa Clara Convention Center in Santa Clara, CA, will feature technical sessions from a rock star conference faculty and the leading industry players in the world.

Download Show Prospectus ▸ Here

Cloud computing is now being embraced by a majority of enterprises of all sizes. Yesterday's debate about public vs. private has transformed into the reality of hybrid cloud: a recent survey shows that 74% of enterprises have a hybrid cloud strategy. Meanwhile, 94% of enterprises are using some form of XaaS - software, platform, and infrastructure as a service.

With major technology companies and startups seriously embracing Cloud strategies, now is the perfect time to attend 21st Cloud Expo, October 31 - November 2, 2017, at the Santa Clara Convention Center, CA, and June 12-14, 2018, at the Javits Center in New York City, NY, and learn what is going on, contribute to the discussions, and ensure that your enterprise is on the right path to Digital Transformation.

Cloud Expo | @ThingsExpo 2017 Silicon Valley
(October 31 - November 2, 2017, Santa Clara Convention Center, CA)

Cloud Expo | @ThingsExpo 2018 New York
(June 12-14, 2018, Javits Center, Manhattan)

Download Show Prospectus ▸ Here

Every Global 2000 enterprise in the world is now integrating cloud computing in some form into its IT development and operations. Midsize and small businesses are also migrating to the cloud in increasing numbers.

Companies are each developing their unique mix of cloud technologies and services, forming multi-cloud and hybrid cloud architectures and deployments across all major industries. Cloud-driven thinking has become the norm in financial services, manufacturing, telco, healthcare, transportation, energy, media, entertainment, retail and other consumer industries, and the public sector.

Cloud Expo is the single show where technology buyers and vendors can meet to experience and discus cloud computing and all that it entails. Sponsors of Cloud Expo will benefit from unmatched branding, profile building and lead generation opportunities through:

Featured on-site presentation and ongoing on-demand webcast exposure to a captive audience of industry decision-makers.
Showcase exhibition during our new extended dedicated expo hours
Breakout Session Priority scheduling for Sponsors that have been guaranteed a 35-minute technical session
Online advertising in SYS-CON's i-Technology Publications
Capitalize on our Comprehensive Marketing efforts leading up to the show with print mailings, e-newsletters and extensive online media coverage.
Unprecedented PR Coverage: Editorial Coverage on Cloud Computing Journal.
Tweetup to over 75,000 plus followers
Press releases sent on major wire services to over 500 industry analysts.

For more information on sponsorship, exhibit, and keynote opportunities, contact Carmen Gonzalez by email at events (at) sys-con.com, or by phone 201 802-3021.

The World's Largest "Cloud Digital Transformation" Event

@CloudExpo | @ThingsExpo 2017 Silicon Valley
(Oct. 31 - Nov. 2, 2017, Santa Clara Convention Center, CA)

@CloudExpo | @ThingsExpo 2018 New York
(June 12-14, 2018, Javits Center, Manhattan)

Full Conference Registration Gold Pass and Exhibit Hall ▸ Here

Sponsorship Opportunities

Sponsors of Cloud Expo | @ThingsExpo will benefit from unmatched branding, profile building and lead generation opportunities through:

Featured on-site presentation and ongoing on-demand webcast exposure to a captive audience of industry decision-makers
Showcase exhibition during our new extended dedicated expo hours
Breakout Session Priority scheduling for Sponsors that have been guaranteed a 35 minute technical session
Online targeted advertising in SYS-CON's i-Technology Publications
Capitalize on our Comprehensive Marketing efforts leading up to the show with print mailings, e-newsletters and extensive online media coverage
Unprecedented Marketing Coverage: Editorial Coverage on ITweetup to over 100,000 plus followers, press releases sent on major wire services to over 500 industry analysts

For more information on sponsorship, exhibit, and keynote opportunities, contact Carmen Gonzalez (@GonzalezCarmen) today by email at events (at) sys-con.com, or by phone 201 802-3021.

Secrets of Sponsors and Exhibitors ▸ Here
Secrets of Cloud Expo Speakers ▸ Here

All major researchers estimate there will be tens of billions devices - computers, smartphones, tablets, and sensors - connected to the Internet by 2020. This number will continue to grow at a rapid pace for the next several decades.

With major technology companies and startups seriously embracing Cloud strategies, now is the perfect time to attend @CloudExpo | @ThingsExpo, October 31 - November 2, 2017, at the Santa Clara Convention Center, CA, and June 12-4, 2018, at the Javits Center in New York City, NY, and learn what is going on, contribute to the discussions, and ensure that your enterprise is on the right path to Digital Transformation.

Delegates to Cloud Expo | @ThingsExpo will be able to attend 8 simultaneous, information-packed education tracks.

There are over 120 breakout sessions in all, with Keynotes, General Sessions, and Power Panels adding to three days of incredibly rich presentations and content.

Join Cloud Expo | @ThingsExpo conference chair Roger Strukhoff (@IoT2040), October 31 - November 2, 2017, Santa Clara Convention Center, CA, and June 12-14, 2018, at the Javits Center in New York City, NY, for three days of intense Enterprise Cloud and 'Digital Transformation' discussion and focus, including Big Data's indispensable role in IoT, Smart Grids and (IIoT) Industrial Internet of Things, Wearables and Consumer IoT, as well as (new) Digital Transformation in Vertical Markets.

Financial Technology - or FinTech - Is Now Part of the @CloudExpo Program!

Accordingly, attendees at the upcoming 21st Cloud Expo | @ThingsExpo October 31 - November 2, 2017, Santa Clara Convention Center, CA, and June 12-14, 2018, at the Javits Center in New York City, NY, will find fresh new content in a new track called FinTech, which will incorporate machine learning, artificial intelligence, deep learning, and blockchain into one track.

Financial enterprises in New York City, London, Singapore, and other world financial capitals are embracing a new generation of smart, automated FinTech that eliminates many cumbersome, slow, and expensive intermediate processes from their businesses.

FinTech brings efficiency as well as the ability to deliver new services and a much improved customer experience throughout the global financial services industry. FinTech is a natural fit with cloud computing, as new services are quickly developed, deployed, and scaled on public, private, and hybrid clouds.

More than US$20 billion in venture capital is being invested in FinTech this year. @CloudExpo is pleased to bring you the latest FinTech developments as an integral part of our program, starting at the 21st International Cloud Expo October 31 - November 2, 2017 in Silicon Valley, and June 12-14, 2018, in New York City.

@CloudExpo is accepting submissions for this new track, so please visit www.CloudComputingExpo.com for the latest information.

Speaking Opportunities

The upcoming 21st International @CloudExpo | @ThingsExpo, October 31 - November 2, 2017, Santa Clara Convention Center, CA, and June 12-14, 2018, at the Javits Center in New York City, NY announces that its Call For Papers for speaking opportunities is open.

Submit your speaking proposal today! ▸ Here

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About Leon Adato
Leon Adato is a Head Geek and technical evangelist at SolarWinds and is a Cisco® Certified Network Associate (CCNA), MCSE and SolarWinds Certified Professional (he was once a customer, after all). His 25 years of network management experience spans financial, healthcare, food and beverage, and other industries.