Six Hot Cloud Computing Certifications for 2020

As enterprises move more of their workloads to the cloud, they need to be prepared to operate in a continuously shifting cloud landscape and manage cloud security requirements.

According to Forrester's cloud computing predictions for 2020, more hyperscale cloud alliances are expected to materialize this year, use of High Performance Computing (HPC) in the public cloud will increase, use of cloud native innovations, such as service mesh and serverless will increase, and cloud management providers will address security of data in the public cloud.

The public cloud market in the United States is still dominated by the Big Three — Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, and Google — while Alibaba continues to expand its footprint in China. A number of in-demand certifications are managed by major vendors, including AWS, Microsoft, Google, and VMware.

Three of the six certifications listed here are on Certification Magazine's most recent list of the highest-paying certifications in the U.S.

Google Certified Professional Cloud Architect (GCPCA)

Cloud architects are among the most in-demand specialists in the cloud computing space. According to Global Knowledge, Google Certified Professional Cloud Architect (GCPCA) was the highest paying IT certification in the United States in 2019.

This credential validates the holder's knowledge of cloud architecture relative to the Google Cloud platform and the ability to design, develop, and administer robust, safe, and dynamic solutions, with high availability and scalability.

A Google Certified Professional Cloud Architect has in-depth understanding of Google Cloud technologies and knows which solution would be most suitable for a specific scenario. They are trained to make optimum use of Google Cloud technologies to enable organizations to fulfil their business objectives.

To earn this credential, candidates must pass the two-hour, 70-question Professional Cloud Architect exam with a passing score of 300. Google recommends at least three years of industry experience, including more than one year in the design and management of solutions for the Google Cloud platform. There are no prerequisites for this exam.

Earning adequate real-world experience is the best way to prepare for this exam. Additional preparation options include the exam guide, including sample case studies, training courses, hands-on labs, practice exams, and other resources.

Additional details are available online.

AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate

The AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate certification is still one of the leading cloud credentials. According to the latest Certification Magazine salary survey, AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate was the 7th-highest-paying IT certification in the U.S. in 2019.

This credential demonstrates the knowledge and skills required to design, deploy, and manage robust, secure, highly-available, scalable, dynamic, and cost-efficient distributed applications and solutions on the AWS platform. Credential holders can also employ architectural design principles to define solutions according to customer requirements, and enable the organization to follow best practices throughout the life cycle of projects.

To earn this certification, candidates must pass one 130-minute, multiple-choice, multiple-answer exam. An updated version of the exam will be available from March 2020. The latest version will cover new AWS services and capabilities.

AWS recommends real-world experience with compute, storage, networking, and database AWS services and deployment and management of AWS services and hybrid systems. Candidates are also advised to gain experience identifying and defining technical specifications for AWS applications, identifying AWS services that fulfil specified technical requirements, and following best practices in the development of dependable and secure applications.

Amazon emphasizes the importance of hands-on experience in preparing for the exam. Additional preparation options include the exam guide, sample questions, AWS training courses, AWS whitepapers, FAQs, exam readiness training, and practice exams.

This AWS certification is valid for 3 years. To maintain the certification, candidates are required to recertify by taking the current AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate exam or pass the AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional exam or the AWS Certified DevOps Engineer – Professional exam.

Additional details, including exam prep materials, are available online.

Note: There's an excellent follow-up available to this certification. The AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional credential is designed for AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate certification holders who intend developing advanced knowledge and skills in this domain.

AWS Certified Developer – Associate

Developers of cloud-based apps are among the most highly sought-after cloud professionals today. It's not surprising that the AWS Certified Developer – Associate certification ranks 11th on the Certification Magazine list of highest-paying IT certifications in the U.S. in 2020.

The AWS Certified Developer – Associate credential validates the ability to develop and maintain AWS-based applications. The exam evaluates the candidate's ability to determine which AWS service is most suitable for a specific application, his knowledge of Software Development Kits (SDKs) for the AWS platform, and his ability to follow AWS security best practices while writing application code.

The prerequisite for this certification is at least one year of professional experience in the development and maintenance of AWS-based applications. AWS recommends thorough knowledge of a minimum of one high-level programming language, understanding of main AWS services and their uses, architecture best practices, AWS security best practices, fundamentals of cloud-native applications, and other AWS topics.

To earn this certification, candidates must pass one 130-minute multiple-choice multiple-answer exam. The credential is valid for three years.

Amazon emphasizes the importance of hands-on experience in preparing for the exam. Preparation options include the exam guide, sample questions, AWS training courses, AWS whitepapers, FAQs, exam readiness training, and practice exams.

Additional details are available online.

VMware Certified Professional - Cloud Management and Automation 2020 (VCP-CMA 2020)

Founded in 1998, VMware has extensive experience in virtualization technologies. The VCP-CMA 2020 replaces the VCP-CMA 2019, which was retired on Dec. 31, 2019. This credential is useful for IT pros aspiring to advance their ability to implement data virtualization in a cloud environment.

It demonstrates expertise in installing, configuring, and managing a VMware vRealize environment. Professionals with current cloud management and automation skills are in demand because they have the ability to automate and scale business processes, thereby enhancing efficiency, speed, and productivity.

A candidate who holds no VCP credentials must earn experience on vSphere 6.7 and vRealize 7.x, complete one of the required training courses, pass a foundation exam, and pass the 120-minute Professional VMware vRealize Automation 7.6 exam. Requirements for candidates who hold valid VCP credentials are specified on the relevant web page.

Preparation options include recommended training courses, VCP Community discussions, and other learning resources available at the VMware Learning Zone, VMware Press, and the VMware Certification Market Place.

Additional details are available online.

Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert

With demand for Microsoft Azure specialists on the increase, more and more IT pros are opting for Microsoft's new Azure role-based certifications. The Azure Solutions Architect Expert credential is featured here because an increasing number of enterprises are looking for experienced cloud solutions architects who can work on the Azure platform.

The Azure Solutions Architect Expert certification validates the ability to deploy and configure compute, network, and storage infrastructure on Azure, secure systems, applications, and data, develop and deploy apps, establish workload requirements, and design solutions for the Azure platform.

To earn this credential, candidates must pass two exams: AZ 300 (Azure Architect Technologies) and AZ 301 (Azure Architect Design). Preparation options include free online training and paid instructor-led classroom training, Microsoft Official Practice Tests, Microsoft certification support forums, and other learning resources.

Additional details are available online.

Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP)

The globally-recognized CCSP managed by (ISC)� is the most well-known cloud security certification. The CCSP is suitable for IT and security professionals who manage or intend to manage cloud security infrastructure. This credential demonstrates knowledge of cloud concepts, architecture, design, security data security, application security, systems and platform security, security operations, and risk and compliance.

To earn the CCSP, you must have at least 5 years cumulative, professional experience in IT, with a minimum of 3 years in information security, and 1 year in at least 1 of the 6 domains of the (ISC)� CCSP Common Body of Knowledge (CBK), and pass the CCSP exam. If you lack the necessary experience, you can still pass the exam and qualify as an Associate of (ISC)�.

You will also have to complete the endorsement process, agree to abide by the (ISC)� Code of Ethics, and pay annual maintenance fees. Exam prep options include instructor-led or self-paced courses, official textbooks, study guides, apps and flash cards, and official practice tests.

Additional details are available online.

Other Options

There are several other valuable cloud certifications, including Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE): Core Infrastructure, Microsoft Certified Azure Developer, Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA), Certified Kubernetes Application Developer (CKAD), CCNP Cloud, and CompTIA Cloud+.