Exploring the Cloud
This is the first of 3 blogs exploring the cloud. To understand the cloud better let’s take a look at the key differences between the public and private cloud, the vast nature of cloud computing and the job trends for Cloud Architects.
Defining the Cloud: Public vs Private
CrowdStrike, an American cyber security provider defines the key difference between public and private cloud computing by pointing to the difference in infrastructure. “In a public cloud, organisations use shared cloud infrastructure, while in a private cloud, organisations use their own infrastructure.”
The difference, according to a blog by BMC Software, an American Enterprise software provider, is that Public cloud is cloud computing that’s delivered via the internet and shared across organisations. Private cloud is cloud computing that is dedicated solely to your organisation. Hybrid cloud is any environment that uses both public and private clouds.
IT and The Cloud: where and when to use it?
Cloud options are vast. As CompTIA explains, “IT systems are really a stack of different components” and within each part of the stack there is opportunity for the use of the cloud.
“At the bottom is the infrastructure layer, the actual hardware that runs everything; Next comes an operating system, allowing software applications to easily access the hardware components; Finally, there is the application itself, providing a user interface and performing a specific purpose.”
Whether to use the public or private cloud and for which part of the IT system is top of the list of priorities for CIOs and CTOs across businesses globally.
Work in The Cloud: up and up and up
Cloud architect roles have had an interesting few years. The world looked to tech to solve connectivity, availability and scalability issues as the pandemic forced all those with office jobs to work at home.
This needed the cloud and therefore the demand for Cloud Architects soared.
IT Jobs Watch tracks the employment trends of different roles within IT. In 2020 (just before halfway through) there was an enormous spike in contract and permanent Cloud Architect job postings.
The permanent and contract roles follow a similar pattern of rise and fall in demand. It is worth noting that the demand for both did not fall beneath the 2019 level until about half way through 2022 when the job postings for permanent Cloud Architects fell gradually. Since then, the demand has gone up again and we’re now seeing a greater demand for permanent roles than contract.
With niche skill sets there will always be a demand for contractors but as businesses seek to make all important IT Architecture decisions on a long term basis. Businesses require strong permanent employees to join their CIOs and CTOs in this decision making.
This marks a change as IT shifts from three years of urgent architectural decisions to match the urgent present to now making more considered decisions for the future.
