What is Cloud Administrator?

"Cloud Administrator" is among the cloud-related buzzwords. I'm sure you've heard. This article will define a cloud administrator and look at the skills and certifications needed to become one. In addition, we'll look at the skills required for a successful career in cloud administration.

But, before proceeding further, let's focus on the topics we will be covering in this blog.

1. What is a cloud administrator?
2. Why should you become a cloud administrator?
3. What qualifications are required for becoming a cloud administrator?
4. What to do after acquiring the qualifications?
5. How to become a cloud administrator?
6. Cloud administrator certifications
7. Cloud administrator job responsibilities
8. Cloud administrator job opportunities
9. Cloud administrator salary

What is a Cloud Administrator?

A cloud administrator is a person who plans, implements, and manages all types of cloud-based work for businesses. The candidate must create cloud architectures and techniques and manage cloud architect tasks.

The term is somewhat ambiguous, and the specific day-to-day skills needed could differ from industry to industry. Administrators may design cloud architectures and strategies in some organizations. While cloud architects typically handle these tasks in larger organizations.

Leading, supervising, and establishing a multi-user computing environment in organizations is critical. The administrator is a person to contact if you need help with a system problem. When managing multiple cloud environments, the administrator may need to do some coding.

Why should you become a cloud administrator?

According to a survey done by 451 Research, 90% of businesses are already cloud-based. This percentage increases with each passing day. BLS report predicts that the employment of administrators can grow up to 5% from 2020 to 2030.

Administrators work in various organizations and are thus employed in various industries. As a result, this is the ideal career for someone who enjoys solving new problems and challenges daily.

Here are some of the advantages of becoming an administrator:

1. Less IT and network security concerns.
2. There is less competition for resources.
3. Instead of focusing on hardware, focus more on users.

Whether an industry is small or large, an administrator must handle its cloud-based work. Hence, the demand for this role will keep increasing day by day. Thus, a salary increase. 

What qualifications are required for becoming a cloud administrator?

To become an administrator, you must have a solid foundation in cloud computing or a technical field. Employers typically prefer candidates with a bachelor's degree in computer science.

A candidate should focus on these essential skills if they want to become an administrator:   

1. A bachelor's degree in computer science or a related field is required.
2. At least three years of cloud computing and related work experience are required.
3. Good understanding of the Windows, Linux, and Unix operating systems.
4. Knowledge of tools such as CLI.
5. Understanding of cloud-based services such as SaaS, PaaS, and IaaS.
6. Getting certified by passing the certification exam of AWS, Azure, etc.

What to do after acquiring the qualifications?

Because cloud administration requires a diverse set of skills. Therefore, there is no straight route for acquiring the necessary knowledge. A degree in computer science is an excellent place to start. But try to learn some other skills on your own.

Your path does not end once you have obtained the required skills. Initially, decide which platform you want to work on? Then, to enter this profession, plan your career path around it.

Three of the most popular platforms are as follows:

1. Google 
2. Azure
3. AWS 

How to become a cloud administrator?  

Cloud administrator is not an entry-level job. The candidate must have 3 to 5 years of experience in systems administration. Administrators frequently advance from junior cloud administrators or more general systems administrator positions. They may even begin in a help desk role.

Here are the three steps that you can take to become a cloud administrator:

1. Improve your technical knowledge
2. Obtain certification
3. Develop real-world experience

Cloud administrator certifications

Here are some of the popular administrator certifications:

1. Amazon AWS Cloud Practitioner
2. Amazon AWS SysOps Administrator – Associate
3. CompTIA Network+ certification
4. CompTIA Cloud+ certification
5. CompTIA Security+ certification
6. CompTIA Project+ certification

Among the best cloud administrator courses and certifications are:

1. Zscaler Certified Cloud Administrator - Internet Access (ZCCA-IA)
2. AZ-103 Microsoft Azure Administrator Certification
3. Introduction to Cloud Identity
4. Introduction to Cloud Computing on Amazon AWS for Beginners
5. Google Cloud Certification Training (GCP)
6. Cloud Security Basics
7. COMPLETE Red Hat Server Administration RHCE 2020
8. AZ-104T00: Microsoft Azure Administrator
9. EXIN Cloud Computing Foundation
10. Cloud Computing with AWS Training
11. Google Cloud Platform Fundamentals: Core Infrastructure
12. Diploma in Cloud Computing and Virtualization
13. Snowflake – The Complete Masterclass (2021 Edition)
14. Google Cloud Platform Fundamentals for AWS Professionals
15. Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA) Certification Training Course
16. Masters program in Cloud Architect
17. Cloud Storage with Red Hat Ceph Storage (CL260)

Cloud administrator job responsibilities

Administrators are responsible for two main tasks: 

1. Configuring the cloud management service 
2. Managing the cloud management service.

Some of the other responsibilities of a cloud administrator are:

1. Integrate cloud-based systems into the existing environment.
2. Resolve operational issues.
3. Change requests for cloud management service upgrades must be approved or denied.
4. Key metrics for cloud resources should be monitored.
5. Load balancing.
6. New cloud computing technologies should be evaluated and implemented.
7. Examine summary data from cloud resource deployments.

Cloud administrator job opportunities

Cloud administrator positions are typically straightforward and advertised under the title cloud administrator. Moreover, you could come across job postings that include specific technology. 

According to Naukri.com, as of 29/03/2022, there are 2361 job opportunities in India. Here's a table showing the number of jobs available as per experience:

Experience in years	Number of jobs available
0 - 5	1481
6 - 10	710
11-15	135
16 - 20	35

Cloud administrator salary

According to AmbitionBox, cloud administrators can earn between ₹ 3.2 Lakhs to ₹ 12.3 Lakhs. With an average of ₹ 6.8 Lakhs per year in India. The take-home salary is between ₹ 51,686 - ₹ 52,904/month.

Companies like Accenture, TCS, Wipro, IBM, HCL Technologies, Cognizant, Infosys, Amazon, Google, and many more offer an excellent package to cloud administrators.  

Conclusion

This article has provided you with a thorough understanding of cloud administrator professionals. This post covers everything they do, the skills they must have, their salary, what recruiters expect from them, and much more.

The position of cloud administrator is in high demand, and the possibilities are endless. With continued exponential growth expected in the coming years, we believe that becoming a Certified Cloud Administrator is the right path to take as a career.