Most In-Demand AWS Certifications to go for in 2023

With a large percentage of businesses working remotely, Gartner projects the cloud computing industry will see exponential growth over the next few years, reaching over $331 billion in revenue by 2022. Cloud computing’s growth is rooted in its digital transformation capabilities. Cloud computing allows organizations of any size to move their technical infrastructure off-premises with more flexible and cost-effective solutions than the high operational costs of onsite infrastructure solutions. Cloud technology is no longer a nice-to-have that only large enterprises can afford. If your organization wants to stay competitive and remain agile in the face of constantly changing technology, upskilling your team in cloud skills is a must. And while there are several cloud providers to choose from, Amazon is the industry leader with a 47% market share over Microsoft and Google. Keep reading for more information on the AWS cloud certifications that’ll ensure your team has the AWS skills needed to survive in a cloud-first environment.

AWS Certification further enhances the skills of in-demand cloud computing personnel, bolstering companies’ bids to build effective and innovative teams for cloud initiatives using AWS. These certification programs contain a series of exams to choose from, which are based on role and specialty, and are designed to empower the respective teams and individuals to meet their unique goals. With everyone from Netflix to American Airlines signing up to the cloud to keep things from crumbling into pieces, organizations are running into a significant skills gap. There are not enough people who know how to work with cloud services. Many cloud jobs are going unfilled, and salaries for trained and certified cloud professionals are rising. The lack of cloud skills has been identified as the major challenge for cloud adoption by 25% of organizations. Let us now understand why there is such a huge demand for AWS cloud certifications and why you need one to jumpstart your career in cloud computing. AWS is the market leader in cloud computing, and several companies make use of the platform’s products and services. It continues to grow going into 2023, so getting an AWS certification is absolutely worth it. You have several certifications and specializations to choose from, so you’re not limited in any way. Besides, continual learning and development is a key part of career growth in the IT field, so an AWS certification goes a long way.

Professionals looking to add cloud expertise to their resume or just beginning their career with cloud computing may wonder – “Which cloud computing certification should I get ?” The cloud is crowded with competing vendors, like Microsoft and Google, growing faster than expected. However, what’s interesting is that AWS still holds 57% of the market share. With Amazon being the most mature provider and leading in market share of the overall cloud infrastructure marketplace (approximately twice of any competitor), it is evident that it will play a significant role in the cloud market for years to come.  AWS is the “God of the Cloud,” powering many organizations - AirBnB, Adobe, BMW,  GE Oil and Gas,  Met Office, UK Ministry of Justice, and more. If you want to become an expert on a specific cloud platform, AWS cloud certifications are a clear way.

AWS certifications for every level

AWS has 11 distinct certifications spread across four levels. These include the beginner-focused foundational certificate, intermediate associate certifications, advanced professional certificates, and specialty role-based certifications. In this article, we’re going to highlight the three most popular certification categories.

Foundational level Cloud Practitioner Certification

The Cloud Practitioner Certification is the sole foundational-level certificate for learning AWS.  This certification measures the learner’s understanding of the AWS platform, so it’s not considered as technology-focused as the others. In fact, there are plenty of non-technical roles that may benefit from the Cloud Practitioner Certification, including project managers, sales account executives, and finance specialists.

To earn a Cloud Practitioner Certification, learners should be proficient in areas like understanding AWS support contracts and knowing the fundamental benefits of the cloud, such as the security strength of a cloud system. 

Who should consider getting a Cloud Practitioner Certification?

·         Members of an IT department transitioning to a cloud skill set.

·         Beginner-level IT and tech professionals who want to highly marketable skills.

·         Anyone who wants a basic understanding of AWS architectural principles.

Solutions Architect, Developer, and SysOps Associate Certifications

Unlike the foundational certificate, there are three associate certifications: Solutions Architect Associate, Developer Associate, and SysOps Associate. These role-based certifications have some overlap with each other, so consider which certificate best suits your career plans or your company’s skills needs. Of course, if you or your team have the drive to take all three certifications, your collective AWS knowledge will be that much stronger. Here’s a high-level look at the three associate-level certifications so you can determine which best suits you or your team:

·         Solutions Architect Associate is the most popular of all AWS certifications and offers learners a broad understanding of the most-used AWS services.

·         Developer Associate dives into greater depth on core services including AWS Lambda, Amazon DynamoDB, Amazon API Gateway and the AWS Developer Tools.

·         SysOps Associate ensures learners know how to optimize AWS infrastructure and goes into detail on operations and management of an AWS instance. 

Solutions Architect and DevOps Engineer Professional Certifications

It’s recommended that learners earn at least one associate-level certification before continuing on to earn either of the two professional-level AWS certifications, Solutions Architect Professional and DevOps Engineer Professional. This ensures there’s a strong level of familiarity with implementing AWS features before successfully advancing into designing and operating your company’s entire AWS cloud system. Before studying for and earning a professional-level AWS certification, learners should have a comprehensive understanding of how to run, optimize, and troubleshoot solutions within AWS.

People who should consider the professional-level AWS certification include:

·         IT or tech employees tasked with evaluating an organization’s cloud requirements making architectural recommendations for how to implement and deploy applications on AWS.

·         Employees who will be provisioning and managing AWS-based applications.

As tech organizations move increasingly to the cloud, IT departments are encouraging all their team members to validate a base-level of AWS skills by earning the Cloud Practitioner certificate. To futureproof your company and prepare your tech teams for whatever might come next, developing cloud expertise is key. Amazon Web Services is continuously expanding in terms of products and features. As such, anyone aiming to make it big with AWS must stay abreast with the latest developments. Having an AWS certification on your resume will put you a distance ahead of your peers to grab a lucrative AWS opportunity. The best AWS projects will also help you prepare for your AWS certification exam, and get practicing today!