In the competitive arena of Information Technology, investing in cloud technology training and upskilling is essential for professional growth. Through dedication, strategic planning, and leveraging effective learning platforms, individuals can achieve competency in cloud-based solutions. By examining the perspectives of various professionals, valuable strategies can be uncovered. Insights range from developing comprehensive learning pathways to utilizing gamified learning platforms, ensuring a holistic approach to cloud proficiency. Explore these crucial insights to remain competitive in the ever-evolving landscape of cloud technology.
- Develop Comprehensive Learning Pathways
- Create a Structured Learning Environment
- Encourage Online Course Subscriptions
- Participate in Industry Conferences
- Implement Cloud-Immersion Programs
- Focus on Hands-On Experience
- Utilize Gamified Learning Platforms
Develop Comprehensive Learning Pathways
At our company, we develop comprehensive learning pathways that include both structured training and self-directed learning opportunities for our IT staff. These pathways are tailored to cover various aspects of cloud technologies—from fundamental principles to advanced application-deployment strategies. By providing a roadmap of courses and milestones, we ensure that our team members have clarity on what skills they need to develop and the steps they need to take to enhance their proficiency in cloud-based environments.
We subscribe to Pluralsight, an online education platform that offers a variety of video training courses on cloud technologies. Pluralsight’s courses are updated regularly to reflect the latest technological advancements and are taught by industry experts. The platform’s role-specific paths and skill assessments help our IT staff target their learning efforts more effectively, making it an invaluable resource for staying current with evolving cloud technologies.
Alari Aho
CEO and Founder, Toggl Inc
Create a Structured Learning Environment
My approach to training and upskilling IT staff on cloud technologies centers around creating a structured yet flexible learning environment that caters to different learning styles. One specific program I’ve implemented is a Cloud Learning Pathway, which includes a combination of online courses, hands-on workshops, and certification opportunities. We utilize platforms like A Cloud Guru and Coursera, which offer comprehensive courses on various cloud technologies, including AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud.
To enhance practical learning, we organize regular hackathons and project-based workshops where teams can apply new skills in real-world scenarios. For example, we recently had a workshop focused on deploying applications on AWS, where team members worked in groups to build a scalable architecture from scratch. This hands-on experience not only solidified their understanding of cloud concepts, but also fostered collaboration and innovation within the team. By providing a structured learning pathway complemented by practical applications, our IT staff is better equipped to leverage cloud technologies effectively, driving both individual growth and organizational success.
Shehar Yar
CEO, Software House
Encourage Online Course Subscriptions
Our approach to train our staff on cloud technologies has been to give subscriptions to online courses on Coursera, Udemy, and other platforms to our tech teams. This has allowed us to improve our team’s skills on these technologies and promotes constant learning. We also encourage our team to get certifications for validations, which also improves their confidence and career development.
Anam Barkan
CEO, HireGO Minibuses
Participate in Industry Conferences
A key strategy is our participation in cloud technology conferences and workshops, where our IT staff can learn from, and network with, other professionals in the field. This exposure to industry-leading expertise and cutting-edge developments informs our training programs and strategy, ensuring that our team remains at the forefront of cloud-technology trends and best practices.
We have found great success with the Google Cloud Skills Boost program for training our IT team in cloud technologies. This platform offers both on-demand courses and hands-on labs, which provide practical experience and direct application of skills. Our organization benefits immensely from this practical approach, as it ensures that theoretical knowledge is immediately applicable, enhancing our operational efficiency and innovation capacity.
Mark McDermott
CEO & Co-Founder, ScreenCloud
Implement Cloud-Immersion Programs
One effective approach to upskilling IT staff in cloud technologies is through a structured learning path that combines hands-on labs with certification programs. For example, using AWS Skill Builder, which offers tailored learning paths for different cloud roles (architects, developers, or operations).
A specific program I’ve seen work well is a 12-week cloud-immersion program. It starts with foundational courses on cloud architecture and security, followed by weekly hands-on labs. Midway through, participants work on a capstone project, like building a cloud-based solution. The program concludes with AWS certification prep (e.g., AWS Certified Solutions Architect) and culminates in an exam.
This mix of theory, hands-on work, and certification ensures the staff not only learns but also applies cloud technologies effectively.
Siri Varma Vegiraju
Software Engineer, Microsoft Corporation
Focus on Hands-On Experience
Our approach to training and upskilling on cloud technologies focuses on hands-on experience combined with structured learning. One resource we’ve found particularly effective is AWS Skill Builder, which offers a wide range of cloud courses, from fundamentals to advanced topics. It’s tailored for different learning paths—developer, architect, and sysops administrator—allowing our team to focus on their specific roles.
We encourage staff to work through real-world scenarios within sandbox environments while earning certifications like AWS Certified Solutions Architect or Developer. Additionally, we hold regular internal workshops where team members share what they have learned from courses and projects, which reinforces that knowledge across the team.
Gursharan Singh
Co-Founder, WebSpero Solutions
Utilize Gamified Learning Platforms
Our team has had great success gaining a mid-level understanding of cloud resources using AWS Cloud Quest. The platform takes a gamified approach to teaching AWS concepts and skills. Our team has found it engaging and incredibly helpful to better understand the tools that run many of our platforms. It is an easy-to-use and approachable learning system that is free, which makes the barriers to entry nearly zero.
MIKEL SEIDL
It Operations Manager, Lake Forest Academy