Cloud computing has been a proven success at organizational as well as individual-level for a long time. The concept goes back around the 1960s, but the past couple of decades have witnessed a need to secure humungous amounts of data on the cloud. The emergence of 4G and other sources of continuous connectivity have also played a considerable role in the widespread use of cloud computing. While for individuals, it is more of a cost-efficient way to secure data, for organizations, it is all about increased security and remote access to important data.
Microsoft Azure, a cloud computing service created by Microsoft, claims the second highest market share in the US after AWS. According to Microsoft, almost 1000 companies are switching or adopting Microsoft Azure for cloud computing, which means almost 365,000 organizations additional companies will be needing Azure experts every year. The fact that more than 50% of Fortune 500 companies are using Azure as their cloud services clearly shows that the demand for Azure professionals is on the high rise. This blog will cover the top five most in-demand Azure jobs in the US in 2020. It will help you develop an interest in starting or switching your career to cloud computing and specializing in Azure technologies for a bright future. Let’s get right into it.
Azure Developer
Azure Developers use Azure platforms to build and deploy apps and services on Azure solutions. Generally, high performing Azure developers are equipped with development experience and technical know-how of products like PowerShell, Office 365, and Dynamics 365, since these are Microsoft products and integrate with Azure. An Azure developer is mainly responsible for designing, creating, implementing, and maintaining technical solutions from infrastructure to applications. The programming languages used to develop for Azure include JavaScript, C#, and HTML5, and thus expertise in these are a must for this job role. Apart from these, Azure developers will also be expected to know about ASP.NET, SQL Server, JQuery, Angular, and Visual Studio Team Services, to become a master of developing with Azure.
Cloud computing salaries, especially for Azure experts, are on the higher end compared to other professions. In the US, salaries for Azure Developers range from $115,000 to $175,000 depending on the years of experience under the belt.
Azure Solutions Architect
As the name suggests, the job is mainly about building cloud environment solutions for organizations based on their unique requirements. In a nutshell, these professionals take requirements from end-users, design and deploy cloud solutions by determining suitable infrastructure, and then configure and secure them once implemented. They possess the ability to gauge the environmental challenges of a particular business. Through their communication and relationship building skills, they guide the cloud teams developing the solutions to get the most out of the deployed cloud solutions.
Average annual salaries for Azure Solutions Architect is between $130,000 to $190,000 in the US.
Azure DevOps Engineer
DevOps is a concept of bringing development and operations together to increase the speed of the development lifecycle. Similarly, an Azure DevOps Engineer brings people, processes, and technologies together to improve the continuous delivery of Azure solutions. You can expect them to design, architect, and implement extensive Microsoft Azure solutions by spending expertise in different work environments, including virtual machines, security, and networking. They must look for system deployments and operations while coding and development with software and programming languages like PowerShell, .NET, and C#. Two major areas they will be looking at are dependency management and application infrastructure, while also making sure the cloud deployments are happening.
The job role also requires DevOps Engineers to possess soft skills since they deal with various teams that have to function together to produce final results. A DevOps culture flowing through engineers will support system admin, architectures, and networking personnel to work together with appropriate interdependency, which increases productivity and polishes results for customer satisfaction. It is possible if an Azure DevOps Engineer has soft skills like interpersonal and communication skills.
It is a high paying job role in IT with junior Azure DevOps Engineers earning around $125,000, and senior-level engineers earning around $185,000 in the US per annum.
Azure Security Engineer
Yes, they are responsible for the security of Azure architecture. You must be thinking, these are already secured apps, what’s the need of this job role? Well, with the pace of innovation in cybercrimes, cloud security has become a separate job role. The software protective measures alone are not enough to tackle the extent of cyber threats.
Azure Security Engineers are responsible for maintaining the security posture of Azure cloud technologies in an organization. They have to keep a keen eye on securing apps, infrastructure, containers, and networks by implementing robust security controls. They also manage data access and keep a check on cyberattacks penetration while building a controlled and secure environment by educating the workforce on security best practices.
The average annual salary for an Azure Security Engineer is between $120,000 to $225,000 depending on the expertise, academic background, and work experience.
Azure Data Scientist
In a nutshell, an Azure Data Scientist makes sure there is proper management, usage, and security control of the organization’s most precious asset, data. They use Azure services and software to design and implement data governing and securing strategies while allowing enterprises to make informed decisions based on Big Data and data visualization techniques. They are known to use Azure machine learning techniques and work with data models to study emerging consumer and market patterns.
Data Scientists also have the opportunity to become consultants for businesses that are struggling to secure and make use of their data for progress and business success.
Azure Data Scientists earn an average annual salary of $120,000 to $175,000 depending upon work experience. Since Data Science impacts the business revenue and profit numbers, Data Scientists have this special privilege to earn a certain share of the profit generated in return for their efforts.
If you are looking to start and build a career in cloud computing, acquiring Azure expertise will be a great step to take. You can take the Azure Fundamentals training at QuickStart, an IT workforce readiness and career development platform. Once your interest is developed, Azure Administrator training for certification exam AZ-103 can be your next step into learning about Azure, and QuickStart can help you there too.
As organizations across the globe embrace cloud computing, the popularity of both Azure cloud services and Azure professionals is on the rise. Step in now and explore the endless opportunities for career growth and excellence.