To get into cloud computing, you usually need to build strong IT foundations, choose a cloud platform, gain relevant certifications, and show practical evidence through projects or entry-level technical experience.
Today, cloud platforms sit behind many of the tools and services businesses rely on every day. Companies use them to store data, run software, manage security, support remote teams, and scale services without relying only on physical servers.
Demand is being pushed even further by AI, with recent reports showing strong growth in cloud and AI infrastructure spending in 2026. At the same time, UK employers continue to report gaps in IT, data, and cloud skills, which creates opportunities for people willing to build practical, job-ready knowledge.
In this guide, I’ll explain what a cloud computing career looks like, which skills and certifications you should start with, and the steps you can take to break into cloud from entry level, even without formal experience.
Written by
With four years at Learning People and a solid foundation in IT and Cybersecurity, Chris guides people through the fast-evolving tech landscape and into their dream jobs. He combines hands-on technical expertise with insider industry insights to help learners make informed career decisions.
What’s the fastest way into a Cloud Computing career?
One of the fastest ways into cloud computing is to follow a structured training pathway that builds your IT foundations, gives you recognised certifications, and supports you through the job search.
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Key certifications: Build your knowledge through recognised qualifications.
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Career support: Get help with your CV, LinkedIn, applications, and interview preparation from our career experts.
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Employer access: Connect with job opportunities through our exclusive employer network.
Visit our course page to see what’s included, how the certification works, and how it can help you take your first step into cloud computing.
1. What Is a Cloud Computing Career, and What Does It Look Like?
A cloud computing career is about helping organisations use internet-based technology services to store data, run software, manage infrastructure, protect systems, and support day-to-day business operations.
Businesses use platforms like AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud to access computing power, storage, databases, networking, and software over the internet. Simply put, cloud professionals help businesses keep their digital systems running.
What does a career in Cloud Computing involve?
A career in cloud computing usually involves supporting, monitoring, configuring, securing, and improving cloud-based systems.
In early cloud roles, the work is usually hands-on and support-focused. You are often helping senior engineers, IT teams, or end users keep cloud systems stable, secure, and usable.
Common tasks include:
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Cloud support: Helping users and teams fix issues with cloud services, accounts, access, storage, and performance.
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Monitoring: Checking alerts, system health, usage, costs, and performance so problems are spotted before they become bigger issues.
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Implementation: Supporting the setup of cloud services, virtual machines, databases, applications, or networks.
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Managing access: Essentially, deciding who can access what, and what happens if something goes wrong?
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Problem diagnosis: Investigating why something is slow, unavailable, misconfigured, or not working as expected.
As you progress, the work becomes less about basic support and more about designing, improving, automating, and securing larger cloud environments.
The main disciplines in Cloud Computing
Cloud computing is not one single job. It branches into several routes, which means you can choose a path that best suits your strengths, interests, and long-term goals.
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Discipline |
Focus |
What it looks like in practice |
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Cloud administration |
Keeping cloud systems running day to day |
Managing accounts, permissions, storage, updates, and general cloud operations. |
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Cloud engineering |
Building and managing cloud infrastructure |
Creating, configuring, and maintaining cloud environments, networks, and services. |
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DevOps and automation |
Improving deployment speed and reliability |
Using tools, scripts, and automation to make software delivery faster and more efficient. |
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Cloud security |
Protecting cloud systems and data |
Managing access, identity, monitoring, security controls, and compliance. |
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Cloud architecture |
Designing larger cloud environments |
Planning how cloud systems should be structured, scaled, secured, and connected. |
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FinOps and cloud cost management |
Controlling cloud spending and usage |
Helping businesses forecast, monitor, and optimise cloud costs and resource usage. |
Progression in Cloud Computing careers
Cloud computing careers often start in support or administration before moving into engineering, security, architecture, or leadership.
A typical cloud career path can look something like this:
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Entry-level: Cloud Support Technician, IT Support Technician, Junior Cloud Administrator
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Junior level: Cloud Support Engineer, Junior Cloud Engineer
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Mid-level: Cloud Engineer, DevOps Engineer, Cloud Security Analyst
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Senior level: Senior Cloud Engineer, Senior DevOps Engineer, Cloud Infrastructure Lead
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Architecture or management: Cloud Architect, Cloud Operations Manager, Platform Engineering Manager
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Leadership: Head of Cloud, Director of Cloud Engineering, CTO pathway
Do You Need Experience to Get into Cloud Computing?
You do not always need formal cloud experience to get started in cloud computing, but you do need to show that you are building the right skills.
Beginner certifications, small cloud projects, home labs, and clear project write-ups can all help you prove your ability before you land your first role. Many people also start through bridge roles, such as IT Support Technician or Service Desk Analyst, where they can practise troubleshooting, user support, access management, documentation, and basic networking.
I’d think of experience less as “someone has already paid me to do this” and more as “I can show I have practised this in a different setting.”
2. What Skills and Certifications Are Needed for a Career in Cloud Computing?
A successful cloud computing career in 2026 usually means you have a combination of technical skills, human skills, and industry-recognised certifications. That can sound like a lot at first, but it is all learnable with the right route.
Foundational skills (The “hard” skills)
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Networking basics: You need to understand how devices, users, applications, and services communicate. IP addresses, DNS, firewalls, and ports may not sound exciting, but they come up constantly in cloud work.
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Operating systems: Windows and Linux knowledge helps because most cloud environments involve both. You do not need to be an expert straight away, but you should be comfortable navigating systems and using basic command-line tools.
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Cloud platform basics: You need to understand how platforms like AWS, Microsoft Azure, or Google Cloud organise services, accounts, storage, compute, and networking.
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Security fundamentals: Cloud roles often involve identity, permissions, multi-factor authentication, backups, and shared responsibility.
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Scripting and automation: Basic Python, PowerShell, Bash, or infrastructure-as-code knowledge helps you move from support into engineering.
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Troubleshooting: Cloud work involves reading logs, checking configurations, testing connections, and working out where a problem starts. This is one of the most useful skills you can build.
Critical soft and human skills
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Communication: You need to explain technical problems clearly to people who do not live in cloud dashboards all day.
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Curiosity: Cloud changes quickly, so you need to be willing to keep learning without feeling like you must know everything.
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Calm problem-solving: When a system is down, panic helps nobody. A steady, methodical approach matters.
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Attention to detail: One small configuration mistake can affect security, cost, or performance.
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Commercial awareness: Cloud is not just technical. It is important to understand what businesses care about. For example, uptime, risk, customer experience, and how much the whole thing costs.
The certification roadmap
Cloud certifications help prove your knowledge to employers and can give your learning a clear structure. If you are starting from scratch, begin with a foundation-level certification before moving into more technical cloud training.
Here is the route I recommend taking:
The certifications you need will depend on your current experience and the type of cloud role you want to work towards. For example, Azure Fundamentals or AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner can suit complete beginners, while CompTIA Cloud+ or AWS Solutions Architect - Associate may suit learners with some IT, networking, or systems administration experience.
Our cloud computing training pathways can be shaped around your goals, your starting point, and the certifications that make sense for your chosen route. You’ll also get learning support, live classroom access, long-term career guidance, CV and LinkedIn support, and access to job opportunities through our employer network, LEAP Careers.
You can visit our dedicated cloud computing training page to explore the programme in more detail, or hit the button below to request a free consultation with one of our career advisors.
Did you know? Cloud Professionals earn above the national average salary
The mean salary for Cloud Computing Professionals is £71,820 in the UK according to Adzuna, one of the UK's most comprehensive job search engines. This is 84.3% more than the overall national mean salary.
Find more Cloud Computing job market insights in our frequently updated industry mini-report.
3. How Do I Break Into Cloud Computing? (The Step-by-Step Roadmap)
To break into cloud computing, start by understanding the role options, build your IT foundations, choose one cloud platform, gain a relevant certification, create practical projects, and apply for realistic entry-level or bridge roles.
Below is a step-by-step guide to help you get started.
Step 1: Understand the Cloud Computing career routes before choosing one
The first step into cloud computing is to understand the different job routes before you choose a course or certification. This helps you understand what employers actually ask for, not just what sounds impressive online.
Search for roles such as Cloud Support Technician, Junior Cloud Engineer, Cloud Administrator, IT Support with Azure, AWS Support Associate, and Junior DevOps Engineer. You will start to see the differences between cloud support, cloud engineering, DevOps, cloud security, and cloud architecture.
The aim is not to choose the one job you will have forever. It is to pick your first sensible entry point, then build from there.
Step 2: Build your IT foundations first
The second step is to build basic IT knowledge. Cloud sits on top of networking, operating systems, storage, identity, and security. If those areas feel confusing, cloud will feel even more confusing. It is a bit like trying to decorate a house before the walls are up.
Start with basic networking, Windows administration, Linux commands, permissions, DNS, firewalls, and command-line basics. You do not need to become an expert in every area before touching cloud, but you do need enough knowledge to understand what is happening behind the screen.
Cloud can feel abstract at first, so learning what goes on underneath makes the whole thing a lot easier to understand.
Step 3: Choose one main platform and get certified
The third step is to choose one main cloud platform and work towards a relevant certification. One of the biggest mistakes beginners make is attempting to learn every cloud platform at the same time.
If job adverts mention Azure again and again, start there. If AWS appears more often in the roles you like, that gives you your answer.
For many beginners, Microsoft Certified: Azure Fundamentals AZ-900 or AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner is a sensible starting point. From there, you can move towards certifications such as CompTIA Cloud+, depending on your experience and goals.
Certifications help employers understand your knowledge level, and they can also help your CV pass through ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems) when recruiters filter for specific qualifications. But they work best when they sit alongside practical evidence.
Step 4: Build small cloud projects that prove you can use the tools
The fourth step is to create small cloud projects that show you can apply what you are learning. This is how you start solving the “I need experience to get experience” problem. Small cloud projects show that you can do more than learn the theory and pass an exam.
You could:
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Host a static website in the cloud
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Set up cloud storage with the right permissions
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Create a virtual machine and connect to it securely
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Build a simple backup process
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Set up basic monitoring and alerts
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Create a simple diagram explaining your cloud setup
Then write a short summary of each project on GitHub, Notion, a blog, or LinkedIn. Explain what you built, what went wrong, and how you fixed it. Employers like people who can think through problems, not just follow perfect instructions.
Step 5: Rework your CV, LinkedIn, and applications around evidence
The fifth step is to update your CV and applications so they show evidence of your cloud skills. If you are changing careers, your previous experience still counts. You just need to translate it properly.
Customer service can show communication, patience, and incident handling. Admin work can show process, documentation, and accuracy. Retail or hospitality can show pressure management, prioritisation, and user support. These skills are genuinely useful in cloud roles, especially early ones where you are helping people solve technical problems.
Update your CV and LinkedIn with your certifications, cloud projects, technical skills, and target role. Make your headline specific, for example: Aspiring Cloud Support Technician | Azure Fundamentals | Building AWS and Azure Projects.
Then apply for both cloud-specific roles and bridge roles, such as IT Support Technician or Service Desk Analyst. These roles give you a practical place to build the skills cloud employers value
Conclusion: What’s My Next Move for Breaking Into Cloud Computing?
Your next move for breaking into cloud computing is to choose a realistic first role, identify the skills and certifications it asks for, and start building the foundations one step at a time.
Cloud computing is a strong career route, but it rewards practical evidence. That means choosing a platform, working towards the right certifications, and creating small projects that show what you can actually do.
At Learning People, we help learners map out that route with structured training, recognised certifications, career guidance, CV and LinkedIn support, and help all the way through the application and interview process.
If you want support choosing the right cloud pathway, you can enquire to speak with one of our career advisors.
Petar Ivanov
After reading our glowing student reviews, Petar enrolled onto our Cloud Solution Architect courses. He is now working as for Microsoft as a Technical Support Engineer.