Becoming a Cloud Architect: Key Skills and Getting Started

In my extensive tech career, I've worn many hats, but the cloud architect role stands out as one of my favorite. If you're here to learn how to become a cloud architect, you're in the right place. You'll not only gain insights into this career path but also get inspired by the experiences and guidance shared here.

I've received countless messages from individuals at various stages of their tech careers. Some are looking to break into tech because they're unfulfilled in their current jobs. Others are in technical roles, perhaps on the help desk, feeling stuck and eager to explore new opportunities in the cloud. Some are already in cloud-related roles but aspire to elevate their careers to the architect level. Regardless of which category you fall into, this newsletter is for you.

What's Your Motivation?

If you're trying to break into tech because you're unhappy with your current job, or if you're already in a technical role but want something more fulfilling, you need guidance. Guidance from someone who has been down this path and can help you avoid common pitfalls. That's why I'm here to help you see around corners, avoiding mistakes that can derail your dreams.

The Cloud Architect Role: What You Need to Know

To become a cloud architect, you need to understand three key things:

1. What does a cloud architect do?
2. What skills are essential for a cloud architect?
3. How do you get started on this career path?

What Does a Cloud Architect Do?

A cloud architect works with customers within a business. They learn about the customers' desired outcomes and leverage their technical skills to design the cloud architecture required to achieve those outcomes. At the core, it's about understanding the business goals and working backwards to build the necessary cloud infrastructure.

Key Areas of Focus

As a cloud architect, you'll spend most of your time in three main areas:

1. Customer Relationships: Building strong relationships with your customers to understand their business needs.
2. Continuous Learning and Self-Development: Staying updated with the latest technical skills, earning certifications, and reading technical documents.
3. Reporting and Administrative Work: Keeping open lines of communication with your customers and internally within your company to ensure performance levels are achieved.

Essential Skills for a Cloud Architect

Technical Skills

There are five fundamental technical skills every cloud architect must have:

1. Compute: Understanding how workloads in the cloud require computing power.
2. Databases: Familiarity with databases as applications need to persist data.
3. Storage: Knowledge of different storage options and optimization techniques.
4. Networking: Understanding how to stitch various components together to enable seamless communication.
5. Security: Ensuring that your cloud architecture is secure.

Soft Skills

In addition to technical expertise, cloud architects need excellent soft skills. You need to communicate effectively and build strong business relationships with your customers to become a trusted advisor. This includes understanding their goals and providing solutions that they trust.

Taking the Next Steps

Now that we've covered what a cloud architect does and some of the skills you need, it's time to take action. Start by assessing where you are in your journey. Do you have the fundamental technical skills needed? If not, focus on building those skills. If you already have them, think about the soft skills needed to interact with customers and build trust.

Join the Conversation

I'd love to hear about where you are on your journey to becoming a cloud architect. Drop a comment below and let me know your current status and whether you think the cloud architect role is right for you.

Best regards,

Greg, ThoughtfulTechy Cloud