subject: Computer Careers: Future Belongs To Cloud Computing [print this page] Today cloud computing is the rageToday cloud computing is the rage. Why not? It allows consumers and businesses to use applications without installation and access personal files anywhere at any time through remote access. According to Irena Bojanova, chair of the IEEE Computer Society Cloud Computing STC, organizations are focusing on managing information and no longer on managing infrastructure, by having their applications and storage, applications development environments, and even infrastructure and security available from the Cloud. Hence, enterprises are adding more cloud-computing experts to their IT departments.
As per CompTIAs Third Annual Trends in Cloud Computing study, more than eight in 10 companies currently use some form of cloud solution; and more than half plan to increase cloud investments by 10 percent or more in 2012. Hence, expansion of the workforce is certain in order to facilitate smooth transition to cloud computing. Contrary to the popular belief that cloud computing would result in layoffs, transitioning to cloud computing has resulted in the creation of new cloud computing roles in some enterprises and restructuring of departments in some. As per a study conducted by Microsoft and IDC in May predicts that cloud computing will create 14 million new jobs by 2015. According to Susan Hauser, Microsoft corporate vice president of the Worldwide Enterprise and Partner Group, The cloud is going to have a huge impact on job creation.. Its a transformative technology that will drive down costs, spur innovation, and open up new jobs and skillsets across the globe. The other important findings are:
* By 2015, business revenues from IT innovation enabled by the cloud could reach US $1.1 trillion a year.
* Cloud-related jobs will accrue evenly to businesses with 500 or fewer employees and those with more than 500 employees.
* More than one-third of cloud-enabled jobs will occur in the communications and media, banking, and discrete manufacturing industries.
In such a scenario, employees and software engineering aspirants need to develop new skills to make them valuable in the cloud computing world. As the list of much-needed cloud-related skill sets is growing, what is required is effective training and one way of acquiring it is by attending computer conferences. A computer conference allows aspirants to immerse themselves and learn all aspects of the technology, thereby becoming the most apt way to develop ones skill set.
With cloud computing being the future, the IEEE Computer Society is establishing a Cloud Computing Special Technical Community (STC) whose first goals are to coordinate the on-going work on CC in conferences, standards, education, and publishing, and to create an overall infrastructure of a Web portal, a newsletter, Body of Knowledge, and a test bed. Hence, those who already possess skill set in cloud computing can join the IEEE CS CC STC and help influence the fields future growth.
