Cloud computing has become critical in our digital world. It has transformed how businesses operate and how we as individuals interact with technology. If you’re considering a career in IT then understanding cloud computing is not just beneficial, it’s essential. Below we look at what it is, the benefits it offers and potential future trends in cloud computing.
Written by Grant Longstaff. Published 12 March 2025.
What is Cloud Computing?
Cloud computing refers to the delivery of IT resources over the internet. This could include services such as analytics, databases, networking, software, storage, processing power and more. Where once we would need to rely on physical devices and local servers we can now access a great deal of resources and tools remotely.
Benefits of cloud computing
There are many benefits of cloud computing for both individuals and organisations.
By utilising cloud services, organisations can reduce the need for significant upfront hardware investments. It allows businesses to scale resources based on demand, meaning they can adjust their services to meet their needs without permanently upgrading their equipment. Whilst this is a benefit for businesses of all sizes, it can help reduce the costs for smaller businesses and offer them a competitive advantage.
It also allows for easier collaboration within businesses. With everything you need at your fingertips it’s become easier for employees to work remotely from anywhere in the world. Businesses can also back up critical data and information, and cloud services carry out updates and maintenance and ensure the technology is up to date.
There are even environmental benefits as using cloud technology can reduce carbon emissions when compared to the IT hardware which was once necessary.
Future trends in cloud computing
Artificial intelligence
One of the biggest right now is Artificial Intelligence. Cloud platforms are gradually adding AI capabilities to their cloud services, allowing more businesses to employ machine learning and data analytics without having to make huge investments to their infrastructure.
Edge computing
Edge computing involves processing data as close to the source as possible. This is faster because the data is processed close to where it's needed without waiting for instructions from a remote data centre. This complements cloud computing by enabling real time data analysis, which is crucial for the likes of IoT (Internet of Things) devices.
Multicloud strategy
Organisations are adopting a multicloud approach and using services from multiple providers to optimise performance. This allows businesses to select services which best match their needs and manage workloads more effectively.
Security
As cyber threats become more sophisticated, cloud providers need to continually enhance their security protocols and offer their users advanced threat detection and mitigation services to protect sensitive data.
Jobs in cloud computing
The increase in cloud computing has led to a surge in demand for skilled professionals. Whilst the job titles, roles and responsibilities will likely vary between companies, the list below will give some ideas at to what kind of work you could undertake in the sector.
- Cloud Engineer – Designs, builds, and maintains cloud infrastructure.
- Cloud Solutions Architect – Creates cloud strategies and designs cloud based solutions for businesses.
- DevOps Engineer – Automates cloud deployments, monitoring, and operations.
- Cloud Database Administrator – Manages and optimises databases hosted on cloud platforms.
- Cloud Security Engineer – Protects cloud systems from cyber threats and ensures compliance.
- Site Reliability Engineer – Ensures cloud systems run smoothly and efficiently.
- Cloud Software Developer – Builds applications and services that run in the cloud.
- Cloud Consultant – Advises companies on cloud adoption and strategies.
- Cloud Project Manager – Oversees cloud migration and implementation projects.
- Cloud Product Manager – Develops and manages cloud based products and services.
The tech industry is experiencing huge growth and cloud computing is playing a significant role in the expansion. If you’re hoping to work in IT then embracing cloud computing could open the doors to a number of different career paths.
If you’re looking to learn more about cloud computing, our undergraduate and postgraduate computer science courses are designed to be at the cutting edge of tech and emerging trends.
