Leveling up your skills is one of the significant parts of any career. If you do not upgrade your skills in the tech industry, you will have a quite challenging time working in the industry for many years. So, know where you want to put your efforts.
As an Azure developer or manager, you need to advance your learning. Nowadays, it is all about being the tool master. So, in this article, we will talk about the top 7 skills for Azure that are in demand in 2024.
Let’s begin!
What are Azure Skills?
Azure skills are about getting proficient in Microsoft’s cloud computing platform. These skills are important for people and organizations, too. If you want to leverage cloud services to provide innovative solutions, you must focus on the skills that can enhance agility, efficiency, & scalability.
Azure skills include cloud infrastructure management, network virtualization, data analytics, artificial intelligence, and machine learning. In addition, proficiency in Azure DevOps, Azure Security, and Azure Governance is required to ensure the correct administration and security of Azure resources.
7 Azure Skills to Advance in Your Career
There are many advanced Azure cloud computing skills you need to focus on, but some of them are moving quite fast. So, here are the 7 skills you need to update if you are a cloud expert and looking for more specialized Azure certification.
- Artificial Intelligence / Machine Learning (AI/ML)
As you embark on a journey of learning Azure platform optimization techniques, do not forget about AI and ML. AI and machine learning specialists will grow by 40%, or 1 million jobs are expected to rise in the next 5 years – World Economic Forum.
The study shows that you need to grow in these skills. Even if you do not have a technical role in your company, you can still leverage it for your benefit. Maybe you think that you are a programmer and you don’t need to learn AI, but it is still important.
Remember that AI is no longer just a technical ability; it impacts everyone, and tools like ChatGPT, GitHub Copilot, Synk Code, and Mintlify are transforming the way we operate.
- Migration
Digital transformation is a constant journey now. Even companies with mature cloud services are still adding to their technical infrastructure and switching to new technologies for a better future. Regardless of the cloud services you choose, you must ensure that the data flows smoothly. Therefore, data migration is an important factor for you.
It is significant for every phase of the cloud lifecycle. Whether moving the cloud to a new CSP or just developing API, a fine strategy for data migration is important. In short, you must know your way through the correct data migration process. If you understand how to ensure data integrity and safe transfers while minimizing downtime, you will be in great demand in the multi-cloud era.
- Database Development in Azure
Data is everywhere. Be it a simple business application or a complex module of your HR systems, it all works on data. So, when you think of learning cutting-edge Azure service development, you need to be proficient in database creation for Azure. It requires technical skills for efficiently storing, retrieving, and modifying this data. Azure provides several database services to meet specific data requirements, including Azure SQL Database, Cosmos DB, and Azure Database for PostgreSQL/MySQL.
Azure’s cloud database services are designed to be scalable and high-performance. Azure developers must understand how to design and optimize these databases to handle varying workloads and keep apps responsive even as user needs change.
To ensure the security of sensitive data, Azure developers need to be well-established in techniques of encryption, authentication, and authorization. Moreover, they need to ensure that it complies with regulatory needs such as GDPR or HIPAA.
- Storage
The way you store data is as essential to the productivity of Azure services as how you transport it. Azure provides a range of storage solutions for your valuable data, and knowing how to select the best one for the job will significantly improve the performance, security, and cost-effectiveness of your cloud operations.
Storage skills are in high demand right now, as many businesses seek to maximize their cloud spending in the face of adverse economic conditions.
Having the skills required to pick, move to, and properly set up the most appropriate storage option—one that provides optimum performance at the lowest possible cost—will be extremely beneficial to any Azure professional right now.
- Security
You might not be a cybersecurity expert, but if you work with Azure systems, you will need to have a deep understanding of solutions to safeguard your data. Even the professionals may not be able to operate the security protocols by themselves or even understand the platform’s security to the core.
However, they will still love to understand best practices for all users. It helps create a united front against any threats or attacks. The Microsoft learning platform is open to everyone if you want to learn.
- Analytics
Data is becoming increasingly important to organizations of all sizes as a tool for making educated decisions.
However, extracting relevant, reliable insights from the insurmountable volumes of data we generate daily is not straightforward. Many firms find themselves capturing massive amounts of data but unable to do anything valuable with it due to a lack of the necessary skills on their team.
Today, there are plenty of tools available to assist business leaders in collecting, cleaning, and analyzing data; nevertheless, getting the most out of such investments necessitates the expertise of a knowledgeable cloud specialist who understands the dos and don’ts of data analytics.
Yes, we get it; there is a plethora of Microsoft Azure analytical tools, and expecting users to learn all of them will be unfair. However, having an understanding of the most suitable for the specific project will be good.
- DevOps
DevOps is one of those cloud technology terms that might feel a little nebulous because it is both a philosophy, a methodology, and a collection of tools and processes. However, when it comes to developing and innovating on Azure, DevOps knowledge is essential.
The development process can be made faster, less expensive, more agile, and safer by being aware of how DevOps operates and ensuring that concepts like collaboration, automation, and continuous improvement are followed.
Proving you have these skills—which can significantly speed up the time-to-market for any organization developing its applications—will make you a coveted commodity in the Azure market.
DevOps is all about iterating and improving, so there’s always something new to learn, no matter where you are in your DevOps journey.
Bottom Line
Now, you probably understand your path of moving to the emerging Azure technologies and trends. Just keep them in mind the next time you decide to upgrade your skills in Azure cloud computing. Learning resources are available with Microsoft, so you can simply go and start learning.
