One of the best parts of my job, next to the super cool digital communication tools these days, is talking to the experts in the IT training industry. I learn a lot in just those brief instances we work with master trainers and course authors.
I had one such call recently with Peter van Eijk, co-author and trainer for the CCC Cloud Technology Associate course, amongst others. Looking ahead to the 2016 plans for our cloud computing portfolio marketing, I asked Peter what he was seeing in his practice. He broke down the cloud certification uptake for me and defined the demographics of the next wave of cloud certification candidates.
Cloud Adoption and the Adoption Lifecycle
In general terms, this segment is comparable to the early majority in the recognized Innovation Adoption Lifecycle (aka. Rogers’ bell curve). The innovators and most early adopters are in the thick of cloud computing already. They’re learning as they go and have probably made their share of mistakes, or witnessed them enough, to learn from it.
Some may have later taken training to affirm their experience, but in 2016 they’re probably not going to be the ones sitting in cloud training sessions. Actually, they may be, if they’re leading those sessions.
Cloud is Here to Stay
The persistence of cloud computing has now more than confirmed it is here to stay. People are not being convinced to get into the cloud. Rather they are seeing the trend and want to partake in the benefits cloud computing offers.
That being said a lot of people who are working in the cloud have been using a lot of trial and error until now. As with most new technologies, technical skills are an immediate must, but general best practices training lags. This lag has resulted in confusion as to what is meant by the cloud, the benefits and so forth, in discussions between Cloud Service Providers, IT practitioners and business stakeholders.
A core understanding of cloud that many may still be undervaluing is that it offers entirely new ways of working. It is not just a cheaper server or outsourcing of IT.
Recognizing That Cloud Training Helps
A shared, common, understanding of cloud terminology and benefits is definitely a starting point for aligning cloud practitioners. In addition, many practitioners and stakeholders getting into the cloud lack concrete awareness of the structure required for effective cloud implementation and deployment. A situation that is easily remedied with a solid Cloud Foundation training, because there IS structure to help them along now. Many candidates receiving cloud training reported that the shared understanding of cloud concepts propels constructive discussions in their work. Moving beyond figuring out the tools, better conceptual understanding is a definite result of training.
This brings me back to the first point, the cloud is moving along in the adoption lifecycle and the next wave of adopters want the structure their predecessors had to weed out, up-front. In 2016 we can expect better informed late early adopters and the early majority to take up cloud training in order to gain the critical foundation they need to succeed in their cloud endeavors.
About the author
Marketing professional with communications, strategy and management experience across various sectors including:
– IT Training – Cloud and Big Data
– Software Development – enterprise and consumer applications across various verticals
– Digital Financial Services – urban and rural
– Higher Education
Genuinely enjoy helping people with their professional and personal goals by sharing relevant information and insights, in and outside the office. Feel free to connect, just please include a brief introduction if we’ve not met, thanks.
