IT professionals with proven cloud computing talents are in high demand, and 40% of businesses are now struggling to find the qualified employees required.

This widespread cloud migration — boosted by speculation from enterprise — is a brilliant opportunity for the professionals who can demonstrate their experience with recognized cloud certifications. But with dozens of cloud certifications available, and more introduced every month, how do you decide which to achieve?

Using EDUSUM insider industry knowledge, we’ve identified the most in-demand and valuable cloud certifications ready this year. These are the ten best cloud certifications for 2018:

Refer on for an in-detail look at the top 10 cloud certifications of 2018. This list (in no particular order) covers certifications exam from Google, Microsoft, CompTIA, Cisco and many more.

1. CompTIA Cloud+

CompTIA is the world’s top provider of vendor neutral certifications, having distributed over 2.5 million since 1993. Beside longstanding industry certifications, like the Network+ and A+, CompTIA also provides two cloud computing certifications exam: Cloud Essentials and Cloud+.

The CompTIA Cloud+ is a robust entry-level certification aimed at professionals with 1–2 years’ experience operating with networks, storage or data center admin. Not to be frustrated with CompTIA’s Cloud Essentials, which is intended as an introduction to the cloud for non-IT professionals.

Passing the single Cloud+ certification will verify your understanding of cloud models, infrastructure, security, resource management, virtualization and business continuity.

The Cloud+ executes this top list because it provides a great route into cloud technology for professionals who already hold CompTIA certifications. If you hold the Server+, Network+ or Security+, the Cloud+ is the next sensible step.

And new for 2018, CompTIA’s stackable certification exam provides an even more compelling idea to achieve multiple certifications. Achieve both the Network+ and Cloud+, and you’ll be nominated as a CompTIA Cloud Admin Professional. More information on stackable certifications can be found at CompTIA.

That said, you won’t require studying any other CompTIA certifications to sit the CompTIA Cloud+ exam; no CompTIA certifications are marked as prerequisites.

With a wide category of topics, you’ll get a solid base of cloud knowledge, making this certification a glorious way to kick off any career in cloud technology in 2018.

2. (ISC)² CCSP

Migrating your business to the cloud could expose unforeseen security flaws, likely lengthening an already resource-intensive project. There’s a definite need for good cloud security, and the market is assumed to reach £11.5 billion by 2020.

The CCSP certification (Certified Cloud Security Professional) develops and demonstrates cloud security skills at an expert level and is backed by two driving non-profits: Cloud Security Alliance (CSA) and (ISC)².

This high-level qualification builds on knowledge gained from the renowned CISSP — holders of this cert are prequalified to sit the CCSP exam. Otherwise, you’ll need to satisfy rigorous prerequisites, including a minimum of five years full-time work experience in IT.

You’ll demonstrate your expert knowledge of cloud application, platform, and data infrastructure security. You’ll even focus on compliance, legality, audit processes and privacy — particularly relevant with the introduction of GDPR in May 2018.

If you’re responsible for managing and securing cloud environment, (ISC)²’s CCSP is among the best expert-level certifications you can get in 2018.

3. Microsoft MCSA: Cloud Platform

The Microsoft MCSA: Cloud Platform certification links collectively what was earlier Microsoft’s Specialist qualifications (now retired). There is a sum of 5 Azure specific exams — but you’ll only need to pass two to gain this certification:

70–532: Developing Microsoft Azure Solutions

70–533: Implementing Microsoft Azure Infrastructure Solutions

70–534: Architecting Microsoft Azure Solutions

70–473: Designing and Implementing Cloud Data Platform Solutions

70–745: Designing and Implementing Big Data Analytics Solutions

The Microsoft’s new MCSA and MCSE tracks mean that professionals presently get more opportunity in choosing the exams required to achieve their certifications. This means you can now pick the special exams that fit your own interest, expertise and knowledge. You’ll achieve your MCSA in a way that is more personalised to you.

For example, the syllabus covered in the MCSA: Cloud Platform can classify from Big Data to development and infrastructure.

Obtaining it tough to choose which exams to pass in 2018? Chris Pietschmann of Build Azure has moved in to render some potential combinations:

Azure / Cloud Developer

70–532: Developing Microsoft Azure Solutions

70–473: Designing and Implementing Cloud Data Platform Solutions

Azure / Cloud Infrastructure and Architecture

70–533: Implementing Microsoft Azure Infrastructure Solutions

70–534: Architecting Microsoft Azure Solutions

Big Data Architect

70–534: Architecting Microsoft Azure Solutions

70–475: Designing and Implementing Big Data Analytics Solutions

Azure / Cloud Data and Big Data

70–473: Designing and Implementing Cloud Data Platform Solutions

70–475: Designing and Implementing Big Data Analytics Solutions

Azure / Cloud Big Data Developer

70–532: Developing Microsoft Azure Solutions

70–475: Designing and Implementing Big Data Analytics Solutions

With this amount of variety, it’s now more rewarding than ever to achieve the MCSA: Cloud Platform. But why stop there?

4. Microsoft MCSE: Cloud Platform and Infrastructure

The MCSE Cloud Platform and Infrastructure certification recognizes your ability to maintain data centers and builds your knowledge of networking, virtualization, systems and identity management, storage and related cloud technologies. This is Microsoft’s most advanced cloud certification and should be recognized among the top accomplishments of a cloud professional’s career.

The success path to MCSE is now faster than ever — and that’s without even considering EDUSUM’s accelerated online practice exams.

Achieving the MCSA: Cloud Platform and the MCSE: Cloud Platform and Infrastructure needs only three exams — that’s two exams for the MCSA and one supplementary elective to boost your certification to an MCSE!

In fact, while considering every potential elective, the MCSE: Cloud Platform and Infrastructure now hosts ten elective exams to choose from. After all, you don’t have to complete the MCSA: Cloud Platform first, one of the following MCSAs are prerequisites for this MCSE:

MCSA: Windows Server 2016

MCSA: Cloud Platform

MCSA: Linux on Azure

MCSA: Windows Server 2012

As Azure remains to catch up with Amazons large cloud market piece, this is the ideal time to achieve your MCSE certification. What are you waiting for?

5. Microsoft MCSA: Linux on Azure

The MCSA: Linux on Azure certification provides to the one million plus Azure servers working on Linux and provides Linux specialists with a path for transferring their skills right into Azure.

Get certified, and you’ll learn how to deploy, configure, host and manage Linux websites on Azure. You’ll also discover how to take benefit of Azure’s key features, including PowerShell, and study Azure Active Directory, virtual machines and virtual networks utilizing Linux.

6. AWS Certified Solutions Architect — Associate

Amazon Web Services (AWS) is well-established as the cloud market leader with further plans for expansion in 2018.

Launched in 2013, AWS offers three certification tracks: Architecting, Developing, and Operations. Each path is composed of two levels: Associate and Professional.

The initial level of the Architecting track — AWS Certified Solutions Architect — Associate — is made for professionals that want to design and deploy apps and services using AWS. You’ll also learn how to make use of essential cloud features, like scalability, high availability, and geo-redundancy.

Despite doing the first certification in the track, this is by no means entry-level. Before attempting the exam, AWS recommend you take two short implicit courses: Architecting on AWS and AWS Certification Exam Readiness Workshop: AWS Certified Solutions Architect — Associate.

With AWS’ huge market share, building your skills across this platform will give your career a boost in 2018. “AWS will continue to profit from its first-mover advantage, broadest cloud services portfolio and strong awareness among developers,” says cloud research analyst Daniel Liu.

7. AWS Certified Solutions Architect — Professional

Build on your AWS Associate certification with the Certified Solutions Architect Professional. As the highest level in the Architect track, this cert designates you as among the top AWS architects.

You’ll prove your advanced technical skills and experience in designing distributed applications and systems. With this credential, you’ll work to design and build solutions that meet client AWS requirements, recommend architecture and provision AWS apps.

The prerequisites are high — you’ll need to have two or more years’ hands-on experience with cloud architecture on AWS and the ability to provide best practice guidance on architecture across enterprises. Of course, you’ll also need to possess the Certified Solutions Architect — Associate certification.

8. Google Professional Cloud Architect

According to industry experts, Google Cloud Platform (GCP) seems to be growing as quickly as Azure, with usage climbing from 15% to 20% in 2017.

With a reputation for openness that appeals to startups, GCP is an attractive offering to many businesses; Google developed the Kubernetes standard that AWS and Azure now offer and GCP specializes in big data, analytics, and machine learning.

Prove your expertise by certifying with one of Google Cloud Platform’s certifications. Think to achieve the Professional Cloud Architect certification, proving your strength to leverage GCP within organizations.

You’ll get an absolute understanding of cloud architecture and GCP as you design, develop and manage healthy solutions.

With the weight of Google behind GCP, there’s massive potential for the provider to increase its market share. Become an expert on GCP now, and it may pay dividends further down the line.

9. Cisco CCNA Cloud

Cisco is a household name, arranging the industry standard for network equipment — wherever you work, there’s a good chance you’ll be using Cisco equipment.

To maintain its products, Cisco has an extensive range of training and certification available (for a closer look, read this comprehensive Cisco certification guide).

Cisco gives two cloud certifications, both of which make this first list: The Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) Cloud and the Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) Cloud.

The entry-level CCNA Cloud targets IT pros managing as cloud engineers and administrators. It proves your ability to support cloud-based Cisco solutions and that you possess a basic knowledge of cloud deployment and infrastructure.

You’ll require passing two exams to earn this CCNA and training is highly recommended — though not required. Notwithstanding a lack of any official requirements, professionals must still be sensible about their own experience before attempting the two certification exams: CLDFND & CLDADM.

With strong professional experience and networking certifications like the CCENT or Network+, this may determine to be a challenging certification to acquire, primarily through self-study.

10. Cisco CCNP Cloud

The follow-up to the CCNA Cloud, the CCNP Cloud is made to prove skills of administrators, designers, architects, engineers, and data center pros operating in cloud environments.

This certification is trained at experienced cloud practitioners; you should be profoundly experienced in Cisco Intercloud, IaaS and cloud models. Plus, the CCNP isn’t just theory-based and to be flourishing in these exams, you’ll need the skills needed to design and execute cloud and network infrastructure solutions.

Requirements for this cloud certification are rigorous. You’ll need to achieve the CCNA Cloud certification and then successfully pass four exams, covering content on cloud design, implementing and troubleshooting.