Building a Culture of Cloud: Transitioning From Consumers to Creators of Talent

Cloud technology is advancing rapidly and has become a key component of many organizations. Pluralsight’s 2023 State of Cloud survey found that 70 percent of organizations have more than half of their infrastructure in the cloud.

However, among this widespread adoption, many technologists are still new to cloud tech, actively seeking ways to improve their proficiency. How can organizations successfully navigate this technological revolution and bridge the cloud skills gap?

Becoming Creators of Cloud Talent

The first step in addressing this challenge lies in reshaping our approach toward talent development. Traditional models focusing on hiring the “right” talent are falling short as cloud innovation advances and the talent shortage cannot keep up. In response, we must transition from being consumers of talent to creators of talent.

This transformation demands we turn our attention inward, focusing on training and upskilling our existing workforce. When we become creators of talent, we build a strong internal pipeline of tech skills that, in the long run, reduces hiring costs and fosters a sustainable culture of learning and growth.

Why Shift to Creating Cloud Talent?

While many organizations have a five-year plan for their cloud strategy, very few have a similar timeline for their cloud talent. This discrepancy results in organizations pouring investments into technology rather than people—a move that doesn’t yield the desired results in cloud maturity.

Additionally, there is a significant disconnect between the desire of technologists to learn and the resources that leaders allocate for upskilling. Despite their eagerness to increase their cloud literacy, technologists are often left without the necessary tools to improve.

Navigating the Barriers to Cloud Fluency

Even as we recognize the need for this shift, certain barriers often obstruct cloud skills development. Budget constraints and perceived high costs of training, combined with teams being too busy, are often cited as the primary roadblocks. However, overcoming these challenges can bring long-term benefits like reduced costs, enhanced cloud security, and greater cloud maturity.

Building a Cloud Culture

Creating a culture of cloud means enabling everyone in an organization, both technical and non-technical, to understand the language of the cloud.

A cloud culture creates a level playing field where both technical and non-technical teams can engage with the cloud and contribute to its strategy and development. By including all employees, you improve system usage and gain more valuable feedback for future developments.

The Role of Continuous Learning and Certifications

Continuous learning and upskilling play a crucial role in building a cloud culture. Offering training opportunities for your technologists to upskill while on the job is key. Online courses in cloud fundamentals, coupled with hands-on learning experiences like cloud sandboxes and learning labs, can provide significant growth opportunities.

Cloud certifications can also help. They are highly regarded in the industry as a strong indicator of cloud fluency and job performance.

Shaping the Future of the Cloud

The cloud is changing the technological landscape, and we must change with it. By transitioning from consumers to creators of talent, your organization can build a culture of cloud that accelerates your cloud transformation and allows you to keep pace with cloud innovations. Are you ready to make the transition?