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Move Your Career with Cloud

  
We all have heard about cloud computing. The US DoC's National Institute of Standards and Technology formally defines cloud computing as "a model for enabling convenient, on-demand network access to a shared pool of configurable computing resources that can be rapidly provisioned and released with minimal management effort or service provider interaction". Alternatively, to simplify things, cloud computing is just us using a service in which someone rent us computing resources.

Demands for cloud are rising too! The Linux Foundation, along with edX, releases their 2021 Open Source Jobs Report last September, and they found that cloud and container technologies are highly in demand to the point that they surpassed Linux for the first time.

One point that the report made is the importance of certifications. 72% of hiring managers are more likely to hire someone with a certification, and that has been on a rise for the past years.

But what does everything have to do with IBM Z? After all, this is the IBM Z Global Student Hub. Well, among the deployment models of cloud computing is hybrid cloud. Basically, combining the public cloud, private cloud, and on-premises infrastructure to create your IT infrastructure. With its innovative data privacy capabilities, security and resiliency, IBM Z is the perfect platform for hybrid cloud.

You can have reliable data isolation and protection via the cryptographic processors on board, with 99.99999% uptime, and even run Docker containers on z/OS via the z/OS Container Extensions! Plus, no special skills are required, what an application developer would do on a normal x86 machines are almost always the same as on a Z or LinuxONE machine. Same CI/CD pipeline, and the full DevOps integration.

So, let's say you want to start your journey to cloud, where should you start?

IBM provides several courses on cloud computing. If you are completely new to cloud, check out the Introduction to Cloud course! It will introduces you to the concept of cloud computing, and the key components of a cloud architecture. You can also take a look at the many offerings and services on IBM Cloud via the IBM Cloud Essentials course. You can earn badges from the course which you can share with your friends!

What's next?

Well, remember The Linux Foundation's report that hiring managers prefer certified people? The IBM Center for Cloud Training provides certifications and trainings which can help you grow your career. Whether you are an architect, or a site reliability engineer, or an application developer, there are role-based certifications available for you! Even if you're new, there's a learning path for you :)

For a limited time, join the IBM Community Festival on Nov 8 - 17 and join the study session for the #IBMCloudAdvocate certification. You can learn about the concepts of cloud computing and gain foundational knowledge for cloud. 

Interested in something more specific in IBM Z?

If you haven't, do register for the IBM Z Xplore, and learn more about IBM Z! You will also interact with a LinuxONE machine and have the opportunity to experience first hand development works on IBM Z, and interacting with various cloud technologies such as the z/OS Container Extensions! Don't forget to join the IBM Z Global Student Hub and interact with your fellow peers.

So, take the courses, grab your certification, and grow your cloud skills!

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