In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, cloud computing has emerged as the cornerstone of innovation and efficiency for businesses worldwide. However, despite its transformative potential, many organisations find themselves facing a significant hurdle: the cloud skill gap.
As the demand for cloud expertise continues to rise, the shortage of qualified professionals poses a formidable challenge to organisational cloud ambitions. But, there are strategies to bridge this gap and embark on the cloud journey without delay.
The impact of the digital skill gap
The lack of digital experts in this space represents a critical barrier for businesses looking to leverage cloud technology effectively. With the increasing adoption of cloud solutions, the demand for skilled professionals capable of architecting, deploying, and managing cloud infrastructure is at an all-time high. However, according to The IT Skills Gap Report by Forbes, there is a noticeable shortage of talent with 93% of organisations reporting a lack of cloud skills.
This shortage not only hampers organisations’ ability to implement cloud solutions, it also impedes innovation, slowing down digital transformation initiatives, and limiting competitiveness in the market. Moreover, the lack of cloud skills can lead to inefficiencies, security vulnerabilities, and increased operational costs, further exacerbating the challenges faced by businesses in today’s hyper-connected world.
Partnering for success: Leveraging external expertise in cloud computing
In the face of the cloud skill gap, organisations must adopt a proactive approach to building and augmenting their cloud capabilities. One effective strategy is to leverage external partners and consultancies with the skills and resources needed in cloud computing.
Those wanting to take advantage of external experts should start by identifying whether you need a temporary augmentation model – recruiting temporary staff to fill the gaps – or if you need a partner who can help you upskill as well. Then, you should set out to find reputable partners and consultants with expertise in cloud computing. It’s important to look for firms with a proven track record of successful cloud implementations and a deep understanding of your organisation’s industry and specific requirements. Once you’ve found a trusted partner, they can help you achieve:
Strategic roadmap: Paving the way for successful cloud transformation
A clear cloud roadmap is crucial, therefore, your chosen expert should work closely with your team to chart a course that aligns technology with business objectives. They should consider factors such as workload migration, application modernisation, and data management, for example. The goal is to create a roadmap that balances short-term wins with long-term vision, ensuring sustained value delivery.
Foundational value: From planning to prototyping
When partnering with an external expert, organisations can tap into a wealth of knowledge and experience that accelerates their cloud journey from planning to prototyping. An agile approach combines expert design, engineering, and delivery skills to rapidly identify and configure cloud platforms for your most advantageous cloud initiatives. By bridging any skill gaps within your team, consultants can foster a culture of experimentation and establish an efficient delivery operating model.
Value accumulator: Scaling success and building internal cloud expertise
As initial wins accumulate, the focus can shift to rapidly scaling your cloud implementations while continuously delivering enduring business value. Experts can also help build your internal team’s cloud skillset, augmenting them as needed to maintain momentum and quality throughout the process. By combining external expertise with coaching, mentoring and a robust hiring plan, organisations can ensure a seamless transition towards self-sufficiency and long-term success in cloud adoption.
Full adoption: Optimisation and efficiency
Partnerships shouldn’t simply end once initial success is achieved. Consultants should guide you through completing complex cloud programs, tackling the “long tail legacy” that often plagues organisations with minimal benefits and high ongoing costs. Together, you can remove these constraints and establish a customised cloud operating model seamlessly integrated across your organisation. This ensures continuous monitoring and optimisation of your cloud capabilities, maximising value and efficiency in the long run.
Cloud iteration: The journey continues
The cloud journey is an ongoing process of innovation, and experienced cloud practitioners should support your business every step of the way. From product design to operations, they should empower your team to develop a continuous cloud improvement model, fostering greater cloud maturity and unlocking broader value drivers such as advanced digitisation, operational efficiency, and competitive advantage. With guidance, your business can embrace the iterative nature of cloud adoption, driving continuous innovation and growth tailored to your specific needs and timeframe.
Unlocking cloud potential
By leveraging external expertise, organisations can bridge the cloud skill gap and accelerate their journey to the cloud without delay. Through collaborative efforts and a commitment to continuous learning, businesses can harness the full potential of cloud computing to drive innovation, efficiency, and competitive advantage. With the right strategy and commitment to skill development, there’s no limit to what businesses can achieve in the cloud.
Gordon Cullum, a skilled technology director, boasts extensive expertise in spearheading strategy, delivery, and consultancy for large-scale evolution programmes across various industries. With a background as a technologist and enterprise architect, his specialities span business intelligence, data warehousing, strategy, and enterprise architecture. Before joining Axiologik, Gordon served as portfolio deputy digital lead at the UK Health Security Agency, where he played a pivotal role from 2020 to 2022. At Axiologik, Gordon oversees all technology services, shaping practice capabilities to meet modern digital delivery needs. Notably, he led the delivery partnership for NHS Test and Trace/UKHSA during the pandemic. Responsible for both internal IT and client-facing solutions, Gordon's dynamic leadership ensures excellence in service delivery, consultancy, and team management.