Managed services IT support closes the cloud skills gap

The enterprise adoption of infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS) as the primary environment for workloads has also seen a dramatic jump. In April 2022, Gartner has forecast that IaaS will experience the highest end-user spending growth in 2022 at 30.6%, followed by desktop-as-a-service (DaaS) at 26.6% and platform-as-a-service (PaaS) at 26.1%.

The rapid pace of cloud services and infrastructure adoption has meant that a large number of organizations are chasing IT talent that specializes in cloud-native technologies. Those who provide managed services can compete with traditional IT firms to attract and retain top IT talent. This article outlines the ways that MSPs can close the cloud skills gap. In the next paragraph, we’ll examine the skills that MSPs offer their clients beyond their four walls. Read on to learn more.

Cloud Skills Gap

Cloud adoption is accelerating across all industries, fostering agility and innovation. But implementing cloud technology is a complex undertaking, requiring expertise and skills that many companies do not possess. According to 451 Research, 86 percent of companies are experiencing deficiencies in the cloud skills gap. In fact, these problems are hindering efforts to transform organizations and implement cloud services. But there are ways to close this gap, and here are five:

First, it’s important to realize that the skills gap is an ongoing challenge. Luckily, managed services IT support can help close it. By providing cloud-specific training and support, clients can avoid hiring inexperienced employees or outsourcing cloud-related functions to less experienced staff. In addition, outsourcing the management of cloud applications, infrastructure, and security is a cost-effective way to improve overall organizational efficiency.

Whether your company needs to implement cloud platforms or implement an enterprise application, a managed services IT support team can help you close the skills gap. The healthcare industry, for example, is particularly vulnerable to breaches and could be the target of 79 percent of cyberattacks in 2020. Without an adequate team to manage cloud security, the company’s business could fall prey to cyber-attacks. By outsourcing IT support, healthcare organizations can free up their internal IT staff to focus on innovation and other aspects of their business.

When considering the benefits of cloud computing, it is important to consider the challenges of adopting it. Many in-house IT teams lack the skills to manage cloud-based applications and software. Using in-house IT teams to manage cloud projects can be costly and time-consuming. In addition, in-house teams may lack the skills to keep up with the ever-changing environment. Furthermore, IT staff with cloud expertise are highly sought-after but often lack experience and knowledge.

Hiring Gap

Hiring cloud skills for managed services IT support requires a cloud engineer with strong communication, presentation, and writing skills. In addition to having a solid understanding of cloud technologies, he or she must be able to work with multiple disciplines and clients. Additionally, the IT engineer should possess strong analytical and problem-solving skills, as well as the ability to communicate complex issues to non-technical personnel. The candidate should be able to define the elements of a solution without all the required information, and be able to document any reasonable assumptions made in making a decision.

Whether you’re looking to increase productivity or lower operating costs, healthcare organizations are facing a major problem: a skills gap with their own IT team. According to one survey, 86 percent of companies reported a skills gap. These skills range from cloud platforms to artificial intelligence, machine learning, data analytics, and IT integration. Hiring cloud support teams can solve these challenges and free up in-house staff to focus on innovation and growth.

While hiring in-house teams can increase efficiency and productivity, they may not be familiar with the intricacies of cloud computing. For example, cloud-based app development workflows can accelerate the delivery of new software to end users. However, if these processes are not adopted and managed correctly, the value of cloud services is limited. A cloud environment can be a highly flexible place to host your data. The potential for security breaches and other risks is high.

A team member’s role will vary depending on the type of cloud computing experience he or she brings to the table. A cloud expert should be capable of establishing a rapport with other AWS account team members. The ideal candidate should be available to work outside normal business hours, be flexible, and be proactive. Hiring cloud skills for managed services IT support requires a commitment to a client-centered approach to service delivery.

MSPs compete for IT talent

As the global demand for cloud services continues to grow, managed service providers are facing challenges finding the right people to staff their growing business. Companies that have traditionally cultivated their own IT talent are now competing with cloud service providers, as-a-service platforms, and SaaS application providers. Moreover, as the COVID-19 pandemic receded, the Great Resignation took hold. IT talent is scarcer than ever, and the competition for the best candidates is fierce.

The availability of cloud services has changed customers’ buying habits. In fact, according to a recent CompTIA study, three-quarters of solution providers have customers that purchase technology directly from online marketplaces. The trend is increasing the demand for cloud services, which is where MSPs can benefit from their cloud skills. With the rise of cloud services, MSPs must make their cloud offerings align with customer needs and ensure that their customers are satisfied with their service.

MSPs must also have the right cloud skills to compete successfully. They need to have a clear strategy and a sound approach before hiring staff and buying equipment. Without the right expertise and experience, MSPs can’t succeed. However, this is not a guarantee. For MSPs to be successful, they need to be financially stable and have the skills to offer superior cloud services. It is important to know the technical and business skills of their employees.

Despite these concerns, most MSPs are optimistic about the future of the managed services market. In fact, half of respondents are bullish about the market and their business prospects. While customer spending will resume and interruptions will subside, savvy MSPs have used this opportunity to shore up their business, expanding into new services and making aggressive marketing efforts. This will be a challenge for them, but it will be an opportunity for them to expand their services and build a better customer experience.

Providing expertise beyond your four walls

A large portion of the cloud skill gap will be filled by the reskilling of existing employees. While this may sound like a good idea in theory, it is not practical in the real world, given the speed at which cloud technologies change. While hiring certified employees might be a good idea in theory, it is expensive and time-consuming to keep up with all of the latest developments. Outsourcing this work to third parties can prevent a similar scenario.

A key component of a good cloud worker’s skill set is a deep understanding of cloud technologies. Cloud native development requires a multi-disciplinary knowledge of infrastructure, security, and API integration. This requires training, ongoing education, and development, as well as a thorough understanding of cloud infrastructure and applications. Additionally, new cloud employees need to be educated in the culture and the technology they are working with.

Educating existing staff is another important part of closing the skills gap. In addition to educating existing employees, companies can also offer incentives to become certified. For example, Google, AWS, and Microsoft all offer various certifications. Connection can help your company deploy this training program. Ultimately, the skills gap will be filled by educating current employees and hiring new employees. By educating them on cloud security and cybersecurity, companies can have a more productive workforce in 2022.

Investing in IT talent to ensure the success of cloud adoption requires re-defining the hiring approach. The skills needed to manage cloud services effectively are available, and organizations must create a culture that recognizes IT as the lifeblood of the organization. Ultimately, this means re-tooling their hiring processes for the post-pandemic normal. The skills needed to implement cloud adoption should be prioritized in business processes and not purely on cost savings.

Providing a liaison between your IT department and your solution provider

According to a recent 451 Research survey, there is a massive skills gap in cloud computing. This problem is compounded by the fact that cloud migration is not just a simple shift of workloads to public clouds. Many companies lack the skilled professionals necessary to effectively manage and operate cloud-based applications. While many companies are investing in the latest technology, skills shortages persist. In order to overcome these challenges, managed services IT support can help organizations bridge this gap.

The skills needed to manage the cloud are more than just technical. For instance, cloud specialists need multi-disciplinary expertise, including infrastructure, information security, architecture, financial operations, and coding experience. They also need certifications in areas such as cloud security. This means that an in-house IT team cannot keep up with the rapidly changing nature of cloud computing. Managed services IT support closes the cloud skills gap.

Managing the complexity of cloud technology is essential for successful business and IT transformations. With cloud technology entering its teenage years, the focus is moving from adoption to management and integration. Whether your organization uses on-premises IT or multiple off-premises hyperscale and sub-hyperscale suppliers, cloud management is an ongoing process. Skills are necessary to secure, administer, and optimize the entire cloud estate.

While managing the IT skills gap may seem like a simple task, it’s not. There are many issues that can crop up, such as downtime before an issue is resolved, employee turnover, and decreased revenue. Organizations don’t have the time to train their internal IT teams. For these reasons, they can’t afford to waste valuable resources training them. In such a case, it’s a good idea to partner with a managed services provider.

What Relevantz Can Do for You

 

Relevantz has been helping enterprises in their cloud journey with our comprehensive cloud management support with ongoing monitoring and incident management to manage, optimize and enhance cloud efficiency.