Who is a cloud architect? A vital role for success in the cloud

Who is a cloud architect?

Cloud architects are responsible for managing the cloud computing architecture in an organization, especially as cloud technologies grow increasingly complex. Cloud computing architecture encompasses everything involved with cloud computing, including the front-end platforms, servers, storage, delivery and networks required to manage cloud storage.

The cloud architect role

According to a 2018 report from RightScale, 81 percent of enterprises have a multi-cloud strategy and 38 percent of enterprises view public cloud as their top priority in 2018 — up from 29 percent in 2017. The report also found that cloud architect jobs grew in the past year, with 61 percent identifying as a cloud architect in 2018 compared to 56 percent in 2017.

“The adoption of cloud computing is multidimensional and must be run like a multiyear program, not a fixed-duration project. As a result, the complexity of cloud adoption requires at least one accountable architectural leader to lead the organization through the transformation that cloud computing warrants. This is the task of a role that many IT organizations are now finding to be mandatory — the cloud architect,” according to Gartner analyst Kyle Hilgendorf’s 2016 report “Analyzing the Role and Skills of the Cloud Architect.”

To handle the complexities of cloud adoption, most organizations will want to hire a cloud architect — if they haven’t already. These IT pros can help navigate the entire organization’s cloud adoption, helping to avoid risk and ensure a smooth transition.

Cloud architect responsibilities

According to Gartner, the three main, high-level responsibilities of a cloud architect are:

• Leading cultural change for cloud adoption
• Developing and coordinating cloud architecture
• Developing a cloud strategy and coordinating the adaptation process

While those are the high-level responsibilities, day-to-day responsibilities of a cloud architect, according to Gartner, include:

• Finding talent with the necessary skills
• Assessing applications, software and hardware
• Creating a “cloud broker team”
• Establish best practices for cloud across the company
• Selecting cloud providers and vetting third-party services
• Oversee governance and mitigate risk
• Work closely with IT security to monitor privacy and develop incident-response procedures
• Managing budgets and estimating cost
• Operating at scale

Cloud architect salary

According to data from PayScale, the average salary for a cloud architect is $124,923 per year, with a reported salary range between $82,309 to $185,208 per year depending on experience, location and skills.

Cloud architect skills

Cloud architects are responsible for communicating with vendors to negotiate third-party contracts for hardware, software and other cloud technologies. It’s a constantly evolving field, and the job requires someone who can stay on top of the latest trends and technologies.

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