IT departments are an important part of business but what was once focused around the fixing of issues that were hardware and software related has changed. Today’s IT department plays a much more innovative and active role in the business, providing solutions that are valuable to business. As a result, the job descriptions for IT positions are changing businesses move to Cloud. IT employees should not worry, because this is a welcome change.

If you are employed in an IT department, no longer will you spend your days confined to fixing hardware and software related issues. Today’s IT department employees can look forward to the challenges of searching for Cloud computing applications that can cost effectively handle the tasks of the business. With Cloud computing Chief Information Officers will now spend their time focusing on creating business strategies, an exciting prospective, and certainly a change from some of the previous mundane tasks of the Chief Information Officers.

The demand for Cloud architects, Cloud strategy consultants, and Cloud service planners grows on a daily base thanks to the increase in the number of businesses that are turning to Cloud. IT Managers and System Administrators continue to be in high demand and there certainly is no worry that the demand for IT professionals will decrease any time soon.

Do not make the mistake of thinking that Cloud computing will eliminate IT positions. It does no such thing. What it does do is change how services are delivered to consumers, and that means that the skills IT professionals will need are going to change to some degree. In fact, it is a good idea for IT professionals to upgrade their Cloud skills to ensure they have a full understanding and working knowledge. They can then leverage those skills in their workplace and ensure they are able to provide the services needed in the new work environment that includes Cloud.

There are traditional IT job assignments such as hardware configuration, server sizing that may no longer be required by companies, or they may be in less demand, because they are no longer relevant once Cloud services are put into place in a business.

IT managers responsibilities have changed and as a result they need to know how configure software stacks, script writing for Cloud configuration tools like Puppet and Chef, and manage virtual machines (VMs).

There is no need for IT professionals to worry about job loss as long as they take the time to learn the necessary Cloud skills that will help them move forward within their company. As an IT professional, if you choose to develop your Cloud skills, you will not be limited to employment at your current place of employment, but rather keep doors open into your future for new and interesting IT careers. SAP  and other companies offer Cloud certifications.

There is no question, Cloud is here to stay, and ensuring you have the necessary skills means you can look forward to a bright and rewarding IT career that is more fluid than IT careers of the past.