An increasing number of businesses, including small and mid-sized companies, are adopting cloud computing. It offers increased stability, accessibility, sharing, and security for businesses. According to a recent Gartner survey, worldwide end-user spending on public cloud services is forecast to grow 18.4% in 2021 reaching $304.9 billion, up from $257.5 billion in 2020.

Microsoft Azure is one of the most popular cloud platforms. It currently holds a 1.1% of market share of the web hosting industry. Furthermore, 448 companies use Azure Blockchain Workbench, a versatile cloud service offered by Microsoft Azure.

As Azure's market share grows, so does the demand for qualified Azure professionals. However, getting Azure jobs is easier said than done. Given its complexity, it is a must to get Microsoft Azure Certification to find the right career opportunity. In fact, Microsoft offers several role-based certifications for aspiring cloud computing professionals.

Let's understand why getting such certifications matters for your career.

#1. Set Your Career For Success

With a certification, you can choose from a wide variety of Azure jobs. If you want, you can become an Azure administrator, consultant, pre-sales architect, or a DevOps engineer with the help of a role-based certification. Getting Azure certification is like becoming a specialist, which helps in your career growth.

In the cloud computing world, most vendors and employers prefer to work with professionals who have undergone advanced training. You can also work in different locations and different industries based on your core qualifications and Azure certifications. It could also open remote work opportunities for you. In the current economy, where remote work is on the rise, this seems like an excellent opportunity.

#2. Get More Salary

In the cloud computing industry, better qualifications and work experience often attract higher wages. Microsoft Azure professionals are no exception to this trend. According to Global Knowledge, certified IT professionals often earn higher salaries than those without certifications. Also, your salary increases with the number of certifications you hold.

• An IT professional with six or more career certifications makes $91,643 a year, which is 8% more than the worldwide average. 
• In North America, someone with six or more certifications earns $13,000 more than someone with just one certification.

The increase in your salary will depend on the type of your Azure certification, work experience, and also job location. For example, the average salary of an Azure Fundamentals certified professional was $126,653 in 2020. Azure Fundamentals is the first step on the path to Microsoft’s role-based certifications. It was one of the top 15 highest-paying IT certifications in 2020.

You can talk to your peers or an expert Microsoft recruitment agency to understand which certification will help you land higher-paying Azure jobs in your location. It can help you get higher pay and job satisfaction both.

#3. Become An Asset to Your Company

The cloud computing and the IT industry is no stranger to massive layoffs. Especially the COVID-19 pandemic has had an immense impact on not just UK's but the global economy. The recent news about International Business Machines Corp (IBM) axing 10,000 jobs in Europe, which will affect the UK and Germany the most, is the latest example of job insecurity in this field.

One way to counter such job insecurity is to become a vital asset to your organization. Getting a Microsoft Azure certification indicates that you are willing to improve your skills, which will benefit your organization in the long run.

Most employers recognize and value such commitment, especially in difficult times like this pandemic. It also offers you a competitive advantage in an industry known for its intense competition. As a result, throughout your career, the certifications you receive will serve as more than just credentials.

#4. Sharpen Your DevOps Skills

DevOps is one of the latest technologies in the Microsoft Azure domain, making DevOps engineers one of the most sought-after Microsoft technology jobs. DevOps combines software development and IT operations to provide solutions as per customers' requirements. As a professional, you would want to become a DevOps engineer.

Fortunately, Azure offers a DevOps certification. If you have a fundamental knowledge of Azure, you can become a DevOps engineer. However, you need to have an associate-level certification as an Azure developer or Azure administrator to apply for the Azure DevOps engineer expert certification.

Once you get this certificate, it will open a plethora of opportunities for you. You can work on automating processes, implementing cloud solutions, and monitoring different cloud environments.

#5. Master .Net Integration

NET is a free, cross-platform, open-source developer platform developed by Microsoft. It comes with various tools and libraries that allow you to build almost all types of applications, including microservices, cloud, IoT, mobile, and desktop. If you want to propel your career in the Azure domain, .NET integration is one of the vital skills you will need to acquire.

You will need to leverage the unique integration opportunities offered by Azure when developing applications in the .NET platform. The ease of integration offered by Azure makes it easier to develop apps in the .NET framework. Microsoft offers role-based certifications for Azure developers. These can increase your chances of success considerably.

Parting Words

Microsoft Azure offers several exciting career opportunities for cloud computing professionals. However, you will need to develop your skills to keep your career on track. That's where Microsoft Azure role-based certifications can help. With the rapid adoption of the cloud, especially during the pandemic, developing new Azure skills is fast becoming a necessity. Hopefully, these five reasons will encourage you to learn new Azure skills in the coming months. When will you get your next Azure certification? Tell us in the comments.

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