Academics
Future Looks Bright for Cloud Technology Degree
RALEIGH, N.C. (May 25, 2021) – Cloud technology is taking the world by storm as more and more companies transform their digital services to remote data centers.
And that’s good news for students in Wake Tech’s Cloud Infrastructure Associate in Applied Science (AAS) degree program.
With tech giants like IBM, Red Hat, Lenovo, SAS, NetApp and recent announcements by Google and Apple to locate in the Triangle region, IT jobs are in high demand in the Raleigh area.
From anchoring online learning to supporting remote work, the cloud platform has become more vital to doing business.
And as our nation comes out of the pandemic, many companies, large and small, are looking to implement permanent cloud strategies, which means they’ll need network associates and technicians with cloud skills to make and manage the transition.
“Cloud infrastructure is a hot area, and since the pandemic it’s become even more prevalent because more people are working remotely,” says Cindy Ellison, Wake Tech’s Dean of Information Technology.
The 65-credit degree program provides skills and credentials that qualify graduates for a variety of positions in public and private organizations that use operating system virtualization, cloud computing, or data storage solutions. Formerly the data storage and virtualization degree, the college retooled the program a year ago to better align with industry needs.
The two-year program includes courses in Cisco routing and switching, Microsoft desktop and server operating systems, in-depth training with O/S virtualization. Linux/Unix administration, and unique courses in datacenter storage hardware environments. Instruction in these areas prepares students to take industry certification exams in VMWare, Cisco, Microsoft, CompTIA, and NetApp.
Courses are offered in person at the college’s Southern Wake and RTP campuses or online. The median salary for cloud professionals with two-year degrees is about $85,000 per year.
And for those students interested in earning a bachelor’s degree in information technology, Wake Tech has transfer partnerships with East Carolina University, North Carolina A&T and NC Wesleyan College.
“Anyone who has an interest in computers in general and wants to specialize more in emerging technologies is a good fit for this degree program,” Ellison adds. “If you are looking for a career change, this is also a good place to start.”
Wake Tech’s cloud infrastructure program is unique because of a new Student Data Center on the college’s RTP Campus that allows students to train in a real cloud environment. Known as a hyperconverged system, the six servers combine storage, computing and networking into one system and is comparable to a data center found in a small to medium company. Students are able to practice how to set up and test virtual environments and optimize and transfer data back and forth to the cloud to learn what works best.
Students can also gain work experience with participating tech companies through the Work-Based Learning program while pursuing their cloud infrastructure degree.
NetApp, a hybrid cloud data services and management company in RTP, is one of Wake Tech’s corporate IT partners.
Joel Altman, a senior manager of datacenter operations with NetApp and member of the cloud infrastructure degree program advisory board, said the job outlook is bright for students with two-year degrees, practical experience, and a demonstrated ability to learn.
“The cloud infrastructure degree program at Wake Tech gives students a great foundation and the co-op program helps build on that knowledge and gives them skills they need to thrive in a corporate environment or a large company,” he said. “The hands-on component is so critical so the students can connect the dots of what they learn in the program and what they actually do on the job.”
Ready to take the first step toward a career in cloud infrastructure? Apply and register today for Wake Tech’s fall semester. Learn more about this degree and other IT programs at it.waketech.edu.
