Cloud Computing vs Cybersecurity: Which career path is right for you?

At present, two fast-evolving domains are garnering the attention of future professionals namely cloud computing and cybersecurity. While both of these are considered rewarding and offer massive growth opportunities, many feel torn while picking the right one for them. So, which of the two is most suited? Let’s dive deeper and deliberate its nuances and prospects.

Cloud computing is altering how businesses function in the technology sector. By providing on-demand access to IT resources such as storage, computing, and networking without the need for costly on-premise hardware, today it has enabled companies to scale their infrastructure rapidly to meet the fast-shifting demands of their target audiences.

As per Fortune Business Insights, the global cloud computing market is anticipated to reach USD 2,291.59 billion by 2032, exhibiting a CAGR of 16.5% during the forecast period – 2024 to 2032. These figures indicate the rising potential of the field in times to come. Thus, the future is bright for individuals hoping to forge a career in cloud computing. Such aspirants will primarily be responsible for developing applications and managing or building cloud infrastructure.

Cybersecurity focuses on protecting infrastructure and applications from cyberattacks or data breaches. By 2029, Statista reports that the revenue from cybersecurity is expected to grow at a CAGR of 7.92% annually, resulting in a market volume of US $271.90 billion.

Moreover, as the occurrences of cyber attacks are increasing, there is bound to be a massive demand for cybersecurity professionals in the future. Those opting for this field will be tasked to engage in simulating cyberattacks, and monitoring networks for security breaches, just to mention a few.

Among the most sought-after job roles, both cloud computing and cybersecurity require diverse skill sets. Key talents for a successful career in cloud computing include proficiency in DevOps, understanding of cloud platforms such as AWS, Azure/ GCP, as well as Linux scripting, and security operations. When it comes to cybersecurity, knowledge of network security, cryptography, ethical hacking and regulatory compliance is a must.

Besides, typical job roles and responsibilities also differ between these two fields. In cloud computing, an aspirant becomes a cloud architect, cloud developer or cloud administrator. In cybersecurity, the career paths of a security analyst, ethical hacker, security architect, incident responder or forensic analyst are open. Interestingly, the said fields seem to be rewarding given the major upsurge in the current IT market.

Glassdoor highlights the average salary of a cloud engineer in India to be INR 8 – 12 LPA, while Ambition Box reflects the average salary of a cybersecurity professional in the range of INR 7 – 19 LPA.

So which of these two should one go for? The answer lies in the interests, strengths and career goals of an individual. If creating scalable architectures, automating development workflows and building the IT backbone of a company sounds thrilling, one can choose cloud computing.

Conversely, if safeguarding data and ethically hacking into systems is appealing, cybersecurity should be the calling. To break this down further, those who enjoy programming ought to consider a career in cybersecurity; in case coding is not an area of interest, cloud computing is more apt.

To conclude, cloud computing and cybersecurity are promising fields that require talented and skilled professionals. While the demand for such professionals is at an all-time high, it is advisable to opt for the one that aligns more closely with an aspirant’s interests and long-term goals. Ultimately, both domains offer opportunities for continuous learning and personal development, enabling professionals to carve their niche in the job market.

(The author is the CEO of Intellipaat)