Cloud Computing and DevOps Engineering: why it’s worth studying in 2025

IT work has become very popular in recent years thanks to high salaries and the potential for continuous development. The Cloud Computing and DevOps Engineering specialties are among the most in demand.

Such professionals will be greatly needed over the coming decades by both government organizations and private companies. What do Cloud Computing and DevOps specialists do, and why is this career worth your attention?

Cloud Computing specialists design, develop, implement and manage cloud services and infrastructure. They study cloud technologies and tools, including virtualization, containerization, data storage, process automation, and more.

Cloud engineers must build and maintain secure, available and scalable cloud solutions, as well as optimize performance and costs for cloud resources.

These specialists play a key role in the digital transformation of enterprises. They lead companies’ migration to the cloud, which is in high demand now and will remain so in the future.

The Cloud Computing profession includes several specializations:

• cloud network administrator;
• cloud architect;
• cloud security specialist;
• process automation specialist;
• cloud DevOps specialist, etc.

Cloud Computing experts are in demand at IT companies, large corporations, startups and small businesses, educational institutions, cloud providers, and government organizations.

DevOps (development & operations) means “development and operations.” DevOps engineers develop, launch and test products online, and provide ongoing support. They serve as the link within the team. A DevOps engineer’s responsibilities include:

• controlling and coordinating the team’s work in an IT project;
• testing performance and analyzing system behavior;
• automating and optimizing software operations;
• managing continuous integration (CI) and delivery (CD) pipelines;
• ensuring application and infrastructure security;
• monitoring and maintenance;
• configuring cloud services;
• optimizing infrastructure, and more.

This is a relatively young area in IT, but such specialists are highly sought after across industries.

U.S. universities offer the best programs and promising internships in IT. Among the best institutions for Cloud Computing and DevOps Engineering are the following universities.

The University of Southern California offers the “Cloud Computing with DevOps Minor” undergraduate program. Students learn to design and implement services on various cloud providers to meet organizational needs.

This specialization focuses on studying multiple cloud providers and designing the architectures of their services to build globally available platforms such as social networks, streaming services, and more.

Students who complete this minor will be able to explain: “What is the cloud and what can it do?” They will be ready to analyze, create and evaluate products built in the cloud. Students learn about DevOps — a methodology that applies software engineering practices to operating digital infrastructure. With these skills, graduates can qualify for roles in technology management or systems administration.

Northeastern University offers a wide range of IT training programs, including the popular Graduate Certificate in Cloud Computing Application and Management.

The program trains students on a broad set of cloud IT products, including compute technologies, storage systems, databases, analytics, networking, mobile devices, development and management tools, Internet-of-Things connectivity, security and enterprise applications. Graduates are prepared to help organizations improve efficiency, agile development and scalability.

At the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, students can earn a B.S. in Computer Science (CS) with a specialization in cloud technologies.

They gain broad and deep knowledge of the theory, design and application of computing systems with a focus on software systems in the nation’s fifth-ranked undergraduate program in computer science.

Students study software development and information processing methods in various areas: from virtual reality to social computing, artificial intelligence, cloud technologies and data science. More than a dozen innovative CS programs are built on a common set of core courses, ensuring strong preparation for young professionals.


Programs in Cloud Computing and DevOps Engineering are also offered at:

• Louisiana State University — Cloud Computing and Networking program;
• Thomas Aquinas College — Computer Science program with a Cloud Computing specialization;
• Utah Tech University — Information Technology program with a specialization.

These specialties are popular among students thanks to constant growth opportunities and high income. On average, Cloud Computing and DevOps Engineering specialists earn from $120,000 to $150,000 per year.

If you want to become a professional in this field, U.S. universities are the best choice. They not only provide up-to-date, in-depth knowledge but also offer excellent internship and employment opportunities.