The skills cloud service providers in South Africa want most

Companies providing cloud support and development services in South Africa say various skills are in high demand in the industry, with the most prominent being DevOps, automation, DevSecOps, FinOps, and cloud security skills.

Several prominent providers, including Synthesis, IPT, DAC Systems, Obsidian Systems, and Autumn Leaf, shared their views on the most in-demand skills in the industry.

Autumn Leaf CEO Grant Bingham told MyBroadband that the company is seeing growing demand for senior DevOps and automation specialists.

“These specialists need to understand different delivery models such as serverless solutions, container-based models, and hybrid architectures,” said Bingham.

However, this wasn’t always the case.

“This demand has changed in recent years as customers progress through their cloud journey,” he said.

“Customers are more educated and more experienced with cloud solutions, and are now demanding improved efficiency, effectiveness, and control in their cloud deployments and spend.”

Synthesis FinOps practitioner Samantha Govender agreed with the need to improve cloud deployment and spending efficiency, adding that FinOps expertise is in high demand.

“Beyond just building and deploying, there is a growing need for cloud professionals who understand the cost implications of their architectural decisions,” said Govender.

“Organisations are realising the importance of controlling cloud costs, leading to a surge in demand for FinOps professionals; this is driven by the need to maximise ROI from cloud investments.”

She said professionals who can combine technical know-how with cost optimisation skills are highly sought-after.

Obsidian Systems managing director and CEO Muggie van Staden told MyBroadband that professionals require a combination of technical and soft skills to succeed in cloud computing.

This includes expertise in cloud platforms, programming languages, networking, security, DevOps practices, and strong communication and problem-solving abilities.

“As a company that supports critical infrastructure for clients, we have seen the shift in cloud computing to encompass expertise in multiple cloud platforms, with support of various programming languages, security and DevOps practices, or as we define it, DevSecOps,” says Van Staden.

“The softer skills of communication and problem-solving abilities outside of known solutions will be held in high regard for those exceptional solution architects.”

IPT chief operations officer Dillon Gray reiterated the need for security skills, highlighting cloud security experts as being highly sought-after.

“With organisations experiencing security breaches in their cloud systems, we see a huge demand for Cloud Security experts,” Gray stated.

He added that this has resulted from a shift in recent years as the move to the cloud forced malicious actors to change their targets and methodologies.

Chief operating officer at DAC Systems Gary Regan highlighted the following skills as being in high demand:

• Dynamics 365 (BC, F&O, CE) Integration and Customisation
• Data Analytics and AI
• Azure Proficiency
• DevOps and CI/CD Practices
• Cybersecurity and Compliance

Referring to Dynamics 365 skills, Regan said developers adept at extending BC, F&O, and CE platforms are in very high demand.

Similarly, those with skills in Azure Synapse Analytics, Power BI, or Azure Machine Learning are highly sought after as they enable businesses to optimise their processes and make timely, data-backed decisions.

By extension, a solid understanding of core Azure services, including compute, storage, networking, and security, is a must when it comes to building enterprise-grade solutions in supply chain, manufacturing, and professional services.

Regan said the demand for DevOps skills is also high.

“Effective DevOps strategies reduce deployment times, minimise errors, and accelerate the roll-out of new features or updates,” he said.

He added that this is vital in time-sensitive industries such as supply chain and professional services.

“Experience with Azure DevOps or GitHub Actions is highly prized.”

He also acknowledged the need for robust security and compliance with cloud computing.

“Protecting sensitive client, production, or logistical data is paramount,” said Regan.

“Professionals well-versed in Azure Security Centre, Microsoft Sentinel, and local regulations like POPIA are indispensable in maintaining robust security postures.”