List of Best Cloud Computing Certifications for 2026

List of Best Cloud Computing Certifications for 2026

Cloud technology offers immense opportunities for those who want to shape their career in the IT sector. So, how do you check if you are skilled enough to work in this lucrative field?

Getting a cloud certification is the best bet, and promoting yourself as a bankable asset. In this guide, we will look at the best cloud computing certifications to take your cloud skills to the next level.

Cloud computing is not so new in the IT industry. Over the years, it has evolved as a field that attracts many IT professionals. And this field has been credited for generating massive opportunities and topping the hot prospect charts.

Cloud can not only offer storage solutions but can also run data centers on the cloud, enhancing efficiency and increasing cash flow for businesses.

Moreover, with the advent of the DevOps methodology, the cloud has become an integral part of any project to speed up application development, deployment, and testing.

What are the Best Cloud Computing Certifications?

Here are some of the best cloud computing certifications that are ideal for an upcoming cloud engineer to shape their career in the right direction.

1. AWS Cloud certifications

This is currently one of the best options for an upcoming cloud technician, as there are a plethora of opportunities. You can become a cloud-based architect or designer and help various companies in setting up their cloud platform.

As a matter of fact, AWS is one of the sought-after skill sets in the current DevOps market.

Being an AWS-certified architect or a developer definitely has an edge over other certifications and might be the best bet going forward.

There are three types of certifications namely Associate and Professional specialties.

Another very good option for you is to become a DevOps engineer, which will catapult you to becoming the most versatile and fruitful asset for any company. This will help you not only get a grip on the program design but also on the networking aspects.

There are some other options as well, such as developer and cloud administrator, which will also create a niche for yourself.

The following are the available AWS certifications

CertificationCertification Category
AWS Certified Cloud PractitionerFoundational
AWS Certified Solutions Architect Associate
AWS Certified Developer - AssociateAssociate
AWS Certified SysOps Administrator Associate
AWS Certified Solutions Architect Professional
AWS Certified DevOps Engineer Professional
AWS Certified Advanced Networking Specialty
AWS Certified Data Analytics Specialty
AWS Certified Database Specialty
AWS Certified Machine Learning Specialty
AWS Certified SecuritySpecialty
AWS Certified: SAP on AWSSpecialty

2. Azure Cloud certifications

This one is probably the best choice for you if you are looking to keep up with the changes in the modern Microsoft cloud-based business.

There are basically two certifications that you can go through when you are looking to work on Azure.

  1. The first one is a cloud and infrastructure course that entitles you to learn about the operation and management of the cloud-based platform. This is a short-term course and enables you to pursue a number of lucrative jobs in the cloud sector, such as a cloud administrator or an information security analyst.
  2. The second certification is a more detailed one and can help you to go in depths of the cloud computing. It will help you in understanding the design, operation, management, and removal of bugs from the cloud network. You can choose among various opportunities like data administrator, designer, or operational executive.

Check out all the available Azure Cloud Certifications.

CertificationLevel
Azure AI Engineer AssociateIntermediate
Azure Administrator AssociateIntermediate
Azure AI FundamentalsBeginner
Azure Solutions Architect ExpertAdvanced
Azure Security Engineer AssociateIntermediate
Azure Data Scientist AssociateIntermediate
Azure Developer AssociateIntermediate
Azure Database Administrator AssociateIntermediate
Azure Network Engineer AssociateIntermediate

3. Google Cloud Certifications

Next on our list is the Google Cloud certification. Currently, Google Cloud has eleven different certifications on the cloud. It covers the following domains.

  1. Cloud Engineering
  2. Cloud Architecture
  3. Data Engineering
  4. DevOps
  5. Network
  6. Machine Learning

The certifications are categorized into the following three

  1. Foundational certification
  2. Associate certification
  3. Professional certification

Check out all the Google Cloud certifications.

CertificationCertification Category
Professional Machine Learning EngineerProfessional
Professional Data EngineerProfessional
Associate Cloud EngineerAssociate
Professional Cloud ArchitectProfessional
Generative AI Leader Foundational
Professional Cloud Database EngineerProfessional
Professional Cloud DevOps EngineerProfessional
Professional Cloud Security EngineerProfessional
Professional Cloud Network EngineerProfessional
Professional Security Operations EngineerProfessional
Cloud Digital LeaderFoundational
Associate Cloud Engineer Associate

4. CompTIA Cloud+ Certification

Another certification that is aimed at making professionals market-ready is the CompTIA Cloud+ certification. The best thing about this certification is the fact that it can help you improve your technical as well as business acumen related to cloud computing.

This proves to be quite beneficial, especially when you start working in a business environment. A highly rated cloud certification for freshers as well as established engineers can improve prospects in the market and enhance income.

Check out CompTIA Cloud+ Certification.

5. VMware Cloud Certification

Another very popular certification is the VMware certification. VMware is a pioneer in the cloud and virtualization domain, so any individual having these certifications will reap huge rewards. From the foundation course to sharpening your skills and the specialized virtualization and architecture design, there are endless options available to you.

Check out all the VMWare Cloud Certifications.

5. Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) Certifications

If you are working on Oracle products or have clients who use Oracle Cloud, having an Oracle Cloud Infrastructure certification will add value to your career.

OCI offers the following certifications.

  1. Oracle Cloud Platform Digital Assistant Certified Professional
  2. Oracle Cloud Infrastructure Certified Architect
  3. Oracle Cloud Infrastructure Observability and Management Certified Professional Certification
  4. Oracle Cloud Infrastructure Certified Developer Professional Certification

Other Cloud Computing Certifications

There are several other options available in the market, but you must look for options that can boost your career. When you get a cloud certification, your income tends to rise meteorically. An average cloud engineer makes around $90K in a year.

But after these certifications, it may go up to around $150, annually, which shows the importance of these certifications.

However, you must analyze the demands in the market before choosing any type of certification to make sure that you can have good career and employment opportunities.

The following are some of the other cloud certifications.

  1. Alibaba Cloud Certification.
  2. HashiCorp Cloud Engineer Certifications
  3. Kubernetes Certifications

Also, if you are looking for a Cloud certification training course and practice test, you can take a look at Whizlabs. Also, with the Whizlabs promo code, you can get up to a 63% discount on cloud certification practice tests.

Job Market Demand For Cloud + AI Skills

The global job market is in strong demand for professionals proficient in both cloud computing and AI.

Based on 2023-2024 surveys, it shows that 67% of tech employers are now seeking AI skills in job candidates.

In fact, AI runs on the cloud, and many AI-related job postings clearly mention AWS, Azure, or GCP experience.

A 2025 analysis of AI engineer job postings found that cloud platform skills were listed in a significant share of roles, such as AWS in 33%, Azure in 26%.

So, this shows that cloud deployment skills are becoming as crucial as machine learning knowledge for AI professionals.

How To Shape Your Career in Cloud Computing?

A cloud certification course will not only give you adequate knowledge and skills to compete in the job market but also provide employers with an opportunity to measure your skills against their requirements.

For example, according to the report, 43% of IT decision-makers are investing in cloud computing certifications for their employees, and 29% say that cloud computing is one of the hardest skills to hire for and is in strong demand.

By enrolling in a cloud-based certification, you will definitely increase your stock in the market and boost your career to new heights.

Fortunately, there are many top institutes that might help you out with an array of cloud-based certifications to shape your career to new heights.

Conclusion

In this guide, we have looked at the best cloud certifications that can boost your career by showcasing cloud skills. There are cloud certifications from beginner to expert level. Choosing the certification level is based on your skills and career path.

Also, if you are a DevOps Engineer looking for certifications in DevOps, look at the comprehensive guide on the best devops certifications.

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