Cloud Skills that will soon be obsolete – and what to learn instead

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If you’re learning cloud right now – pay attention. Some of the most common skills people still spend hours practicing are already outdated. And within the next 12 months, they won’t be the ones employers are hiring for.

The cloud industry is growing at an incredible pace. According to Gartner, 2025 is the first year where global spending on cloud services will overtake traditional IT infrastructure spending. At the same time, the rise of AI is accelerating this growth even further. Gartner predicts that by 2029, half of all cloud compute resources will be devoted to AI workloads – a massive jump from just 10% a few years ago.

The message is clear: cloud and AI skills are driving the future of tech careers. But here’s the catch – the hiring bar has been raised. Employers don’t just want people who can pass certifications or click around in the AWS Management Console. They want professionals who can design and deliver real-world cloud solutions, automate processes, and demonstrate business value.

So, let’s focus on two things: the cloud skills that will soon be obsolete, and the skills you should focus on instead if you want to future-proof your career and land a high-paying role in cloud.

Cloud skills that are fading fast

Relying on the AWS Management Console

When most people start with AWS, they learn by clicking around the AWS Management Console – spinning up an EC2 instance here, creating an S3 bucket there. And that’s fine for getting familiar with the services. But in real-world environments, teams don’t manually build resources one by one. It’s slow, error-prone, and impossible to scale.

Instead, employers expect you to know how to automate infrastructure provisioning using Infrastructure as Code (IaC). If you’re still relying on the console for production workloads, you’ll be left behind.

Ignoring automation tools

Manually updating security groups or launching instances isn’t just inefficient – it’s risky. If you’re not using the AWS Command Line Interface (CLI) or writing scripts in Python to automate common tasks, you’re going to struggle.

Automation is no longer a nice-to-have – it’s a must. Cloud teams use CI/CD pipelines, scripts, and automation frameworks to move fast and minimize mistakes. In the next 12 months, every cloud professional will be expected to automate deployments and operations.

Skipping Linux

Here’s one that surprises many learners: Linux isn’t optional. The majority of cloud services – from EC2 instances and containers to the infrastructure running AWS Lambda – are powered by Linux.

If you don’t know how to navigate the command line, manage users and permissions, or read system logs, you’ll be at a disadvantage. Employers want architects and engineers who can troubleshoot issues and understand what’s happening beneath the surface.

Building without Infrastructure as Code

Manually configuring environments worked in the early days of cloud. But today, that approach just doesn’t cut it. Every serious cloud team uses IaC tools like Terraform or AWS CloudFormation to define, version, and deploy infrastructure.

By 2026, not knowing IaC will be a dealbreaker for most cloud roles. Terraform in particular has become the industry standard, with CloudFormation still widely used in AWS-focused environments.

Click the image above to watch the ‘Cloud Skills that will be obsolete by 2026’ video from our youtube channel

The skills to focus on instead

Automation with Python and AWS CLI

Basic scripting in Python can make you ten times more efficient. From automating deployments to integrating APIs, these skills show employers you can go beyond manual tasks. Pair that with the AWS CLI, and you’ll be able to build and manage cloud environments in minutes.

Infrastructure as Code with Terraform

Terraform is everywhere. Companies rely on it to manage cloud environments at scale, maintain consistency, and reduce human error. Knowing how to write clean, modular Terraform code, manage remote state, and use workspaces is a huge advantage. Add CI/CD automation to your IaC workflows, and you’ll stand out even more.

Linux administration

Linux powers the cloud. You don’t need to become a full-time sysadmin, but you should know how to:

Work with the Linux command line
Manage files, users, and permissions
Troubleshoot services and logs
Write simple shell scripts

These are foundational skills every cloud professional needs.

Serverless and event-driven architectures

By 2026, serverless will be the default choice for many companies. Services like AWS Lambda, Amazon EventBridge, DynamoDB, and API Gateway make it possible to build scalable, cost-effective, event-driven applications faster than ever.

If you can design and implement serverless solutions, you’ll be positioned for some of the most exciting roles in the cloud job market.

AI-enabled cloud architectures

AI is shaping the future of cloud computing. You don’t need to be a data scientist, but you do need to understand how to design systems that integrate with AI services.

That means knowing tools like Amazon Bedrock for generative AI, SageMaker for machine learning, and vector databases for storing and retrieving embeddings. You’ll also need to be aware of MLOps practices and responsible AI principles so you can design secure, scalable, and ethical AI solutions.

How to prepare for a cloud career that lasts

Here’s the path I recommend for anyone serious about becoming a Cloud or Solutions Architect:

Build a solid foundation – Learn IT basics, Linux, networking, and Python.
Earn role-based AWS certifications – Start with Associate-level and progress to Professional-level, depending on your background.
Master automation and IaC – Get hands-on with Terraform, CloudFormation, and CI/CD pipelines.
Work on real projects – Build, deploy, and troubleshoot real-world cloud solutions. Download our free AWS Cloud Projects guide today.
Develop soft skills – Communication, problem-solving, collaboration, and leadership will set you apart.
Create a strong portfolio – Showcase your projects and highlight the business value you’ve delivered.

The key is to combine certifications with practical, job-ready experience. Employers want to see that you can apply your knowledge to real-world problems – not just pass an exam.

Build future-proof skills today

The cloud industry is booming, but it’s also changing fast. Skills that were useful a few years ago won’t be enough to get you hired in 2026. The future belongs to cloud professionals who can combine certifications with automation, IaC, Linux, serverless, and AI-driven architectures – plus the communication and collaboration skills that technology alone can’t replace.

That’s exactly what we focus on in the Cloud Mastery Bootcamp. Through scenario-based challenges, real-world projects, and group collaboration workshops, you’ll gain the experience hiring managers want to see. We also provide career coaching and guidance to help you build your portfolio, strengthen your resume, and connect with the right opportunities.

Our graduates have transitioned from retail, logistics, and many other backgrounds into high-paying cloud careers in as little as 6–8 months. They succeeded because they learned the skills that matter.

If you’re ready to start building in-demand cloud skills, now is the time to act. The job market is competitive, but the demand is there for those who prepare. Focus on the skills that matter to employers and you’ll set yourself up for a future-proof career.