How to assess cloud engineer skills

Cloud engineers play a key role in modern business, and may be responsible for managing your organization’s entire digital infrastructure. As remote and hybrid work increases, so does the use of cloud-based software, which facilitates data storage, file sharing, and communication across different locations.

Many modern companies rely heavily on cloud computing for their digital operations, which is why cloud engineers are increasingly valuable and sought after. But how do you ensure your new recruits possess the skills required to perform their duties competently and efficiently?

Practical skills are difficult to prove with traditional resume-based hiring. Instead, use TestGorilla’s talent assessments to gain objective evidence of your candidates’ abilities before you hire them. Discover what skills cloud engineers need and the tests required to hire the best in this guide.

What’s a cloud engineer skills assessment?

Cloud engineering refers to the implementation, management, and optimization of cloud-based computing software. Cloud engineers are IT specialists who oversee the digital technology that’s most frequently required by remote and hybrid workers. 

As a result, a cloud engineering skills assessment evaluates the key responsibilities and competencies of a cloud engineer. They also test skills more broadly related to software engineering, such as coding, running tests, and identifying bugs.

A cloud engineer skills assessment typically analyzes the following skills and traits:

• Coding and computer programming

• Cloud computing

• Knowledge of operating systems

• Database management

• Debugging and quality assurance

• Performing software tests

• DevOps and containerization

• Problem-solving skills

• Communication

As a recruiter, you should combine multiple skills tests to cover as many competencies as possible. Evaluate your candidates on hard skills like programming languages, but also ensure you test soft skills like problem solving and critical thinking. This way, you can hire the best, most well-rounded applicants that suit the unique needs of your business and the role.

You should also make sure you know how to write an effective job description (check out this AWS developer job description template for more details).

Why are cloud engineering skills important?

In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, remote work has boomed. Statistics from 2022 reveal that 57% of workers with jobs that can be done remotely say they had rarely or never worked remotely before the pandemic.

However, the cloud was gaining popularity even before the pandemic, with numerous benefits regarding flexibility, internet speed, and global outreach. Organizations around the world have increasingly dispatched physical servers in favor of cloud-based systems. 

To maintain this way of working, companies use cloud-based systems to communicate, share data, and transfer files. As such, they require cloud engineers to create, manage, and optimize their cloud computing platforms so they can operate more digitally and remotely.

Cloud engineers are responsible for the upkeep of digital infrastructure, which includes identifying areas of improvement, resolving inefficiencies, and optimizing business processes.

Here are three key reasons why cloud engineering skills are vital in achieving these goals:

1. Improved cybersecurity

One of the core responsibilities of a cloud engineer is to ensure the digital systems they work with are secure and robust. Since cloud-based networks are more extensive and further-reaching, they are more open to cyberattacks. Your new cloud engineer should have the appropriate cybersecurity skills to identify and resolve vulnerabilities in your operating systems.

Knowledge of multi-factor authentication, encryption, and VPNs are crucial skills that any competent cloud engineer should possess. They should know how to identify weak spots and implement security measures to resolve them. This will ensure your stored data and shared files remain private and only accessible to the relevant parties.

2. Enhanced efficiency

Cloud engineers are also responsible for the day-to-day management and administration of your cloud-based networks. With the right skills, cloud engineers can identify inefficiencies in your systems and recognize areas that can be improved.

Using strong programming skills and expertise of cloud-based systems, your new hire should be able to optimize your organization’s digital operations. This may involve redirecting networks, recommending new tools, or boosting connection speed.

With enhanced digital efficiency, your company can streamline its operations. Employee productivity and retention rates will increase, since staff members will feel more equipped to do their jobs without technology failing them. You’ll increase revenue and drive growth by maximizing the efficiency of your cloud systems, which is why cloud engineering skills are exceedingly important.

3. Reduced operating costs

In a similar vein, cloud engineers can find ways to maximize the cost-effectiveness of your digital operations. Comprehensive knowledge of cloud-based systems, trends, and tools can allow your cloud engineers to find more cost-effective alternatives to your current processes.

Hiring a candidate with cloud engineering skills will benefit your organization because your new recruit may be able to identify inefficiencies and introduce cost-saving solutions to rectify them. This could mean eliminating an unnecessary tool or process. In this way, you’ll maximize your efficiency and reduce your overall operating costs.

What skills and traits are important for cloud engineers?

Successful cloud engineers require a lot of technical skills to complete their day-to-day job responsibilities. Candidates should demonstrate a combination of hard skills, such as computer programming, DevOps, and cybersecurity knowledge, and soft skills, like problem solving and critical thinking, to ensure they succeed in their roles.

Here are the top skills and traits that you should look out for when hiring a cloud engineer:

Computer programming

Computer programming is a vital skill that all cloud engineers should possess. The best candidates will demonstrate an aptitude and deep understanding of multiple coding languages, such as Python, SQL, and C++, which will help them manage and optimize your cloud-based networks.

With strong computer programming skills, your candidates can develop the right cloud architecture to suit your requirements. A knowledge of different languages will allow your new hire to manipulate data to build effective and functional cloud systems. 

Knowledge of operating systems

Cloud engineers will frequently work with operating systems as part of their duties. During your hiring process, the most skilled candidates will demonstrate a firm grasp of operating systems like Linux, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform.

With operating system knowledge, cloud engineers can manipulate, store, and input data to create the foundational systems and processes of your organization. Familiarity with your company’s operating system will ensure your next cloud engineer can develop and implement successful security measures, customized servers, and efficient business processes.

DevOps

DevOps (a term formed from the words ‘development’ and ‘operations’) is one of the most widely used frameworks in cloud computing. Understanding the concept of DevOps and its best practices will enable your new cloud engineer to collaborate with other developers to create IT infrastructure and implement DevOps principles within your company.

Our DevOps test evaluates candidates on a range of cloud skills, including knowledge of operating systems and applying core programming concepts to business models. DevOps is a crucial skill that cloud engineers should possess.

Cybersecurity skills

The systems that cloud engineers work with are more open to cyber threats. This is because cloud-based networks are broader and aren’t connected to a physical server, which can be protected more easily. Instead, cloud engineers must develop and implement cybersecurity measures to ensure your company’s infrastructure is well protected.

As such, cloud engineers require strong cybersecurity skills. This involves a solid understanding of cybersecurity protocols, potential threats, and the appropriate measures for different problems. Your new hire must also be able to implement these solutions proactively, preventing cyberattacks before they happen.

Problem solving

To successfully identify threats and implement cybersecurity measures, cloud engineers must have excellent problem-solving skills. As such, your candidates should demonstrate adept critical thinking during the recruitment process, because these abilities can help ensure the efficiency and security of your organization.

For instance, a cloud engineer may be required to optimize software or bolster your company’s cybersecurity protocols. To do this, they must first identify errors, inefficiencies, or vulnerabilities in the existing systems and come up with cost-effective ways to eliminate them. This requires strong problem-solving skills, which is why they are essential for cloud engineers.

Database skills

Your company will likely use various databases to store information and data, which cloud engineers frequently access when building or managing software projects. Consequently, an understanding of database management and administration is critical for all cloud engineers.

While your new hire may not be required to create databases, they should be able to understand how they work. Cloud engineers should know how to retrieve, export, and edit information within the databases, simultaneously ensuring the security and integrity of the database itself.

Skills and traits tests

Since cloud engineering is a modern occupation, you need modern recruitment methods to source the best talent. Traditional resume-based hiring is vastly insufficient for hiring software developers and cloud engineers, as recruiters cannot accurately ascertain each candidate’s true skill set without tangible proof.

This is why skills-based hiring is the future of employment. You can use talent assessments to evaluate the hard and soft skills of your candidates, giving you definitive proof of their abilities before you invite them for an interview. You’ll waste less time speaking to unqualified candidates and accelerate the time it takes to hire.

There are plenty of skills and traits tests available in TestGorilla’s library that you can use to hire cloud engineer specialists. Here are six skills tests we recommend using to recruit top talent:

Cloud system administration test

First and foremost, cloud engineers must possess a comprehensive knowledge of cloud-based systems and operations. Using our Cloud system administration test will ensure your candidates demonstrate keen abilities in installing, configuring, and maintaining computer operating systems.

Our comprehensive Cloud system administration test will assess participants on the following:

• Windows system administration

• Operating systems

• Linux administration

• AWS/Azure cloud

• Networking

This test is for intermediate-level engineers and above, so it may not be relevant if you’re hiring for a junior cloud engineer or software developer. Otherwise, it’s ideal for candidates to demonstrate significant abilities in cloud computing.

Microsoft Azure test

Microsoft Azure is a popular cloud platform that many organizations use to facilitate file sharing, communication, and data storage. If you’re one of the 56% of companies worldwide that use Microsoft Azure for your cloud services, it’s worth testing whether your candidates have the competencies to easily adapt to your business operations.

You should use our Microsoft Azure test in your recruitment process to gauge a candidate’s knowledge of the platform. The test evaluates expertise in security, performance efficiency, operational excellence, reliability, and cost optimization related to Microsoft Azure.

Python (coding): entry-level algorithms test

Computer programming represents a large part of a cloud engineer’s responsibilities. Regardless of whether you’re hiring for a specialist cloud engineering position or a general software developer role, coding skills are essential.

Our Python (coding): entry-level algorithms test will help you evaluate your applicants’ fundamental understanding of the Python programming language. Since Python is a popular all-purpose coding language, it’s a valuable skill that your candidates should possess.

The test itself contains a short and straightforward coding task, which assesses candidates’ abilities to interpret, write, and implement Python code. At the end of this entry-level test, the participant’s code will be tested to see if it works correctly. High-performing candidates will be able to create functional code quickly and efficiently.

Software engineering test

Cloud engineers are essentially software engineers with a specialism in cloud computing. As a result, your new hire should possess all the fundamental abilities of a software engineer. This will enable them to perform their duties to the best of their abilities, using foundational industry knowledge to work with databases, algorithms, and data structures.

The Software engineering test from TestGorilla is an entry-level test that you can use to evaluate candidates’ knowledge of computer science fundamentals. It’s ideal if you’re hiring for any software engineer role, including specialist cloud engineers, because it tests valuable analytical and computing skills required in these types of positions.

Cybersecurity test

The remit of a cloud engineer includes assessing cloud-based software to establish cybersecurity threats and potential solutions. As a result, they must possess a strong knowledge of cybersecurity protocols, threats, and measures.

Our Cybersecurity skills test will evaluate candidates based on their technical expertise in cybersecurity. They will be tested on their understanding of key fields such as endpoint, network, and web security, including how to exploit and mitigate potential threats relating to each field.

High-scoring candidates will demonstrate firm competencies in cybersecurity, an important skill for cloud engineers. Since cloud-based systems are regularly at risk of security threats, your new hire should be able to identify vulnerable areas in your operations and implement appropriate solutions.

Google Cloud Platform test

Google Cloud Platform is one of the major cloud service platforms (CSPs) on the market. Many organizations use it to build global-reaching applications, leverage large-scale data storage facilities, and scale up their multinational operations. 

Cloud engineers, architects, and developers must possess a strong working knowledge of CSPs. Our Google Cloud Platform test can help you distinguish the top talent from the underperformers because it evaluates applicants’ competencies in security, cost optimization, operational reliability, and performance efficiency related to the Google Cloud Platform.

Cloud engineering skills assessment FAQs

Want to learn more about cloud engineering skills assessments? Read the following answers to frequently asked questions for more information.

What are the must-have skills for a cloud engineer?

A cloud engineer is responsible for managing various digital tools and cloud-based operating systems. As a result, a strong understanding of cloud computing, databases, and digital structures is essential. Additionally, knowledge of cybersecurity, computer programming, and DevOps is important for the role.

What makes a great cloud engineer?

There are many facets to a cloud engineer’s role. The best cloud engineers possess a range of hard and soft skills, such as computer programming knowledge, problem-solving skills, and cybersecurity expertise. Highly qualified cloud engineers will be familiar with many popular coding languages and operating systems like SQL, Python, Linux, and Microsoft Azure.

What does a cloud engineer do?

A cloud engineer is an IT professional who specializes in developing, maintaining, and optimizing cloud infrastructure. Cloud engineers fulfill numerous duties, including cloud architecture (building networks), cloud development (programming systems), and cloud administration (testing and optimizing cloud-based networks).

How TestGorilla can help you find skilled cloud engineers

Technical jobs like cloud engineers can be difficult to recruit for, particularly if you don’t fully understand the discipline itself. Even if you’re well-versed in software engineering, you must ensure your new hire possesses all the relevant technical skills required to manage your company’s digital infrastructure.

To hire skilled cloud engineers with proven practical competencies, use TestGorilla. Our talent assessments let you evaluate your candidates on their relevant cloud engineering skills before you invite them for an interview.

The tests (up to five) that comprise a TestGorilla assessment are short, meaning you won’t elongate your hiring process. In fact, you’ll reduce time-to-hire metrics because you can instantly source the best candidates and invite only the top performers for interviews. You won’t waste time speaking to underqualified candidates, and you’ll minimize unconscious bias in your recruitment process.

Get started with TestGorilla

Looking to hire skilled cloud engineers? Our talent assessments can help. Each test is designed by an appropriate subject matter expert and supported by science, ensuring that the test’s content is relevant and sufficiently challenging.

Hiring your next cloud engineer through skills-based recruitment will bring numerous benefits to your company. You’ll source the best talent for your open position and ensure they’re a great fit for your organization. You’ll also reduce training costs and improve employee retention rates.

Start recruiting intelligently and get your free TestGorilla plan today. You’ll find highly skilled cloud engineer candidates in no time.