CompTIA Helps Achieve Liftoff to the Cloud in Malaysia

If you work in today's technical industry and your job title contains words like "transition" or "transformation," you had better have a solid grasp of cloud computing for your job security and your employer's success.

For IT veteran Jimmy Hooh, whose professional moniker has both, CompTIA played a major role in accomplishing just such a task.

Hooh, transition and transformation manager for HP Malaysia, turned to his industry's global trade association for a solid foundation in the ever-expanding cloud sector through his CompTIA Cloud Essentials certification in early 2012.

“CompTIA Cloud Essentials is the best certification because it covers a range of cloud computing principles and concepts from both the business and technical perspectives,” said Hooh.
 
He noted that folks who pass the exam have a better understand of “what’s involved in moving information to the cloud, and what the important considerations are.”

In general, cloud computing is defined as anything that involves delivering hosted services over the Internet. The name of the concept itself, which has been around for years, is derived from the cloud symbol used to represent the Internet in flowcharts and diagrams. The cloud can be private — through a proprietary network or data center — or public.

The reason Hooh and more of his peers are clamoring for cloud computing expertise is the speed with which all kinds of businesses across the globe are being powered by the cloud.

Computing giants including Amazon, Google and Microsoft are competing for that growing business revenue with their own public cloud computing services.

The reality is that this off-site, shared network of resources allows a company to accomplish a lot more computing with a lot less in the way of resources, manpower and expenditures.

Hooh, who counts CompTIA Project+ among his industry certifications, knew he needed a solid understanding of cloud computing and how it can be applied to his project management work. He now considers himself equipped to address both the risks and rewards of governing a cloud-based system.

CompTIA Cloud Essentials, Hooh said, offered the foundation upon which to build.

"As a start, CompTIA (Cloud Essentials) certification will provide a basic knowledge and understanding of the terminology used in the cloud and (help) to move to the next level of cloud specialty certification," he said.

Hooh said he's already reaped the benefits of understanding the concepts involved to better advise customers who have come to him seeking guidance. As for his employer, Hooh said he envisions putting his newfound knowledge to use to help HP Malaysia increase IT responsiveness and flexibility while lowering expenditures and overhead.

Hooh described the benefits of his and other organizations doing business in the cloud as giving co-workers and clients the freedom and flexibility of doing business by "joining the conversation."

If that's the case, Hooh now has the tools to serve as interpreter.