The growing demand for AI and cloud services 2025

In 2025, the cloud skills gap is not only real—it is evolving. It’s more than just knowledge of cloud platforms; it reflects the integration of artificial intelligence (AI), multi-cloud strategies, security and compliance.  

Understanding this landscape is critical for organisations wanting to remain competitive, innovative, and resilient.  

FDM Director of Skills Lab, UK and EMEA, Gangotri Bhatt says   

“I see cloud computing not just as a technological shift, but as a strategic opportunity to reshape how we prepare talent for the future of work. Cloud technologies are fundamental across many industries. They enable scalability and innovation. Although there is a demand in the market, consultants lack hands on experience with platforms like AWS, Azure and Google cloud.” 

However, IDC predicts that more than 90% of organisations worldwide will experience the IT skills crisis, amounting to around $5.5 trillion in losses due to product delays, impaired competitiveness, and business loss. 

What’s in this article?  

• What cloud skills are in demand?  

• Key trends in cloud computing  

• How AI is shaping cloud skills 
  

What cloud skills are in demand?  

By 2030, more than 85 million roles could remain vacant because of a lack of skilled people to fill them.  

The number of new technologies—especially cloud solutions—continues to expand, and the pace of updates and modifications to these technologies is only increasing. For tech teams, staying on top of the latest developments is a formidable challenge.  

Research firm Gartner forecasts that worldwide end-user spending on public cloud services in 2025 will be $723.4 billion, a 21.5% increase from $595.7 billion in 2024.   

So, which cloud skills are becoming more in demand?  

Cloud security  

IT security should be a top priority in most organisations since a single security breach could potentially expose customer data, lead to intellectual property theft, and damage a company’s reputation. The demand for Security Analysts is massive and growing daily, particularly in the cloud domain.  

Machine Learning and AI  

Machine Learning (ML) focuses on the development of computer algorithms that improve automatically through experience and using data. 

Like cloud security, machine learning and AI require skilled professionals, but in today’s landscape, much of this work happens in the cloud. Cloud platforms like AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud provide the infrastructure. Combining expertise in ML and AI with cloud skills, professionals can not only accelerate innovation but also optimise performance, reduce costs, and deliver AI-powered solutions for organisations at scale. 

DevOps  

DevOps can help organisations accelerate software delivery, improve product quality, and respond more quickly to customer feedback. They break down silos between development, testing, and operations, enabling better collaboration, continuous testing, and more frequent, reliable releases.  

In a cloud computing, DevOps become even more powerful. Cloud platforms provide scalable infrastructure, automated deployment pipelines, and integrated monitoring tools that support continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD). This allows teams to deploy updates faster, reduce errors, and scale applications efficiently delivering the benefits of DevOps at speed and scale. 

Programming languages  

Keeping up with the latest programming languages is vital for organisations seeking to innovate and remain competitive. Languages like Python are important for tasks ranging from data analysis to AI and automation. Low-code and no-code platforms allow teams to rapidly develop applications without deep coding expertise. 

By investing in teams who stay current with emerging languages, businesses can accelerate software delivery, improve operational efficiency, and respond more quickly to market demands. 

Operating systems  

Proficiency in operating systems is essential for IT teams managing cloud infrastructure and applications. Linux remains a dominant choice due to its stability, security, and flexibility, but familiarity with other systems such as Windows Server, can provide teams with greater versatility. Being skilled across multiple platforms allows organisations to deploy applications more efficiently, optimise system performance, and reduce downtime.  

Cloud application programming interfaces (APIs)  

By leveraging APIs, businesses can automate routine tasks, connect disparate systems, and deliver more cohesive digital experiences to customers. In a cloud environment, strong API skills allow teams to innovate quickly, scale services effectively, and respond to market demands with agility. 

For further insights, explore our blogs: 

• Cloud computing trends 

• What is cloud back up and why is it important 

• Cloud computing in finance 
  

 Key trends in cloud computing  

1. Hybrid and multi-cloud adoption: Many organisations now embrace a hybrid cloud approach, combining public and private clouds, to optimise cost and performance. Multi-cloud strategies, using multiple cloud providers, are also gaining popularity to avoid vendor lock-in and build resilience. 
2. Serverless computing: Serverless computing is becoming a favoured choice for deploying applications. It abstracts server management, allowing developers to focus on code and enhancing productivity.
3. Edge computing: Edge computing brings computation and data storage closer to data sources and endpoints, reducing delays and enabling real-time processing.
4. AI and machine learning integration: Cloud providers offer AI and machine learning services, making it easier for data analysts to leverage advanced analytics capabilities without extensive infrastructure setup.
5. Containerization and Kubernetes: Containers and Kubernetes orchestration are widely adopted for building, deploying, and scaling applications. This technology facilitates portability across different cloud environments.

How AI is shaping cloud skills  

AI is both a catalyst and a complicating factor in the cloud skills landscape. It’s rapidly becoming embedded in cloud services, from intelligent automation to predictive analytics, and its adoption is shifting the skills required across businesses.  

For organisations, AI presents opportunities to optimise operations, reduce costs, and unlock new revenue streams. Yet it also introduces new complexity. Professionals require the capability to deploy AI workloads in the cloud, understand data pipelines, manage computational resources, and implement appropriate governance structures. The traditional distinction between cloud engineering and AI/ML expertise is blurring, creating a demand for multidisciplinary teams.  

Gangotri believes AI is profoundly reshaping the future of cloud computing across several dimensions: 

• Automation of cloud operations – AI is revolutionising cloud management by automating routine tasks such as provisioning, scaling, and performance tuning, leading to more resilient and self-healing systems. 

• Enhanced security and threat detection – With real-time behavioural analytics, AI can detect anomalies and potential threats faster than traditional methods. It also enables automated incident response, significantly reducing reaction time and human error. 

• Streamlining data organisation – AI can classify, tag, and archive information automatically. It also optimises storage by identifying redundant or unused data, improving cost efficiency. 

• Evolution of DevOps – AI powered tools can automate testing, monitoring, and deployment. Continuous integration and delivery (CI/CD) pipelines are becoming smarter, with feedback loops that learn and adapt over time.  

• Tailored UX – AI enables cloud platforms to deliver tailored user experiences by analysing usage patterns and preferences, allowing for dynamic resource allocation and customised service offerings.  

Organisations that fail to invest in these areas risk exposure to breaches, regulatory penalties, and reputational damage. 

Summary  

The cloud skills gap continues to widen, and it’s no longer limited to technical expertise alone. Businesses now need professionals who can integrate cloud technologies with AI, strengthen security and compliance, and translate innovation into measurable business results. With global organisations already feeling the impact of unfilled roles, lost productivity, and rising costs, bridging this gap has never been more urgent.  

At FDM, we understand these challenges. Our consultants are trained in the latest cloud, AI, and DevOps skills to help organisations stay competitive, secure, and resilient in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.  

Get in touch with us today to discover how our consultants can support your cloud transformation journey.