Rackspace Addresses Cloud Computing Skills Shortage with Launch of Open Cloud Academy

SAN ANTONIO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--New research, including a survey of 1300 companies commissioned by Rackspace, the open cloud company, has found that more than half of organizations’ cloud deployments are being hampered by a shortage of cloud computing skills.

“The Open Cloud Academy can help turn the tide by offering highly sought after technical training to the public, bolstering the this scarce pipeline and helping fill the countless number of roles in San Antonio and beyond.”

The research, conducted by Manchester Business School and Vanson Bourne, found that two thirds (66 per cent) of companies surveyed are now looking to increase their IT skills to the levels required to manage cloud computing deployments. However, 56 per cent were not aware of any courses that enable IT professionals to up-skill for the cloud era.

The survey of 1300 organizations in the UK and US¹ also revealed:

42 per cent of organizations have had to hire IT professionals specifically for their cloud computing skills
43 per cent of companies are finding it difficult to find IT professionals with cloud computing skills
79 per cent reported that universities and colleges need to incorporate cloud IT skills into any relevant syllabuses they offer

Bridging the gap

To address these shortfalls in both skills and training, Rackspace Hosting has today opened the doors to its Open Cloud Academy by launching a pilot training program. The Open Cloud Academy is an educational program designed to provide students with affordable IT certifications, specifically around open cloud technologies.

As the open cloud company, Rackspace fully understands the importance of a cloud-competent workforce, having launched the largest commercially-operated open cloud platform based on OpenStack in 2012. Rackspace is taking considerable measures to bridging the IT skills gap by not only offering internal training to current employees, but now offering these courses externally.

“The cloud era represents a huge opportunity and it requires a specific, and critical skill set for this to be fully realized. As cloud adoption increases, companies stand to reduce IT costs and become more agile, however, with not enough people properly trained in these cutting edge technologies, organizations are missing the boat,” said Graham Weston Rackspace Chairman. “The Open Cloud Academy can help turn the tide by offering highly sought after technical training to the public, bolstering the this scarce pipeline and helping fill the countless number of roles in San Antonio and beyond.”

In addition, the Open Cloud Academy will have a focus on former military and university graduates and aims to help trainees get the IT certifications that matter to employers, learning in weeks what it sometimes takes others years to master.

“Pursuing a career in the technology field is a smart choice for me, and not one I decided on by whim. With the state of the economy and the hardships facing most Americans, I wanted to work in a field where I could count on a living wage,” said Nicholas Hamilton, Open Cloud Academy pilot student. “In addition to the high paying nature of most tech-related and cloud computing jobs, technology in general is not a perishable commodity or a fad. Yes, the field moves at the speed of light, but well trained and motivated individuals that can move with it will always be in demand and the skills I’m gaining from Open Cloud Academy should help me secure my future.”

Rackspace today invites interested parties of all technical skill levels to visit its website for more information now, www.opencloudacademy.com

About the research

Quantitative research was conducted by Vanson Bourne of 1300 companies in the UK and US (split equally) during December 2012. Manchester Business School carried out qualitative interviews with companies that use the cloud by telephone during December 2012 and January 2013. To view the data, please click here.

About Rackspace

Rackspace® Hosting (NYSE: RAX) is the open cloud company, delivering open technologies and powering more than 205,000 customers worldwide. Rackspace provides its renowned Fanatical Support® across a broad portfolio of IT products, including Public Cloud, Private Cloud, Hybrid Hosting and Dedicated Hosting. The company offers choice, flexibility and freedom from vendor lock in. Rackspace has been recognized by Bloomberg BusinessWeek as a Top 100 Performing Technology Company and is featured on Sunday Times list of 100 Best Companies to Work For. Rackspace was positioned in the Leaders Quadrant by Gartner Inc. in the “2011 Magic Quadrant for Managed Hosting.”

Forward-Looking Statements

This Press Release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. If such risks or uncertainties materialize or such assumptions prove incorrect, the results of Rackspace Hosting could differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and assumptions. All statements other than statements of historical fact are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements, including any statements relating to expected or predicted behaviors of consumers and the impact of cloud computing; any statements of expectation or belief directly relating to Rackspace business derived from survey results or OpenCloud Academy trained individuals; and any statements of assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. Risks, uncertainties and assumptions include a substantial margin of error in the survey results or benefits from training programs, inconsistencies in respondent's understanding and Rackspace's analysis of survey questions and results, the possibility that expected benefits from any shift in consumer behavior may not materialize as expected; the achievement of expected operational results from any shift in consumer behavior; and other risks that are described in Rackspace Hosting's quarterly report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 1, 2013. Except as required by law, Rackspace assumes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements publicly, or to update the reasons actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future.

¹ 650 in the UK and 650 in the US