Top Cloud Trends Every NCP-MCI Professional Should Know

By 2028, more than 95% of new digital workloads will be deployed on cloud-native platformsa sharp increase from just 30% in 2021, according to Gartner. This rapid growth highlights how cloud computing has evolved from an optional IT strategy to a fundamental driver of business innovation. Organizations now rely on cloud platforms not only for storage and scalability but also for automation, analytics, and operations.

As enterprises expand into hybrid and multicloud setups, managing these complex environments has become a challenge. Balancing cost, security, and performance across multiple providers requires specialized skills and continuous learning.

For professionals with Nutanix Certified Professional – Multicloud Infrastructure (NCP-MCI) certification, staying informed about these developments is essential. To remain relevant, they must also understand the emerging trends shaping infrastructure, automation, and operations.

Here are the top cloud trends every NCP-MCI professional should know to remain competitive and relevant in the current IT landscape.

Trend #1: The Rise of Hybrid and Multicloud Integration

Organizations today rarely rely on a single cloud provider. Instead, they use hybrid and multicloud architectures that combine public, private, and edge environments. This approach enables businesses to run applications where they perform optimally, enhance redundancy, and mitigate vendor lock-in. However, managing multiple platforms introduces new challenges, such as inconsistent policies, fragmented data visibility, and complex migration processes.

With multicloud infrastructure management, IT professionals can ensure that workloads move seamlessly between environments without compromising performance or security. Nutanix has simplified hybrid operations by integrating various workloads into a single, manageable environment. Tools such as Nutanix Cloud Clusters (NC2) enable seamless application mobility between private and public clouds, allowing enterprises to extend their data centers without needing to rebuild from scratch.

For NCP-MCI-certified professionals, understanding hybrid integration is an essential skill. They are responsible for ensuring smooth workload deployment, efficient resource utilization, and consistent performance across different environments. As hybrid models become the new norm, professionals who can ensure smooth and secure multicloud operations will remain in high demand.

Trend #2: Cloud Automation and AI-Driven Operations

As infrastructure scales, manual management becomes unsustainable. Organizations are now turning to automation and artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance efficiency, minimize human error, and respond faster to changing workloads. This shift has led to a new standard in IT known as AI-driven cloud operations, where machine learning and automated tools handle repetitive and data-intensive tasks. 

In AI-driven cloud operations, systems can analyze performance data and automatically adjust workloads to prevent bottlenecks. They also enable predictive analytics and self-healing infrastructure, where AI detects system faults and takes corrective action without human intervention.

With mastery in automation frameworks and orchestration tools, Certified IT professionals can ensure that AI systems perform efficiently and securely. Automation may reduce repetitive manual tasks, but experts must configure it correctly to ensure it aligns with business goals and compliance requirements.

By leveraging Nutanix tools and other AI-enabled platforms, NCP-MCI experts can deliver consistent performance, reduce operational costs, and improve service reliability. This combination of automation and oversight enables businesses to respond faster to change while maintaining control.

Trend #3: Focus on Cloud Security and Zero Trust

As cloud adoption expands, security-by-design has become a top priority. Organizations can no longer depend on perimeter-based security models. Instead, many are shifting toward Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA), where every user, device, and application must be verified continuously.

Zero Trust principles are now a core part of cloud security best practices for NCP-MCI professionals. Every access request must be verified, and permissions must be limited to what’s strictly necessary. This approach reduces the risk of unauthorized access and data breaches.

Certified professionals play an essential role in implementing these practices. They design and maintain secure configurations across hybrid environments, ensuring data protection and compliance. Their responsibilities often include:

  • Using microsegmentation to isolate workloads and limit lateral movement.
  • Enforcing encryption to protect data in transit and at rest.
  • Applying role-based access controls (RBAC) to restrict permissions based on user roles.

With Nutanix security solutions, teams can manage and monitor policies across all environments, maintaining visibility and consistent compliance.

NCP-MCI team collaborating in a secure control room, analyzing data on multiple monitors during a cybersecurity operations briefing.

Trend #4: Edge Computing and Distributed Cloud Expansion

The rapid growth of connected devices and real-time applications has driven the rise of edge computing. Instead of sending all information to centralized data centers, edge environments process data closer to its source. This improves speed,  reduces latency, and supports compliance by keeping sensitive data within local or regional boundaries.

In a multicloud environment, edge computing plays a vital role in ensuring performance and reliability across distributed systems. It is especially important for industries like retail, manufacturing, and logistics, where operations depend on real-time insights and low-latency processing.

Nutanix provides the tools that extend cloud management to the edge, enabling consistent policy enforcement and data synchronization. NCP-MCI professionals help design architectures that securely and efficiently connect remote sites to the cloud. They also ensure that applications running at the edge remain connected, compliant, and efficient. 

Trend #5: Sustainability and Green Cloud Initiatives

Sustainability has become a central focus in modern IT strategies. Data centers account for a significant share of global energy consumption, contributing to high operational costs and environmental impact. To address this, organizations are adopting sustainable cloud infrastructure practices that prioritize energy efficiency, resource optimization, and carbon footprint reduction.

Sustainable cloud infrastructure focuses on utilizing resources more efficiently while maintaining performance and reliability. The goal is to minimize waste by improving server utilization, optimizing cooling systems, and automating workload placement to reduce idle capacity.

Nutanix supports this effort through data center consolidation and intelligent resource allocation. By virtualizing workloads and automating resource management, Nutanix helps organizations use fewer physical servers while maintaining performance. This reduces power consumption and cooling requirements, and makes scaling more efficient.

For NCP-MCI professionals, understanding sustainable infrastructure design is increasingly valuable. They can implement systems that balance cost efficiency with environmental responsibility. As sustainability becomes a standard IT consideration, professionals with expertise in green cloud design will help organizations meet long-term operational and compliance goals.

NCP-MCI team members working in a high-tech operations center, analyzing code and monitoring systems across multiple screens in a collaborative workspace.

What These Trends Mean for NCP-MCI Professionals

The role of the NCP-MCI professional is evolving. What once focused on infrastructure management now extends to leading digital transformation across hybrid and multicloud environments. Cloud engineers must now design architectures that incorporate automation, ensure security, and align with sustainability goals.

These trends emphasize the importance of continuous skill development. Professionals must be capable of implementing hybrid solutions, securing distributed systems, and integrating AI-driven operations into daily workflows. By applying the principles learned in the Nutanix certification, professionals can help organizations build efficient, scalable, and future-ready cloud environments.

Human Expertise: The Foundation of AI-Driven Cloud Management

The future of cloud computing is multicloud, automated, secure, and sustainable. As organizations continue to modernize their IT operations, the need for professionals who can manage and optimize these complex environments will only grow. NCP-MCI-certified experts who stay ahead of emerging trends will continue to lead in driving innovation and transformation.

To keep pace with evolving technologies, professionals need structured, hands-on training. Layer 8 Training, a Nutanix Authorized Training Partner, helps IT professionals build and validate their skills in multicloud infrastructure. We offer instructor-led Nutanix certification courses taught by certified instructors with years of real-world experience.

Layer 8 Training offers a comprehensive portfolio of Nutanix courses, including NECA, NHCF, and AAPM. Each course includes live instruction, interactive labs, and guaranteed-to-run schedules, ensuring learners gain practical skills that can be applied directly in enterprise environments.

Stay ahead of the curve and elevate your cloud expertise with NCP-MCI training from Layer 8 Training, your authorized Nutanix learning partner. Talk to us today!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

  1. What is NCP-MCI certification?
    The Nutanix Certified Professional – Multicloud Infrastructure certification validates a professional’s ability to deploy, manage, and troubleshoot Nutanix multicloud environments efficiently.
  2. Why is the Nutanix Certified Professional – Multicloud Infrastructure certification important?
    It demonstrates practical skills in infrastructure management, automation, and hybrid cloud operations, helping IT professionals stay competitive in enterprise environments.
  3. How does Nutanix Certified Professional – Multicloud Infrastructure relate to emerging cloud trends?
    NCP-MCI-certified professionals are trained to implement new cloud technologies such as automation, AI-driven operations, and sustainable infrastructure.
  4. What career opportunities does the Nutanix Certified Professional – Multicloud Infrastructure open up?
    Professionals can pursue roles such as cloud engineer, systems administrator, infrastructure architect, or multicloud operations specialist.
  5. Where can I get NCP-MCI training?
    You can enroll through Layer 8 Training, an authorized Nutanix partner offering instructor-led training programs tailored to the certification.