How EPAM used training and certification to elevate its workforce

Amazon Web Services (AWS) Advanced Consulting Partner EPAM Systems Inc. (EPAM) works with clients around the world to design, migrate, build, and support sophisticated cloud applications on AWS. In 2020, EPAM executed a global AWS Training and Certification upskilling initiative, which, as of February 2021, has certified almost 1,000 engineers. The company plans to expand its workforce training efforts, doubling the number of certified engineers in 2022 to 3,500 by the end of 2023.

EPAM sought the following outcomes from its upskilling initiative:

Support Growth

EPAM didn’t need to teach baseline cloud skills to staff—the company already had a high level of cloud maturity. Rather, the initiative would help scale the company to keep pace with growth.

“We’ve been growing at 25% continuously every year, hiring over 4,000 engineers annually for the past three years. We’re trying to scale the expertise of our engineers to continue providing quality engineering consultancy services for our clients,” says Dmitry Tikhomirov, vice president and co-head of cloud and DevTestSecOps practice at EPAM.

Build on its strategy as a participant in the AWS Partner Network

Because EPAM is an AWS Partner, it only made sense that EPAM’s workforce become AWS Certified. AWS requires that EPAM’s engineers pass the AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional exam before conducting AWS Well-Architected Reviews for clients, which help developers review the state of their workloads and compare them to the latest AWS architectural best practices.

AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional validates abilities such as designing and deploying dynamically scalable, highly available, fault-tolerant, and reliable applications on AWS; migrating complex multitier applications on AWS; and implementing cost-control strategies.

With a certified workforce, EPAM can train clients on AWS solutions as a trusted, accredited AWS Partner. And clients can feel confident knowing the services they receive from EPAM follow the high standards and best practices of AWS.

Shape agile and proficient engineers

Once training had begun, EPAM witnessed the improved performance of its engineers in customer engagements. For example, EPAM needed to help a client accelerate the development cycle of a cloud solution necessary for maintaining compliance.

To help this client, EPAM engineers executed a review using best practices from the AWS Well-Architected Framework, which describes the key concepts, design principles, and architectural best practices for designing and running workloads in the cloud. As a result, they were able to save the client weeks of effort and help it meet the deadline.

Adjust to industry changes

EPAM had always embraced a culture of continuing education, but it had been training engineers using an intensive internal education program. As the industry changed, certifications were in higher demand. EPAM recognized this shift and knew it could build on its reputation with a workforce carrying industry-recognized AWS Certifications. “We knew it would be important to demonstrate our technical prowess,” Tikhomirov says.

Tap into new potential through continuing education

EPAM’s clients benefit from the quality standards and best practices of AWS when the company’s engineers go to work. And EPAM promises prospective clients that by gaining certification, they’ll benefit from the same. “It’s of strategic importance that we provide state-of-the-art cloud solutions to our clients, and using AWS is key to helping us do that,” Tikhomirov says.

EPAM’s story is only one example of how companies can benefit from investing in continuing education for their workforces. Get in touch with an AWS Training expert today.