Cloud computing technology is in just about everyone’s long-range IT forecast these days. Global spending on public cloud services (PaaS, SaaS, and IaaS) is projected to climb to almost $128 billion this year, up from just $57 billion in 2014.

Among other things, that almost certainly means continued high demand for skilled cloud professionals. That’s not just people who understand what cloud technology is, but those who can seamlessly integrate cloud-enabled applications with existing systems and platforms.

As James Stanger, chief technologist for IT industry association CompTIA, explained in a recent press release, cloud computing is not a standalone technology. “Cloud computing does not happen in vacuum as an end unto itself,” Stanger said. “Cloud-based infrastructure services are increasingly important pieces of an organization’s total IT system. Hybrid and multi-cloud environments have become the norm. IT professionals must weave these pieces together into secure solutions that run mission-critical systems and meet specific business needs.”

The occasion for Stanger’s comments was the announcement of a new exam for Cloud+, CompTIA’s all-purpose, vendor-neutral cloud computing certification. The Cloud+ overhaul, which debuted at the end of last week, is the first refresh of Cloud+ since its initial release in Oct. 2013.

The new exam, CV0-002, has 10 fewer questions than its predecessor, CV0-001, which is currently still available, though likely to be retired soon. (No retirement date has yet been announced.) Among other changes, the new exam, CV0-002, features a mix of multiple-choice questions and performance-based questions, whereas CV0-001 is strictly multiple choice.

Addressing the content of the new exam, CompTIA notes that: “CompTIA Cloud+ (CV0-002) reflects an emphasis on incorporating and managing cloud technologies as part of broader systems operations. It assumes a candidate will weave together solutions that meet specific business needs and work in a variety of different industries.

“It includes the new technologies to support the changing cloud market as more organizations depend on cloud-based technologies to run mission critical systems, and hybrid and multi-cloud have become the norm.”

It’s recommended that exam candidates have between two and three years of professional experience in system administration before attempting CV0-002.