A Cloud Guru

What A Cloud Guru does

A Cloud Guru is a cloud technology learning platform that delivers multi-cloud certification training, hands-on labs, and cloud sandboxes to individual engineers and enterprise learning & development teams. The platform covers AWS, Azure, and GCP curricula through 400+ expert-led courses and 1,800+ hands-on labs, augmented by practice exams, certification exam vouchers, and an AI-powered learning assistant called Iris. The company operates as an AWS Advanced Consulting Partner with comparable relationships across Azure and GCP, embedding the curriculum within the official hyperscaler certification ecosystems.

The platform was founded in 2015 and grew primarily through a self-serve individual subscription model supplemented by enterprise contracts, reaching 2.2M+ engineers trained and 4,000+ business customers prior to acquisition. In December 2019 the company acquired Linux Academy to consolidate a major competitor and expand content breadth. In 2021 A Cloud Guru was acquired by Pluralsight, after which it operates as a specialized cloud learning brand within Pluralsight's broader technology skill development catalog.

The business model is subscription-based, delivered through Pluralsight's tiered plan structure (Cloud+, Complete, and AI+ for individuals; Business, Everything, and Security+Cloud for enterprises). Revenue is split across individual self-serve learners and enterprise L&D contracts with named accounts including Thomson Reuters, Accenture, Dow Jones, Qualcomm, and the University of Notre Dame. Pricing model emphasizes per-seat or per-organization licensing rather than transactional course purchases, supporting predictable recurring revenue.

Name

A Cloud Guru

Legal name

Pluralsight LLC

Website

https://acloudguru.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

A Cloud Guru is a cloud computing learning platform offering multi-cloud certification training, hands-on labs, and sandboxes to engineers and enterprises, now operating as a specialized cloud brand within Pluralsight.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Online Cloud Training and Certification

NAICS

Computer Training (61142), Business Schools and Computer and Management Training (6114), Professional and Management Development Training (61143)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)

akta.pro primary industry

Cloud Computing & Infrastructure (AWS/Azure/GCP, Virtualization) (EDABAFAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cloud & DevOps Training (Cloud, Containers, CI/CD, SRE) (BPAEANAG), Cloud & DevOps (EDAAAPAE), Cloud Computing & Cloud Security (EDAOAIAC), Cloud & DevOps Fundamentals (Cloud Basics, CI/CD Concepts) (EDAMACAM)

Keywords

• Cloud training platform
• Cloud certification courses
• Hands-on cloud labs
• Online tech learning
• Enterprise cloud upskilling

Headquarters

HQ city

Austin

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. Subscription-based Learning Platform: Recurring subscription revenue model through Pluralsight's integrated platform. Individual plans (Core Tech, AI+, Cloud+, Security+, Data+, Complete) and business/enterprise plans available with monthly or annual billing. ACG content accessible through Cloud+ and Complete individual plans, and Everything and Security+Cloud business plans.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

A Cloud Guru provides a cloud computing learning platform with 400+ expert-led courses and 1,800+ hands-on labs covering AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud Platform certification and skill development. Learners access live Cloud Sandboxes, guided Hands-on Labs, Practice Exams, Skill IQ assessments, and Learning Paths. The platform serves both individual learners via tiered subscriptions and enterprise customers via custom agreements and Professional Services, and is now integrated into the Pluralsight platform following the 2021 acquisition.

Product overview

A Cloud Guru is a cloud technology learning platform that has been integrated into Pluralsight following its acquisition in 2021. The platform offers a comprehensive suite of cloud training solutions including over 400 expert-led courses and 3,500+ hands-on labs covering AWS, Azure, Google Cloud Platform, Linux, DevOps, Kubernetes, and Terraform. The core product portfolio consists of Cloud Ready (structured cloud learning from fundamentals to specialization), Cloud+ subscription plans (incorporating A Cloud Guru courses), AI Academy (pragmatic AI skills), and Secure Ready (security skill development). Key features include Iris AI (AI learning assistant), Hands-on Labs, Cloud Sandboxes, Practice Exams, Skill IQ assessments, Certification Prep, Learning Paths, and Advanced Analytics. The platform also offers Professional Services and Instructor-led Training for enterprise deployments. A Cloud Guru content is accessible through Pluralsight's Complete and Cloud+ individual plans, as well as Everything and Security+ Cloud plans for businesses.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Cloud Ready A structured cloud learning solution covering fundamentals to specialization, helping organizations accelerate cloud and AI execution and deliver measurable impact through continuous learning at scale.
• AI Academy Pragmatic AI skills training for business professionals, providing role-aligned skill development and validation for AI adoption across organizations.
• Secure Ready Role-aligned security skill development and validation solution for building security competencies across organizations.
• Professional Services (ProServ) Expert service consultants who help organizations set up for success with implementation and adoption support of the Pluralsight/A Cloud Guru platform.
• Instructor-led Training Live workshops and programs delivered by expert instructors for crucial enterprise learning initiatives.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2-6x ROI on cloud training initiatives
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Amazon Web Services (AWS)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorA Cloud Guru is an AWS Advanced Consulting Partner with trained over 2 million engineers on AWS. Offers comprehensive AWS certification courses, hundreds of hours of content, thousands of quiz questions, and dedicated AWS training pathways.
• Microsoft AzurecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMicrosoft Partner providing Azure certification and deep-dive courses for beginners and advanced users, with weekly updates on Azure developments and fireside chats with Azure experts.
• Google Cloud Platform (GCP)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGoogle Cloud Partner offering Associate & Pro certification courses, hands-on labs and deep-dive projects, Kubernetes and serverless courses for GCP learners.
• Women Who CodeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity partnership supporting diversity in technology through learning access and professional development initiatives.
• Dow JonesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEnterprise customer and marketing partner utilizing cloud training for workforce development.
• University of Notre DameminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEducational institution partner using cloud learning solutions for academic technology programs.
• QualcommminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEnterprise customer utilizing cloud certification training for engineering teams.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Pluralsight: Pluralsight is the parent platform that absorbed A Cloud Guru following the 2021 acquisition. It offers a broader technology skills catalog but A Cloud Guru's cloud-specific content now lives within Pluralsight's subscription tiers, making it the closest comparable.
• Linux Academy: Was a direct competitor in cloud and Linux certification training before being acquired by A Cloud Guru in 2019. Now redirects to Pluralsight, but historically operated the same target market and certification prep model.
• Cloud Academy (QA): Cloud-focused learning platform offering hands-on labs and certification prep for AWS, Azure, and GCP, acquired by QA. Directly competes with A Cloud Guru on multi-cloud certification training and enterprise skill development.
• Whizlabs: Online certification training provider specializing in cloud and IT certification practice exams and video courses. Directly competes for the same individual learner audience seeking AWS, Azure, and GCP certification prep.

Emerging players

• Tutorials Dojo: Focused on cloud certification practice exams and review notes for AWS, Azure, and GCP. Targets the same certification-prep learner segment as A Cloud Guru but with a more exam-cram-oriented, lower-priced model.
• Linux Foundation Training: Offers official Kubernetes, cloud-native, and Linux training and certifications, overlapping with A Cloud Guru's DevOps, Kubernetes, and Linux course catalog. Targets enterprise and individual learners in adjacent cloud-native skill areas.

Broad incumbents

• Coursera: Large-scale online learning platform with cloud specialization programs from AWS, Google Cloud, and IBM. Competes for individual learners and enterprise upskilling budgets across a much broader catalog than ACG.
• Udemy: Mass-market online course marketplace with extensive cloud certification content from third-party instructors. Competes primarily on price and breadth rather than hands-on labs, but targets the same individual learner base.
• Skillsoft: Enterprise-focused corporate learning and talent development platform offering technology and compliance training, including cloud and IT skills. Competes for enterprise training budgets with broader content but similar B2B sales motion.

Others

• AWS Skill Builder: Official AWS training subscription offering cloud practitioner, architect, and developer learning paths with hands-on labs. A free or low-cost direct alternative for AWS-specific certification training that competes at the ecosystem level rather than as a paid third party.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/embed/4L5MJyIVMHk
• Xx.com/acloudguru
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/a-cloud-guru

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors4 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about A Cloud Guru