Google launches entry-level cybersecurity certificate program

Google launches new cybersecurity certificate program to address the skills gap

The shortage of workers in the cybersecurity space has pushed Google to create a certificate program

Google has introduced a new cybersecurity certificate program^[1] designed to prepare students for entry-level cybersecurity positions in as little as six months of part-time study. The $150-300 program was created by Google cybersecurity experts in collaboration with national employers to address a national skills gap.

With training in Python, Linux, and Security Information and Event Management tools, it aims to teach learners how to identify common cyber risks, threats, and vulnerabilities, as well as how to protect devices, networks, and data from unauthorized access. The program also prepares participants for the CompTIA Security+ exam,^[2] which is a leading industry qualification.

A solution to the shortage of qualified cybersecurity workers

Google's Career Certificates program already includes courses in data analytics, business intelligence, digital marketing and e-commerce, IT support, project management, and user experience design. The new course is intended to teach newcomers the fundamental skills required to work as an analyst. The cybersecurity certificate program will be offered at several universities, including the University of Texas System, Purdue University, Syracuse University, and Northern Virginia Community College.

Google's course is not intended to teach specialized areas of cybersecurity, such as penetration testing or cloud security, but rather to provide students with an intensive course in core skills from which they can then gain employment and specialize. While the program is not intended to teach specialized areas of cybersecurity, it is intended to provide students with an intensive course in core skills from which they can then gain employment and specialize.

According to Phil Venables, Google Cloud's chief information security officer, in order to give people real skills for an entry-level position, you have to go quite deep, which means you can't go broad. In July 2022, the White House hosted a summit with a number of companies, lobbying groups, and schools to discuss how to address the cybersecurity skills shortage.

Major employers, including Google, pledged millions of dollars to invest in training, apprenticeships, and partnerships with academic institutions as a result of the summit. According to data from industry associations and the federal government, there is a shortage of qualified cybersecurity workers in the United States, with more than 755,000 jobs open at businesses and government agencies.

The certificate offers advantages over traditional degrees

Google's certificate program is similar to others offered through the Career Certificates program, such as information technology support and marketing, in that it takes less than six months to complete. According to Google, over 300,000 people have graduated from its broader program to date. Members of Google's employer consortium have stated that the certificate is a suitable qualification for entry-level positions.

According to Alex Schuchman, CISO at household goods manufacturer Colgate-Palmolive Co., the course's short length provides significant advantages over traditional four-year college degrees in that it can be adapted to keep up with changes in cybersecurity. It will be used to attract new employees and train current employees in cyber skills.

Google stated that more than half of its certificate program graduates identify as Asian, Black, or Latino, as part of the larger Grow with Google education project launched in 2017. For its new certificate, it has partnered with cybersecurity organizations such as Women in Cybersecurity, Cyversity, and Raices Cyber, all of which focus on increasing diversity^[3] and assisting underserved segments of the population to enter the workforce, and will offer the certificate to members.