ONLY UNSPONSORED Review of the Google Cybersecurity Certificate From Coursera

Summary

The video script offers a critical review of the Google Cyber Security certificate, highlighting its shortcomings such as lack of emphasis on foundational knowledge, neglect of the Windows operating system, and overemphasis on Python. The reviewer, having completed the certificate, suggests that it is not a valuable stepping stone for a career in cybersecurity and that other certifications might be more beneficial for job seekers.

Takeaways

• 📜 The Google Cyber Security certificate is a new entry in the certification field with a professional certificate aimed at preparing individuals for a career as a cybersecurity analyst.
• 💻 The program is entirely online with on-demand training, allowing learners to proceed at their own pace without any prior experience needed.
• 🎓 Course completion may qualify individuals for various cybersecurity positions such as Security Analyst, IT Security Analyst, and Cyber Defense Analyst, among others.
• 🌐 Google's Career Circle is mentioned as a resource for job seekers, although it's noted that this service is available for free and not exclusive to the certificate holders.
• 🏆 The reviewer has completed the entire program with a 100% score in each course, providing a first-hand perspective on the content and structure of the certificate.
• 📚 The program consists of eight courses covering topics from foundational cybersecurity knowledge to hands-on labs and preparation for cybersecurity jobs.
• 🎥 Course content includes video lectures, readings, discussion prompts, self-review activities, interactive plugins, quizzes, and graded assessments.
• 🖥️ There is a significant focus on Linux and SQL, with less emphasis on Windows, which the reviewer finds problematic given the widespread use of Windows in organizations.
• 🐍 The course on automating cybersecurity tasks with Python is considered the best of the program, but the reviewer criticizes the overemphasis on Python as a mandatory skill in cybersecurity.
• 🗑️ The reviewer's overall opinion is negative, suggesting that the Google Cyber Security certificate is not valuable and that foundational knowledge is more critical for beginners in the field.

Q & A

What is the main claim about the Google Cyber Security Certificate?

The main claim is that the Google Cyber Security Certificate prepares individuals for a career as a cybersecurity analyst, providing job-ready skills to identify risks, threats, and vulnerabilities, as well as techniques to mitigate them.

What are some of the jobs one might qualify for after completing the Google Cyber Security Certificate?

After completing the program, individuals might qualify for jobs such as Cyber Security Analyst, Security Analyst, SOC Analyst, Information Security Analyst, IT Security Analyst, and Cyber Defense Analyst.

How is the Google Cyber Security Certificate structured in terms of courses?

The certificate includes eight different courses covering topics from foundational cybersecurity knowledge to preparing for cybersecurity jobs, with a focus on hands-on practice and application of skills.

What is the cost associated with obtaining the Google Cyber Security Certificate?

The cost is associated with the Coursera subscription fee, which is $49 per month or $399 per year. However, the speaker mentions completing the program without having to pay, indicating there might be some flexibility in the payment requirements.

How does the Google Cyber Security Certificate address the learning of Python?

The certificate emphasizes the importance of Python in cybersecurity, offering a course that teaches the basics of Python, writing scripts, and debugging. It suggests Python is a mandatory skill in the cybersecurity field, which the speaker finds concerning as it might not be accurate for all roles.

What is the speaker's main criticism about the Google Cyber Security Certificate?

The speaker criticizes the certificate for lacking core knowledge teaching, ignoring the Windows operating system, overemphasizing Python, and not aligning with what employers are asking for. They believe the certificate needs a significant overhaul to be considered valuable.

What is the role of Career Circle in the context of the Google Cyber Security Certificate?

Career Circle is mentioned as a service that provides exclusive access to help find jobs upon completion of the certificate. However, the speaker points out that Google's own service description indicates that Career Circle doesn't charge anyone, making the exclusive access aspect misleading.

How does the Google Cyber Security Certificate approach hands-on practice?

The certificate includes self-review activities, labs, interactive plugins, and practice quizzes for hands-on practice. However, the speaker notes that the labs are document-based and lack hands-on experience with tools, except for the incident response course which includes beginner-level tool usage.

What is the assessment structure for the Google Cyber Security Certificate courses?

Each course includes video quizzes, practice quizzes, and graded quizzes. To obtain the certificate, one must score 80 or higher on each graded quiz across all eight courses. There is no limit on the number of attempts, but there is a restriction of three attempts within a 24-hour period.

How does the Google Cyber Security Certificate compare to other certifications in the field?

The speaker suggests that the Google Cyber Security Certificate is not as valuable as other certifications from an employment standpoint. They mention Google's own Security Plus certification as a more worthwhile option.

What is the speaker's final verdict on the Google Cyber Security Certificate?

The speaker concludes that the Google Cyber Security Certificate belongs in the trash, indicating strong disapproval due to the issues mentioned, such as lack of core knowledge teaching and overemphasis on Python.