Get ready to dive deep and level up your cloud skills at Google Cloud Next '25.  Whether you're a seasoned pro or just starting your cloud journey, you’ll have more learning opportunities at Next than ever before. From hands-on challenges to expert-led workshops on AI and ML, Next '25 (April 9-11, 2025) is your chance to transform your knowledge into real-world expertise.  Secure your ticket and register today. The first-ever Skills Challenge: your chance to win big This year, we're launching a new, on-the-ground game: The Skills Challenge. Think of it as your personal learning adventure at Google Cloud Next, complete with: Hands-on labs: Master practical skills.  Certification kickstarters: Pave your way to certification. AI Agent Builder Bar: Experience AI agent development. Quizzathon at Makerspace: Test your Google Cloud knowledge and win. Leaderboard competition: See how you stack up against your peers and compete for grand prizes. Early access: Be the first to try new gamification features on Google Cloud Skills Boost. Don't miss out on limited-edition swag and bragging rights on the leaderboard displayed at the Learning and Certification booth. Top the charts by the third day of Next for a chance to win a grand prize. aside_block <ListValue: [StructValue([('title', 'Get hands-on experience for free'), ('body', <wagtail.rich_text.RichText object at 0x3e138865ba90>), ('btn_text', 'Start building for free'), ('href', 'http://console.cloud.google.com/freetrial?redirectPath=/welcome/'), ('image', None)])]> Dive into expert-led workshops Developers, these lab-style sessions are for you. They’re led by knowledgeable experts who can help you build better, faster, and smarter applications. Secure your spot today by adding training sessions to your agenda, such as: Get started with Vertex AI Studio Explore data with Gemini in BigQuery Build a chat application using the Gemini API on Cloud Run Register today, as seats are going fast. Gain insights from breakout sessions and lightning talks From in-depth technical learning to strategic insights for leaders, explore topics like credentialing a modern workforce, and building a culture of continuous learning with expert-led presentations and panel discussions. Hear from customers about their technical use cases and gain valuable takeaways about their specific approaches and solutions. Session Day 1: Future-proof your AI skills: Credentialing the modern workforce Session Day 2: The ROI of continuous learning: Build and validate skills to close the AI skills gap Lightning talk Day 1: Google Launchpad: Building a Global Talent Pipeline for Cloud and AI  Lightning talk Day1: Riding the AI Wave Securely: Uber's Training Program for Building Trust  Recharge at the Google Developer Experts and Certified Lounge Connect with your peers, recharge, and refuel at an exclusive lounge reserved for Google Developer Experts. Enjoy light refreshments, meetups, and a photowall to capture your Next '25 experience. When you register for Next, remember to identify yourself as Google Cloud Certified on your Profile page for easy lounge entry! Can’t wait? Start learning today with Google Cloud Skills Boost Don't wait until Next to start your learning journey. Jump-start your skills with courses, labs, learning paths and more on Google Cloud Skills Boost. Join the Innovators program to get 35 credits at no cost and use them to keep learning on Skills Boost.  We’ll see you April 9-11 at Google Cloud Next ‘25! Register today.

If you're a woman in tech or business looking to advance your career with AI skills, this post is for you. You'll discover the latest research on women in AI, understand common learning pathways, and find specific AWS training resources to help you move forward.

Game developers face a common challenge: building cloud expertise while staying focused on game creation. This guide organizes essential training resources to help you build cloud expertise, from foundational courses to hands-on workshops and industry-recognized certifications.

Imagine navigating the same cloud challenges that AWS solutions architects face daily, and proving you can solve them. That's what AWS Jam Journeys offer through hands-on learning experiences. And, now we've reorganized our AWS Jam Journeys to better match your learning paths and the way you interact with AWS services.

In February 2025, we launched 17 new digital training products on AWS Skill Builder including seven new AWS Builder Labs, four new AWS Jam Journeys, and six major updates to AWS Jam Journeys.

aside_block <ListValue: [StructValue([('title', 'Get certified for 50% off today'), ('body', <wagtail.rich_text.RichText object at 0x3e13882ce5b0>), ('btn_text', 'Register now.'), ('href', 'https://cloud.google.com/learn/certification?e=48754805&hl=en&utm_source=cgc-blog&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=FY25-Q1-global-certification-campaign&utm_content=certification-page-cgc&utm_term=-'), ('image', None)])]> The cloud is evolving fast — and that means you need to evolve fast. With the explosion of AI, it’s not enough to build skills; you have to be able to prove you have them.  As more companies pursue digital transformation and AI adoption, validating skills quickly and effectively is more critical than ever. That’s not just the message everyone is hearing from recruiters and executives — we also have new research demonstrating the impact of getting Google Cloud certified. And recognizing just how valuable certification is, we've got three new ones to help drive your success in 2025.  A recent Ipsos study commissioned by Google Cloud surveyed more than 3,000 cloud practitioners, students, and decision-makers and confirmed that certifications not only increase career opportunities, they also drive efficiencies for digital businesses (which is pretty much every business these days). From seasoned professionals to those just starting out, as well as the organizations for which they work, everyone benefits from validating their cloud skills with trusted certifications.  Certifications: A catalyst for confidence and career advancement  Certifications are a key driver of career growth for engineers, data scientists, and other cloud professionals. For Google Cloud learners, certifications are considered the most valuable part of their learning journey. This is supported by the Ipsos data: eight in 10 Google Cloud learners report that certification equips them with the skills needed for in-demand roles, accelerates their promotion potential, and contributes to their overall professional success when they share their credentials online. The Ipsos research also reveals the significant impact of Google Cloud certifications on students.  Empowered by certifications, students report higher salaries and faster time-to-hire. An impressive nine in 10 Google Cloud certified students say their training made them more competitive in the job market, leading to better career opportunities. aside_block <ListValue: [StructValue([('title', 'Google Cloud Partner?'), ('body', <wagtail.rich_text.RichText object at 0x3e13882cedc0>), ('btn_text', 'Get started'), ('href', 'https://rsvp.withgoogle.com/events/partner-learning/certifications'), ('image', None)])]> Helping cloud leaders find and build more efficient teams  Furthermore, certifications build confidence and efficiency for cloud leaders and decision-makers. Leaders from organizations using Google Cloud report that certifications significantly improve the efficiency of their cloud operations. They cite increased confidence in on-time project completion, accelerated onboarding to roles and projects, and greater confidence in a candidate’s knowledge during the hiring process. In fact, more than six in 10 leaders say one of the most important resources for cloud learners is getting certified, and approximately 70% believe certified employees are more productive. Explore—and prepare for—the latest certifications from Google Cloud, integrated with AI concepts To get started out take your training to the next level, you can explore the full catalog of Google Cloud certifications, which now include these newly launched certifications:  Associate Data Practitioner Certification: This certification is a great fit for data scientists who want to validate their Google Cloud data skills and knowledge, like ensuring data is clean, secure, and usable for AI and machine learning models. Follow this learning path to prepare for the exam. Associate Google Workspace Administrator Certification: Validate your proficiency in the core skills required to successfully manage Google Workspace environments, including effectively managing the AI-powered assistant. Follow this learning path to prepare for the exam. Professional Cloud Architect Certification [Renewal]: Prove your skills as a professional cloud architect with this new, streamlined recertification exam, focused on the application of generative AI solutions to solve real-world business challenges. Check out the exam guide to prepare for the exam.  How certification moves the needle: Hear from certified professionals People are already transforming their careers and supercharging their teams with the help of certifications. Hear from a Chief Technology Officer, a senior cloud architect, a risk manager and a student in information systems about the difference a certification makes in their day-to-day: Google Cloud | Be ready for tomorrow. Get certified today. The rapid pace of AI innovation has made skills validation an imperative — for cloud professionals and the companies they call home. Learn more about all your cloud credentialing options here or explore our full suite of Google Cloud learning tools at skills.google.

The AWS Partner Network (APN) offers several training resources to help Independent Software Vendors (ISVs) succeed—from showing how to list your first solution on AWS Marketplace to teaching you how to accelerate growth through co-selling and funding opportunities. This blog post compiles these resources and explains the benefits of each.

“Forgive yourself for not knowing what you didn't know before you learned it.” When Maya Angelou said that, she made — intentionally or not — a wise observation about careers in technology.  If you’ve never worked in the cloud, it can be hard to know where to start. Even if you’re a seasoned Cloud Architect, how do you pivot to your next big thing? And once you find it, once you’ve pinpointed the career of your dreams, then the biggest hurdle of all is knowing the skills and training that will help you get there. The not knowing is the hardest part.  For those dreaming a new direction in their careers, or a new one entirely, we give you Career Dreamer. This inspired, AI-powered career solution was released today by Google, and I recommend that every single person — no matter where you are in your career — check it out. Career Dreamer uses generative AI to make career exploration and discovery a little easier and a lot more personalized. It helps you to quickly identify your unique skills and talents and how to talk about them. Then, it surfaces careers (based on job market data from Lightcast and the Bureau of Labor Statistics) that might be a good fit — including careers in the cloud. Here’s my favorite part: Once you’ve got the career picked out, the tool shows you the creds — the certifications or certificates — you might need to get there. Among its suggested training resources are Google Cloud Skills Boost and Google Career Certificates.  Let’s say for example that you are recommended the role of “Analytics Manager” because you input that you have a real curiosity about data and a background in statistics. The tool will suggest industry-trusted certifications like the Cloud Digital Leader Certification for less technical folks, or even Associate Data Practitioner Certification if you’re ready to launch your cloud analytics career. What we know from the research is that when people plug into great training content, they feel more empowered. In fact, a new study from Ipsos and Google Cloud showed that 9 in 10 students who use Google Cloud learning say it contributed to their goal of learning more about AI. Beyond students, 82% of Google Cloud learners say it’s boosted their confidence in their role. (Both are according to a Google/Ipsos Cloud Learning Services Market Pulse, fielded September 17 to October 23, 2024. Check back next week on the Google Cloud Blog, where we’ll be releasing this report in full). As you explore the Career Dreamer to learn and imagine what careers might await on and off the cloud — above all, “forgive yourself for not knowing what you didn’t know before you learned it.”

Last year, we offered our first ever “Google Launchpad for Women” series to empower women within our customer ecosystem to grow their cloud and AI skills. The response from our customers has been tremendous: more than 11,000 women across a breadth of roles - sales, leadership, marketing, finance, and more have completed previous editions of the program. As a result, they are building critical skills that help them put AI to work in their jobs, grow their careers, and help transform their businesses. This year, in honor of International Women's Day, we are opening “Google Launchpad for Women,” to thousands of more customer participants, providing them with no-cost training, exam prep, and access to Google experts. Registration is now open to Google Cloud customers in the Americas, EMEA, and Japan, with the three-week program beginning on March 4th in Japan and March 6th in the Americas and EMEA. Program benefits include: Expert-led training: Two days of in-depth, instructor-led training covering key cloud concepts and best practices. Industry insights: Engage with Google Cloud experts through panel discussions on topics such as Generative AI. Exam preparation: Dedicated sessions to prepare for the Cloud Digital Leader certification exam. Complimentary exam voucher: Participants will receive a voucher for the $99 exam fee. aside_block <ListValue: [StructValue([('title', 'Get hands-on experience for free'), ('body', <wagtail.rich_text.RichText object at 0x3e139c25dc40>), ('btn_text', 'Start building for free'), ('href', 'http://console.cloud.google.com/freetrial?redirectPath=/welcome/'), ('image', None)])]> Why these trainings are critical Harnessing the power of cloud computing and AI is essential for all job roles, not just IT. As more businesses adopt AI, people across business roles utilize this technology every day and often make purchasing decisions about new AI platforms and tools. However, a talent gap remains, and is particularly pronounced for women, who represent about 14% of the global cloud workforce according to recent data from the World Economic Forum. We aim to help our customers reduce this gap, ensure they have access to the skilled experts they need to advance their digital and AI transformations, and give more people opportunities to grow their careers and lead these transformations. Ultimately, those who complete the Google Launchpad for Women program will be well-equipped to achieve the Cloud Digital Leader certification, putting them at the forefront of the cloud and AI era. Google Launchpad for Women is open to all Google Cloud customers, regardless of prior technical experience or role. We welcome women from all professional backgrounds who are eager to develop their cloud skills and advance their careers. While this initiative is specifically focused on women, we invite everyone to participate. Sign up today Visit the links below to learn more about each regional session and contact your sales rep to sign up today. [Americas Session] Google Launchpad for Women [EMEA Session] Google Launchpad for Women [Japan Session] Google Launchpad for Women

To help organizations implement Well-Architected best practices consistently while they expand, we’ve launched Well-Architected for Enterprises, a new free digital course. Designed for technical professionals who architect, build, and operate AWS solutions at scale, this intermediate level course will help you optimize your cloud architecture while aligning to your business goals.

In January 2025, we launched 17 new digital training products on AWS Skill Builder including two new AWS Jam Journeys, additional language availability for Exam Prep materials in support of AWS Certified AI Practitioner and AWS Certified Machine Learning Engineer certification exams, as well as a new AWS Builder Lab, Sustainability Strategies with AWS Compute Workload, designed to help identify sustainability strategies using AWS services and tools to optimize usage and costs in an AWS environment.

Today, we’re thrilled to celebrate the graduation of the inaugural cohort of AWS Cloud Institute learners, marking a significant milestone in their journey toward launching successful careers in cloud development. Throughout the program, this exceptional group of individuals not only honed their technical expertise but also became part of a dynamic and supportive learning community, fostering collaboration and growth along the way.

The journey from AWS Certified AI Practitioner to AWS Certified Machine Learning - Specialty offers a structured approach that helps you grow—from understanding fundamental AI concepts to handling complex ML projects in a cloud environment. By using resources like AWS Skill Builder, AWS Educate and the Udemy Business Leadership Academy cohort programs, you can accelerate your learning and stay ahead of the competition in the fast-moving AI/ML landscape.

AWS Solutions Architects are a free resource to customers and partners and wear three crucial hats: technical advisor, customer advocate, and educator. Learn how you can engage AWS Solutions Architects and benefit from their time-tested expertise and best practices across AWS services, industries, and company sizes.

Your business data sets you apart from the competition. It fuels your innovations, your culture, and provides all your employees a foundation from which to build and explore. Since 2022, enterprises in all industries have turned to Looker Studio Pro to empower their businesses with self-service dashboards and AI-driven visualizations and insights, complete with advanced enterprise capabilities and Google Cloud technical support. As the Looker community has grown, we’ve gotten more requests for guidance on how users can make their Looker Studio Pro environments even stronger, and tap into more sophisticated features. Those requests have only increased, accelerated by the debut of Studio in Looker, which brings Looker Studio Pro to the broader Looker platform. To help, today we are debuting a new on-demand training course: Looker Studio Pro Essentials. aside_block <ListValue: [StructValue([('title', 'Try Google Cloud for free'), ('body', <wagtail.rich_text.RichText object at 0x3e1388644e20>), ('btn_text', 'Get started for free'), ('href', 'https://console.cloud.google.com/freetrial?redirectPath=/welcome'), ('image', None)])]> Looker Studio Pro connects businesses’ need to govern data access with individual employees’ needs to explore, build and ask questions. This Google Cloud Skills Boost course helps users go beyond the basics of setting up reports and visualizations, and provides a deep dive into Looker Studio Pro’s more powerful features and capabilities. Here's what you can expect to get from this course: Gain a comprehensive understanding of Looker Studio Pro: Explore its key features and functionality, and discover how it elevates your data analysis capabilities. Enhance collaboration: Learn how to create and manage collaborative workspaces, streamline report sharing, and automate report delivery. Schedule and share reports: Learn how to customize scheduling options to your business, including delivery of reports to multiple recipients via Google Chat and email, based on your sharing preferences. Ensure data security and control: Become an expert in user management, audit log monitoring, and other essential administrative tasks that can help you maintain data integrity. Leverage Google Cloud customer care: Learn how to use Google Cloud Customer Care resources to find solutions, report issues, and provide feedback. From your focus, to your employees, to your customers, your business is unique. That’s why we designed this course to bring value to everyone — from sales and marketing professionals, to data analysts, to product innovators — providing them with the knowledge and skills they need to fully leverage Looker Studio Pro in their own environments. Because in the gen AI era, how you leverage your data and invigorate your employees to do more is the true opportunity. Accelerate that opportunity with the new Looker Studio Pro Essentials course today.

Tis the season for learning new skills! Get ready for 12 Days of Learning, a festive digital advent calendar packed with courses, hands-on labs, videos, and community opportunities—all designed to boost your generative AI expertise. Discover a new learning resource on Google Cloud’s social channels every day for twelve days this December.  Before you start: Get no-cost access to generative AI courses and labs Join the Innovators community to activate 35 monthly learning credits in Google Cloud Skills Boost at no cost. Use these credits to access courses and labs throughout the month of December—and beyond!  Ready to get started? Review all of the resources below. Get festive with generative AI foundations Learn how to use gen AI in your day-to-day work. These resources are designed for developers looking to gain foundational knowledge in gen AI. A Developer’s Guide to LLMs: In this 10-minute video, explore the exciting world of large language models (LLMs). Discover different AI model options, analyze pricing structures, and delve into essential features. Responsible AI: Fairness & Bias: This course introduces the concepts of responsible AI and shares practical methods to help you implement best practices using Google Cloud products and open source tools. Gemini for end-to-end SDLC: This course explores how Google Cloud's Gemini AI can assist in all stages of the software development lifecycle, from building and debugging web applications to testing and data querying. The course ends with a hands-on lab where you can build practical experience with Gemini. Responsible AI for Developers: Interpretability & Transparency: This course introduces AI interpretability and transparency concepts. Learn how to train a classification model on image data and deploy it to Vertex AI to serve predictions with explanations. Introduction to Security in the World of AI: This course equips security and data protection leaders with strategies to securely manage AI within their organizations. Bring these concepts to life with real-world scenarios from four different industries. aside_block <ListValue: [StructValue([('title', 'Get hands-on experience for free'), ('body', <wagtail.rich_text.RichText object at 0x3e138834dc10>), ('btn_text', 'Start building for free'), ('href', 'http://console.cloud.google.com/freetrial?redirectPath=/welcome/'), ('image', None)])]> Cozy up with gen AI use cases Launch these courses and labs to get more in-depth, hands-on experience with generative AI, from working with Gemini models to building agents and applications.  Build Generative AI Agents with Vertex AI and Flutter: Learn how to develop an app using Flutter and then integrate the app with Gemini. Then use Vertex AI Agent Builder to build and manage AI agents and applications. Machine Learning Ops (MLOps) for Generative AI: In this course, learn how to overcome MLOps challenges and use generative AI to streamline processes. Boost productivity with Gemini in BigQuery: This course provides an overview of features to assist in the data-to-AI workflow, including data exploration and preparation, code generation, workflow discovery, and visualization.  Build Generative AI Apps with Firebase Genkit: Learn how to integrate gen AI features into your applications using Firebase Genkit—from prototyping to production.  Website Modernization with Generative AI on Google Cloud: Transform your website experiences with gen AI with this hands-on course. Learn how to build a generative search experience in an interactive lab. Work with Gemini models in BigQuery: Through a practical use case involving customer relationship management, learn how to solve a real-world business problem with Gemini models. Plus, receive step-by-step guidance through coding solutions using SQL queries and Python notebooks. Get a jump-start on your New Year’s resolutions with AI Skills Quest Get an early start on your learning goals by signing up for AI Skills Quest, a monthly learning challenge that puts gen AI on your resume with verifiable skill badges. When you sign up, choose your path based on your level of knowledge: Beginner/Intermediate cohort: Learn fundamental AI concepts, prompt design, and Gemini app development techniques in Vertex AI, plus other Gemini integrations in various technical workflows. Advanced cohort: Already know the basics, but want to add breadth and depth to your AI skills? Sign up for the Advanced path to learn advanced AI concepts like RAG and MLOps. Ready to ring in the new year with new skills? Find more generative AI learning content on Google Cloud Skills Boost.

November 15, 2024: The Cloud Innovators Plus program has evolved and is now the premium tier of the Google Developer Program. The majority of organizations don’t feel ready for the AI era. In fact, 62% say they don’t have the expertise they need to unlock AI’s full potential.1 As the leader of learning for Google Cloud, the only thing that surprises me about that number is how low it is. I meet with customers every day, and 100% of them flag some kind of AI skills gap.  Here’s the good news: that makes you — the developers, machine learning engineers, and data experts — invaluable. You are exactly the talent these organizations are looking for — but with the rate of change in AI, you have to stay on the cutting edge. A 2024 survey estimated that about 70% of AI talent needs to update their skills.2 And yet, many technical professionals don’t have the training they need to move from theory to practice and integrate AI into their everyday work.  That’s why, today, I’m proud to share with you the latest learning offerings on generative AI from Google Cloud Skills Boost. Say hello to four new learning paths designed to equip developers with real-world generative AI skills to build applications, manage and secure machine learning models, generate impactful content, and analyze data like a pro. We’re talking in-depth courses that first guide you through building proficiency and then, ultimately, test your skills in a real-life challenge lab. Get practical experience with gen AI use cases Generative AI is powerful, but to actually see value from this technology in real-world use cases takes practical experience and technical knowledge. These new learning paths from Google Cloud, listed below, give you the generative AI skills you need to complete innovative work in your current roles — like improving customer experience or team productivity. This also opens up new career (and promotion) opportunities. Once you complete the hands-on training, you will receive a skill badge to showcase your expertise on your resume or social media channels:  Learning Path: Build and modernize applications with generative AI: Learn how to enhance your projects and build end-to-end applications on Google Cloud with the power of generative AI. This path will guide you through essential techniques and tools to integrate gen AI capabilities seamlessly into your development workflow. Learning Path: Integrate generative AI into your data workflow: Learn how to use BigQuery Machine Learning for inference, work directly with Gemini models in BigQuery, and enhance your data team’s efficiency with Gemini's assistance. This path features a brand new course on boosting productivity with Gemini in BigQuery to aid in the data-to-AI pipeline. Learning Path: Deploy and manage generative AI models: Learn how to manage the entire lifecycle of generative AI models, from development and deployment to monitoring — including introductions to responsible AI for developers. This path features a brand new course on security for AI models. Learning Path: Generate smarter generative AI outputs: Learn how to build applications that generate text and visual content using generative AI. Develop an AI project on Google Cloud, use diffusion models for image generation, and build search applications with Vector Search and embeddings, then dive deeper into multimodal prompts and Multimodal RAG with Gemini. aside_block <ListValue: [StructValue([('title', 'What is a learning path and how do I get started?'), ('body', <wagtail.rich_text.RichText object at 0x3e1388efed60>), ('btn_text', ''), ('href', ''), ('image', None)])]> Innovators get full, no-cost access to gen AI learning paths Earlier this year, we announced that every member of the Google Cloud Innovators community, our no-cost developer program, receives 35 unrestricted learning credits every month to use on courses and labs in Google Cloud Skills Boost. That’s enough to complete one of these new learning paths every month. Join Innovators today to activate your credits and start learning! Innovators also get access to exclusive learning opportunities — like our latest challenge, AI Skills Quest, where you can immerse yourself in hands-on labs and earn skill AI badges alongside a cohort of like-minded peers. The latest gen AI learning content — from security to productivity  While you’re sharing your AI skills in the Innovators community, why not check out the very latest in learning? These new learning paths feature three brand new courses in security, data analytics and agent building — all hot off the presses in Google Cloud Skills Boost:  Course: Introduction to security in the world of AI. Whether you’re a security engineer, an IT leader, an AI developer, or a less technical leader, this course will help you build a foundational understanding of Google’s approach to navigating the intersection of AI and security.  Course: Boost productivity with Gemini in BigQuery. Accelerate your data-to-AI pipeline, write better code, and visualize workflows easily with Gemini in BigQuery. This course equips you or your team with practical skills to boost productivity and unlock the full potential of your data. Course: Build generative AI agents with Vertex AI and Flutter. Whether you're a seasoned app developer or just starting your journey with Flutter and Python, this course will help you build intelligent chat agents and fun, interactive experiences through generative AI.  Go from gen AI theory to practice Google has been at the forefront of AI innovation for over a decade. These learning paths are your direct line to that expertise, crafted by the very people who shaped the field. My team is committed to empowering you with the skills to lead in this exciting era. Because ultimately, we all have a shared goal: to build AI-driven solutions that are responsible, fun to use, and — above all — genuinely improve people’s lives.  Join the Google Cloud Innovators program, get your 35 free credits every month, and dive head first into our new generative AI learning paths today. 1.  Help Net Security, “The cloud skills gap is digital transformation's Achilles' heel,” Nov 14, 20232. Pluralsight, “Pluralsight AI skills report,” 2024

My father dedicated over 40 years to active duty in the Navy, and with my mother, instilled a strong sense of purpose in me and my two sisters. So joining the Navy felt like a natural choice, taking my oath alongside other young recruits who also valued the importance of having a purpose. As a woman, the leadership skills I gained in the Navy proved invaluable in navigating industries with underrepresented groups. Fast forward to today, and I'm proud to be part of Google Public Sector. My journey has shown me that veterans have so much to offer, yet the transition back to civilian life can be challenging. Research confirms that veterans, despite their qualifications and strong leadership abilities, are often undervalued in the civilian workforce. Google Cloud: A commitment to veterans At Google Cloud, we're determined to change this narrative. We believe veterans deserve a clear path to high-paying careers in cloud and AI. The demand for skilled professionals to lead digital transformations is high, and veterans have the dedication and leadership qualities to excel in these roles. My Navy experience, coupled with my technical background, showed me the impact of helping others and serving my country. I keep this in mind both at Google Public Sector and in my interactions with customers. That's why I'm proud to announce the launch of an important new program. Introducing Google Cloud Launchpad for Veterans  Google Cloud Launchpad for Veterans is a no-cost training and certification journey. It is designed to equip veterans in all roles and at all levels with the cloud knowledge and skills they need to drive innovation, and contribute to their current or future employer’s digital transformation strategy.  The three-week journey kicks off with a two-day virtual ‘Cloud Digital Leader’ training event on November 7th and 8th, delivered by ROI Training instructor and U.S. Marine Corp veteran Patrick Haggerty. You’ll enjoy interactive training sessions and a panel discussion with veterans from Google. After the virtual training event, you’ll receive a complimentary voucher for the Cloud Digital Leader exam. Attendees are encouraged to take the exam between November 15th - December 31st, 2024. (The first 500 to pass the exam will receive a voucher for their very own Google socks!) If you need extra practice, we're also offering optional exam prep sessions on November 15th and 22nd. This program goes beyond just certification. You'll gain the confidence to explain cloud fundamentals, identify the right Google Cloud solutions, and leverage cloud technology to drive innovation. You'll understand how to modernize infrastructure and applications, and you'll learn the essentials of cloud operations and security. Register today You served us, now let us serve you with a path to rewarding cloud and AI careers. Register today and translate your military experience to a powerful career in cloud.

aside_block <ListValue: [StructValue([('title', 'Get hands-on generative AI experience for free'), ('body', <wagtail.rich_text.RichText object at 0x3e1388bfffd0>), ('btn_text', 'Get started for free'), ('href', 'https://console.cloud.google.com/freetrial?redirectPath=/vertex-ai/generative'), ('image', None)])]> November 15, 2024: The Cloud Innovators Plus program has evolved and is now the premium tier of the Google Developer Program. Summer's well on its way, and it feels like it’s time for a road trip! But instead of just cruising down the highway, why not embark on a journey that supercharges your AI skills? Generative AI isn't just a buzzword; it's transforming industries. With Vertex AI, you can build applications that tailor experiences for users, automate processes and order flows, and enrich data alongside BigQuery and Cloud Run. That being said, I'm always on the lookout for helpful resources on building Gen AI products to share with my community. To help you make the most of this summer, I've crafted a learning roadmap using Google Cloud Skills Boost. It's designed to guide you from AI curiosity to capability, equipping you with the skills needed to excel in this dynamic field. So, are you ready for a summer learning journey?  Phone, check.  Keys, check.  Learning credits?   It costs nothing to join the no-cost Google Cloud Innovators program, where you receive 35 learning credits each month to use on courses, labs, and skill badges in Skills Boost. This means all the stops on our summer learning road trip are accessible to you at no cost. All right, let’s hit the road!   First stop is a low-code approach  These initial training courses lay the groundwork for understanding generative AI, from its core concepts to the responsible development of large language models (LLMs). You'll explore Google's tools for building your own AI applications and master the art of crafting effective prompts in Vertex AI. Training 1: Introduction to Generative AI: Get acquainted with the fundamental concepts of generative AI, and how to use it as a developer. Training 2: Introduction to Large Language Models (LLMs): Delve deeper into the world of LLMs, their applications, and the Google tools you can use to develop your own Generative AI apps. Training 3: Introduction to Responsible AI: It's not just about the tech itself; it's about responsible innovation. Learn to create AI systems that are fair, unbiased, and socially conscious. aside_block <ListValue: [StructValue([('title', "Debi's Pro Tip:"), ('body', <wagtail.rich_text.RichText object at 0x3e1388bffdc0>), ('btn_text', ''), ('href', ''), ('image', None)])]> Training 4: Prompt Design in Vertex AI: Learn prompt engineering, image analysis, and multimodal generative techniques, within Vertex AI. aside_block <ListValue: [StructValue([('title', "Debi's Pro Tip:"), ('body', <wagtail.rich_text.RichText object at 0x3e1388bff2e0>), ('btn_text', ''), ('href', ''), ('image', None)])]> Shift into high gear with AI engineering This section takes you beyond the basics, diving into the powerful tools and techniques that drive AI engineering. You'll gain hands-on experience building applications with Gemini and Streamlit, explore the fascinating world of image generation, and unlock the full potential of multimodal AI with Gemini. Training 5: Introduction to Vertex AI Studio: Familiarize yourself with Vertex AI Studio, your control center for building Gemini multimodal applications, designing prompts, and fine-tuning models. Training 6: Develop GenAI Apps with Gemini and Streamlit: Build interactive, user-friendly apps powered by Gemini with the Vertex AI Gemini API and Python SDK, and learn how to deploy a Steamlit app integrated with Gemini on Cloud Run aside_block <ListValue: [StructValue([('title', "Debi's Pro Tip:"), ('body', <wagtail.rich_text.RichText object at 0x3e1388bff550>), ('btn_text', ''), ('href', ''), ('image', None)])]> Training 7: Introduction to Image Generation: Discover how to generate images with AI using diffusion models, and how to train and deploy them on Vertex AI. Training 8: Explore Generative AI with the Vertex AI Gemini API: Learn text generation, image and video analysis for content creation, and function calling techniques within the Gemini API for Vertex AI. Training 9: Multimodality with Gemini: Harness the power of multimodal prompts to extract insights from text and visual data. Generate video descriptions and uncover hidden details in videos. Navigate machine learning and hit the gas At this stop you'll learn how to harness the power of Vertex AI and BigQuery to build, deploy, and leverage machine learning models, extracting valuable insights from vast datasets. Training 10: Build and Deploy Machine Learning Solutions on Vertex AI: Turn your ideas into reality. Learn how to take your models from concept to deployment using Vertex AI and AutoML. Training 11: BigQuery for Machine Learning: BigQuery is more than just a data warehouse. Leverage its vast datasets to build, train, evaluate, and predict with your own machine learning models. aside_block <ListValue: [StructValue([('title', "Debi's Pro Tip:"), ('body', <wagtail.rich_text.RichText object at 0x3e1388bff610>), ('btn_text', ''), ('href', ''), ('image', None)])]> Your no-cost AI summer road trip starts now Embarking on your AI summer learning road trip has never been easier. Remember, the Google Cloud Innovators program is a no-cost way to receive 35 learning credits each month to use on these courses, labs, and skill badges in Skills Boost.  As you level up your skills, be sure to share your progress with the world! Earn skill badges by completing courses and labs and validate them through Credly to proudly display your progress on your preferred professional social network.  Don’t forget to take a pit stop at the Google Cloud Skills Boost Arcade, where you can translate your progress into exciting badges and exclusive prizes.  This summer, let Google Cloud Skills Boost be your compass as you skill up in AI. Happy learning!

Security practitioners constantly need to rethink and refine their approaches to defending their organization. Staying ahead requires innovation, continuous improvement, and a mindset shift away from siloed operations into building end-to-end solutions against threats.  Today, Google Cloud is excited to announce the launch of the Modern SecOps (MSO) course, a six-week, platform-agnostic education program designed to equip security professionals with the latest skills and knowledge to help modernize their security operations, based on our Autonomic Security Operations framework and Continuous Detection, Continuous Response (CD/CR) methodology.  Introducing Modern Security Operations Course The Modern Security Operations course provides a comprehensive curriculum that addresses the core challenges faced by today’s security operations teams, predominantly focused on improving people and processes. Developed in collaboration with ROI Training, Netenrich, and other leading industry experts, this course offers practical insights and hands-on experience to help organizations transform their Security Operations Centers (SOCs). To learn more about ROI Training and our Google Cloud courses, see their catalog here. To learn more about Netenrich and their approach towards Autonomic Security Operations, see their case studies here. "Autonomic Security is the guiding star for transforming Security Operations Centers, and we're thrilled to partner with Google Cloud to develop this course. Netenrich Adaptive MDR, built on the ASO framework, exemplifies our commitment to pioneering autonomic security solutions,” said Raju Chekuri, CEO, Netenrich. “By implementing ASO both internally and for our customers, we're turning the vision of autonomic security into reality." Course highlights The MSO course’s six-week curriculum focuses on:  Modernizing Cyber Threat management: Gain an understanding of the evolving cybersecurity landscape and the future of security operations. SecOps 101: Learn the fundamental concepts and components of Security Operations, including detection, triage, and incident response. Principles of Autonomic Security Operations: Discover how to apply lessons from DevOps and Site Reliability Engineering to SecOps. Continuous Detection and Continuous Response (CD/CR): Implement agile methodologies to reduce toil, improve threat management and response capabilities. Modern SecOps Maturity Discovery Tool: Use our MSO Discovery tool to benchmark your organization's maturity against the CD/CR methodology. This course is tailored for: Security Operations Analysts who want to enhance their threat detection and response skills. SOC managers who are eager to learn how to modernize and streamline their Security Operations Center. CISOs who are looking to gain strategic insights to transform their organization’s security operations. Participants in the course will gain access to a wealth of knowledge and practical tools that can help streamline security operations through automation; address and overcome technology and process challenges;and achieve significant improvements in operational efficiency and effectiveness. Complimenting your training with Google SecOps In the generative AI era, security teams require fully operational, high-performing solutions that drive productivity and empower defenders. Google Security Operations is a unified, intelligence-driven and AI-powered platform designed to simplify threat detection, investigation, and response.  Our platform can help reduce the complexity of SecOps and enhance the productivity of Security Operations Centers, and features innovations such as frontline Threat Intelligence, Gemini, Investigation Assistant, Playbook Assistant, and autonomous parsers. These advanced capabilities can enable security teams to uncover threats with less effort, streamline workflows, and also accelerate their journey towards modern SecOps. You can explore how our platform can help you realize these benefits faster here. Enroll today Take the first step towards transforming your security operations: Learn more and register for the Modern Security Operations course. aside_block <ListValue: [StructValue([('title', 'Modern Security Operations: Available on Coursera'), ('body', <wagtail.rich_text.RichText object at 0x3e139df71430>), ('btn_text', 'Enroll Now'), ('href', 'https://www.coursera.org/learn/modern-security-operations'), ('image', None)])]>