In 2022, I prepared for, and earned, both the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner and AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Associate certification exams. If you're looking to grow your AWS Cloud knowledge, I encourage you to consider pursuing both AWS Certifications simultaneously as it offers a comprehensive understanding of AWS, reinforces related concepts, saves time, and enhances career prospects. In this blog, I'll share 10 steps I followed to prepare to take both exams within a few weeks of each other.

Mv2 8TB Memory virtual machine is generally available now for your in-memory workloads.

To succeed in Industry 4.0, companies need to upskill and reskill their workers to maximize the benefits of disruptive technologies, in particular individuals who have traditionally focused on operational technology (OT) domains, such as plant managers, product managers, engineers, and architects. We'll share five steps and associated resources for individuals in these roles to learn about AWS Cloud and AWS IoT services to skill up for Industry 4.0.

Just yesterday, Chouaieb Nemri passed his 12th AWS Certification, which means he now has every certification currently offered by AWS--an achievement shared with a limited number of individuals. Even more remarkably, Chouaieb completed his previous 10 certifications in the span of a single year. Chouaieb suffers from a rare and severe form of muscular dystrophy, which significantly compromises his ability to move. To hear Chouaieb tell it, however, he was able to achieve these amazing technical feats not so much despite his disability but because of it.

Learn how startups and small and medium businesses can take advantage of AWS programs to meet their unique digital transformation goals. By measuring baseline cloud proficiency, small teams can fill learning gaps through tailored learning programs and use AWS Partners to accelerate development.

Editor's note: This blog has been updated since it originally published to reflect the total number of generative AI courses that have become available since the publish date.An AI/ML (artificial intelligence/machine learning) career path can be a great specialty area within the cloud—and one of the most accessible! Because this area is constantly developing, most recently with the rise of generative AI, I want to share some recommendations to help you chart a sustainable career as AI/ML continues to evolve.Generative AI falls under the overall category of AI and offers a new and exciting way of interacting with information, brands, and other people. Let’s talk about how these disciplines work together and about materials available to help you upskill in these areas.To this end, we are happy to announce a new set of generative AI training content available at no cost. So, whether you are just getting started or already have a more advanced role, read on to find ways to help reach your desired position. ML compared to AIWhile the terms ML and AI are often used interchangeably, there are distinct differences. AI is an umbrella concept wherein machines are taught to perform tasks normally associated with human intelligence, such as decision-making and language interaction. ML is a subset of AI dedicated to taking data from the past and training algorithms to create models that can perform highly complex tasks without being explicitly programmed. It’s the basis for most forms of AI that people interact with, like virtual assistants, music recommendations, and chatbots.Data engineers and ML engineers work with data scientists to get insights from data. They are needed to create software models and get clear results, and develop deployable applications. These skilled roles are needed in every industry!Change the world for the better with generative AII recently wrote about four key pillars of technology trends expected in the next decade, including the role of AI/ML in the cloud environment as one of those pillars, and how you can bridge the skills gap and build your career.Generative AI is a new type of ML that has made a lot of headlines recently. Research from CIO Dive finds that seven in 10 executives say their companies are investigating or exploring generative AI. Now is a great time to become an expert, while we are at the cusp of this technology becoming more widely adopted. To get to generative AI, we need to talk first about deep learning. Deep learning is a subset of ML that uses artificial neural networks to process more complex patterns than traditional ML. Generative AI sits still further down the funnel, as a subset of deep learning that typically involves the Transformer architecture. Essentially, it’s a type of AI that can map long-range dependencies and patterns in large training sets, then use what it learns to produce new content, including text, imagery, audio, and synthetic data.Generative AI relies on large models, such as large language models (LLMs) that can classify and generate text, answer questions, and summarize documents. For more detail about how this works, check out the video below from Google I/O 2023, which features great information from Dr. Gwendolyn Stripling, Artificial Intelligence Technical Curriculum Developer for Google Cloud.Introduction to Generative AIIntroduction to Large Language ModelsHow Google is offering generative AIHere at Google, we’ve been heavily invested for decades in research and innovation aimed at helping businesses, governments, and developers maximize the potential of AI. Our vision is to empower builders, innovators, developers, and doers to use AI in unique, responsible, productive ways. To deliver on this, we recently announced a variety of solutions to bring generative AI into our offerings, beginning with Generative AI support on Vertex AI and Gen App Builder. Vertex AI is Google Cloud’s ML platform for training and deploying ML models and AI applications. With Generative AI support on Vertex AI, data science teams and developers can access foundation models from both Google and other sources, helping them to quickly build, customize, and deploy models for their own use cases. As part of generative AI support on Vertex AI, Model Garden and Generative AI Studio are now in preview, including access to PaLM 2 for Text and Chat and Embeddings API for Text, while other features and services are available to select trusted testers. If you’d like early access to Google Cloud’s AI products, join the waitlist here.We announced our latest PaLM model in production at I/O 2023: PaLM 2. Today, it powers more than 25 products! Additionally, we’ve fine-tuned PaLM 2 for specific use cases, including security and medical domains. You’ve probably also heard of Bard, our experiment for conversational AI, which is fully running on PaLM 2. Our Gen App Builder aims to make customer, partner, and employee interactions more effective and helpful. With it, developers — even those with limited data science expertise — can quickly create bots, chat apps, digital assistants, custom search engines, and more. Gen App Builder even makes it possible to create some generative AI apps without any coding skills. Now, let’s bring these products to life! Not sure exactly the use case or in need of a little inspiration? Check out this blog from Google Cloud CEO Thomas Kurian to see how customers and partners in the ecosystem are bringing ideas to life with generative AI. And watch this video to see generative AI in action!Generative AI on Google CloudBuild your AI/ML skills and validate your knowledge to grow your careerThere is a lot of excitement around generative AI—it’s truly a brand new path to consider for your AI/ML career! Check out my recommendations below for training options for AI/ML roles. These will help you gain critical skills as generative AI becomes more widely available.*NEW* training materials, specific to generative AI technologiesGenerative AI Learning Path - no cost training [Course] Introduction to Generative AI (1 day)[Course] Introduction to Large Language Models (1 day)[Course] Attention Mechanism(1 day)[Course] Transformer Models and BERT Model(1 day)[Course] Introduction to Image Generation (1 day)[Course] Create Image Captioning Models (1 day)[Course] Encoder-Decoder Architecture (1 day)Additional AI/ML training - varying learning credits required to complete on Google Cloud Skills Boost Introductory level[Course with completion badge] How Google Does Machine Learning (1 day)[Course with completion badge] MLOps: Getting Started (1 day)[Skill badge] Get started with TensorFlow on Google Cloud (8 hours)  [Skill badge] Perform foundational ML, AI and data tasks in Google Cloud (7 hours)[Course with completion badge] Language, Speech, Text, and Translation with Google Cloud APIs (5 hours)Intermediate/Multi-level[Learning Path] Machine Learning Engineer (Collection of 15 video courses and labs) [Skill badge] Build and Deploy Machine Learning Solutions on Vertex AI (1 day)Advanced[Training + certification exam] Google Cloud Professional ML Engineer Certification (varied time)[Skill badge] Machine Learning with TensorFlow in Vertex AI (90 minutes)[Course with completion badge] Natural Language Processing in Google Cloud (1 day)You can also catch up on hands-on demos in our most recent Cloud OnBoard: From Data to AI with BigQuery and Vertex AI. In it, we guide you through all steps of the data-to-AI solution.Coming up on June 29, we are hosting Getting Started with Vertex Generative AI as part of Innovators Live. Register now!I also encourage you to consider an Innovators Plus subscription. You get access to over 700 labs, skill badges and courses (including many that are specific to AI/ML), a certification exam voucher, and up to $1,000 in Google Cloud credits. You’ll also get access to live learning events and technical briefings with Google Cloud experts, plus 1:1 consultations (talk with us about your upcoming generative AI project!). It’s a $1,500 package for only $299. Learn more!

In today's rapidly changing world of AI, digital transformation, and a myriad of migrations, it's more important than ever to stay up-to-date on the latest technologies and trends. Continuing to grow your technical knowledge and skills is important not only to stay relevant in an ever changing job market, but to future-proof your career, whether you’re just getting started with cloud computing, or a deeply experienced technical practitioner. For enterprises, cloud expertise retains top strategic importance. Enterprise leaders in the Global 2023 Enterprise Cloud Skills Survey repeatedly listed cloud-related and cloud-adjacent roles among the ones they believe are critical to their organizations today.  Introducing the Google Cloud learning hub So to help you and your organization save time, develop, and grow these critical cloud skills, Google Cloud has created a new learning hub cloud.google.com/learn. This hub serves as a great starting point to discover the latest learning available, specific training for the most in-demand cloud job roles, and outlines opportunities to earn Google Cloud learning credentials through skill badges and certifications.Take the first step in jumpstarting your learning journeyWith so many resources listed on the learning hub, you may be asking yourself, which path do I choose? How can I choose just one? These are great questions and the Innovators program is here to help support your exploration. For a limited time, eligible new members of theGoogle Cloud Innovators program will receive 500 learning credits for labs and learning on Google Cloud Skills Boost. These credits are valid for 6 months after redemption and will give you ample time to explore the various learning paths to find the right one for you.In addition, as an Innovator, you will be invited to learn directly from experts on the latest developments in Google Cloud, receive the latest news about our products and services directly in your inbox, and have the opportunity to connect with other members of the global community to learn and grow together.Don't miss out, Join Innovators today and receive your unique learning code to get started. It’s free to sign up and no credit card required! Ready to invest in your cloud career even further? Try Innovators Plus If you are ready to get certified now and take charge in advancing your career, upgrading to the Google Cloud Innovators Plussubscription can accelerate your learning journey even faster.Innovators Plus provides a comprehensive package of benefits to not only advance your learning but help you apply your skills to becoming a Google Cloud certified professional. Learn more on how many subscribers are using the benefits to prepare and get Google Cloud certified by taking advantage of over $1,500 in benefits for $299/year. Discover the many ways to advance your own career or upskill your entire team. Be sure to explore the new cloud.google.com/learn hub to find what's right for you.

Organizations like Tyson Foods, Renault, and Air Asia use real-time intelligence solutions from Google Cloud to transform their data clouds and solve for new customer challenges in an always-on, digitally connected world. And as more companies move their data processing to the cloud, Google Cloud Dataflow has become a popular choice. Dataflow is a powerful and flexible data processing service that can be used to build streaming and batch data pipelines, from reading from messaging services like Pub/Sub to writing to a data warehouse like BigQuery. To help new users get started and master the many features Dataflow offers, we are thrilled to announce the Dataflow Cookbook.This cookbook is designed to help developers and data engineers accelerate their productivity by providing a range of practical solutions to common data processing challenges. In addition to the recipes, the cookbook also includes best practices, tips, and tricks that will help developers optimize their pipelines and avoid common pitfalls.The cookbook is available in Java, Python and Scala (via Scio), and organized in folders depending on what the use case is. Every example is self-contained and as minimal as possible, using public resources when possible so that you can use the examples without any extra preparation. Some examples you can find:Reading and writing data from various sources: Dataflow can read / write data from a wide variety of sources, including Google Cloud Storage, BigQuery, and Pub/Sub. The examples on the cookbook cover the most common approaches when reading, writing, and handling dataWindowing and triggers: Many data processing tasks involve analyzing data over a certain period of time. Recipes cover how to use windowing functions in Dataflow to group streaming data into time-based intervals, as well as triggers.Advanced topics: We have included more advanced pipeline patterns with StatefulDoFns and custom window implementations.How can I get started? We believe that this cookbook will be a valuable resource for anyone working with Dataflow. Whether you're new to the platform and want to learn, or you are an experienced user that wants to speed up creating new pipelines by merging examples together. We're excited to share our knowledge with the community and look forward to seeing how it helps developers and data engineers achieve their goals. The cookbook is available on GitHub. Get it there and let us know what you think!

In April 2023, we released 15 digital training products on AWS Skill Builder, including AWS Jam Journey: Security re:Invent and a new AWS Builder Lab for AWS Skill Builder subscribers, and three learning plans (with digital badges) for cloud essentials, Media and Entertainment, and Amazon Connect. We are updating the AWS Certified Security – Specialty exam, and learners who complete all 12 assignments in AWS Cloud Quest: Cloud Practitioner can earn a 25% off exam voucher for AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner.

I often get asked how I transitioned from a software development role to a cloud role. If you had asked me a year ago if I would want a career in cloud, I would have told you ‘Not a chance’. I didn’t even know how exactly the cloud worked. In this blog, I’ll share why that changed and how I went from no cloud experience to achieving three AWS Certifications in less than a year. I knew Amazon Web Services (AWS) offered industry-recognized certifications, but I wasn’t really sure how to get started and where to go to prepare for these certifications. This blog will also cover the resources I utilized to prepare for the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner, AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Associate and AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Professional exams.

Read 10 study tips to help you prepare for the AWS Certified: SAP on AWS - Specialty exam. This certification exam is intended for individuals in roles that require experience with both SAP and AWS. It covers foundational as well as deep-dive topics around SAP and AWS, validating the candidate's ability to design, implement, migrate, and operate the broad range of SAP workloads on AWS, adhering to the AWS Well-Architected Framework and SAP certification and support requirements.

Learn how Ukrainian refugee, Anastasiia, utilized ITSkills4U to transition from being a small business owner (a beauty salon) to build the skills and AWS Certifications to start a new career in cloud DevOps.

Advancing Women in Tech (AWIT) is a non-profit organization that aims at addressing this gap by providing upskilling avenues and increasing the availability of women tech leaders as mentors. AWIT recently launched a collection of courses on Real-World Engineering Management, sponsored by AWS and available exclusively on Coursera.

Networking can be complex, and we acknowledge that. To help, Google Cloud’s Developer Relations and Networking teams have kicked off a new video series to assist with complex networking topics.Introducing the Advanced Networking Demo seriesThe advanced networking demo series will:Identify and describe specific scenarios to add some context on the topic.Highlight specific user requirements, and suggest various components and services as shown in a visual diagram.Demonstrate configurations of the solution in a hands-on demo.Now that we have an idea of what to expect let’s look at the first two videos.Video # 1 - Cloud DNS, Multi Cloud with private DNS, AWS and Google CloudThis video looks at what happens when a customer expands their cloud footprint beyond a single cloud provider. This focuses on the important need to establish private network infrastructure between the various cloud providers.One of the key aspects of the private network infrastructure is the need for private DNS endpoint resolution between the cloud providers. The reason for this is that applications deployed on one cloud provider will need access to private endpoints hosted on the other cloud providers, DNS private hosted zone and vice versa.In this demo we will be covering a multi cloud private DNS customer scenario between Google Cloud and AWS. At a high level, we will learn how to set up inbound and outbound DNS resolution using the respective cloud provider's DNS offerings.The architecture will look like this:Inbound ForwardingOutbound ForwardingVideo: Cloud DNS demo, Multi Cloud private DNS between AWS and Google CloudCloud DNS demo, Multi Cloud private DNS between AWS and Google CloudVideo # 2 - Private Service Connect for GKE multi-tenant clustersThis video helps you to understand what is a Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE) multi-tenant cluster and how we can expose a service on this cluster to On-Prem or Hybrid Users. This example ensures this is achieved without any route leaks and security vulnerabilities if one of the customers in one namespace had to expose a service to their on-prem environment and vice versa.In this demo we will take a common GKE multi tenant cluster scenario, examine sample customer requirements and walkthrough a solution demo using Private Service Connect.The architecture will look like this.PSC and GKEVideo: Private Service Connect (PSC) for GKE multi-tenant clusters demoPrivate Service Connect (PSC) - for GKE multi Tenant Clusters demoMore networking resourcesSubscribe to the cloud tech channel https://goo.gle/GoogleCloudTech to get updates on awesome content. Check out and bookmark the Advanced Networking demo series playlist as new videos will be uploaded in the future.To learn more about Google Cloud networking, visit https://cloud.google.com/products/networking. Want to ask a question, find out more or share a thought? Please connect with me on Linkedin.Related ArticleTwo networking patterns for secure intra-cloud access - Networking ArchitectureLearn more about PSC consumer and producer design and the NVA in shared VPC design.Read Article

Get greater visibility into current and historic Kubernetes spend and resource allocation..

Are you ready to grow your cloud skills and earn Google Cloud swag? Game on! Head over to The Arcade to participate in games that feature hands-on learning labs. Complete labs and you’ll earn digital badges. These badges award you points that you can use to redeem great Google Cloud prizes from the prize counter, including backpacks, t-shirts, mugs, and more. You can even choose charitable donations. But take note: each game is available for a limited time only, so earn your digital badges and points while you can! Head to The Arcade to see what’s available to play today.How does it work?Two games, two levelsEvery month, we will feature two new games: one that is an introductory “Level 1,” and another that is a more advanced “Level 2.” And no, you do not need a pocketful of quarters/credits! There is no cost to participate in The Arcade games. Throughout the year, games will span a variety of topics to get you comfortable working with Google Cloud products and technology, like BigQuery, Firebase, Kubernetes, MongoDB, and many others to test your knowledge and showcase your skills. Each game will include eight to 15 hands-on labs to build your cloud skills. If you’re new to the cloud, we recommend starting at Level 1, but you can play one or both games - it’s up to you! Certain labs included in The Arcade will offer the chance to earn skill badges, which are shareable Google Cloud credentials that recognize your ability to solve real-world problems with your cloud knowledge. For every three skill badges you earn, dated between April 1 and June 15, 2023, you're eligible for one additional Arcade point.Your challenge, should you choose to accept it…Each game includes one or more challenge labs. Challenge labs are designed to test the skills you've learned. No instructions, no steps; just a scenario for you to solve. Didn’t get the solution on your first try? No worries. You'll notice pointers to skill badges that will help you gain the skills you need to successfully complete challenge labs. Test your knowledge with the Trivia ChallengeIn addition to the games you can play on The Arcade, you can also participate in our monthly Trivia Challenges. These are structured as quests, which are collections of self-paced, hands-on labs about a specific product or tool, and associated trivia questions. Make sure to check back every month for our newest Trivia Challenge, and earn a point to use in the prize counter upon completion.Collect badges and points to redeem for fun swag or charitable donationsSo that's three ways to learn and earn: games, skill badges, and trivia. Every badge you earn can be added to your Google Cloud Skills Boost profile. Make sure to set it to “public,” then share on LinkedIn and add to your resume. Each arcade badge and set of three skill badges gets you a point in the prize counter. Redeem your points to get your choice of prizes! The prize counter will be open for specific dates during which you can claim your prize(s). Subscribe to The Arcade to understand the dates the prize counter is open. Points will expire after six months, so make sure you use your opportunity to redeem while you can! Subscribe to The Arcade and join the learning community today!Remember to play as many games and trivia as you can: the more you learn, the more you earn. Game on! To get started with games, first subscribe to The Arcade to activate your account on Google Cloud Skills Boost. Share tips and engage with other Arcade players by joining the Google Cloud Learning Community, where you can ask questions, work together on game solutions, and grow your network. Are you new to Google Cloud Skills Boost? Take this no-cost Tour of Google Cloud Hands-on Labs to get acquainted.So are you in? It’s time to start playing and earn points to get that swag. We can’t wait to see you in The Arcade!

In Nigeria, 30–45% of all jobs will require digital skills by 2030, and 28 million workers will need technical training across sectors. Learn how Stanbic IBTC, a leading commercial bank with operations in Africa, is helping to create the next generation of cloud experts in Nigeria through its annual skilling initiative—the Digital Skills Empowerment Program (DiSEP).

A majority of businesses use services from multiple clouds, and with 84% of mid-to-large companies adopting a multicloud strategy this year, multicloud is positioned as one of the year’s defining trends in cloud computing. Moreover, Hashicorp’s recent State of Cloud Strategy Survey found that 76% of employers are already using multiple clouds in some fashion, with more than 50% flagging lack of skills among their employees as a top challenge to survival in the cloud.With the rise of multicloud architecture and agile environments, coupled with the growing cloud skills gap, Google Cloud Learning has released new on-demand learning content and skill badges that support the professional’s path to translating their knowledge and skills to Google Cloud. A skill badge is an exclusive digital badge issued by Google Cloud in recognition of your proficiency with Google Cloud products and services and tests your ability to apply your knowledge in an interactive hands-on environment. Complete the skill badge quest, and final assessment challenge lab, to receive a digital badge that you can share with your network and add to your resume.With new on-demand courses on Google Cloud Skills Boost and Coursera, we are offering new on-demand courses and skill badges (skill badges are available to earn on Google Cloud Skills Boost) to help individuals who already know and use other cloud technologies, add Google Cloud skills to their resume. The new courses include:Google Cloud Infrastructure for Azure Professionals (Coursera) (Skills Boost)[Skill Badge] Google Cloud Infrastructure for Azure Professionals  Google Cloud Infrastructure for AWS Professionals (Coursera) (Skills Boost)[Skill Badge] Google Cloud Infrastructure for AWS ProfessionalsBigQuery Fundamentals for Redshift Professionals (Coursera) (Skills Boost)BigQuery Fundamentals for Teradata Professionals (Coursera) (Skills Boost)BigQuery Fundamentals for Oracle Professionals (Coursera) (Skills Boost)BigQuery Fundamentals for Snowflake Professionals  (Coursera) (Skills Boost)“I'm so excited about our new on-demand learning content and skill badges. This will help to enable cloud engineers, cloud architects and data engineers to quickly and efficiently gain validated Google Cloud skills.” — Bhanu Murthy, Vice President, Google Cloud Customer ExperienceRead on for additional course details:For the skilled Azure or AWS Cloud Architect looking to expand their knowledge and skills to Google Cloud, we’re offering the following learning paths, which include a series of courses and a Google Cloud skill badge:This learning path includes a series of four courses for cloud architects and engineers with existing AWS or Azure knowledge to learn the Google Cloud solutions in comparison with AWS or Azure and guide professionals on their use. With this learning path, you’ll apply your knowledge of concepts and technologies in AWS or Azure to see how they translate to Google Cloud. You’ll also get hands-on practice building and managing Google Cloud resources. [Learning Path] Google Cloud Infrastructure for Azure ProfessionalsIncludes a Google Cloud skill badge to earn upon completion of learning. [Learning Path] Google Cloud Infrastructure for AWS Professionals Includes a Google Cloud skill badge to earn upon completion of learning. Upon completion of the courses and skill badge included in each path, you will be able to:Describe a conceptual mapping of AWS / Azure services to Google Cloud equivalentsYou’ll be able to apply prior knowledge to explain the similarities and differences in features and functionalities on AWS or Azure.Create a well-architected starting framework on Google CloudGain practical skills to create a well-architected starting framework in Google Cloud including; setting up IAM and security controls, creating networks and load balancing services, building a resource hierarchy with Compute Engine, Google Kubernetes Engine and Cloud Storage, and creating a modular and scalable environment to deploy code on Google Cloud.Demonstrate a working knowledge of the Google Cloud infrastructureSpeed up your adoption journey into Google Cloud. Upon completion you will earn a Google Cloud skill badge. For skilled data warehouse professionals looking to use BigQuery:These are the first Google Cloud courses on BigQuery topics tailored to Redshift, Snowflake, Oracle, and Teradata professionals. In addition, these courses are among the first to include interactive content with hands-on labs, offering an enhanced learning experience. The courses cover how to provision resources, create and share data assets, ingest data, and optimize query performance in BigQuery. Using knowledge of Redshift, Snowflake, Oracle, and/or Teradata, you’ll learn about the primary differences between BigQuery and other data warehouse platforms, so you can get started building your BigQuery data warehouse.[Course] BigQuery Fundamentals for Redshift Professionals[Course] BigQuery Fundamentals for Teradata Professionals [Course] BigQuery Fundamentals for Oracle Professionals [Course] BigQuery Fundamentals for Snowflake Professionals [Skill Badge] Validate your BigQuery skills with the Build and Optimize Data Warehouses with BigQueryUpon completion of these courses and skill badge, you’ll be able to…Describe BigQuery’s architecture, resource provisioning, and data definition modelGain knowledge of BigQuery’s architecture and resource provisioning features, while seeing a high-level overview of the similarities and differences between Redshift, Oracle, Snowflake, Teradata, and BigQueryCreate, secure, and share BigQuery data assets using best practicesYou’ll get the opportunity to create, populate, and share BigQuery datasets and tables through a hands-on lab experienceImplement common patterns and best practices for designing schemas and ingesting data in BigQueryExplore options and best practices for designing table schemas and ingesting data into BigQuery through a hands-on lab experienceUse best practices to optimize query performance and control costs in BigQueryExplore best practices for writing SQL queries in BigQuery through a hands-on lab experienceCompare and contrast differences and similarities between other data warehouses.See how BigQuery’s features and options compare to other data warehouses.Stand out, grow your multicloud resume and start your learning journey today.

Developing and validating your cloud computing skills and knowledge are important steps to stand out in the industry and progress towards your career goals. Achieving a Google Cloud certification is an investment in your future and shows that you can perform a job role at a high standard. The new Google Cloud Innovators Plus subscription can help you get your certified status faster because it provides a full package of training benefits to support your certification journey — with significant cost savings. It includes access to role based learning paths, the opportunity to earn Google Cloud skill badges, certification preparation courses, and a voucher to cover the cost of the certification exam. In addition, Innovators Plus subscribers can participate in regular live-learning events with Google Cloud specialists, and get executive live ask-me-anything access during quarterly briefings. For example, our most recent briefing featured Google Cloud PM Director Maulin Patel and his team, who shared with attendees how to unite technology with Google Kubernetes Engine to run next-generation servers for gaming platforms. You can check on the on-demand event here.This month, we are introducing two new types of benefits with the Innovators Plus subscription. The first is 1-to-1 consultations with Google Cloud experts. Not only that, in addition to the mini-courses and Cloud Hero games offered through the Live-Learning events benefit for subscribers, we are also introducing a new format; Google Cloud Trainer Talks, with training content focused more on the intermediate and advanced levels. Read on to learn more.How can I earn a certification?We offer eleven Google Cloud certifications across a variety of cloud job roles. Google Cloud certifications are a great equalizer as they’re an industry-recognized credential across the globe; they represent the same demonstration of your cloud knowledge and skills, no matter where you are located. Here are our recommendations for getting started, all  part of the Innovators Plus subscription! Take a look at this blog. It gives you a visual tour of Google Cloud certifications, and can help you identify which is right for you. There are options for people starting their career (like Cloud Digital Leader for non-technical practitioners), and for those who already have more advanced skills and career experience with the professional level certifications. To start preparing, gain hands-on experience with Google Cloud by earning skill badges on Google Cloud Skills Boost. These credentials demonstrate your ability to solve real-world cloud challenges and are a great addition to your resume.To go a step further, learning paths group relevant training according to job role.Finally, these no-cost courses will help you prepare for Google Cloud certification exams. They give tips on improving your knowledge before the test, and for creating a study plan. Check out the Google Cloud certification page, which offers an exam guide and sample questions for each certification, to help you get ready for sitting the exam. Once you are ready to take the exam, you’ll sign up for either a remote or onsite-proctored test center and complete the exam…we are rooting for you!Using an Innovators Plus subscription to prepare for a Google Cloud certificationSubscribers are already making the most of the Innovators Plus benefits to help them prepare and get Google Cloud certified. For $299 / year, the subscription gives you access to all the training resources listed above, a certification voucher, and up to $1000 Google Cloud credits. You’re getting over $1500 of value in the Innovators Plus benefits, all for $299 / year.How Innovators Plus subscribers are using the benefits to prepareHere’s what Innovators Plus subscribers Kartik, Jasper, Julio and Lukas had to say about using the benefits to prepare for certification;“I cleared four Google Cloud Professional certifications since I got the Innovators Plus subscription and I have a total of six Google Cloud certifications now. Appearing for one more in the coming weeks.” — Kartik Derasari, Senior Software EngineerEarning a variety of certifications makes a candidate well-rounded in demonstrating their expertise in an array of domains. Showcasing multiple certifications can help you stand out for high-demand cloud roles and enhance your professional brand.“It helped with my certification and personal branding. It saves me money and enables me to experiment on the cloud.” — Jasper Duizendstra, Engineer“I have been able to leverage knowledge, and even prepare to get recertified on several certifications I actually hold, thanks to the resources this subscription grants me.”— Julio Quinteros, Senior Enterprise ArchitectJulio is referencing the need to retake the Google Cloud certification exam before your certification expires, usually within two years. Products and best practices evolve quickly in the cloud, and this ensures you’re up on the latest.“I was able to earn a new certification after using the Google Cloud Skills Boost credits and the certification voucher. And then I was quickly able to use my new skills on the job.” — Lukas Karlsson, Founder of Altissimo in the U.S.New Innovators Plus benefit: 1-to-1 consultations with Google Cloud experts and Google Cloud Trainer TalksAs of late March 2023, you can now get exclusive access to 1-to-1 consultations with a Google Cloud expert. Want advice on bringing your next project to live with Google Cloud? Have a tricky AI challenge you want to talk through? Would a second set of eyes help you with an architecture you're drafting? Just tell us what you need guidance on and when you’re available to discuss live so we can match you with a relevant expert. Available now, as part of your Innovators Plus subscription, you’re eligible for one 60-minute consultation or two 30-minute consultations annually.Google Cloud Trainer Talks are a new type of live-learning event led by Google Cloud trainers for a more advanced audience than the mini courses and Cloud Hero games currently available to subscribers as part of the live-learning events benefit. These new ‘Trainer Talk’ events will last one-two hours, and are meant to inspire you in new areas. Although they will not include labs, they will help you build deeper skills through the options available with Google Cloud Skills Boost. The debut Google Cloud Trainer Talk ‘Demystifying ML/AL with Google Cloud’, takes place on April 13, so become an Innovators Plus subscriber today and join this event. Join us on April 13 to hear how Champion Innovators have used Innovators Plus to grow their skills and prepare for certification Join us on April 13 and 9AM PTC on Twitter Spaces. Champion Innovators Jochen Kirstatter (Senior Software Engineer) and Aindrila Das (Summer Intern) will share how they have leveraged the benefits included in an Innovators Plus subscription to learn skills, build new projects, and earn Google Cloud certification.Are you ready to get started? Join our Twitter Spaces interview on April 13 or catch up on-demand, and learn more about Innovators Plus to begin your certification journey today.1. Based on survey responses from the 2020 Google Cloud certification impact report.2. Based on responses from the Global Knowledge 2022 IT Skills and Salary Survey.

There’s no better time than the present to take steps toward advancing your professional goals. What better way to start fresh than by joining the Google Cloud Innovators program? The Innovators program is designed to help developers and practitioners grow their Google Cloud skills and advance their careers and has already welcomed tens of thousands of members worldwide. No matter where you are on your cloud journey, the Innovators program has something for you. Depending on where you are in building your Google Cloud expertise, there are three different levels of Innovators and we’ve expanded the ways in which Innovators can connect and get the best of Google Cloud.Which developer program are you joining?Here is key information to help you decide which level is right for you and some tips on how to leverage the best of the Innovators program to achieve your goals:Expand your skills as an InnovatorBecoming an Innovators program member only takes a few clicks on the Innovators home page. As an Innovator, you'll have access to first-class resources, including live discussions with Google Developer Advocates, professional development sessions, and more. You'll also be able to connect with other Innovators from around the world and share ideas and best practices.If you’re looking to get the most out of being an Innovator, here are a few tips: Sign up for news and program announcements: The Innovators newsletters are a great way to stay up-to-date on the latest news and events in the Google Cloud community curated just for you. Follow @GoogleCloudTech on social: The Innovators program is active on Twitter.  Be sure to also engage with us on Facebook and LinkedIn. This is a great way to stay connected with the community and learn about upcoming talks and live events.Attend Innovators Live events: Innovators live sessions are hosted bi-weekly on Thursdays on CloudonAir. Join us for live discussions with Google Developer advocates around product, professional development and best practices as a community. Participate in online forums: The Innovators program has an active online forum within the Google Cloud community. This is a great place to ask questions, get help, and share ideas with other Innovators. Many of our DAs continue the conversation from Innovators Live in the GCC!We encourage our Innovators to sign up with their personal email address so that you can keep your profile no matter where you venture professionally. Advance your career with Innovators PlusIf you're looking to take your cloud career to the next level, Innovators Plus is the perfect option. This premium subscription level includes everything you need to learn and apply your skills on your path to becoming a Google Cloud certified professional. And best of all, you'll save up to 80% on the retail value of the benefits included through the new and expanded Innovators Plus annual subscription.Along with everything Innovators receive, Innovators Plus members gain:Access to all 700+ hands-on labs, skill badges, and courses on Google Cloud Skills Boost $500 Google Cloud creditsA Google Cloud certification exam voucherBonus $500 Google Cloud credits after the first certification earned each yearLive learning events led by Google Cloud expertsOpportunity to shape the future of Google Cloud through invite-only quarterly technical briefings hosted by Google Cloud executivesInnovators Plus members are also now able to schedule two 1:1 sessions annually with Google Cloud consultants to have your implementation questions answered in real time. Visit your Innovators Plus portal to schedule your sessions today.If you’re looking to take charge of your career, learn more about Innovators Plus today.Motivate and inspire others as a Champion Innovator Champion Innovators are those who excel technically and actively contribute to the Google Cloud community through blogs, speaking opportunities, or mentoring and motivating Innovators.Members of the invite-only Champions level are nominated by Googlers. They are the top-tier members of the Innovators program and are known for their contributions to projects, participation in online forums, thought leadership, and ability to inspire others. Champions receive all the benefits of being an Innovator and an Innovators Plus member, and special treatment at Google Cloud events, such as Google Cloud Next ‘23. Over the course of 2022, Champion Innovators contributed to 12 different content sessions during Google Cloud Next, wrote and shared over 60 pieces of content on either the Google Cloud Blog or the Champion Content Library, and published to the Google Dev Library. Learn more on how Champion Innovators are exploring Innovators Plus and inspiring us with their creativity. Join the Innovators program today Whether you're a student, researcher, developer, practitioner, or just curious about how to get started in the cloud, the Innovators program will assist you in discovering all the possibilities of Google Cloud. To join the program and learn more about the Google Cloud Innovators program, visit cloud.google.com/innovators to get started.Related ArticleSpreading a whole lot of developer love with a little help from Innovators PlusGiving all the love to the Google Cloud developer and technical practitioner community this Valentine’s Day. 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