Get on the fast track to a career in cybersecurity. In this certificate program, you’ll learn in-demand skills, and get AI training from Google experts. Learn at your own pace—no degree or experience required.

• Instructor: Google Career Certificates
• Top Instructor | New AI skills
• Starts: Jun 4 | 965,064 already enrolled
• Included with: •Learn more  9 course series
• Earn a career credential that demonstrates your expertise
• 4.8 (43,766 reviews) | Beginner level
• No prior experience required
• Duration: 6 months (7 hours/week)
• Flexible schedule | Learn at your own pace

What You’ll Learn

• Understand the importance of cybersecurity practices and their impact for organizations.
• Identify common risks, threats, and vulnerabilities, as well as techniques to mitigate them.
• Protect networks, devices, people, and data from unauthorized access and cyberattacks using Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) tools.
• Gain hands-on experience with Python, Linux, and SQL.

Skills You’ll Gain

• Cyber Threat Intelligence
• Cybersecurity
• Vulnerability Assessments
• Network Security
• Computer Security Incident Management
• Professional Networking
• Python Programming
• Threat Management
• View all skills

Details to Know

• Shareable certificate
• Add to your LinkedIn profile
• Taught in English | 12 languages available
• Advance your career with in-demand skills
• Receive professional-level training from Google
• Demonstrate your technical proficiency
• Earn an employer-recognized certificate from Google
• $115,000+ median U.S. salary for cybersecurity¹
• 161,000+ U.S. job openings in cybersecurity¹
• 75% of certificate graduates report positive career outcome²
• Professional Certificate – 9 course series | New AI skills

Program Overview

Prepare for a new career in the high-growth field of cybersecurity, no degree or experience required. Get professional training designed and delivered by subject matter experts at Google and have the opportunity to connect with top employers.

Organizations must continuously protect themselves and the people they serve from cyber-related threats like fraud and phishing. They rely on cybersecurity to maintain the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of their internal systems and information. Cybersecurity analysts use a collection of methods and technologies to safeguard against threats and unauthorized access—and to create and implement solutions should a threat get through.

During the 8 courses in this certificate program, you’ll learn from cybersecurity experts at Google and gain in-demand skills that prepare you for entry-level roles like cybersecurity analyst, security operations center (SOC) analyst, and more. At under 10 hours per week, you can complete the certificate in less than 6 months.

Upon completion of the certificate, you can directly apply for jobs with Google and over 150 U.S. employers, including American Express, Deloitte, Colgate-Palmolive, Mandiant (now part of Google Cloud), T-Mobile, and Walmart.

The Google Cybersecurity Certificate helps prepare you for the CompTIA Security+ exam, the industry-leading certification for cybersecurity roles. You’ll earn a dual credential when you complete both.

Applied Learning Project

This program includes 170 hours of instruction and hundreds of practice-based assessments and activities that simulate real-world cybersecurity scenarios that are critical for success in the workplace. Through a mix of videos, assessments, and hands-on labs, you’ll become familiar with the cybersecurity tools, platforms, and skills required for an entry-level job.

Skills you’ll gain include: Python, Linux, SQL, Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) tools, Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS), communication, collaboration, analysis, problem solving, and more!

Additionally, each course includes portfolio activities through which you’ll showcase examples of cybersecurity skills that you can share with potential employers. Acquire concrete skills that top employers are hiring for right now.

Courses in This Program

• Foundations of Cybersecurity (Course 1 • 10 hours)
• Play It Safe: Manage Security Risks (Course 2 • 9 hours)
• Connect and Protect: Networks and Network Security (Course 3 • 11 hours)
• Tools of the Trade: Linux and SQL (Course 4 • 23 hours)
• Assets, Threats, and Vulnerabilities (Course 5 • 19 hours)
• Sound the Alarm: Detection and Response (Course 6 • 18 hours)
• Automate Cybersecurity Tasks with Python (Course 7 • 24 hours)
• Put It to Work: Prepare for Cybersecurity Jobs (Course 8 • 10 hours)
• Accelerate Your Job Search with AI (Course 9 • 6 hours)

Earn a Career Certificate

Add this credential to your LinkedIn profile, resume, or CV. Share it on social media and in your performance review.

Instructor & Provider

Instructor: Top Instructor – Google Career Certificates

Offered by: Google (336 Courses • 12,611,313 learners)

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is cybersecurity?

Organizations must continuously protect themselves and the people they serve from cyber-related threats like fraud and phishing. They rely on cybersecurity to maintain the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of their internal systems and information. Cybersecurity analysts use a collection of methods and technologies to safeguard against threats and unauthorized access—and to create and implement solutions should a threat get through.

What kind of companies hire cybersecurity professionals?

Companies of all sizes hire cybersecurity professionals across a variety of industries, including e-commerce, finance, healthcare, technology, and government.

Will completing the certificate prepare me for the CompTIA Security+ exam?

The Google Cybersecurity Certificate helps prepare you for the CompTIA Security+ exam, the industry-leading certification for cybersecurity roles. You’ll earn a dual credential when you complete both. Graduates of the Google Cybersecurity Certificate can access the CompTIA Security+ exam and training at a discounted price.

How much does this certificate cost?

In the U.S. and Canada, Coursera charges $49 per month after the initial 7-day free trial period. The Google Cybersecurity Certificate can be completed in less than 6 months at under 10 hours per week of part-time study, so most learners can complete the certificate for less than $300 USD. In other countries where Google Career Certificates are available, your cost may be lower.

Is this program offered in other languages?

The Google Cybersecurity Certificate is currently available globally in English. Please check back here for updates.

What tools and platforms are taught in the curriculum?

During this certificate program, you’ll practice using tools and platforms including Python, Linux, SQL, Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) tools including Chronicle and Splunk, and Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) including Suricata.

What background knowledge is necessary?

No background knowledge or experience in the field of cybersecurity is necessary.

Do I need to take the courses in a specific order?

We highly recommend taking the 8 courses in this certificate program in the order presented, as the content builds on information from earlier courses.

Which jobs does this program prepare for?

Common job titles for graduates include cybersecurity analyst, security analyst, security operations center (SOC) analyst, information security analyst, IT security analyst, and cyber defense analyst. As cyber-related threats continue to grow and evolve rapidly, organizations now view cybersecurity as a must-have. Because of this, cybersecurity analysts are in high demand and can command a competitive salary across a wide range of industries. Cybersecurity analysts are essentially digital detectives. They investigate potential and ongoing threats, assess the situation to find the best solution, and protect vulnerable people and systems. Cybersecurity analysts use analytical and technical skills to crack cyber puzzles each day, but they also rely on creative thinking to address new threats in unique ways. With so much riding on the safety of organizations’ data, they can be the heroes that save the day.

What will I be able to do upon completing the professional certificate?

Google Career Certificates are designed to prepare you for an entry-level role in fields like cybersecurity, data analytics, digital marketing & e-commerce, IT support, project management, and UX design. After completing the Google Cybersecurity Certificate, U.S. graduates will have the option to share their information with over 150 U.S. employers that are hiring entry-level professionals, including American Express, Colgate-Palmolive, Mandiant (now part of Google Cloud), T-Mobile, Walmart, and of course, Google. Employer consortiums are currently available in the U.S., Canada, India, Singapore, and Indonesia and are coming to more countries soon. Participating employers will vary by country.

What resources will be available to help with the job search process?

In addition to expert-led training and hands-on projects designed to prepare you for entry-level roles, you’ll get free job search support, including 1-on-1 coaching, mock interviews such as an interview practice tool, and access to a job board. You’ll also be able to connect with over 150 U.S. employers who will consider graduates of Google Career Certificates for entry-level roles.

Why did Google create this program?

Google had long faced an issue that many other companies also contend with: we had open IT support roles, but not enough qualified candidates to fill them. So we built and tested a training program to provide pathways to jobs in technical support at Google for people with no college degree or experience. In 2018, Google launched the IT Support Certificate so that this training could be available to everyone. Since then, thousands of people have completed the program. In the United States, 75% of certificate graduates report a positive career outcome (e.g., new job, promotion, or raise) within six months of certificate completion.¹

When we saw the positive impact this program was having on people all over the world, we expanded into additional fast-growing, high-paying career fields: cybersecurity, data analytics, digital marketing & e-commerce, project management and UX design. Built and taught by experts at Google, these certificates prepare people from all backgrounds for jobs in fields with great demand for qualified candidates. No degree or previous experience is required. Graduates get the chance to connect directly with over 150 U.S. employers who will consider graduates of Google Career Certificates for entry-level roles.

¹Based on program graduate survey responses, United States, 2022.

Can I get college credit for taking the Cybersecurity Certificate?

Those planning to attend a degree program can utilize ACE®️ recommendations or ECTS recommendations, the industry standard for translating workplace learning to college credit. Learners can earn an ACE recommendation of up to 9 college credits, or 7 ECTS credits, for completing the Cybersecurity Certificate. This aims to help open up additional pathways to learners who are interested in higher education, and prepare them for entry-level jobs. To share proof of completion with schools, certificate graduates will receive an email prompting them to claim their Credly badge, which contains the ACE ®️ or ECTS credit recommendation. Once claimed, they will receive a competency-based transcript that signifies the credit recommendation, which can be shared directly with a school from the Credly platform. Please note that the decision to accept specific credit recommendations is up to each institution and is not guaranteed.

Does the Google Cybersecurity Certificate include AI content?

The Google Cybersecurity Certificate features practical training and hands-on activities that help you practice using AI for cybersecurity tasks. Learn how to use AI to understand complex security frameworks, identify bugs in code, and more from Google experts.

Is this course really 100% online? Do I need to attend any classes in person?

This course is completely online, so there’s no need to show up to a classroom in person. You can access your lectures, readings, and assignments anytime and anywhere via the web or your mobile device.

What is the refund policy?

If you subscribed, you get a 7-day free trial during which you can cancel at no penalty. After that, we don’t give refunds, but you can cancel your subscription at any time. See our full refund policy.

Can I just enroll in a single course?

Yes! To get started, click the course card that interests you and enroll. You can enroll and complete the course to earn a shareable certificate, or you can audit it to view the course materials for free. When you subscribe to a course that is part of a Certificate, you’re automatically subscribed to the full Certificate. Visit your learner dashboard to track your progress.

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