Built by experts at Google and vetted by employers, the new Google Career Certificate in cybersecurity was developed to help organizations upskill their employees. This new course is also aimed at enabling people to qualify for entry-level jobs including cybersecurity analyst and information security analyst.

This new course (and the recently announced new advanced certificates in data analytics and business intelligence) are part of the existing Google Career Certificate program in the Philippines. With this, Google is working closely with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and is providing Cybersecurity Career Certificate scholarship for ICT practitioners in the government.

“Creating more pathways for Filipinos to acquire the right digital skills and to competitively enter the cybersecurity field is essential,” said Bernadette Nacario, Country Director, Google Philippines. 

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Outside of the scholarship program, anyone aged 18 and above can complete the certificate online in under six months of part-time study with no degree or experience required.

Citing a report by cybersecurity solutions company CheckPoint, Google said cyber attacks increased nearly 40% over the last year, putting critical infrastructure such as governments, hospitals, electrical grids, schools, and businesses at greater risk. In a jobs report, Google said a global skills shortage of 3.5 million cybersecurity workers is projected through 2025.

Security programs

Google’s Cybersecurity Certificate will prepare people for entry-level roles by training them to identify common cyber risks, threats and vulnerabilities, as well as how to mitigate them by protecting networks, devices, people, and data from unauthorized access and cyber attacks.

Learners will get hands-on experience using Python, Linux, and an array of security programs including Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) tools. The program will also prepare people for the CompTIA Security+ exam, the industry leading certification for cybersecurity roles—they will earn a dual credential when they complete both.

“The Cybersecurity Google Career Certificate will also equip them with the skills needed to have resilience against cyber attacks and to build a safer and more secure online world,” said DICT Secretary Ivan John Uy.