Top GCP Courses for 2024

The cloud computing landscape is a very important for these days and Google Cloud Platform (GCP) is a force to be work out with. Businesses of all sizes are flocking to the cloud for its scalability, cost effectiveness and suite of powerful tools. This surge has created a booming demand for skilled GCP professionals.

Thinking of upskilling or launching a whole new career in cloud computing? A GCP course can be your perfect launchpad. But with a mind-boggling number of options available, choosing the right one can feel like navigating a jungle gym blindfolded. This comprehensive guide explores the top GCP courses for 2024, catering to different learning styles, experience levels, and career aspirations.

Understanding Your Needs: Charting Your Course to Cloud Nirvana

Before diving headfirst into specific courses, it’s crucial to understand your individual learning style and goals. Here are some key questions to ponder:

Cloud Newbie or Seasoned Pro? Are you a complete beginner with zero cloud experience, or do you have some background in IT or another cloud platform?

Learning Style Smackdown: Do you prefer instructor-led sessions, self-paced online learning, or a mix of both? Perhaps you learn best by getting your hands dirty with projects or by watching visual aids.

Career Goals on the Horizon: What specific area of GCP excites you the most? Do you dream of becoming a Cloud Architect, Cloud Engineer, Data Scientist, or something else entirely?

Budgeting for Cloud Knowledge: Are you looking for free or paid courses? Free courses offer a great starting point, but paid courses often provide more in-depth content, certifications, and career support.

Top GCP Courses for Beginners: Building a Solid Foundation

1. Google Cloud Platform Fundamentals:

This free, self-paced course offered by Google directly is a fantastic springboard for beginners. It covers the GCP essentials, including compute, storage, networking, and identity & access management (IAM). This course is ideal if you’re new to the cloud scene.

2. A Cloud Guru’s Google Cloud Platform Fundamentals:

This comprehensive course by A Cloud Guru provides a solid foundation for GCP. It delves deeper than Google’s free course, covering additional services like BigQuery, Cloud Functions, and Kubernetes Engine. A Cloud Guru offers various learning styles in mind, with video lectures, quizzes, and hands-on labs to keep things engaging.

3. Udemy’s The Complete Google Cloud Engineer & Google Cloud Platform Course: Get Practical:

This Udemy course provides a hands-on approach to learning GCP. It includes video lectures, practical exercises, and practice exams to prepare you for the Google Certified Associate Cloud Engineer certification. This course is ideal for those who learn best by doing.

4. Google Cloud Certified Associate Cloud Engineer:

This certification validates your foundational knowledge of GCP services and your ability to deploy and manage solutions on GCP. igmGuru offers a comprehensive course specifically designed to help you pass this exam.

Intermediate Level GCP Courses

Once you have a firm grasp of the GCP fundamentals, a whole new world of specialized courses opens up. Here are some options to consider for intermediate learners:

1. Architecting with Google Compute Engine Specialization: Design and Deploy with Confidence: This Coursera specialization by Google equips you with the skills to design and deploy secure, scalable solutions on Google Compute Engine (GCE). You’ll learn about load balancing, autoscaling, containerization with Kubernetes Engine, and best practices for managing cloud infrastructure. This specialization is ideal for those interested in cloud architect roles.
2. GCP Professional Cloud Architect Certification Course: Prepare for the Big Leagues: This comprehensive course by Linux Academy prepares you for the Google Certified Professional Cloud Architect exam. It covers advanced topics like infrastructure design, solution architecture, cost optimization, and security best practices. This course is well-suited for those aiming for senior cloud architect positions.
3. Developing Applications with Google Cloud Specialization: Build and Deploy Like a Pro: This Coursera specialization focuses on building and deploying applications on GCP. You’ll learn about App Engine, Cloud Functions, Cloud SQL, and other tools for building serverless and scalable applications. This specialization caters to those interested in application development on GCP.

Advanced GCP Courses

If you’re already comfortable with GCP fundamentals and intermediate concepts, these advanced courses can help you master specific areas:

1. Machine Learning on Google Cloud Specialization: From Data to Insights: This Coursera specialization by Google teaches you how to build and deploy machine learning models on GCP. You’ll explore TensorFlow, Cloud TPUs, Cloud AI Platform, and other tools for developing and deploying ML solutions. This specialization is ideal for those interested in pursuing a career in cloud-based machine learning.
2. Data Engineering, Big Data, and Machine Learning on GCP Specialization: Wrangle the Data Beast: This igmGuru specialization dives deep into data engineering on GCP. You’ll learn about Cloud Dataproc, Cloud Storage, Cloud Pub/Sub, and other tools for building data pipelines and working with big data. This specialization caters to those who want to specialize in data engineering using GCP.
3. GCP Professional Data Engineer Certification Course: Become a Data Rockstar: This Linux Academy course prepares you for the Google Certified Professional Data Engineer exam. It covers data ingestion, transformation, storage, and analysis on GCP using tools like BigQuery, Cloud Dataflow, and Cloud Dataproc. This course is ideal for those aiming for data engineering roles within the GCP ecosystem.

Beyond the Coursework: Your Continuous Learning Journey

While courses provide a solid foundation, your learning journey in the cloud doesn’t stop there. Here are some additional ways to stay ahead of the curve:

1. Certifications: Many courses offer exam preparation for Google Cloud certifications. Earning a certification validates your skills and boosts your resume, making you a more attractive candidate to potential employers.
2. Hands-on Labs: Learning by Doing: Hands-on labs are crucial for solidifying theoretical knowledge. Look for courses that offer practical exercises and projects to apply your learnings and gain real-world experience with GCP services.
3. Community Support: The Power of Collaboration: A strong community can be a valuable resource for troubleshooting, asking questions, and learning from others. Look for courses with active forums or discussion groups where you can connect with fellow GCP learners and professionals.
4. Money-Back Guarantee: Peace of Mind: Some platforms offer money-back guarantees for their courses. This allows you to test the course content and make sure it’s a good fit before committing fully.
   Free Resources to Supplement Your Learning:

The world of GCP learning extends beyond paid courses. Here are some valuable free resources to keep your learning momentum going:

1. Google Cloud Documentation: Your Trusted Guide: Google provides extensive documentation covering all its services. It’s a fantastic resource for in-depth learning and reference material whenever you need to refresh your memory on specific GCP functionalities.
2. Qwiklabs: Get Your Hands Dirty: Qwiklabs offers free hands-on labs for various GCP services. These labs are perfect for practicing what you learn in courses or documentation, solidifying your understanding through practical application.
3. YouTube: A Treasure Trove of Tutorials: Several YouTube channels offer valuable GCP tutorials and content. Channels like A Cloud Guru, Google Cloud Platform, and Linux Academy are great places to start. Explore these channels to find bite-sized learning content or in-depth tutorials on specific GCP features.

Conclusion

The beauty of GCP is its vast range of services and applications. With so much to learn, the key is to find the path that aligns with your specific needs and career goals. Consider the factors mentioned throughout this guide: your experience level, preferred learning style, career aspirations, and budget.

Don’t be afraid to combine resources and explore different platforms. Taking a free course to build a foundation, followed by a more in-depth paid course with certifications, might be the most effective approach. Additionally, leverage free resources like documentation, Qwiklabs, and YouTube channels to enhance your learning journey and stay updated on the evolving GCP landscape.