Google Launches Online Cybersecurity Certificate

Google has announced the launch of an online Cybersecurity Certificate on Coursera for Sub-Saharan Africa to address the region’s cybersecurity skills gap.

To accompany the launch, Google said it will be providing 2,000 scholarships in conjunction with its distribution partners – ICT Authority in Kenya, The Roothub in Nigeria, and RLabs in South Africa – all of which have strong workforce development programs to reach learners, provide them access to the Cybersecurity certificate, and support them through their learning journey.

“Google is committed to helping strengthen cybersecurity in Africa by sharing our expertise and expanding access to cybersecurity careers for more people. That’s why today, in Sub-Saharan Africa, we are announcing a new Google Career Certificate available online on Coursera, which prepares learners for new careers in the high-growth field of cybersecurity. This new certificate provides Africans the opportunity to gain skills in this highly sought after tech field,” Charles Murito, Director, Government Affairs and Public Policy, Sub-Saharan Africa said in a blog post.

Murito added that “The new certificate will help close the growing skills gap in the field of cybersecurity and give Africa’s job seekers the ability to solve local problems and access global opportunities.”

There is a growing demand for cybersecurity skills across all sectors. It is estimated that there are about 3.5 million cybersecurity job vacancies globally, up from just 1 million in 2013.

According to Google, Africa can save $4bn annually by preventing cybercrime with cybersecurity threats being on the rise as the world becomes more connected. However, that can only be achieved if the shortage of trained cybersecurity experts is addressed.

The cybersecurity certificate aims to teach learners how to identify common risks, threats, and vulnerabilities, as well as the techniques to mitigate them. They also will gain hands-on experience using Python, Linux, SQL and Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) tools.

This certificate is an addition to Google’s already existing certificates in Data Analytics, Digital Marketing & E-commerce, IT Support, Project Management and UX Design. The company also recently launched two advanced certificates in Advanced Data Analytics and Business Intelligence, which build on its entry-level Data Analytics Certificate.