Google Cybersecurity Professional Certificate Review 2025

According to a recent report, Cybersecurity is the third most in-demand job in 2025.

If you’re thinking about starting a career in this field and want to learn everything from the ground up, it’s crucial to pick the right cybersecurity course.

Today, I’ll give you my full review of the Google Cybersecurity Professional Certificate which I took recently.

I’ll also compare it to the IBM Cybersecurity Analyst course since both of these programs available on Coursera.

If you’re short on time or just want a quick summary of this article, here’s my final verdict:

Google Cybersecurity Professional Certificate Review – My Final Verdict

The Google Cybersecurity Certification program, developed by senior cybersecurity professionals at Google, is specifically designed for beginners.

Based on my personal experience, I’d say that if you’re completely new to the field and unsure where to begin or how to build a career in cybersecurity, this program could be a great starting point.

It covers everything from the fundamentals, with instructors guiding you step-by-step through the learning process. Across the nine-course series, you’ll explore real-world case studies of past cybersecurity attacks, complete quizzes, and work on hands-on assignments.

The primary goal of the program is to help you build a solid foundation in cybersecurity and prepare you for entry-level roles such as cybersecurity analyst, SOC analyst, or incident responder. You’ll also receive support from mentors to help with job searching and career growth.

However, based on conversations with fellow program graduates, I found relying solely on this program will not guarantee easy job placement.

While it aims to prepare you for entry-level roles, holding additional cybersecurity certifications such as CompTIA, CISSP, or CEH can significantly enhance your chances of securing your desired position in the industry.

>> Explore Google Cybersecurity Certificate

Now, let’s dive into my complete review of Google Cybersecurity Certificate. Buckle up, hold your seat tight, and let’s dive into it…

What is the Google Cybersecurity Certification Program?

The Google Cybersecurity Certification program is a part of Google Career Certificates, which prepares you for entry-level jobs in cybersecurity.

Created and taught by senior practitioners at Google, this program is specially designed for beginners in cybersecurity, aiming to start a career in this field.

The best part? You don’t require any prior knowledge or experience to enroll in this program.

Upon successful completion of this program, you’ll also receive verified badges and professional certificates from Google and Coursera. You may add these certificates to your LinkedIn profile and resume, which may help you to land a job quickly.

Course Curriculum: What Will You Learn in This Program?

Google’s Cybersecurity program includes an 9-course series designed to start from the basics and prepare you for entry-level jobs.

Each course features multiple modules, video lessons, reading materials, quizzes, and assignments to keep you engaged.

Additionally, you can take notes, set goals, and schedule reminders for the course, ensuring you stay on track without getting bored during the video lectures.

To make the most of this program, be sure to utilize all the available resources. On average, it takes 4-6 months to complete the program if you study part time (10-12 hours per week).

Here’s a brief overview of each course:

• Foundations of Cybersecurity – Learn the basics of cybersecurity, including common threats like malware and hacking, key security principles such as confidentiality and integrity, and the roles and responsibilities of cybersecurity professionals.
• Play It Safe: Manage Security Risks – Discover how to identify, assess, and mitigate security risks in an organization using risk management frameworks and strategies.
• Connect and Protect: Networks and Network Security – Focus on network security, including network protocols, devices like firewalls and routers, and techniques like encryption and access control to secure networks against threats.
• Tools of the Trade: Linux and SQL – Get introduced to the Linux operating system and SQL database skills needed for common cybersecurity tasks such as system administration, scripting, and data analysis.
• Assets, Threats, and Vulnerabilities – Learn how to identify and manage an organization’s digital and physical assets, understand potential threats, and assess vulnerabilities that attackers could exploit.
• Sound the Alarm: Detection and Response – Explore methods for detecting and responding to security incidents, including the use of security tools like firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and incident response procedures.
• Automate Cybersecurity Tasks with Python – Focus on using Python programming to automate repetitive cybersecurity tasks and workflows, such as vulnerability scanning, log analysis, and incident response.
• Put It to Work: Prepare for Cybersecurity Jobs – Prepare for entry-level cybersecurity roles with resume building, job search strategies, interview preparation, and an understanding of common cybersecurity career paths.
• Accelerate Your Job Search with AI – This course series, powered by Google Gemini and other AI tools, helps you prepare for entry-level cybersecurity jobs. From resume building to managing applications, AI makes the entire process smoother and stress-free.

While you can enroll in any of these courses individually, taking them in order will help you build a comprehensive understanding and enjoy the learning experience more.

Whether you’re new to cybersecurity or already have some knowledge, I recommend not skipping any modules or video lectures. Following the curriculum in sequence ensures you develop a strong foundation and grasp of all the concepts.

How Much Does the Google Cybersecurity Program Cost?

Interested in this program? Let me tell you about its cost in 2025…

The Google Cybersecurity Certificate typically costs around $49 per month, with a 7-day free trial. The total cost depends on how long it takes you to complete the course.

• 4 months: $196
• 6 months: $294

Please note that prices may vary based on your location. For example, in India, the program costs ₹2,405 for 3 months and ₹3,607 for 6 months.

Alternatively, you can enroll through a Coursera Plus subscription, which costs $59 per month or $399 per year. This subscription gives you access to this course and over 7,000 other courses, including many professional certificates from Google, Meta, and other universities.

Pros and Cons of Google Cybersecurity Program

Pros:

Here are the major pros of Google Cybersecurity Certification Program that I have personally experienced while pursuing:

• Beginner-friendly program
• Organized and engaging course curriculum
• Affordable program with free content audit
• Includes recorded video content, reading articles, quizzes, assignments, and other important resources
• Provides job training and career assistance to land entry level jobs

Cons:

• No weekly live coaching or webinars to provide you further guidance in this program.
• No instructors participate in discussion forum.

Overall, my experience with the Google Cybersecurity program has been worthwhile. The course is engaging and keeps you interested while learning.

Starting from the basics and incorporating numerous case studies and assignments, anyone can build a solid foundation in cybersecurity.

Google Cybersecurity Professional Certificate vs. IBM Analyst Professional Certificate

The IBM Cybersecurity Analyst Professional Certificate is also available on Coursera. Like the Google Cybersecurity Certificate, this program starts from scratch and is perfect for beginners.

It prepares you for roles like cybersecurity analyst, SOC analyst, and other entry-level cybersecurity jobs without needing any prior experience.

You’ll learn about the CIA triad, Windows operating systems, Linux, macOS, and security basics. The program is divided into 14 courses, covering all the essential concepts of cybersecurity.

I found the IBM cybersecurity course to be more detailed but somewhat less engaging than the Google Cybersecurity Certificate we’re reviewing. The recorded video lectures and the presentation of the content could be improved.

On the plus side, the course assignments are a bit more challenging, which can give you a greater sense of achievement upon completion.

Overall, the IBM Cybersecurity Analyst program may be less engaging than the Google Cybersecurity Certificate, but it’s still worth exploring as an alternative option. I have also published my complete review of IBM Cybersecurity course. If interested, you can read it.

Final Thoughts!

In this Google Cybersecurity Certification review, I’ve shared everything you need to know about the course, including its pros and cons.

The Google Cybersecurity Professional Certificate is an excellent course that builds a strong foundation in cybersecurity. With its low cost and no prerequisites, it’s suitable for anyone who wants to learn and start a career in cybersecurity.

Created by senior practitioners at Google, this program teaches you everything from scratch and guides you through the material. If you want to explore cybersecurity and build a solid foundation, this program can be a worthwhile investment.

Now, I’d like to hear from you:

Are you planning to enroll in the Google Cybersecurity Certificate? Or will you explore IBM Cybersecurity Analyst Certificate?

If you have any questions or doubts about this program or the information in this article, please let me know in the comments below. I’d be happy to address them.

Suggested Reading:

10 Best Cybersecurity Courses (Free & Paid) – 2025 Ranking