As Google Cloud Demand Grows, So Does Training

By Edward Gately

Google and CBT Nuggets, a provider of on-demand IT training, are teaming on online training for the search giant’s Cloud Platform.

Google recently launched the platform, a suite of cloud-based services that enables users to build a range of programs – from simple websites to complex applications. CBT Nuggets is one of Google’s 13 training partners, but it is the only one that provides self-paced, online training for the platform.

Ben Finkel, an official Google-certified trainer with CBT Nuggets, tells Channel Partners that demand for the platform, and therefore the need for training, is growing weekly as businesses rapidly migrate to the cloud.

“That’s not the case with every technology,” he said. “They usually start off hot … get cool for awhile, and then something else replaces it. Google is growing, growing, growing.”

Finkel and Garth Schulte, also an official Google certified trainer, created the qualified developer training courses for Google App Engine, Google Cloud Storage, Google Cloud SQL, Google Compute Engine and Google BigQuery.

The program allows users, whether businesses or individuals, to access training for platform certification when it’s convenient for them, such as during work, after hours or even while traveling.

“From our perspective, it’s a big deal for our company; we’re excited to work with Google.  It’s cool, it’s hip, and we’re nerds, so it’s exciting for us,” Finkel said. “But it’s good for our learners, the value is there.”

Finkel said the days of IT professionals having to travel for training, assembling in large classrooms where “they jammed in so much information and very little of it was retained” are long over. Online training allows businesses to provide employee training without the excessive expense of travel, he said.

“I really like how simple and consistent the tools are for working in the Google Cloud Platform,” Schulte said. “Google has a knack for making complex software easy to use. You can see that every time you do a Google search, use Gmail, or work in Google Docs; they’ve translated that familiar feeling to the Google Cloud Platform.”

As part of this partnership, individuals who have an active CBT Nuggets subscription can earn up to five free platform certification exam vouchers when they watch at least half of any CBT Nuggets platform training course.