GCP – Cloud Digital Leader

Credential: Cloud Digital Leader
Issued by: Google Cloud
Level: Foundational
Ideal for:

• Business stakeholders

• IT decision-makers

• Non-technical roles

• Beginners in cloud computing

• Cross-functional leaders involved in digital transformation

🧾 Exam Overview

🧠 What You’ll Learn

The Digital Leader certification focuses on how Google Cloud supports digital transformation using cloud technologies. It’s non-technical and emphasizes strategic and business applications.

📚 Exam Domains & Weight

1. Digital Transformation with Google Cloud (10–15%)

2. Innovating with Data and Google Cloud (30–35%)

3. Infrastructure and Application Modernization (30–35%)

4. Google Cloud Security and Operations (20–25%)

📅 4-Week Study Plan

🧭 Week 1: Cloud Fundamentals & Digital Transformation

Topics to Cover:

• What is cloud computing?

• Benefits of cloud (cost, speed, scale, innovation)

• Key cloud service models: IaaS, PaaS, SaaS

• Google Cloud’s role in digital transformation

• Google Cloud regions, zones, and resource hierarchy

Resources:

• ✅ Google Cloud Digital Leader Learning Path (free)

• ✅ Digital Transformation with Google Cloud course (Qwiklabs)

• Watch: Cloud Digital Leader YouTube playlist

🧭 Week 2: Data & AI/ML Innovation on GCP

Topics to Cover:

• Data analytics and data warehouse modernization

• BigQuery basics and use cases

• AI/ML capabilities and business applications

• Smart analytics reference architecture

• Responsible AI principles

Resources:

• BigQuery demos on Qwiklabs

• Google Cloud’s smart analytics and Looker overview

• AI & ML courses in Google Cloud Skill Boost

🧭 Week 3: Infrastructure Modernization

Topics to Cover:

• Compute services: App Engine, Compute Engine, GKE (Kubernetes), Cloud Functions

• Storage options: Cloud Storage, Filestore, Persistent Disks

• Application modernization strategies (monolith to microservices)

• Hybrid and multicloud with Anthos

Resources:

• Google Cloud Infrastructure Modernization course

• Hands-on demos (Qwiklabs / Skill Boost)

🧭 Week 4: Security, Operations, and Practice Tests

Topics to Cover:

• Shared Responsibility Model

• Security tools: IAM, VPC Service Controls, Cloud KMS

• Operations suite (formerly Stackdriver)

• Compliance and governance

• Cost management with Billing and Budgets

Resources:

• Google Cloud Security Overview course

• Google Cloud Cost Management essentials

• Official Practice Assessment from Google Cloud:
  Take the practice test here

✅ Key Skills to Master

• Identify business use cases for GCP products

• Explain how GCP enables smarter decision-making with data

• Articulate benefits of infrastructure modernization

• Discuss GCP’s security and compliance capabilities

• Translate customer challenges into GCP value propositions

📝 Practice Questions (Sample)

1. What are key benefits of cloud adoption for business agility?

2. How does BigQuery help customers with real-time analytics?

3. Which GCP service would you recommend for deploying containerized apps?

4. How does IAM help secure access in Google Cloud?

5. What is the benefit of using Anthos in hybrid cloud environments?

🛠️ Helpful Tools and Tips

• 📘 Glossary: Understand terms like containers, data lakes, ML ops, serverless

• 🧠 Flashcards: Use digital tools like Anki or Quizlet to reinforce concepts

• 🎧 Podcasts/Webinars: Google Cloud Platform podcast & events

🎯 Final Week Checklist

✅ Complete Google’s official Digital Leader learning path
✅ Take 2–3 full-length practice tests
✅ Review weak topics (e.g., billing, operations, AI/ML services)
✅ Get familiar with real-world GCP use cases
✅ Register for the exam via Google Cloud’s Certification Portal

📈 Certification Benefits

• Establish foundational cloud literacy

• Validate your understanding of Google Cloud’s capabilities

• Position yourself for further certifications (e.g., Associate Cloud Engineer, Professional Cloud Architect)

• Improve collaboration between technical and business teams