GCP Cloud Digital Leader vs. AWS Cloud Practitioner Certification

The cloud computing landscape offers multiple platforms, with Google Cloud Platform (GCP) and Amazon Web Services (AWS) being the two major players. Both offer entry-level certifications to validate foundational knowledge: the GCP Cloud Digital Leader and AWS Cloud Practitioner. In this article, I'll compares these certifications and assesses their value for individuals and organizations based on my experience.
I used Cloud Academy, now QA, to study and do exam practice for both, though I must say the AWS has significantly more free training than GCP to prepare you to take and pass the exam. I also did take part in the Google Cloud Launchpad 2 day training event in March, which helped a lot with getting the foundations and exam prep right!

Exam Content and Difficulty:

• AWS Cloud Practitioner: This exam focuses on basic cloud computing concepts, AWS services, and their use cases. It's designed for individuals with no prior AWS experience and is considered the least demanding of the two. Generally requires less study time (around 70 hours).
• GCP Cloud Digital Leader: This exam delves deeper into cloud fundamentals, covering GCP services, their functionalities, and cost management strategies. It assumes some familiarity with cloud concepts and I found it more challenging than the AWS Cloud Practitioner due to it's in-depth service content and more complex questions. Requires more study time (around 120 hours).

Choosing the Right Certification:

The choice depends on your specific goals and needs:

• For beginners with no cloud experience: AWS Cloud Practitioner is a good starting point due to its broader scope and lower difficulty.
• For individuals familiar with cloud basics and interested in GCP: GCP Digital Leader offers a deeper dive into Google Cloud services and cost management strategies.
• For organizations: Consider both certifications depending on the cloud platform choices and the level of knowledge required for their workforce.

Comparison Table:

Target Audience:

• AWS Cloud Practitioner: Ideal for beginners with no cloud experience, professionals transitioning to cloud roles, or individuals seeking a general understanding of AWS.
• GCP Digital Leader: Geared towards individuals with basic cloud knowledge, those considering GCP adoption, or professionals seeking a deeper understanding of Google Cloud services and their applications, more technical than the AWS counterpart.

Exam Format and Cost:

• AWS Cloud Practitioner: Multiple-choice, 65 minutes, USD100.
• GCP Digital Leader: Multiple-choice, 90 minutes, USD99.

Key Differences:

• Depth of Knowledge: AWS Cloud Practitioner focuses on broad cloud concepts and basic AWS services, while GCP Digital Leader dives deeper into GCP-specific services and their functionalities.
• Cost Management: GCP Digital Leader places greater emphasis on cost optimization strategies within the GCP ecosystem.
• Exam Difficulty: GCP Digital Leader is generally considered more challenging due to its deeper focus on GCP specifics, technical implementations and architecture of applications.

Are they worth it?

Both certifications offer valuable benefits:

• For Individuals:
  • Demonstrate foundational cloud knowledge and understanding of a specific platform (AWS or GCP).
  • Enhance resumes and increase career prospects in the cloud computing field.
  • Gain a solid foundation for pursuing further cloud certifications and work.
• For Organizations:
  • Validate the cloud literacy of their workforce.
  • Identify individuals with a basic understanding of cloud concepts and platform-specific services.
  • Facilitate smoother cloud adoption and project implementation.

Conclusion:

Choosing the right certification depends on your specific goals and current cloud knowledge:

• Start with AWS Cloud Practitioner: If you're new to cloud computing and want a general understanding of cloud concepts, the AWS Cloud Practitioner is a good starting point.
• Progress to GCP Cloud Digital Leader: If you have some cloud experience and are interested specifically in Google Cloud Platform, the GCP certification offers a deeper dive into its services and capabilities.

Both GCP Cloud Digital Leader and AWS Cloud Practitioner certifications provide valuable foundational knowledge in their respective cloud platforms. Regardless of the chosen platform, both certifications demonstrate a commitment to cloud learning and can be valuable assets in your career development.