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Deciding to get Google Cloud certified is one thing; finding a structured path to get there is another. I recently hit a major milestone in my journey: completing Stage 2 of the Google Cloud Get Certified program.
By earning five specific skill badges, I’ve officially unlocked my free exam voucher. These weren’t just theoretical modules—they were intense, hands-on labs that forced me to build, secure, and automate real-world cloud environments. Here is how I structured my learning path to cross the finish line:
1. Build a Secure Google Cloud Network
I started with the foundation. This badge focused on the defensive side of cloud architecture. I configured VPC firewalls, set up private access, and ensured that the network followed the “least privilege” principle to protect data from the ground up.
2. Set Up an App Dev Environment on Google Cloud
Once the network was secure, I moved to the application layer. This badge covered the essential tools for a developer’s workflow, including setting up development clusters and managing the full lifecycle of an app within the Google Cloud ecosystem.
3. Implement Load Balancing on Compute Engine
With the environment ready, I had to ensure it could handle traffic. I practiced configuring various Google Cloud load balancers (HTTP(S) and TCP/UDP) to distribute traffic across Compute Engine instances, ensuring high availability and performance.
4. Build Infrastructure with Terraform on Google Cloud
After mastering the manual setups, I moved to Infrastructure as Code (IaC). This badge acted as the bridge, taking the networking and compute skills I’d learned and teaching me how to provision them automatically using Terraform configuration files for repeatable, version-controlled deployments.
5. Create Your First Gemini Enterprise Application
Finally, I explored the future of the cloud: Generative AI. This badge involved integrating Google’s Gemini large language models into enterprise-level applications, showing how AI can be layered on top of a robust infrastructure.
The Road Ahead
These labs provided the practical “muscle memory” needed for the real world. Now that the voucher is unlocked, the final step toward official certification can be taken!
Are you working on GCP networking or security right now? I’d love to compare notes or hear about your approach!
About the Author
Jonathan Wong is an IT and AI consultant with 20+ years of experience leading engineering teams across Vancouver and Hong Kong. He specializes in modernizing legacy platforms, cloud security, and building AI-ready systems for startups and large enterprises while advising leadership on using strategic technology to drive business growth.
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