Learning Log: Navigating Weekly Lectures and Course Insights

Things are starting to click more. I’m not just learning terms anymore I’m understanding how everything actually works together. We focused a lot on tools like SIEM, logs, and packet sniffers, and how analysts use them to catch issues early. We also covered frameworks like NIST and the CIA triad which helped me see how companies think about security and risk as a whole. The ethics side stood out too. It made it clear that this job is just as much about trust and good decisions as it is about technical skills. Overall, I feel like I’m starting to think more like a security analyst instead of just a student.

 So far, the Google Cybersecurity Certificate has given me a solid foundation in how cybersecurity actually works. I’ve learned about core concepts like the CIA triad different types of threats like phishing and malware,and why protecting sensitive data like personal and financial information is so important.I’ve also started to understand what a security analyst actually does day to day. This includes monitoring  systems, reviewing logs, using tools like SIEM, and responding to potential threats. One thing that stood out to me is how much of the job is about being proactive, like keeping systems updated and controlling access before something goes wrong.

This week I wrapped up most of my second certificate and spent time finishing the remaining modules, which focused on how cloud systems actually work behind the scenes and how applications are run and scaled. It helped connect a lot of the concepts together, especially around infrastructure and basic security. I’m now getting ready to move into my third certificate which focuses on AI and language models and I’m looking forward to switching into something a bit more hands-on. Next week I plan to start that course and begin working through the first modules. So far everything has been going smoothly and I haven’t run into any major issues.

Last week I completed the first certificate in my capstone plan, which focused on the foundations of Agile project management and Scrum concepts. This week I have been making strong progress on my second certificate and have worked through several modules that introduce core cloud computing concepts and how modern applications run in cloud environments. My plan for next week is to continue progressing through the remaining modules and assessments so I can move closer to completing the second certificate. At the moment I am not facing any major challenges and the course material has been clear and manageable so far.