SANS Institute and Google Partner on Cloud Diversity Academy

Cybersecurity training and certification organization SANS Institute has partnered with Google to launch the SANS Cloud Diversity Academy (SCDA), a training initiative aimed at helping underrepresented groups pursue a career in cybersecurity, with a particular focus on cloud security.

The SCDA will provide scholarship-based training in up to three SANS courses, covering foundational concepts in cloud computing, cloud security architecture, security controls, and best practices for securing cloud environments. The courses culminate in GIAC certifications, providing graduates with validated skills for the cloud security workforce.

Applicants must demonstrate interest in a hands-on, technical career in cloud security, and priority may be given to those who are unemployed, underemployed, or interested in a career change, SANS said.

"Empowering communities that have been traditionally underrepresented to pursue a career in cybersecurity is of utmost importance to SANS and Google," said Max Shuftan, director of mission programs and partnerships at SANS Institute, in a statement. "Through this initiative, we are committed to reducing the talent shortage and driving greater diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workforce."

"The SANS Cloud Diversity Academy is an exciting initiative that we're proud to support," said M.K. Palmore, director, Office of the CISO, for Google Cloud. "By partnering with SANS, we will reduce the critical shortage of skilled talent in cybersecurity by providing individuals from diverse backgrounds with the training they need to launch a career in cloud security. The program offers an exceptional opportunity for participants to develop hands-on, practical cloud security skills and gain industry-leading certifications. We're eager to see this initiative's impact on the cybersecurity workforce!"

For more information, visit the SANS site.

About the Author

Rhea Kelly is editor in chief for Campus Technology, THE Journal, and Spaces4Learning. She can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • interconnected glowing nodes and circuits in blue and green, forming a neural network on a dark background with a futuristic design

    Tech Giants Launch $100 Billion AI Infrastructure Network Project

    OpenAI, SoftBank, and Oracle have unveiled a new venture, Stargate, through which they aim to build a massive AI infrastructure network across the United States. The initiative, which was announced at the White House with President Donald Trump, has been described as the "largest AI infrastructure project in history."

  • glowing crystal ball with a simplified university building inside, surrounded by seamlessly blended holographic symbols of binary code, a bar graph, database icons, and a cloud, against a gradient blue and white background with softly merging circuit patterns

    3 Areas Where AI Will Impact Higher Ed Most in 2025

    What should colleges and universities expect from the evolving landscape of artificial intelligence in the coming year? Here's what the experts told us.

  • glowing video screen with a play button, next to a floating holographic paper transcript displaying faint digital text

    3Play Media Launches AI-Enabled Accessibility Tools

    Accessibility provider 3Play Media has introduced new AI-enabled video accessibility solutions designed to help colleges and universities meet ADA Title II compliance regulations.

  • Two figures, one male and one female, stand beside a transparent digital interface displaying AI symbols like neural networks, code, and a shield, against a clean blue gradient background.

    Report Makes Business Case for Responsible AI

    A new report commissioned by Microsoft and published last month by research firm IDC notes that 91% of organizations use AI tech and expect more than a 24% improvement in customer experience, business resilience, sustainability, and operational efficiency due to AI in 2024.