Certified: GPCS and the Practical Work of Public Cloud Security
GIAC Public Cloud Security (GPCS) is for professionals who want to understand how cloud security works across real public cloud environments, not just in theory. This episode walks through what the certification is, who it is for, what the exam really tests, and why its multicloud focus matters for security analysts, cloud engineers, DevOps teams, auditors, and IT professionals moving into cloud-focused roles. The narration is based on my Monday “Certified” feature from Bare Metal Cyber Magazine and is written for listeners who want a clear, practical explanation before deciding where GPCS fits in their career path. We also look at how to prepare for the exam in a realistic way, including how to think about identity, storage, encryption, logging, administrative access, serverless services, and cloud risk. GPCS rewards applied understanding, so the episode focuses on how the credential fits into hands-on security work rather than treating it like a memorization exercise. The Bare Metal Cyber Academy is the broader home for the connected certification resources, including the free audio course, Study Guide, and Flash Cards ebook designed to support flexible preparation.
