From Data to Insights with Google Cloud

Course Code: GO6589 / Duration: 2 Days

Course Overview

Want to know how to query and process petabytes of data in seconds? Curious about data analysis that scales automatically as your data grows?
Welcome to the Data Insights course! This two-day instructor-led class teaches course participants how to derive insights through data analysis and visualization using the Google Cloud Platform. The course features interactive scenarios and hands-on labs where participants explore, mine, load, visualize, and extract insights from diverse Google BigQuery datasets. The course covers data loading, querying, schema modeling, optimizing performance, query pricing, and data visualization.

Virtual Learning
This interactive training can be taken from any location, your office or home and is delivered by a trainer. This training does not have any delegates in the class with the instructor, since all delegates are virtually connected. Virtual delegates do not travel to this course, Global Knowledge will send you all the information needed before the start of the course and you can test the logins.

How can I attend my course?

On-line from
your chosen location

At our dedicated
training facility

On-site at
your premises

Target Audience

• Data Analysts, Business Analysts, Business Intelligence professionals
• Cloud Data Engineers who will be partnering with Data Analysts to build scalable data solutions on Google Cloud Platform

COURSE OBJECTIVES

This course teaches participants the following skills:
• Derive insights from data using the analysis and visualization tools on Google Cloud Platform
• Interactively query datasets using Google BigQuery
• Load, clean, and transform data at scale
• Visualize data using Google Data Studio and other third-party platforms
• Distinguish between exploratory and explanatory analytics and when to use each approach
• Explore new datasets and uncover hidden insights quickly and effectively
• Optimizing data models and queries for price and performance

Course Content

Module 1: Introduction to Data on the Google Cloud Platform

Before and Now: Scalable Data Analysis in the Cloud

Topics Covered
• Highlight Analytics Challenges Faced by Data Analysts
• Compare Big Data On-Premise vs on the Cloud
• Learn from Real-World Use Cases of Companies Transformed through Analytics on the Cloud
• Navigate Google Cloud Platform Project Basics
• Lab: Getting started with Google Cloud Platform

Module 2: Big Data Tools Overview

Sharpen the Tools in your Data Analyst toolkit

Topics Covered
• Walkthrough Data Analyst Tasks, Challenges, and Introduce Google Cloud Platform Data Tools
• Demo: Analyze 10 Billion Records with Google BigQuery
• Explore 9 Fundamental Google BigQuery Features
• Compare GCP Tools for Analysts, Data Scientists, and Data Engineers
• Lab: Exploring Datasets with Google BigQuery

Module 3: Exploring your Data with SQL

Get Familiar with Google BigQuery and Learn SQL Best Practices

Topics Covered
• Compare Common Data Exploration Techniques
• Learn How to Code High Quality Standard SQL
• Explore Google BigQuery Public Datasets
• Visualization Preview: Google Data Studio
• Lab: Troubleshoot Common SQL Errors

Module 4: Google BigQuery Pricing

Calculate Google BigQuery Storage and Query Costs

Topics Covered
• Walkthrough of a BigQuery Job
• Calculate BigQuery Pricing: Storage, Querying, and Streaming Costs
• Optimize Queries for Cost
• Lab: Calculate Google BigQuery Pricing

Module 5: Cleaning and Transforming your Data

Wrangle your Raw Data into a Cleaner and Richer Dataset

Topics Covered
• Examine the 5 Principles of Dataset Integrity
• Characterize Dataset Shape and Skew
• Clean and Transform Data using SQL
• Clean and Transform Data using a new UI: Introducing Cloud Dataprep
• Lab: Explore and Shape Data with Cloud Dataprep

Module 6: Storing and Exporting Data

Create new Tables and Exporting Results

Topics Covered
• Compare Permanent vs Temporary Tables
• Save and Export Query Results
• Performance Preview: Query Cache
• Lab: Creating new Permanent Tables

Module 7: Ingesting New Datasets into Google BigQuery

Bring your Data into the Cloud

Topics Covered
• Query from External Data Sources
• Avoid Data Ingesting Pitfalls
• Ingest New Data into Permanent Tables
• Discuss Streaming Inserts
• Lab: Ingesting and Querying New Datasets

Module 8: Data Visualization

Effectively Explore and Explain your Data through Visualization

Topics Covered
• Overview of Data Visualization Principles
• Exploratory vs Explanatory Analysis Approaches
• Demo: Google Data Studio UI
• Connect Google Data Studio to Google BigQuery
• Lab: Exploring a Dataset in Google Data Studio

Module 9: Joining and Merging Datasets

Combine and Enrich your Datasets with more Data

Topics Covered
• Merge Historical Data Tables with UNION
• Introduce Table Wildcards for Easy Merges
• Review Data Schemas: Linking Data Across Multiple Tables
• Walkthrough JOIN Examples and Pitfalls
• Lab: Join and Union Data from Multiple Tables

Module 10: Google BigQuery Table Deep Dive

What sets Cloud Architecture apart?

Topics Covered
• Compare Data Warehouse Storage Methods
• Deep-dive into Column-Oriented Storage
• Examine Logical Views, Date-Partitioned Tables, and Best Practices
• Query the Past with Time Travelling Snapshots

Module 11: Schema Design and Nested Data Structures

Model your Datasets for Scale in Google BigQuery

Topics Covered
• Compare Google BigQuery vs Traditional RDBMS Data Architecture
• Normalization vs Denormalization: Performance Tradeoffs
• Schema Review: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
• Arrays and Nested Data in Google BigQuery
• Lab: Querying Nested and Repeated Data

Module 12: Advanced Visualization with Google Data Studio

Create Pixel-Perfect Dashboards

Topics Covered
• Create Case Statements and Calculated Fields
• Avoid Performance Pitfalls with Cache considerations
• Share Dashboards and Discuss Data Access considerations
• Lab: Visualizing Insights with Google Data Studio

Module 13: Advanced Functions and Clauses

Dive Deeper into Advanced Query Writing with Google BigQuery

Topics Covered
• Review SQL Case Statements
• Introduce Analytical Window Functions
• Safeguard Data with One-Way Field Encryption
• Discuss Effective Sub-query and CTE design
• Compare SQL and Javascript UDFs
• Lab: Deriving Insights with Advanced SQL Functions

Module 14: Optimizing for Performance

Troubleshoot and Solve Query Performance Problems

Topics Covered
• Avoid Google BigQuery Performance Pitfalls
• Prevent Hotspots in your Data
• Diagnose Performance Issues with the Query Explanation map
• Lab: Optimizing and Troubleshooting Query Performance

Module 15: Advanced Insights

Think, Analyze, and Share Insights like a Data Scientist

Topics Covered
• Distill Complex Queries
• Brainstorm Data-Driven Hypotheses
• Think like a Data Scientist
• Introducing Cloud Datalab
• Lab: Reading a Google Cloud Datalab notebook

Module 16: Data Access

Keep Data Security top-of-mind in the Cloud

Topics Covered
• Compare IAM and BigQuery Dataset Roles
• Avoid Access Pitfalls
• Review Members, Roles, Organizations, Account Administration, and Service Accounts

COURSE PREREQUISITES

To get the most out of this course, participants should have:
• Basic proficiency with ANSI SQL

You will receive a full set of course notes
and all supporting materials for your course.

Hard Copy Delivered to your premises or Downloaded to a chosen device.

To book this course please call
+44 (0) 1444 410296 or email Info@kplknowledge.co.uk

Training and accreditation is provided through Global Knowledge