Fortinet, a global leader in broad, integrated and automated cybersecurity solutions, continues to lead the way in training and education, as part of the company’s ongoing efforts to close the cybersecurity skills gap. Recent additions to Fortinet’s education and training programming includes new Fortinet Network Security Expert (NSE) Institute cloud certifications and cybersecurity awareness training – at no cost – for individuals or organizations seeking to deploy a cybersecurity awareness training program.
A 2019 Gartner survey shows the global talent shortage is now the top emerging risk facing organizations. The expansion of the digital marketplace has generated more jobs than the current supply of security professionals can meet. According to a recent workforce development survey, 59% of organizations have unfilled cybersecurity positions, with Frost & Sullivan forecasting a shortfall of 1.5 million by 2020.
“This unprecedented shortage in the cybersecurity workforce has resulted in security operations teams who are over worked and understaffed and it continues to benefit our cyber adversaries,” said Ken Xie, Founder, Chairman of the Board, and CEO at Fortinet. “Fortinet is more than just a technology company, but also a learning organization. Fortinet is dedicated to closing the cyber skills gap and goes well beyond providing training on products and solutions as part of our commitment to deliver a response to the growing global cybersecurity threat.”
Fortinet continues commitment to bridge the cyber skills gap
In today’s global cybersecurity threat landscape, education is crucial to the success of organizations. Creating and executing a strategy with a wide scope can be a daunting task, but this is precisely the mandate and strategy of the Fortinet NSE Institute. The Fortinet NSE Institute was created to provide broad-based training that arms participants with a foundational understanding of the threat landscape, as well as the cybersecurity fundamentals and skills to implement strategies and technical concepts that are in high demand.
While the Institute’s flagship NSE Training and Certification program has issued nearly 200,000 certifications, it is equally focused on education programs such as the Fortinet Network Security Academy program for high schools, colleges and universities, the FortiVets program that facilitates the transition of exceptional military veterans into the cybersecurity industry by providing professional networking, training, and mentoring, as well as free publicly available awareness training that can be accessed by any company wishing to deploy an internal cybersecurity awareness program for employees.
Addressing the skills gap at scale
In addition to the established company-led training and education programs, a comprehensive training and education strategy must include strategic partnerships within government, academia and NGOs, such as Fortinet’s strategic relationships with organization such as the World Economic Forum (WEF) and its Centre for Cybersecurity, the Global Threat Alliance, CompTIA, and various university research programs. Fortinet will continue its efforts to broadly and globally collaborate, innovate and develop powerful global solutions to reduce global cyberattacks, contain current and future cyberattacks, and deter cybercrime.