Tackling The Cybersecurity Skills Shortage With A Training Advancement Agenda

Ransomware is big in the news today, and organizations around the world are scrambling to get ahead of it. It’s crucial that organizations not only have the right security technology in place, but they also have knowledgeable, talented cybersecurity experts running those systems. This is the main impetus behind employee cyber training, and why cyber training for individuals looking to advance their skills or embark on a career in cybersecurity are so important.

Fortinet’s Training Advancement Agenda (TAA) initiative looks to tackle this issue and aims to close the cyber skills gap by offering free training, connecting professionals to employers, and forging partnerships with organizations focused on underrepresented groups including, but not limited to women, minorities, and veterans. The TAA is comprised of numerous training and education initiatives that emphasize supporting these key groups to train and up-level cybersecurity professionals, cultivate a diverse talent pool, and improve cybersecurity knowledge for the greater good.

Free Cybersecurity Training for All

Fortinet offers free cybersecurity training, including advanced training for security professionals, technical training for IT professionals, and awareness training for teleworkers. The Fortinet Network Security Expert ( NSE ) program is an eight-level training and certification program that is designed to provide interested technical professionals with an independent validation of their network security skills and experience. The NSE program includes a wide range of self-paced and instructor-led courses, as well as practical, experiential exercises that demonstrate mastery of complex network security concepts.

Our self-paced curriculum covers everything from basic cybersecurity awareness training to advanced training on security-driven networking, adaptive cloud security, AI-driven security operations, and zero-trust network access. With over 1 million self-paced course registrations, Fortinet is building a cybersecurity workforce—for free.

The NSE Training Institute has made great strides in advancing TAA’s global objectives by providing more and free access to training, developing cybersecurity career pathways, and connecting individuals to employers. It continues to grow globally, serving IT and security professionals as well as reaching out to underrepresented populations.

Working with Academic Institutions through the Security Academy Program

The Security Academy Program provides industry-recognized Fortinet training and certification opportunities to academic institutions and non-profits around the world. The program works with academic institutions to create a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive cybersecurity workforce, and bridges the gap between learning and careers through access to the industry-recognized Fortinet NSE training and certification courses. The program also collaborates with higher-education institutions and schools globally to help learners become part of an elite group of skilled cybersecurity professionals.

• 395 authorized Security Academies around the world.
• 85 countries and territories globally host an Authorized Security Academy.
• 77% of graduates from the Fortinet Veterans Program take part in the Security Academy Program.

Veterans Program Supports Veterans and their Families

Our Veterans Program focuses on assisting veterans’ transition into the cybersecurity industry by helping them find opportunities at Fortinet or within Fortinet’s ecosystem of partners, distributors, resellers, and customers. The program capitalizes on the natural synergy between national defense in the Armed Services and defending critical information for businesses and government agencies. We are pleased to offer this program for free, with more than 2,000 veterans and spouses receiving benefits to date. The benefits of the program include:

• Career transition mentorship and coaching opportunities from Fortinet employees, thought leaders, and industry influencers.
• Development of a visual resume, “battle card,” that gives employers a clear understanding of a member’s experience, skills, and abilities.
• Introductions to employer partners, including Fortinet and its partners, distributors, and customers.
  Access to the NSE Training Institute’s self-paced curriculum of cybersecurity training courses.
• A program certificate of completion and recommendation letter to accompany the member's resume and battle card.
• Additional resources and opportunities from veteran and military spouse-focused non-profit organizations.

Partnerships with Private and Public Sectors

Fortinet also partners with organizations to find untapped talent for the cybersecurity industry. Some of these partnerships are singularly focused on recruiting and educating women and minorities, others with military veterans transitioning to civilian life, to provide them with training and certifications opportunities and by networking and connecting them with the Fortinet employer ecosystem.

Fortinet’s TAA Initiative

The goal of the TAA is to build a robust, equitable, and inclusive pipeline of security professionals to close the cyber skills gap to create a safer, more secure digital future. It was created to fill the critical gap in cybersecurity knowledge that is essential to keep pace with our increasingly digital society. By extending the global impact of the Fortinet NSE Training Institute and leveraging the offerings from our various programs to working with critical partners and forming alliances, the TAA continues to recruit and encourage a modern cybersecurity workforce. Through our global partnerships, ample free training, industry-recognized certifications, and career recruitment opportunities, we hope to train and inspire new and diverse talent to join us doing the fascinating and important work of keeping our digital world secure.

Find out more about Fortinet’s NSE Training Institute programs, including the Certification Program, Security Academy Program, and Veterans Program, which provide critical cybersecurity training and education to help solve the cyber skills gap and prepare the cybersecurity workforce of tomorrow.