Fortinet has issued over 1 million Network Security Expert (NSE) certificates, demonstrating its dedication to reducing the cybersecurity skills gap. To build on this achievement, Fortinet is growing the worldwide effect of its training and certification programs by adding new courses in critical cybersecurity areas, additional training partners, and expanding access to cyber training and education to unleash untapped talent. Fortinet also continues to assist organisations in developing a cyber-aware workforce through their existing Security Awareness and Training Service, as well as a recent initiative tied to the 2022 White House National Cyber Workforce and Education Summit, by making a tailored version of the service free of charge for K-12 school districts in the United States.

Increasing Cybersecurity Professionals’ Skill Sets to Keep Up with Threats According to a global 2022 Fortinet analysis, more than 80% of breaches are attributable to a lack of cyber capabilities, therefore the cybersecurity skills gap remains a top-of-mind problem for enterprises. To help address the cyber skills gap, Fortinet focuses its Training Advancement Agenda (TAA) and Fortinet Training Institute programs on upskilling security professionals to remain ahead of threats with the following initiatives:

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Validating Skills and Experience with NSE Certifications: As part of Fortinet’s efforts to reduce the skills gap, the Fortinet Training Institute has issued over one million NSE certifications to date. The eight-level training and certification program is intended to provide independent validation of technical experts’ security and networking skills, as well as job experience. According to Fortinet’s 2022 Global Skills Gap report, 95% of leaders believe technology-focused credentials benefit their role and team, while 81% prefer to hire people with certificates.

The Fortinet Training Institute seeks to provide professionals with the opportunity to not only learn how to defend against cyber threats but also to advance their careers, as leaders value certificates. Furthermore, the NSE training curriculum is freely accessible to facilitate access to learning and is available in instructor-led, virtual instructor-led, and free self-paced training formats.