Fortinet is seeking education and training partners to roll out its highly regarded Fortinet Network Security Academy (FNSA) across Australasia. The Academy, which offers hands-on and classroom-based cyber security training and internationally recognised certification, has been implemented successfully overseas and has been localised to promote both the Australian and New Zealand Cyber Security Strategies.
To drive the initiative in the region, Fortinet has appointed Allan Mouawad, a highly-experienced industry veteran, as the Fortinet Network Security Academy Project Manager. “Allan, who has supported Fortinet for years in roles with Australian distributors Exclusive Networks and Ingram Micro, brings a wealth of experience and expertise to his new position,” says Jon McGettigan, Senior Director Australia, NZ & South Pacific Islands at Fortinet. “In addition, Allan has extensive contacts in educational institutions, government and private industry which means that he will be able to fast track adoption of the Academy’s curriculum to address the critical shortage of trained cyber security specialists.”
“We are actively recruiting TAFEs, polytechs, tertiary institutions and private training organisations to offer FNSA curriculum in addition to their existing STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) coursework,” says Mouawad. “The timing is perfect. A key goal of Australia’s Cyber Security Strategy includes building a ‘cyber smart nation’ built around cyber security skills and New Zealand has just announced that digital technology is to be formally integrated into the New Zealand school curriculum and Te Marautanga o Aotearoa. We support both initiatives and will be working in tandem with all organisations to help develop cyber security awareness at all levels.”
Mouawad anticipates a rapid uptake of FNSA coursework. “The core curriculum has already been developed and has been successfully rolled out in North America and Europe,” he continues. “We have localised it to a certain extent for Australasian students to reflect our unique challenges. We can also customise the delivery options to conform to any individual requirements that learning institutions might have. We can offer fully-qualified instructors, extensive hard-copy and on-line documentation and proctored testing.”
An added advantage of the FNSA is that students who complete the program will have a globally recognised certification. “The training is fully certified,” notes Mouawad, “so that graduates will be able to advance their careers. This particular aspect is a powerful incentive for people to take advantage of the FNSA offerings.”
Fortinet’s Training Division is actively communicating with Australasian educational institutions and private training providers to implement the FNSA initiative across the region. Fortinet’s Training Division may be contacted on anztraining@fortinet.com.
