Global cybersecurity solutions company Fortinet has reached 43% of its five-year ambitions of training one- million people in cybersecurity by 2026.
According to the group’s 2023 Sustainability Report, 213 440 people were trained in cybersecurity in 2023, bringing the overall total number of people trained since 2022 to 432 905.
“As our societies become increasingly digitised, cybersecurity has become essential for safeguarding citizens and ensuring the stability of our economy,” says Fortinet founder, CEO and chairperson Ken Xie.
“With about four-million unfilled jobs in cybersecurity globally, addressing the talent gap is crucial to supporting today’s global economy.”
Last year, Fortinet expanded its efforts to close the cyberskills gap by providing free access to various curricula, fostering online safety awareness and nurturing future cybersecurity professionals among students.
“Through our various free training and certification programmes, we are committed to effectively bridging this ongoing skills shortage by upskilling and diversifying today’s workforce while making youth cyberaware and preparing them to consider and pursue careers in cybersecurity.”
A lack of cyberawareness among the general public and the continued cybersecurity talent gap are major obstacles to ensuring a secure, reliable and sustainable digital future, he says.