Organizations worldwide continue adopting new technologies and expanding their attack surfaces while the cyber threat landscape is growing more complex. As a result of these ongoing shifts,security leaders must find new ways to adequately protect their respective enterprises, including finding new talent to fill critical open roles. According to the Fortinet 2023 Cybersecurity Skills Gap report, more than two-thirds of respondents say that unfilled security and IT positions pose a substantial risk to their organizations.

Our Authorized Training Centers (ATCs) are vital in increasing access to cybersecurity training to help close the talent gap. There are 151 accredited ATCs around the globe, all of which deliver the Fortinet-developed Network Security Expert (NSE) curriculum in local languages in region through on-demand, in-person, andhybrid courses. At the heart of our ATCs are our Fortinet Certified Trainers, who possess strong expertise in Fortinet products and services and proven instructional training skills.

This year, we awarded four individuals our Certified Trainer of the Year honor. We spoke with them about the ever-changing state of the cyber skills gap, how cybersecurity certifications can catalyze career growth, and more.

Cybersecurity Certifications are Essential to Shrinking the Skills Gap

According to the World Economic Forum's Global Cybersecurity Outlook 2023 report, only 44% of business leaders indicate they currently have the people and skills needed to secure their organization adequately. "With the constant evolution of cybersecurity solutions and tools, combined with the rapid expansion of the digital economy and our reliance on it, the demand for cybersecurity experts is increasing, but industries are finding it challenging to fill the gap," said Rony Moussa from Triple C and an ATC Certified Trainer of the Year award recipient (EMEA).

As many businesses struggle to hire skilled cybersecurity practitioners, more business leaders are emphasizing hiring individuals with cybersecurity certifications. In fact, 90% of leaders prefer to hire people with technology-focused certifications, with 72% saying that hiring certified people has increased security awareness and knowledge throughout their enterprise.

Fortinet ATCs and their staff of instructors help learners worldwide gain the necessary knowledge to jump-start or advance a career in the cybersecurity field. "The adage of 'you don't know what you don't know' always applies to cybersecurity, particularly as the threat landscape changes at such a rapid pace," said Dave Warren from Dynamic Worldwide Training Consultants and also a recipient of the ATC Certified Trainer of the Year (North America). "I have students come to class with a basic understanding of cybersecurity that pertains to their small piece of a network. With proper training, they can look at threats on a larger scale and know how to better safeguard their assets."

"Certifications are important for many reasons. For the individual, certifications offer a way to demonstrate having specific skills that a third party has validated. From a corporate perspective, they offer professionals a way to demonstrate that they have satisfactorily completed specific training requirements and have a baseline of specific skills. Further, the knowledge the learner acquired while preparing for certification exams stays with the candidate and will prove incredibly helpful in solving day-to-day, on-the-job challenges," said Roman Arias, an Exclusive Networks ATC Certified Trainer of the Year award recipient (APAC).*

Paving the Way for New Career Opportunities

Pursuing cybersecurity certifications can open new career pathways for learners. "Cybersecurity is an area that keeps expanding, and people with cybersecurity skills are needed across all industries. The time and effort individuals put into studying to achieve a Fortinet certification is surely well invested," said Arias.

Learners who earn certifications from Fortinet ATCs put their skills to use in different ways, pursuing roles pertaining to cloud security, network security, security operations, operational technology, and more. Regardless of the career paths that certified learners seek, cybersecurity certifications offer professionals an edge over those who have yet to pursue technical training. "[Cybersecurity certifications] help me stay ahead of others without equivalent certifications. This has opened more doors and opportunities, allowing me to grow in my career," said Warren.

Many practitioners who begin their careers in technical roles find new opportunities to leverage their expertise through teaching certification courses. "When I was presented with the chance to become a Fortinet technical trainer, I saw a perfect match between my career goals and my interests as an engineer. Also, the class interaction and flow of ideas that teaching offers is something I enjoy immensely, and it allows me to advance my own learning," noted Arias.

Moussa also had a solid technical background before becoming a certified trainer. He worked as a senior security and systems administrator and a senior network and information security engineer, among other roles. "In the past, when I'd attend technical training courses, I noticed that many trainers did not have real-world experience to complement what they were teaching," he remarked. "[This is one reason why] I decided to become a trainer. I find that my background and experience are incredibly valuable to the learners I work with."

Ready to Pursue Cybersecurity Certification?

Nearly all business leaders (95%) who hold cybersecurity certifications themselves or have someone certified on their team say they have experienced positive results. From better performance of duties (62%) to faster career progression (55%), certifications benefit organizations and individuals alike.

When asked about the most rewarding part of being a trainer, Warren replied: "I enjoy being able to help people do their jobs with more confidence. I help give them a clearer picture of their options and how various choices would affect their implementation. I feel that I am helping them improve their career opportunities and assisting them in advancing their career."

"If you're considering pursuing a certification, just go for it," encouraged Arias. ATCs offer learners maximum flexibility as to how and when they attend training courses, allowing those with even the most demanding schedules to be part of the program. "Consider the training options that best fit your situation and plan accordingly. I recommend blending instructor-led training-either in person or virtual-with self-paced coursework."

"I strongly believe in cybersecurity certifications as a catalyst for professional growth," concluded Moussa. "When certifications are combined with hands-on experience, learners get the right balance of vital knowledge that will help them to advance their careers."

Fortinet determines award winners through various technical and business metrics collected from the ATCs over the course of the award year. The Fortinet ATC team then evaluates the metrics and determines a quantitative winner. Review the award descriptions to determine how each award is evaluated. Thank you to all our distinguished Fortinet Certified Trainers, and congratulations again to the 2023 award winners.

*Arias received the ATC Certified Trainer of the Year honor while working at Exclusive Networks. He is now employed by Fortinet.

Find out more about how Fortinet'sTraining Advancement Agenda(TAA) andTraining Instituteprograms-including theNSE Certification program, Academic Partner program, and Education Outreach program-are helping to solve the cyber skills gap and prepare the cybersecurity workforce of tomorrow.