As businesses everywhere continue to grow, so does the need for qualified cybersecurity professionals. Yet leaders say that finding, recruiting, and retaining skilled cyber talent remains a challenge. According to the Fortinet 2024 Global Cybersecurity Skills Gap Report, 70% of respondents indicated that the ongoing talent shortage puts their organization at greater risk of a breach.

It's encouraging to see some organizations implementing unique recruiting and training programs to attract new talent to cybersecurity. Nearly three-quarters of IT decision-makers say they have structured recruiting initiatives targeting women, and 60% have similar programs for minorities.

However, only 45% have dedicated recruiting programs for military veterans, and just 36% have initiatives dedicated to veterans' spouses. Veterans often have a strong foundation of skills accumulated from working in highly disciplined and secure contexts, many of which are highly transferrable to a career in cybersecurity.

Creating More Pathways to Cybersecurity for Military Service Members, Veterans, and Their Spouses

To help close the skills gap, Fortinet has a long-standing commitment to building a diverse, highly skilled cybersecurity workforce through its Fortinet Training Institute, where we host a variety of programs designed to give learners the knowledge needed to begin or advance a career in cybersecurity. One of these initiatives is the Fortinet Veterans Program, which helps facilitate the transition of military service members, veterans, and military spouses into the cybersecurity industry. The program has a presence in the United States, Canada, the U.K., Australia, and New Zealand, as well as a global reach through our network of partners.

More than 3,000 veterans and their spouses have benefitted from the program, which offers free self-paced cybersecurity training, online labs, exam vouchers for industry-recognized certifications, access to education and training through Fortinet partners, career development services, and more.

This past summer, the Fortinet Veterans Program introduced two new initiatives as part of its ongoing commitment to providing training and education opportunities to veterans and their spouses through Fortinet's global network. 

Networking Fundamentals Bootcamp

This past June, Fortinet launched a Networking Fundamentals Bootcamp in collaboration with several partners, including Cerco, Helping Heroes, Hire Heroes USA, Onward 2 Opportunity, TechVets, and VetSec. The nine-week program combines weekly live instructor-led sessions with online, self-paced training covering the essentials of data communication and the basics of computer networking.

Designed as an entry point for individuals new to data networking, the bootcamp offers foundational knowledge for IT, computer networking and infrastructure, and cybersecurity careers. The curriculum builds students' understanding of essential networking concepts and terminology, which can be expanded upon for more advanced topics related to these career paths.

"The networking fundamentals bootcamp provides essential knowledge that is critical for understanding advanced cybersecurity concepts. This preparation is particularly valuable for obtaining future cybersecurity certifications, which require a solid grasp of networking principles. By mastering these fundamentals, I'll be equipped to pass these certification exams and advance my career in cybersecurity," says participant Chung Fu Wong, CERCO.

Given the success and high interest in this bootcamp, Fortinet is hosting another session, which began earlier this month. This session is available to all 50 of our Education Outreach and Veterans Program partners, and nearly 400 participants are enrolled from around the globe. 

Industrial Network Cybersecurity Program

In July, the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT), a Fortinet Academic Partner, along with Cyber Catalyst Talent Solutions and Tech Vets Canada, both Veterans Program Partners, hosted an in-person bootcamp for veterans interested in gaining technical and hands-on cybersecurity expertise. Fortinet proudly sponsored the event, with trainer Mike Paez leading a workshop on cybersecurity for industrial control systems and Chief Security Strategist and Global VP of Threat Intelligence Derek Manky delivering a keynote and hosting a tour of Fortinet's security operations center in Burnaby, British Columbia.

Fortinet also donated FortiGate Rugged 60D firewalls for participants to use during the hands-on lab portions of the event. These devices remain with BCIT, benefiting students in future programs. In addition to providing participants with real-world experience, this donation reflects Fortinet's commitment to environmental sustainability and giving back to the communities. "Fortinet's generous hardware donation significantly enhances the program, empowering students with cutting-edge cybersecurity knowledge and skills. The donation provides essential resources, including advanced training equipment and curriculum development. Fortinet's commitment to cybersecurity education empowers future cybersecurity professionals and strengthens the overall cybersecurity ecosystem," remarks Roger Gale, head of BCIT's Industrial Network Cybersecurity Program.

Additional Recent Initiatives to Support Veterans

In September, Fortinet partnered with Canadian organization CyberCatalyst to present a workshop on OT security and zero-trust network access at a cybersecurity conference for Canada's Department of National Defense in Ottawa. We also held our second annual virtual Veterans Program Advisory Council, where discussions focused on enhancing outreach to veterans, expanding live sessions and workshops, and educating our network of customers and partners about the training and talent available through the Fortinet Veterans Program.

Rounding out October, Fortinet served as a platinum sponsor at the virtual VetSecCon event hosted by our partner, VetSec. This sponsorship provided an opportunity to present about our certification program and share insights about career pathways for veterans who are interested in transitioning into cybersecurity.

An Ongoing Commitment to Diversifying the Cybersecurity Workforce

Military veterans can be problem-solvers who understand the importance of maintaining a strong defense posture and following the chain of command when dealing with an active threat. These skills are essential to cybersecurity roles and can help veterans jump-start a second career.

Fortinet is proud to support a variety of initiatives to diversify and build the cyber workforce of the future, giving underrepresented populations such as veterans and military spouses access to the necessary knowledge and resources to pursue a cybersecurity career. 

Learn more about how the Fortinet Veterans Program helps transition members of the military to the cybersecurity industry.