NOMINATION HIGHLIGHTS

Fortinet NSE Certification Program In a crowded cybersecurity market, Fortinet’s NSE Certification Program stands out through a multi-level, role-based approach that builds practical, validated skills for IT professionals at every career stage. Spanning five progressive levels and 11 certifications, the program culminates in an expert tier that verifies mastery in designing and managing large-scale, complex security infrastructures through rigorous, hands-on exams. Learners access more than 600 hours of annually refreshed content, free foundational courses, flexible instructor-led and virtual formats, and affordable real-world labs. Role-based pathways align to four specialization tracks—Secure Networking, Secure Access Service Edge (SASE), Cloud Security, and Security Operations—ensuring relevance to today’s in-demand roles. An expanding course and exam portfolio covers SD-WAN, SASE, cloud, and AI-enabled security solutions, supported by immersive lab environments that build configuration and troubleshooting expertise.

The NSE Program is distinguished by its operational depth and integration of real-time threat intelligence from FortiGuard Labs, Fortinet’s global research organization. This ensures learners train against current adversary tactics while gaining experience across multi-solution enterprise environments. A modular certification architecture enables frequent updates by track and level, while expert-level credentials require proctored, hands-on practical exams that validate real-world design and deployment skills. Meeting Workforce Needs Program adoption underscores its impact, with more than 1.8 million NSE certifications issued and 94% customer satisfaction. Four core tracks allow professionals to validate specialized expertise, while digital badges at both exam and certification levels provide granular recognition for employers. Flexible delivery options—self-paced learning, ILT, VILT, and online-proctored exams—support diverse learning styles, and two- to three-year recertification cycles ensure long-term relevance. Global Access and Partnerships

Fortinet delivers training through Authorized Training Centers in more than 150 countries and 26 languages, with exams available via test centers or secure remote proctoring. Through the Fortinet Training Institute, the company collaborates with organizations such as the World Economic Forum and has committed to training one million people by 2026. Regional initiatives include free training for 75,000 individuals in the European Union and 100,000 virtual internships in India. Education outreach further strengthens the talent pipeline through partnerships supporting women, veterans, and underrepresented communities, and through Fortinet’s Academic Partner Program, which enables more than 800 institutions worldwide to integrate Fortinet training and offer free exam vouchers. Together, these elements position the NSE Certification Program as a premier credential—combining real-time intelligence, hands-on rigor, inclusive access, and global scale to prepare the cybersecurity workforce for today’s most critical challenges.