NOMINATION HIGHLIGHTS

Launched in April 2022, the Fortinet Security Awareness and Training service is a comprehensive, SaaS-based solution designed to change employee behavior and reduce organizational cyber risk. Aligned with NIST 800-50 and 800-16 guidelines, the program addresses a wide spectrum of modern threats, including data protection, phishing and voice scams, insider and external risks, social engineering, secure remote work practices, and understanding artificial intelligence and its associated risks.

Developed by the Fortinet Training Institute, the service equips IT, security, and compliance leaders with continuously updated content to foster a cyber-aware culture and support regulatory or industry training requirements. Its intuitive administrative platform enables organizations to launch and manage campaigns, track participation, and generate reports with ease.

Enterprise and Industry Adoption
To broaden access, Fortinet provides the standard Enterprise Edition free to organizations with 25 or fewer employees across the public and private sectors. These smaller entities—often constrained by limited security resources—benefit from the platform’s comprehensive yet easy-to-use design. The service has gained traction across diverse industries, with customers including Juventus Soccer Club, the DP World Tour, and Restaurant Brands International, which operates more than 30,000 restaurants worldwide.

Education Edition: Free Security Awareness for Schools
As part of Fortinet’s commitment to train one million people by 2026, the Fortinet Training Institute created a free Education Edition for primary and secondary schools. It includes classroom-ready curricula developed by educators for learners aged four to 18, covering topics such as cyberbullying, data privacy, social media influence, and foundational cybersecurity concepts. The program emphasizes “6Cs” competencies—critical thinking, collaboration, creativity, communication, citizenship, and character—along with cross-curricular connections and seven cybersecurity strands, including digital safety, ethical integrity, privacy, and online information literacy. Educational staff also receive modular, role-specific online training, supported by an administrative dashboard for managing campaigns and reporting. Content incorporates threat intelligence from FortiGuard Labs, Fortinet’s global research organization, ensuring schools and staff are equipped with current guidance to counter emerging risks.

Global Reach and Impact
The Education Edition is available in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Brazil, India, and Saudi Arabia. Initially launched at the White House National Cyber Workforce and Education Summit, it has been adopted by 521 U.S. school districts and 30 Canadian school boards, with continued expansion underway. Localized and translated content reflects regional policies and terminology, enabling effective engagement across age groups and geographies.