Wintec strengthens cybersecurity course

Waikato Institute of Technology (Wintec) will be the first educational institution in New Zealand to offer the Fortinet Network Security Academy (FNSA) programme.

The FNSA is designed to develop and train action-oriented cybersecurity experts to manage new and advanced threats on the horizon.

FNSA was created to addressthe international shortage of cybersecurity experts and to build a workforce skilled in all aspects of Fortinet’s end-to-end network security fabric. The students will be trained in state-of-the-art lab environments through experienced instructors.

Wintec provides its students with the option of getting the FNSA certification alongside their degrees in applied information technology, and encourages participation through incentives, such as free course vouchers, for students pursuing certification for the first time.

IT industry research results show cybersecurity tops the list of essential skills for a bright career in IT today, says Klaus Reiter, industry engagement director at Wintec.

“FNSA is a great platform to provide our students with advanced IT skills and certifications that will boost their employment prospects, while gaining recognition in the industry within an elite group of security professionals,” he adds.

“Wintec is committed to providing a skilled workforce that meets the needs of the IT industry and matches with the economic and employment priorities of New Zealand.”

Partnering with organisations like Wintec will help fill the pipeline of cybersecurity experts Jon McGettigan, Fortinet

The academy will provide industry-recognised cybersecurity training and certification opportunities to students who will learn how to protect organisations from cyber threats.

Students will be prepared at international FNSA sites for success in a career in network security, obtaining both the theoretical lectures and hands-on laboratory practice needed to achieve a Fortinet certification.

The academy will provide the training and certification opportunities previously only offered to Fortinet customers and partners to educational institutions, non-profit organisations and veterans programmes.

“A global shortage of cyber security professionals is impacting New Zealand as government departments, corporations and businesses compete for talent, in response to an increasing number of cyberattacks,” says Jon McGettigan, ýsenior regional director, ANZ and the Pacific Islands, at Fortinet.

He says current estimates show up to one million cybersecurity job openings with demand expected to rise to six million globally by 2019.

He says partnering with organisations like Wintec will help fill the pipeline of cybersecurity experts.

“Wintec is one of New Zealand’s largest and leading institutes of technology and has an impeccable reputation for training excellence ? we hope to continually grow such strong partnerships in the region.”