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Australian veterans transitioning to civilian careers now have an opportunity to access free cyber security training via a new partnership between SoldierOn and cyber security firm Fortinet Australia.
Fortinet’s new Security Academy Program will be delivered by Fortinet’s Training Institute through SoldierOn to upskill veterans who have worn a uniform in any time period from 1990. Access to Fortinet’s Network Security Expert (NSE) training is also available to one member of a veteran’s family at no cost.
Glenn Maiden, director of threat intelligence at Fortinet’s FortiGuard Labs, said the company is committed to untapping veteran’s potential to transition into careers in cyber security.
“I spent many years in the Department of Defence working alongside some of the best in the business. The level of veterans’ technical expertise, collaboration, leadership and outcome focus is second to none," he said.
“Fortinet provides opportunities for these exceptional ex-service men and women to enable a pivot to a civilian career that’s rewarding, meaningful and achievable.
“With an ongoing skills shortage plaguing the IT security community, this is a win-win proposition.”
Fortinet’s Training Institute was created to reduce the skills gap by introducing more diversity and education to the industry. The partnership with veteran support organisation SoldierOn aims to close the skills gap by providing ex-service men and women with an opportunity to reinvent their careers.
Ivan Slavich, chief executive at SoldierOn, said this new program would ensure that former Australian Defence personnel are imminently employable by adding cyber security skills to their already impressive skillset.
“Veterans add significant value to an organisation because of their work ethic and the unique skills they acquire in the military,” Slavich said.
“We also recognise that the family members of Defence personnel are a valuable asset to organisations.
“Importantly, this program can give both veterans and their family members the opportunity to discover and pursue a new passion.”
The NSE Training Institute’s Veterans Program (FortiVet) has updated the training delivery provided through the Security Academy Program with additional resources for professional networking, mentoring and coaching. On completion of the program, participants will receive a certificate and, if requested, a letter of recommendation to help them find employment in the IT security industry.
The qualifications aim to help prepare ex-service personnel for careers on the technical side of IT security or roles in sales, product development, project management, marketing, human resources, finance, and more.
Fortinet’s TAA offers 350 hours of self-paced courses cover topics including cloud security and secure SD-WAN, both of which are emerging as indispensable and growing areas.
[Related: Cyber security firm warns of growing threat]
Nastasha is a Journalist at Momentum Media, she reports extensively across veterans affairs, cyber security and geopolitics in the Indo-Pacific. She is a co-author of a book titled The Stories Women Journalists Tell, published by Penguin Random House. Previously, she was a Content Producer at Verizon Media, a Digital Producer for Yahoo! and Channel 7, a Digital Journalist at Sky News Australia, as well as a Website Manager and Digital Producer at SBS Australia. Nastasha started her career in media as a Video Producer and Digital News Presenter at News Corp Australia.