In a bid to address the growing cybersecurity skills shortage, cybersecurity firm Fortinet has signed an agreement with Kerala’s Department of Higher Education to provide free access to its advanced training and certification programs for technical professionals in the state.
The initiative, rolled out under the state’s Additional Skill Acquisition Programme (ASAP), aims to equip students with industry-ready expertise to counter evolving cyber threats, said a statement.
As per the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), Fortinet’s Training Institute will offer its Network Security Expert (NSE) certification curriculum—a program spanning five proficiency levels and 11 certifications. Courses will cover security-driven networking, AI-driven security operations, zero-trust network access, and cloud security.
The company said that the participants will gain hands-on experience through virtual labs and receive exam vouchers to earn certifications critical for cybersecurity roles.
The move comes amid a widening global cybersecurity workforce gap. Citing its own 2024 Global Cybersecurity Skills Gap Report, the company said that 70% of organisations attribute heightened security risks to a lack of skilled professionals, with an estimated 4.8 million workers needed worldwide to close the gap.
Kerala government’s decision to introduce Fortinet’s self-paced online learning program aligns with efforts to build a talent pipeline meeting global standards.
“We believe this collaboration will pave the way for numerous opportunities, empowering students with industry-relevant knowledge and expertise,” said Dr. Usha Titus (Retd.), Chairperson of ASAP Kerala. The state government’s initiative targets not only skill development but also enhancing employability in a sector critical to India‘s expanding digital economy.
Fortinet said it has been actively collaborating with Indian agencies to bolster cybersecurity training. This includes a partnership with AICTE to offer 1 lakh virtual internships and initiatives with CERT-In to promote cybersecurity awareness in academia.
“Through our partnership with ASAP Kerala, we aim to build a strong talent pipeline that not only addresses the skills shortage but also contributes to the nation’s resilience against evolving cyber threats,” said Vivek Srivastava, Country Manager for India & SAARC at Fortinet.
According to senior executives, as India accelerates digitisation, cybersecurity remains a pressing concern. Kerala’s partnership with Fortinet reflects a strategic push to prepare professionals for a sector where demand far outstrips supply. With ASAP Kerala’s existing footprint in skill development, the program could serve as a model for states aiming to future-proof their workforce.
