Fortinet, the global cybersecurity leader, has announced the release of a new Security Awareness curriculum aimed at K-12 school districts and systems in the United States. This curriculum, developed in partnership with educators, is designed to help build the future cybersecurity workforce and keep students safe in the digital world.
The development of this curriculum comes at a critical time when cyber threats are becoming increasingly sophisticated and prevalent. Cybercriminals are using advanced methods such as phishing and malware to target end-users and steal personal and sensitive information. To combat these threats, more professionals with cybersecurity expertise are needed to fill essential security positions. Fortinet’s new curriculum aims to address this need by instilling fundamental cybersecurity skills in students from an early age.
The Security Awareness curriculum provides K-12 teachers with comprehensive resources, including a teacher’s guide with lesson plans and handouts. These resources are designed to facilitate engaging and meaningful interactions with cybersecurity topics in the classroom while aligning with existing academic standards. The curriculum was developed by former educators and reviewed by current teachers to ensure its effectiveness.
The curriculum covers various topics that strengthen cybersecurity awareness and promote digital safety best practices among students. Some of these topics include:
1. Cybersecurity Landscape: Students will learn how to identify and mitigate cyber threats by recognizing the tactics used by cybercriminals.
2. Digital Safety: Students will be taught to recognize online risks and how to respond to difficult situations, fostering safe and respectful online interactions.
3. Online Presence: Students will gain an understanding of the importance of making mindful choices about what content they share online to maintain a positive and safe online presence.
The curriculum will be made accessible to over 55 million K-12 students nationwide. It will start rolling out in the Fall of 2023, expanding on Fortinet’s existing free learning offerings, including tailored cybersecurity awareness training for K-12 faculty and staff. These initiatives align with the White House’s National Cyber Workforce and Education Strategy, which aims to address the global cybersecurity skills gap.
Fortinet’s Chief Marketing Officer and EVP of Product Strategy, John Maddison, emphasizes the importance of expanding cybersecurity knowledge and skill sets to close the talent shortage. By partnering with educators to develop a tailor-made curriculum, Fortinet aims to create a future generation of empowered security professionals.
In addition to the release of the Security Awareness curriculum, Fortinet is participating in the Cybersecurity Summit 2023, hosted at UNLV, along with the White House and other government leaders. This summit provides a platform to discuss the implementation of the National Cyber Workforce and Education Strategy and explore solutions to address the global skills gap.
Fortinet is committed to evolving cybersecurity and driving the convergence of networking and security. With over 50 enterprise-grade products and a broad training program, the company aims to secure people, devices, and data everywhere. Their solutions are among the most deployed, patented, and validated in the industry. FortiGuard Labs, their elite threat intelligence and research organization, utilizes advanced machine learning and AI technologies to provide customers with top-rated protection and actionable threat intelligence.
As the cyber threat landscape continues to evolve, initiatives like Fortinet’s Security Awareness curriculum play a crucial role in equipping the next generation with the skills needed to safeguard themselves and organizations against cyber threats. By fostering fundamental cyber awareness from an early age, this curriculum helps build a stronger cybersecurity workforce and improves the nation’s cyber resiliency.