How Fortinet is Tackling Cyber Skills Gap with STEM Alliance

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Fortinet has joined forces with STEM Learning to expand its cybersecurity awareness programme
Fortinet’s training programme reaches nine million students as education sector faces mounting threats, with 82% of institutions reporting breaches

The education sector has become a focal point for cybersecurity concerns as schools struggle to protect their digital infrastructure against increasingly sophisticated attacks. The rise of remote learning technologies, cloud-based educational platforms and digital administrative systems has created new vulnerabilities that cybercriminals are actively exploiting: challenges which are compounded by budget constraints and a shortage of cybersecurity expertise.

Now, cybersecurity company Fortinet – which provides network security solutions and cybersecurity training – has joined forces with STEM Learning to expand its cybersecurity awareness programme across schools in the UK.

Education sector emerges as prime target for cybercriminals

The collaboration arrives amid concerning findings from Fortinet's 2024 Cybersecurity Skills Gap Global Research Report, which reveals 82% of education institutions experienced security breaches in 2023. The report also identifies a lack of security awareness as a critical vulnerability, with 56% of sector leaders attributing breaches to gaps in organisational or employee security knowledge.

Key facts
  • 82% - Proportion of education institutions that experienced security breaches in 2023
  • 9 million - Number of UK students with access to Fortinet's Curriculum for Classrooms platform
  • 1 million - People Fortinet aims to train globally through its Training Institute programmes by 2026

The threat landscape has evolved with the emergence of AI, with organisations reporting increased concern about employees falling victim to AI-powered attacks. This development has accelerated the need for comprehensive security training across the education sector.

Fortinet Security Awareness expands reach through STEM Learning partnership

The programme, which first launched in 2023, provides educational institutions with access to Fortinet’s Security Awareness and Training Service. The platform includes training modules, assessment tools and educational content designed for staff and faculty members.

Through the STEM Learning website, the programme now reaches nine million students across the UK. Teachers can access guides, lesson plans and multimedia resources focused on cybersecurity skills development. The service includes Fortinet’s Curriculum for Classrooms platform, which provides comprehensive teaching materials including lesson slides and student handouts.

The announcement coincides with Fortinet’s presence at BETT UK 2025, where the company is showcasing its Security Awareness and Training Service to education sector decision-makers. The exhibition provides a platform for demonstrating the practical applications of the training programme to educators and policymakers.

Richard Woolfrey, Regional Director for UK & Ireland at Fortinet

Richard Woolfrey, Regional Director for UK & Ireland at Fortinet, says: “The education sector continues to be a prime target for cyber attacks, and our work with STEM Learning marks an important step towards broadening outreach in the UK. More than ever, cybersecurity training needs to be both readily available and easily accessible – ensuring students and teachers have better cyber awareness to keep both themselves and the networks they operate within safe.”

Global initiative tackles cybersecurity skills shortage

The partnership forms part of Fortinet’s global commitment to address the cybersecurity skills shortage, with plans to train one million people by 2026 through its Training Institute programmes. The institute offers various certification pathways, including the Network Security Expert (NSE) Certification, Academic Partner and Education Outreach programmes.

Fortinet, which maintains a portfolio of over 50 enterprise-grade security products, has established its position in the cybersecurity sector through widespread deployment and patent development. The company’s FortiGuard Labs, a threat intelligence and research division, employs machine learning and AI technologies to provide threat protection and intelligence services.

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STEM Learning, which specialises in educational programme development, views the partnership as crucial for addressing emerging technological challenges. The organisation’s involvement extends the reach of cybersecurity education across primary and secondary schools throughout the UK.

Simon Roberts, Secondary Computing and Digital Lead at STEM Learning, says: “Internet safety and security is becoming increasingly crucial as our reliance on existing and emerging technologies continues to grow. We’re proud to collaborate with Fortinet to highlight the importance of extending this protection to the education sector. Whether it's through staff training, lesson plans or interactive videos, Fortinet's service will allow students and teachers to improve their knowledge on cyber safety in an informative and engaging manner.”


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