Fortinet Certification Updates in 2023: What’s New and Why You Should Care

Fortinet is a leading provider of cybersecurity solutions for businesses and organizations. Its products and services include network security, cloud security, endpoint security, and more. This institute is a leading provider of cybersecurity solutions, has been offering certification programs for IT professionals for years. These certifications are designed to validate the skills and knowledge of individuals who work with Fortinet products and solutions. In 2023, Fortinet will be making changes to its certification program, introducing new certifications and updating existing ones. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at these changes and explore why they matter.

Brief Overview of the Current NSE Certification Program

Currently, the Fortinet Network Security Expert (NSE) certification program includes eight levels of certification that validate the skills and knowledge of technical professionals who work with Fortinet security products and solutions. These levels make up 4 groups of these certifications: awareness (NSE1, NSE2, NSE3), technical (NSE4, NSE5, NSE6), advanced (NSE7), expert (NSE8). Here is a brief overview of each certification level:

NSE 1: This is the foundational level of the NSE program, which covers basic security concepts and Fortinet’s product portfolio.

NSE 2: This certification covers more advanced security concepts and Fortinet’s security fabric solutions.

NSE 3: This certification focuses on Fortinet core products, that help to solve the cybersecurity products, including FortiGate, FortiAnalyzer, and FortiManager.

NSE 4: This certification validates expertise in designing, implementing, and managing Fortinet security solutions for small and medium-sized businesses.

NSE 5: This certification checks your skills in implementing network security management and analytics with the help of the Fortinet security devices.

NSE 6: This certification covers more advanced topics related to Fortinet security fabric solutions, including security automation and orchestration.

NSE 7: This certification focuses on designing and implementing complex security solutions for enterprise-level organizations.

NSE 8: This is the highest level of certification in the NSE program, which validates expertise in designing, deploying, troubleshooting, and configuring complex networks.

Overall, the NSE certification program is designed to provide technical professionals with a comprehensive understanding of Fortinet’s security products and solutions, and to validate their skills and knowledge. By earning NSE certifications, professionals can demonstrate their expertise and increase their value to their organizations.

Certification Program Changes

In October 2023, Fortinet will be making significant changes to its certification program. The changes are designed to better align the program with the evolving needs of the cybersecurity industry and to ensure that IT professionals have the skills and knowledge they need to stay ahead of emerging threats. So, what’s new in this program.

• The program will include 5 levels and on the whole 11 certifications.
• Each skill level has one or more certifications that correspond to career paths.
• To get certified a candidate will need to pass the minimum number of exams.
• Exam badges will be received after taking one core exam and one elective exam.

So, the new certification program will be represented by the following levels and certifications:

1. Fortinet Certified Fundamentals: FCF Certification in Cybersecurity
2. Fortinet Certified Associate: FCA in Cybersecurity
3. Fortinet Certified Professional: FCP in Network Security, FCP in Public Cloud Security, FCP in Security Operations;
4. Fortinet Certified Engineer: FCE in Zero Trust Access, FCE in Network Security, FCE in Cloud Security, FCE in Security Operations, and FCE OT Security.
5. Fortinet Certified Expert: FCX in Cybersecurity

The Necessity of the Upcoming Changes

The changes in the Fortinet certification program matter for several reasons. First, they reflect the constantly evolving nature of the cybersecurity industry. As new threats emerge, cybersecurity professionals must stay up-to-date with the latest technologies and solutions. The Fortinet certification program is designed to ensure that IT professionals have the knowledge and skills necessary to keep their organizations secure.

Second, these changes demonstrate Fortinet’s commitment to providing high-quality training and certification programs. By updating its existing certifications and introducing new ones, Fortinet is ensuring that its certification program remains relevant and valuable for IT professionals.

Finally, these changes matter because they provide IT professionals with a clear path for career advancement. By earning any certification from Fortinet, IT professionals can demonstrate their expertise and increase their value to their organizations. The new certifications, in particular, provide IT professionals with a clear roadmap for advancing their careers to the highest levels of expertise.

Conclusion

The Fortinet certification program is an important resource for IT professionals who work with its products, security technologies, and solutions. The changes that Fortinet will be introducing in 2023, including new certifications and updates to existing ones, reflect the constantly evolving nature of the cybersecurity industry and demonstrate Fortinet’s commitment to providing high-quality training and certification programs. By earning Fortinet certifications, IT professionals can demonstrate their expertise and increase their value to their organizations, as well as advance their careers to the highest levels of expertise.