Fortinet launches free digital safety curriculum for all schools

Fortinet has launched its Security Awareness and Training Service: Education Edition curriculum across all primary and secondary schools in Australia.

The service is provided at no cost to schools, offering students foundational digital safety skills intended to improve their ability to safely navigate a connected world. Rob Keast, Partnership Development Manager, Australia and New Zealand, Fortinet Training Institute at Fortinet, said, "Technology is increasingly embedded in every aspect of our daily lives. Building cyber resilience starts with early education and Fortinet is committed to equipping students and educators with the skills they need to operate safely and responsibly online. The launch of Fortinet's curriculum in Australian classrooms is a demonstration of Fortinet's commitment to building a more secure digital future."

The curriculum roll-out begins in South Australia and builds on the existing Security Awareness and Training service, which was previously introduced for staff in government schools within the state. Delivered in collaboration with the South Australian Department for Education, the staff training initiative is supporting cybersecurity awareness for over 15,500 users.

Fortinet's Security Awareness and Training Service: Education Edition is also available without cost to all public and private school teachers and administrators throughout Australia. This broader access, according to Fortinet, supports efforts to develop an environment where digital learning is safer and school communities are more aware of cybersecurity issues.

The curriculum is specifically designed for classroom delivery and combines expert-led content with interactive and gamified elements to promote behavioural change among students. The core features include age-appropriate modules aligned with education standards, multimedia content such as videos and activities, comprehensive lesson plans and teaching resources for educators, and incentive-based learning to encourage participation and retention.

Findings from the Fortinet 2024 Security Awareness and Training Global Research Report highlight the importance of this initiative, revealing that 56 per cent of IT leaders identify a lack of security awareness within organisations or among employees. Additionally, 97 per cent of decision-makers believe that increased training and awareness could help reduce the prevalence of cyberattacks.

By introducing cybersecurity topics early in the education journey, Fortinet aims to help students develop practical skills for identifying and responding to online threats, while schools contribute to preparing a more secure workforce for the future. The company states that this approach is intended to proactively narrow the global cybersecurity skills gap before it impacts both the workforce and society at large.

The rollout of the training service is part of the larger Fortinet Training Institute's mission to close the cybersecurity skills gap by offering access to industry-recognised training across multiple education and professional levels. This includes free online Network Security Expert (NSE) certification training for professionals, a technical curriculum for higher education institutions delivered through academic partnerships, and outreach programmes designed to encourage diversity and expand cybersecurity education across regions.

These educational programmes support Fortinet's goal of training one million individuals in cybersecurity by the end of 2026. In the broader context, the company collaborates with both public and private sector organisations, including government agencies and academic institutions, as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen digital resilience globally.

Sarah Hollinshead, Interdisciplinary Technologies Coordinator at the Australian Science and Mathematics School, said, "Cybersecurity is no longer a subject reserved for IT classes; it's an essential life skill. Fortinet's security awareness curriculum makes it easy for teachers to introduce complex concepts in an engaging, age-appropriate way. It gives educators the confidence and tools to lead important conversations about online safety, while helping students build the digital awareness they'll need throughout their education and future careers."

Rob Rashotte, Vice President, Fortinet Training Institute at Fortinet, added, "Fortinet's goal is to make cybersecurity a fundamental skill for students, teachers, and school communities. The Security Awareness and Training Service: Education Edition represents a meaningful step toward building digital confidence in the education sector, combining no-cost access with flexible delivery and teacher support."

Rob Keast is present at the Australian Independent Schools New South Wales ICT Management and Leadership Conference to speak with education leaders, share feedback from early adopters and demonstrate the potential impact of the platform within classrooms.