Fortinet Celebrates International Women in Cybersecurity Day 2025

Today marks International Women in Cybersecurity Day 2025, a global movement to recognize the contributions of women in cybersecurity and to spotlight the pathways that help more women develop careers in this field. At Fortinet, the Fortinet Training Institute programs seeks to empower professionals, including women, through accessible training, industry-recognized certifications, outreach initiatives, and strategic partnerships that expand opportunities for all.

The Fortinet Education Outreach Program: Expanding Access to Cybersecurity Careers

At the center of Fortinet's commitment to addressing the skills gap is the Education Outreach Program, which partners with organizations worldwide to break down barriers to entry in cybersecurity. Through this initiative, underrepresented groups gain free access to Fortinet's flagship Network Security Expert (NSE) training and certification.

By creating accessible learning and certification opportunities, Fortinet helps women at every stage of their journey-whether they are just entering the field, re-skilling, or advancing to leadership roles in cybersecurity.

WiCyS and Fortinet: A Partnership to Lift Women in Cyber

Women in CyberSecurity (WiCyS), a global nonprofit dedicated to recruiting, retaining, and advancing women in cybersecurity, has been a trusted partner of Fortinet for the past four years. Together, the two organizations are building sustainable pathways for women in cyber through programs such as:

• The Networking Fundamentals Bootcamp: An instructor-led training series first piloted with WiCyS in 2023. A fourth bootcamp kicked off in June, and it's now in the process of wrapping up.
• Regional Networking Meetups: Opportunities for WiCyS members to gather, connect, and explore career pathways in cybersecurity.
• WiCyS Annual Conference (April 2-5, Dallas, Texas, 2025): Fortinet trainers led a popular Hands-on SOC Workshop, immersing participants in red, blue, and purple team scenarios.

Celebrating Women in Cybersecurity

Lynn Dohm, Executive Director of WiCyS, reflected on the importance of this day and partnership, stating, "International Women in Cyber Day is more than a celebration-it's a time to recognize the talent, resilience, and leadership of women shaping the cybersecurity landscape. At WiCyS, we know that when women are empowered with mentorship, connection, and opportunity, the entire cybersecurity workforce grows stronger."

Melonia da Gama, Director of Marketing and Business Development at the Fortinet Training Institute, shares that vision. "The Fortinet Education Outreach Program, in partnership with organizations like WiCyS, forges stronger pathways for women in cyber. Together with our industry partners, we are working to create a future that is more inclusive, filled with opportunity, and resilient against tomorrow's cyber challenges. Together we can open doors, break barriers, and inspire the next generation of women in cyber."

Looking Ahead

Fortinet's celebration of International Women in Cybersecurity Day underscores an enduring commitment: advancing equity in cybersecurity through training, certifications, and meaningful partnerships. These efforts align with Fortinet's long-term strategy to address the global cyber skills shortage, highlighted each year in the Fortinet Global Cybersecurity Skills Gap Report.

Stay tuned. The 2025 Cyber Skills Report will be released later this month, offering new insights into the state of the cyber workforce and the opportunities that lie ahead.