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T-Systems South Africa has teamed up with Fortinet, a global leader in broad, integrated and automated cybersecurity solutions, to create a specialized Cyber Security Academy incorporated into the organisation’s existing ICT Academy accessible to the youth from local community. The new Academy will include Fortinet’s Network Security Expert (NSE) certifications, helping participants build cyber security awareness skills and upskill to address a widening global cyber security workforce shortage in the market.

“Cybersecurity has become a top C-level priority across the globe with skills in high demand. With the addition of this focus to our ICT Academy, we are empowering participants with new skills that will make them even more employable,” explains Marcus Karuppan, ICT Academy Manager at T-Systems South Africa.

“T-Systems has been a Fortinet partner for many years and we offer their solutions to our customers. Building on our relationship, we are now collaborating with them to focus on cybersecurity skills development and awareness. We see the benefits in their program first-hand as many of the students that graduate from the ICT Academy are employed at T-Systems South Africa and we see the value in having our technicians hold these certifications. This means that the participants have excellent potential for employment with us and other ICT firms at the end of their learning period,” he adds.

The ICT Academy offers learners the opportunity to study toward an NQF4 qualification in their first year, which includes technical support, CompTIA and ICDL. The second year offers an NQF5 qualification to earn their national certification in either Telecommunications Network Operations, Systems Support or Systems Development.  Collaborating with the Fortinet’s Security Academy Program, we will now also enable participants to complete Fortinet’s NSE certification level 4 (NSE4) qualification.

“We’re proud to extend our solution selling relationship with T-Systems to include sharing the valuable curriculum from the Fortinet NSE Training Institute. T-Systems is a leader in expanding education access to close the cybersecurity skills gap. Our goal is to enable CSI programs like the ICT Academy to empower participants with an international qualification. We cover the cost of the online curriculum and certification to enable this program to be offered to the broader base of learners as possible, and the ICT Academy will fund the cost of the facilities and resources required for program implementation,” says Doros Hadjizenonos Regional Director for Africa at Fortinet.

Learners who are already part of the ICT Academy will now be able to gain additional skills in infrastructure security as well as the new cyber security stream. New learners will also be able to join the new cyber security program.

“Empowered with an international certification from our ICT Academy, learners are able to apply for both local and global jobs abroad. As all of our learners come from disadvantaged backgrounds, this is an incredible opportunity for them to gain valuable qualifications and experience. Our goal is to create a pool of employable graduates with skills in the security sector to help address a noticeable skills gap in South Africa,” Karuppan concludes.

The new Cyber Security Academy, incorporating the Fortinet NSE Training Institute certifications, is launching this month.