SA school staff to receive cybersecurity awareness training

Fortinet has announced a partnership with the Department for Education in South Australia to deliver security awareness training to all staff in the state’s government schools. The program, which began in the second semester of 2024 and includes more than 15,500 users, meets the stringent training requirements of educators in Australia and enhances cybersecurity awareness and capabilities among staff in government schools in South Australia.

The 2024 Fortinet ‘Security Awareness and Training Global Research Report’ revealed that nearly 70% of organisations found their employees lacked basic security awareness, highlighting the need for targeted training initiatives to address critical knowledge gaps.

The company says the program demonstrates a successful partnership between the public and private sectors. It enhances each staff member’s understanding of cybersecurity principles, compliance requirements, and industry and regulatory standards relevant to educational settings. Educators will develop the expertise needed to protect student data, secure online platforms, and mitigate cyber threats through practical training that includes real-world scenarios and covers skills such as recognising phishing attempts, identifying fraudulent emails, and understanding the importance of multifactor authentication.

The initiative is the result of a successful pilot program between Fortinet and the Department for Education that demonstrated the clear benefits of the Fortinet Security Awareness and Training service. More than 600 individuals completed modules in the first two months and enrolments are doubling each week. This further advances Fortinet’s goal to train one million people in cybersecurity by the end of 2026.

“The partnership between the Department for Education in South Australia and Fortinet reflects a shared commitment to education and security, built on the foundation of ongoing dialogue, trust, transparency, and innovation,” said Peter Crescitelli, chief information security officer, Department for Education in South Australia. “By collaborating with a leading cybersecurity organisation in Fortinet…the Department for Education is helping to provide secure digital learning environments for all staff across our schools. This relationship strengthens the Department for Education’s ability to meet evolving cybersecurity challenges while maintaining our focus on fostering a safe and enriching learning experience.”

“With the exponentially growing threat landscape, educational institutions have become a prime target for cybercriminals, who focus on students due to the value of their data on the dark web,” said Dale Nachman, country manager, Australia, Fortinet. “This has created a lucrative market, making targeted cybersecurity awareness training for all staff in government schools in South Australia more critical than ever. With a focus on compliance and best practices, Fortinet’s Security Awareness and Training program empowers educators to strengthen their cybersecurity posture, contributing to a safer and more secure digital learning environment for all.”

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