The UAE Cyber Security Council (CSC) has partnered with Fortinet to launch a new cybersecurity internship programme aimed at equipping Emirati university students with essential skills and hands-on experience in the field of cybersecurity. This initiative is part of broader efforts to enhance the UAE’s national cyber skills pipeline and prepare the next generation of cybersecurity professionals.
Programme Overview
The internship programme combines structured training with practical labs, mentorship, and exposure to real-world security environments. The first phase will be conducted in collaboration with a UAE-based university, where selected students will receive technical training and guidance from Fortinet’s cybersecurity specialists.
Participants will also have the opportunity to earn the Fortinet NSE 4 FortiOS certification, covering critical areas such as firewall policies, VPNs, authentication, routing, security profiles, and threat protection. This training is expected to serve as a model for future collaborations with other educational institutions across the UAE.
Supporting National Cybersecurity Goals
This initiative is the inaugural project under the UAE Cyber Security Council’s Cyberani Practical Training Initiative, with Fortinet acting as a Technology and Cloud Computing Partner. Cyberani was established in partnership with the UAE Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research to provide university students with practical training opportunities that align academic learning with the demands of the cybersecurity workforce.
His Excellency Dr. Mohamed Hamad Al Kuwaiti, Head of Cyber Security for the UAE Government, emphasized the importance of investing in human capital to build a sustainable national cybersecurity ecosystem. He stated, “Through initiatives such as Cyberani and our collaboration with Fortinet, we are creating practical pathways for Emirati university students to gain the knowledge, skills, and real-world experience needed to build successful careers in cybersecurity.”
Future Collaborations and Developments
The internship programme follows a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed earlier this year between the UAE Cyber Security Council and Fortinet, which focuses on enhancing national cybersecurity capabilities and skills development. The agreement also includes plans to explore the establishment of a UAE Center of Excellence dedicated to areas such as threat intelligence, talent development, startup enablement, and policy collaboration. This internship is intended to help cultivate a talent pipeline that will support the planned center.
Alain Penel, Regional Vice President for Fortinet in the Middle East, Turkey, and CIS, remarked on the shared vision of strengthening national cyber resilience through both technology and people. He noted that the training programme reflects this commitment, providing participants with mentorship and practical skills that align with industry needs, ultimately contributing to the UAE’s cybersecurity ecosystem.
For more details on this initiative, visit Intelligent CISO.
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