Fortinet said on Monday it will provide U.S. high schools with a free two-year cybersecurity curriculum through its Training Institute, delivered via the Security Awareness and Training Service.
The program consists of two modular courses designed to fit within standard academic calendars. Each course requires roughly 180 days or 145 hours of instruction, covering topics such as networking, cryptography, endpoint security, application security, risk management and cyber defense. The first-year course focuses on foundational skills and career awareness, while the second-year course advances technical knowledge and aligns with industry certification preparation.
Schools may adopt the full curriculum or select individual modules to integrate into existing programs. The initiative is offered at no cost to institutions, including access to lesson plans and instructor materials.
Daniel Patterson, High School Computer Science Manager for Chicago Public Schools, said the district is evaluating the curriculum as a resource to strengthen its cybersecurity pathway and better prepare students for college-level work and future careers. Chicago Public Schools participated in an early pilot of the program.
Fortinet, which serves more than 1 million customers globally, said the curriculum aims to address growing demand for cybersecurity skills amid persistent workforce shortages in the sector.
