IT Vortex - Managed IT Services

How Partners Can Grow Their Business and Skillsets with NSE 8 Certification

The cybersecurity skills gap has left many organizations unable to fill security positions, whether they have been priced out of the market or simply cannot find qualified candidates. As a result, many companies are turning to VARs, MSSPs, and other service providers to help fill these roles, answer questions, and deploy cutting-edge technology that can provide rapid response to attacks with minimal intervention. The expectation is that these partners can help organizations determine where vulnerabilities exist within their network, connect them with the controls necessary to mitigate those vulnerabilities, and facilitate the ongoing maintenance of these tools.

As such, Fortinet seeks to empower our partners with the background and experience necessary to meet the needs of their customers through the suite of Fortinet solutions, many of which comprise the Fortinet Security Fabric. The Fabric is deigned to leverage integration and automation to provide true defense in-depth. To assist with this, we have built the Network Security Experts (NSE) program.

This tiered program is composed of eight levels, and offers courses, exams, and hands-on practicums to technical professionals looking to grow their business with the advanced security skills they need to stay a step ahead of resourceful cyber criminals. These courses range from high-level overviews of the threat landscape, to how to implement firewalls and security analytics, to the highest technical levels of security configuration at level eight. 

Securing Digital Transformation with NSE 8

Fortinet’s Network Security Experts program is designed to give students, including our partners, the skills and first-hand experience required to secure their customers’ networks from existing and evolving threats. By the time partners reach level eight, they are able to configure, install, and troubleshoot comprehensive, integrated network security controls in a live environment.

To earn the level 8 certification, partners must complete a written and practical exam. While this can be done independent of the first seven levels of NSE, partners are encouraged to take each course leading up to this final level.

The NSE 8 certification covers the essential elements of security required by organizations undergoing digital transformation, addressing issues such as moving to the cloud, managing the increasing number of applications and devices in use, and deploying SD-WAN. Partners also become familiar with deploying and managing FortiGate on the AWS and Azure platforms, designing enhanced security solutions, networking and advanced routing, security event management, and more.

Completing this certification enables partners to showcase their value to customers, assist with acquisition and retention of clients, accelerate sales, and offer updated services. Furthermore, this independent validation of their security skills is a draw for employers – especially now, when cybersecurity skills and experience are in such demand.

Staying Up to Date on New Products and Features

As cybercriminals continue to develop sophisticated cyberattacks designed to infiltrate networks and avoid detection, new security tools are being developed in conjunction to minimize the efficacy of these attack strategies and technologies.

At Accelerate 2019, for example, Fortinet announced several new product innovations that better enable partners to secure customer networks:

  • FortiDeceptor: This new solution assists with breach protection by redirecting threats away from critical assets. The differentiator here is that it protects networks from both insider and external threats using a fabricated deception network that forces attackers to reveal themselves. 
  • FortiOS 6.2 Fabric ExtensionsThese important updates are essential for partners to learn about and master. These tools expand the abilities of the Security Fabric, while reducing the complexity involved with designing, deploying, and managing a holistic security architecture – thereby assisting partners in establishing and maintaining customer controls. These extensions span application delivery controllers, including FortiCASB, FortiNAC, FortiDDoS, and more.
  • Cloud Security UpdatesSeveral cloud security upgrades have recently been released, includingour Virtual Security Processor, FortiCASB 4.1, and FortiMail 6.2. These solutions enable your customers to securely take advantage of everything the cloud has to offer, facilitating the migration of high-performance applications and the ability to securely deploy critical applications such as O365.

As new solutions are released, partners that have already been certified, or those just starting on the path to NSE certification, will need to continually learn how these tools fit into the existing Fabric, as well as how to configure them. To ensure partners remain up to date on these latest advancements and trends, Fortinet will be also be hosting the NSE Xperts Academy at locations around the world. These multi-day events will offer technical workshops led by solution experts to ensure partner use, combined with expert recommendations around these solutions informed by the latest trends and threat intelligence.

NSE Xperts Academy sessions cover a variety of pressing topics, including:

  • Securing operational technology (OT)
  • Exposing and remediating attacks with FortiDeceptor
  • Public cloud networking and reference architectures
  • Securing the access layer with FortiNAC
  • Threat identification and remediation with FortiSIEM

Attending these and other pertinent workshops allow partners to continue to hone their skills, ensuring the highest levels of security for customer networks as threats and networks continue to evolve. 

Final Thoughts

Fortinet is committed to providing our partners with the training and resources needed to leverage the Security Fabric to its fullest extent in their customer’s networks. By achieving the NSE 8 certification and then reviewing ongoing advances in tools and trends at our Xperts Academy events, partners can provide maximum value to customers while growing their individual skillsets.

If you enjoy reading this blog, you might enjoy ORANGE BUSINESS SERVICES CHOOSES FORTINET SECURE SD-WAN TO EXPAND ITS FLEXIBLE SD-WAN PORTFOLIO

Share this post

questions about our services?

Request a free consultation. Fill out the form and we will call you to answer all your questions



Tech Tips, Cyber Threat Mitigation, Cutting Edge Technology, Cost Savings and More!



 

IT Vortex, LLC is committed to protecting and respecting your privacy, and we’ll only use your personal information to administer your account and to provide the products and services you requested from us. From time to time, we would like to contact you about our products and services, as well as other content that may be of interest to you. You will consent to us contacting you for this purpose, by submitting the form.

Apply for this position

Fill out the form below and our hiring team will reach out to you as soon as possible



zoom-logo

We use Zoom extensively to meet internally and externally. We are Certified Reseller, we have Certified Implementation Experts on staff, we provide architecture advisory services for a robust implementation.

wasabi logo

Wasabi is offered in our Cloud Hosting Platform. We are Certified Reseller, we have Certified Implementation Experts on staff, we provide architecture advisory services for a robust implementation.

vmware logo

Our Datacenter is built on a VMWare architecture. We are Certified Reseller, we have Certified Implementation Experts on staff, we provide architecture advisory services for a robust implementation. 

veeam green logo

Veeam is offered in our Cloud Hosting Platform. We are Certified Reseller, we have Certified Implementation Experts on staff, we provide architecture advisory services for a robust implementation.

Trend Micro Logo
Solarwinds Logo

Solarwinds is offered in our Cloud Hosting Platform. We are Certified Reseller, we have Certified Implementation Experts on staff, we provide architecture advisory services for a robust implementation.

Proofpoint essentials Logo

Fortinet is offered in our Cloud Hosting Platform. We are Certified Reseller, we have Certified Implementation Experts on staff, we provide architecture advisory services for a robust implementation.

observe IT Logo

ObserveIT/Fortinet is offered in our Cloud Hosting Platform. We are Certified Reseller, we have Certified Implementation Experts on staff, we provide architecture advisory services for a robust implementation.

NEAT Logo

We use NEAT extensively in our offices. We are Certified Reseller, we have Certified Implementation Experts on staff, we provide architecture advisory services for a robust implementation.

mitel logo

Our telephone platform of choice. We are Certified Reseller, we have Certified Implementation Experts on staff, we provide architecture advisory services for a robust implementation.

microsoft logo

Various Microsoft technologies are offered in our Cloud Hosting Platform. We are Certified Reseller, we have Certified Implementation Experts on staff, we provide architecture advisory services for a robust implementation. 

ingram micro cloud logo

Our distribution preferred partner for our technology offerings.

Fortinet logo

Fortinet is offered in our Cloud Hosting Platform? We are Certified Reseller, we have Certified Implementation Experts on staff, we provide architecture advisory services for a robust implementation.

DTEN logo

We use DTEN extensively in our offices. We are Certified Reseller, we have Certified Implementation Experts on staff, we provide architecture advisory services for a robust implementation.

Dropbox logo

We are Certified Reseller, we have Certified Implementation Experts on staff, we provide architecture advisory services for a robust implementation.

Dell logo

Dell servers are a key component offered in our Cloud Hosting Platform. We are Certified Reseller, we have Certified Implementation Experts on staff, we provide architecture advisory services for a robust implementation.

Condusiv Technologies logo

Condusiv Technology is offered in our Cloud Hosting Platform? We are Certified Reseller, we have Certified Implementation Experts on staff, we provide architecture advisory services for a robust implementation.

Cisco logo

Cisco Technology is offered in our Cloud Hosting Platform via DUO for MFA. We are Certified Reseller, we have Certified Implementation Experts on staff, we provide architecture advisory services for a robust implementation.

Barracuda Logo

Barracuda Technology is offered in our Cloud Hosting Platform. We are Certified Reseller, we have Certified Implementation Experts on staff, we provide architecture advisory services for a robust implementation.

Amazon_Web_Services_Logo

IT Vortex partners with AWS via VMware for the VMware on AWS offering that allows for cloud services fulfillment via AWS utilizing the same VMware products many companies already enjoy the benefits from.

ACTI Logo

Technology Reseller and Distributor, Certified Implementation Expertise with all ACTi products and services. IT Vortex has worked with ACTi for over a decade implementing security camera solutions for a multitude of industries with AI, Facial Recognition, License Plate Recognition, Loitering Detection, Cloud storage, and more.

questions about our services?

Request a free consultation. Fill out the form and we will call you to answer all your questions



microsoft logo

Name of the partner

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco

Security as a Service (SECaaS) by IT Vortex

Pricing Calculator

Choose a service, answer a few simple questions, and receive an individual quote for our services

User count by type

Fill out the form and we will call you to answer all your questions