FORTINET, a global leader in broad, integrated, and automated cybersecurity solutions, released the Asia findings of the global 2022 Cybersecurity Skills Gap Report. The report reveals that the cybersecurity skills shortage continues to have multiple challenges and repercussions for organizations in Asia, including the occurrence of security breaches and subsequently loss of money. As a result, the skills gap remains a top concern for C-level executives and is increasingly becoming a board-level priority. The report, which surveyed IT and cybersecurity decision-makers across countries such as Singapore, Thailand, Hong Kong, Philippines, Malaysia, and Indonesia, also suggests ways the skills gap can be addressed, such as thorough training and certifications to increase employees' education.

According to Rashish Pandey, vice president of Marketing and Communications Asia at Fortinet, 'Our Southeast Asia and Hong Kong survey as part of a global report shows that 71 percent of participating companies are facing difficulty in hiring technology-qualified talents for cybersecurity, with 63 percent agreeing that this skill shortage results in severe cybersecurity consequences for the business. As more organizations adopt technology such as cloud and automation, the issue of a lack of cybersecurity experts has been exacerbated. Committed to addressing this skill gap, Fortinet's Training Advancement Agenda (TAA) and Training Institute programs were established to increase access and reach of its cybersecurity certifications and training which are deemed important to hiring organizations, as shown in the survey. Fortinet has pledged to train 1 million professionals by 2026, and through working with local partners, we have succeeded in issuing more than 840,000 certifications since the inception of the program.'