Global cybersecurity leader, Fortinet, recently joined forces with Hub350 and the Kanata North Business Association (KNBA) in a move that increases the company’s presence in Ottawa while supporting cybersecurity initiatives across Canada.
The collaboration aims to integrate Fortinet’s global cybersecurity expertise into Hub350’s offerings, from cybersecurity skills training to talent development at Canada’s biggest technology park, which has the highest concentration of technologists, entrepreneurs, start-ups, and post-secondary institutions in the country. This collaborative approach aims to drive thought leadership, knowledge exchange, and innovation within the region – with the overall goal of investing in Ottawa’s community to strengthen local business and grow Canada’s economy to ensure tech professionals have ample opportunity to grow in their careers.
Fortinet’s Vice President of Canada Federal and National Capital Region Sales, Bill Park, emphasizes the partnership’s significance, stating, “This partnership demonstrates Fortinet’s ongoing commitment to deploying the largest team of cybersecurity experts while enabling us to expand our continuously growing presence in the National Capital Region.”
Hub350, situated at the core of the Kanata North Technology Park, offers everything from soundproof phone booths to digital media rooms and offices, which can all be rented out cheaper than a conventional office space. The space is perfect for meeting with the team and collaborating on in-person projects instead of over Teams.
Hub350 provided Fortinet with immediate access to office space, facilitating collaboration on various fronts, including co-branded lunch-and-learn sessions, joint thought leadership opportunities, and a mutual commitment to advancing cybersecurity and technology initiatives.
Julia Morris, Director of Partnerships at KNBA, acknowledged cybersecurity’s importance in the tech landscape, saying, “Hub350’s partnership with Fortinet is a collaboration that aligns innovation with cybersecurity to help our resilient ecosystem meet the challenges of an ever-evolving digital landscape.”
Kanata has gradually transformed into Canada’s leading hub for cutting-edge tech businesses, generating over 33,000 skilled jobs and contributing more than $13 billion annually to the nation’s GDP. This partnership will drive forward these efforts alongside Fortinet’s commitment to fill the talent shortage.
In fact, according to Fortinet’s Global Threat Report released in August, Canada suffered more than 17.8 billion attempted cyberattacks in the first quarter of 2023. This, combined with a global talent shortage of an estimated 3.4 million security roles needing to be filled worldwide, means there is an urgent need to address the workforce shortage and continue supporting existing professionals in building their skills and networks.
In Canada, Fortinet has a substantial presence, with over 2,000 employees in Burnaby, British Columbia, and over 420 team members in Ottawa. To address the cybersecurity talent shortage, Fortinet is continually investing in cybersecurity skills training, recruitment, facilities, and technology. This ensures that customers and partners in Canada can effectively compete in the rapidly advancing digital marketplace.
In addition to the new partnership, Fortinet recently expanded into two newly constructed buildings in Kanata, bringing its total to six buildings on two campuses. These buildings are equipped with the latest technologies to combat the evolving cybersecurity threat landscape, showing that Ottawa, although traditionally viewed as a government town, also plays a significant role in the emerging market of Canadian-based cybersecurity.
In relation to the ongoing evolution of the cybersecurity and technological collaboration landscape, the strategic alliance between Fortinet, Hub350, and KNBA ensures that customers and partners in Canada can safely and effectively compete in today’s accelerating digital marketplace.
We live in an increasingly interconnected world; it is increasingly important to safeguard digital landscapes.