UNIMY Launches Cybersecurity Lab, Powered by Fortinet, at "Career Talk: Securing the Future with Fortinet"

By Devakumar A/L Robert William, Senior Executive, BAC College

On Wednesday, 7th October 2026, University Malaysia of Computer Science & Engineering (UNIMY) officially launched its UNIMY Cybersecurity Lab, powered by Fortinet, during the industry sharing session, “Career Talk: Securing the Future with Fortinet.” The launch is a major step in expanding hands-on technical training for the next generation of digital guardians. The event brought together leaders from Fortinet and Infoline to discuss artificial intelligence, network defense, sustainable technology, and career opportunities in cybersecurity.

Introducing the UNIMY Cybersecurity Lab
The UNIMY Cybersecurity Lab gives students direct access to enterprise-grade software and certification pathways, so they can train on the same kinds of tools used in the industry today. The lab is designed to let students practise both sides of security:

  • Red Team Operations: Emulating real-world attackers to discover and ethically patch vulnerabilities.
  • Blue Team Operations: Acting as system defenders through continuous monitoring and real-time incident analysis.
By working through realistic scenarios, students gain practical experience and the confidence to apply their classroom knowledge to real security challenges, which employers look for.

A Strategic Partnership with Fortinet
The lab reflects UNIMY’s growing collaboration with Fortinet. Through the Fortinet Academic Partner Programme, institutions can offer industry-aligned curricula and professional certifications. For UNIMY students, this means learning with industry-grade tools while working towards recognised credentials that strengthen their profiles as they enter the job market.
Mr. Brian Chang from Fortinet shared that Fortinet’s broader commitments include addressing cybersecurity risk to society, respecting the environment through energy-efficient ASIC chips in its firewalls, closing the cybersecurity skills gap, and promoting responsible business.

What This Means for Students: AI, Governance, and Earning Potential
Addressing questions on AI’s impact on tech careers, Mr. Chang stressed that automated tools will not replace human professionals. As reliance on AI grows, so does the demand for experts who can enforce governance, guardrails, and Zero Trust security architectures (“never trust, always verify”). Attendees also saw a live demonstration of FortiAI, which showed how generative AI is used to streamline threat detection and response. These are skills students can start building in the new lab.

The opportunities are significant. Malaysia needs more than 26,000 cybersecurity professionals, according to figures shared by Mr. Chang, yet the current workforce falls well short of that, leaving a significant talent gap for graduates to fill. Mr. Chang also shared the following salary benchmarks:
  • Junior Security Engineer (<5 years’ experience): RM3,000 – RM8,000 per month (average ~RM5,500)
  • Senior Security Engineer / Consultant (5–15 years): RM8,000 – RM25,000 per month
  • Senior Manager, Governance, Risk & Compliance (10–25 years): RM15,000 – RM50,000 per month

From Classroom to Career: Practical SOC Pathways
Mr. Tiger Chong from Infoline explained how Security Operations Centre (SOC) analysts turn scattered logs and telemetry into actionable intelligence. He outlined three entry points for aspiring professionals:

  • SOC Analyst (Monitoring & Incident Escalation)
  • Implementation & Support Engineer (Infrastructure Setup)
  • Cybersecurity Researcher (Threat Intelligence & Analysis)
He urged students to build strong foundations in network protocols, Windows and Linux environments, and clear technical communication. These are skills students can develop through the lab’s blue team monitoring and incident analysis exercises.

Academic Guidance: Preparing to Stand Out
Ts. Dr. Aneshkumar Thangaveloo of UNIMY advised students on how to prepare:

  • Programming Mastery: Develop proficiency in languages like Python.
  • Core Domains: Focus on network security, forensic investigation, and incident response.
  • Daily Practice & Home Labs: Spend time each day experimenting with Cisco Packet Tracer, Wireshark, Fortinet tools, and Linux environments, including Kali Linux.
  • Certifications & Soft Skills: Pursue cloud certifications (AWS/Azure) alongside critical thinking, teamwork, and structured problem-solving.

Preparing Students for the Cybersecurity Industry
With the UNIMY Cybersecurity Lab and its collaboration with Fortinet and industry partners like Infoline, students can now combine academic learning, hands-on practice, and industry-recognised certification pathways in one place. Together, these prepare them to step confidently into a field with strong demand and exciting career growth.

Kickstart Your Cybersecurity Career
UNIMY offers industry-aligned academic pathways designed to meet the evolving demands of the tech landscape:

About the Writer
Devakumar is a Senior Executive reporting to the Chief Growth Officer, Mr. Sen Ze, at the BAC Education Group. He has been with the group for over a decade, starting in Human Resources before moving into IT, and holds a Bachelor of Science in Biotechnology from Monash University Malaysia. Along the way, he has been fortunate to support a wide range of work, from technology operations and events to content and website initiatives, and he is grateful to the colleagues and mentors who have guided him.