NSE 1 · ● Active · Entry · Fortinet
Exam facts
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost | Free |
| Duration | Self-paced (no time limit; typically 2–4 hours) |
| Questions | Multiple quizzes embedded in 5 mandatory lessons (no formal count published) |
| Passing | Pass all quizzes in all 5 lessons |
| Format | Online self-paced modules + embedded quizzes |
| Delivery | Fortinet Training Institute portal |
| Languages | English |
| Valid | 2 years from completion |
| Renewal | Retake the course and pass all quizzes |
| Prerequisites | None |
| Released | 2016 (updated 2025 with expanded content) |
| Retiring | N/A |
Vendor source — Fortinet Training & Certification ↗ Official course page — NSE 1 — The Threat Landscape ↗ Course description PDF — NSE 1 Course Description ↗
About
Fortinet NSE 1 (Information Security Awareness) is the entry-level foundation course in the Fortinet Network Security Expert certification ecosystem. Delivered free and entirely online via the Fortinet Training Institute, NSE 1 outlines today's cyberthreats and provides practical security awareness guidance for individuals at all technical levels. The course covers the motivations and tactics of threat actors, explains how attacks impact organizations at the C-suite level, and teaches basic personal security hygiene. Originally released in 2016, NSE 1 was significantly expanded in October 2025 as part of Fortinet's certification program restructuring that reintroduced the familiar NSE 1–8 progression. No formal proctored exam is required; candidates simply complete 5 mandatory lessons and pass the embedded quizzes to earn a 2-year certificate.
Domain context — Cybersecurity Awareness / Foundation
Foundational cybersecurity literacy for all roles: understanding threat landscapes, attack vectors, and personal security practices. Primarily awareness-focused rather than hands-on technical implementation; serves as a prerequisite bridge to technical certifications.
Read full deep dive — Fortinet NSE Ecosystem →
Topics covered
- The Bad Actors – Who launches attacks, attacker motivations, and common threat actor profiles
- CIO Perspectives – How security threats impact Chief Information Officer strategy and organizational risk
- CISO Perspectives – Cybersecurity incident response, defense-in-depth, and security governance principles
- CFO Perspectives – Financial impact of security breaches and cost-benefit analysis of security investments
- Personal Security Awareness – Best practices for individual users: password hygiene, phishing awareness, safe browsing, data protection
- Attack Vectors & Threat Landscape – Common entry points for attacks, emerging threat categories, and real-world incident case studies
- Key Cybersecurity Terminology – Essential vocabulary for threat modeling, risk assessment, and compliance discussions
Source: Fortinet Training Institute NSE 1 ↗ · Course Description PDF ↗
Common skills at Cybersecurity Awareness · Entry
Shared content for the Cybersecurity Awareness domain at Entry level — not specific to this cert.
- Recognizing common social engineering and phishing tactics
- Understanding the CIA triad (Confidentiality, Integrity, Availability)
- Identifying basic attack types (malware, ransomware, DDoS, credential theft)
- Password security best practices and multi-factor authentication (MFA)
- Secure device and data handling in personal and professional contexts
- Risk assessment vocabulary and threat modeling fundamentals
Recommended courses at Cybersecurity Awareness · Entry
| Provider | Title | Cost | URL |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fortinet Training Institute (Official) | NSE 1 — Information Security Awareness | Free | ↗ |
| Fortinet Training Institute (Official) | NSE 1 — The Threat Landscape | Free | ↗ |
| Udemy | NSE 1–2 Fortinet Certified Fundamentals Exam Preparation | $10–$80 | ↗ |
| YouTube | Cybersecurity Fundamentals (General awareness content) | Free | ↗ |
Course-selection rule: NSE 1 has no dedicated third-party replacements; the official Fortinet Training Institute course is the authoritative source and is free. Udemy course linked above covers NSE 1 and NSE 2 together; use only if seeking supplemental practice.
Practice exams
No formal practice exams available; NSE 1 assessment consists of embedded quizzes within the self-paced course modules on the Fortinet Training Institute.
Books
| Title | Author | Publisher | Year | ISBN | URL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fortinet NSE 1 Course Description | Fortinet | Fortinet (Official) | 2025 | N/A | ↗ |
Book rule: No standalone study books exist for NSE 1. The official Fortinet Training Institute course materials and course description PDF are the primary references. Higher-level NSE certifications (NSE 4+) have dedicated study guides; NSE 1 is covered entirely within the free online course.
Typical job titles at Cybersecurity Awareness · Entry
Security Analyst · Network Security Technician · IT Help Desk Technician (Security-focused) · Junior Cybersecurity Specialist · IT Support Specialist · Information Security Associate · Junior Network Administrator
(Job titles drawn from current job-board postings that list Fortinet NSE 1 or entry-level cybersecurity awareness as required or preferred.)
Salary
| Region | Range | Source |
|---|---|---|
| USD | $50,000 – $80,000 | ZipRecruiter ↗ · CyberSecJobs.com ↗ |
| ZAR | R450,000 – R750,000 | No region-specific data available — use South African cybersecurity entry-level roles |
| GBP | £35,000 – £55,000 | No region-specific data available — use UK entry-level cybersecurity analyst roles |
| EUR | €40,000 – €65,000 | No region-specific data available — use general European cybersecurity awareness roles |
| AUD | A$65,000 – A$85,000 | No region-specific data available — use Australian entry-level security technician roles |
Salary note: NSE 1 alone does not directly lead to dedicated job postings; it functions as a foundation step before NSE 2–3 or higher technical certifications. Salary ranges reflect entry-level cybersecurity awareness / support roles where NSE 1 may be listed as preferred. USD range sourced from active Fortinet NSE 1 job postings; ZAR estimate extrapolated from USD range using approximate mid-2025 exchange rates.
Skills validated
Cert-specific — what this course actually teaches, distinct from the shared "Common skills" above.
- Threat landscape awareness and attack taxonomy
- Social engineering and phishing threat recognition
- Breach impact analysis across organizational functions
- Personal cybersecurity best practices (password, device, data security)
- Security governance and compliance vocabulary
- Fortinet Security Fabric foundational concepts
- Incident response awareness (detection, reporting, containment)
Related certifications
- Stacks with: Fortinet NSE 2 — Technical Introduction to Cybersecurity ↗
- Prerequisite for: Fortinet NSE 3 — FortiGate Operator ↗
- Foundation for: Fortinet Certified Associate (FCA) ↗
- Vendor overview: Fortinet Vendor Overview ↗
- Ecosystem: Fortinet NSE Ecosystem ↗
Sources
- Fortinet Training & Certification ↗
- Fortinet Training Institute — NSE 1 Course Page ↗
- NSE 1 Information Security Awareness ↗
- NSE 1 Course Description PDF ↗
- Fortinet NSE Certification Guide (Updated 2026) — CBT Nuggets ↗
- Fortinet NSE Certification 2025 Update — Leads4Pass ↗
- Complete Guide to Fortinet NSE Certifications — DataCipher ↗
- Fortinet NSE Certification Career Guide — CyberSecJobs ↗
- Fortinet NSE 1 Entry-Level Roles — ZipRecruiter ↗
- Fortinet Cybersecurity Certification Exams — Pearson VUE ↗
Last verified: 2026-05-01 Parent ecosystem: Fortinet NSE Ecosystem Parent domain: Cybersecurity Awareness / Foundation Vendor overview: Fortinet Overview