11 Sep 2017 Fortinet’s Expanded Presence and Cybersecurity Growth Boosts Innovation and Expansion of Vancouver’s Tech Sector
Burnaby, BC – September 11, 2017: Derek Manky, Global Security Strategist at Fortinet “Burnaby, British Columbia and Canada at large has played a critical role in the growth of Fortinet from a startup to the global leader in high-performance cybersecurity. Growing up locally, I’ve witnessed our operations in Vancouver mature into the center of our FortiGuard threat intelligence research and become a hub of R&D for the company. It has been exciting to play a role in Fortinet’s contribution to the success of the community in British Columbia over the past 13 years and we look forward to continuing that momentum going forward.”
News Summary
Fortinet® (NASDAQ: FTNT), the global leader in high-performance cybersecurity solutions, today announced the expansion of their threat intelligence and research and development (R&D) operations located in Burnaby, B.C., reinforcing Fortinet’s continued commitment to drive innovation and growth in the Metro Vancouver area.
Fortinet has operated in Burnaby since the year 2000, contributing to economic development and fostering the growth of the technology sector in Canada.
The expanded facilities will house 1,000 new technology jobs to staff a state-of-the-art data centre and enhance Fortinet’s FortiGuard Threat Intelligence and R&D centers.
Fortinet’s expanded operations triples their presence in the Metro Vancouver area and more than doubles its presence in Canada.
Expanding Fortinet’s Center of Innovation
Fortinet’s history in British Columbia dates back to the company’s founding 17 years ago when it opened its first threat intelligence and R&D center in Burnaby. Since then, Fortinet has massively expanded its operations, making Canada its global hub for research and threat intelligence, currently employing nearly 700 people in British Columbia and almost 1000 total employees in Canada.
The expanded campus will enhance Fortinet’s industry-leading FortiGuard threat intelligence capabilities and house a cutting-edge data centre to support the continued growth of its innovative Security Fabric products and services. Located at 4190 and 4260 Still Creek Drive, the campus accommodates 1700 employees and will continue to serve as a R&D hub for the company.
Growing Business and the Community
As one of the largest employers in the province, Fortinet’s continued investment has played a significant role in the growth of the technology sector in Metro Vancouver.
Fortinet has earned British Columbia’s Top Employers of the Year award for the last three years which has helped it attract and develop highly skilled cybersecurity experts, technology developers, engineers and other professionals in the province. Many of Fortinet’s employees are top talent who grew up in the province and graduated from Canada’s top educational institutions including the British Columbia Institute of Technology and Simon Fraser University. Fortinet is estimating that the expansion will create 1,000 new jobs in the area when complete.
Fortinet’s relationship with Canada also extends beyond economic benefits as Fortinet’s Security Fabric solutions are trusted to protect local organizations like the Government of Canada and secures Canadian businesses across healthcare, retail, shipping, and other verticals that are critical to the success of British Columbia.
Supporting Quotes
The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Canada’s Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development “When looking for places to invest, companies such as Fortinet look for the most innovative countries – the ones with the most skilled and creative people who can turn ideas into solutions. Our government is proud to be a customer of a company that invests in Canada, creates more jobs for middle-class Canadians and equips Canadians with the skills they need to thrive in the fast-growing market for cybersecurity products.”
Dr. Eugene Fiume, Dean, Faculty of Applied Sciences at Simon Fraser University “Fortinet has been posting co-op positions to hire Simon Fraser University’s Faculty of Applied Science students for over a decade and many Applied Science graduates have gone on to work at Fortinet. We are thrilled that the company is expanding its global development centre in Metro Vancouver, located near our Burnaby Mountain campus, and we look forward to an exciting new chapter in our growing partnership with Fortinet.”
Ian G. McKay, CEO, Vancouver Economic Commission “The Vancouver Economic Commission is excited to learn about Fortinet’s expansion at their Burnaby headquarters. A global leader in cybersecurity technology solutions, Fortinet is a key driver in Greater Vancouver’s nation-leading technology ecosystem. Fortinet’s commitment to and impact on the local economy, their ability to recruit and retain world-class talent, and their reputation as a research and data centre should be recognised and celebrated by all in Vancouver’s technology community.”
Bill Tam, CEO of BC Tech Association “As one of our largest home-grown tech successes, it’s phenomenal to see Fortinet’s plans to further expand their operations in British Columbia. Their continued growth in the area re-affirms the attractiveness of Greater Vancouver as a destination for global investment and global talent.”