College of the North Atlantic – Qatar (CNA-Q) announced that it has joined the Palo Alto Networks Cybersecurity Academy, becoming the first college to do so in Qatar.
In its continuous efforts to provide industry relevant programmes, CNA-Q will be aligning its courses with the academy’s curricula to provide its students with the latest cybersecurity education, according to a press statement.


From right Dr Salem Al-Naemi and Dr Salah al-Sharhan


Since Palo Alto Networks launched the Cybersecurity Academy programme in 2014, it has grown to comprise more than 1,300 partner institutions in over 70 countries worldwide. The academy provides students with the knowledge and skills to be prepared for a successful career in cybersecurity.
This agreement is a step forward in the global strategy of CNA-Q and in particular the college’s School of Business Management and Information Technology towards addressing key cybersecurity educational and research challenges for Qatar, the statement notes. CNA-Q students will go through courses on the cybersecurity landscape and learn how to combat threats. In addition, they will be provided with technical hands-on lab training.
Dr Salem Al-Naemi, CNA-Q president, said: “The college works relentlessly to partner with industry leaders in order to provide its students with the best hands-on learning tools and platforms. Giving our young learners the opportunity to become cybersecurity professionals is important and helps fill in a much-needed specialty in today’s market. It will also promote the fight against cybercrime and other threats imposed by cyber-attacks in our ever-evolving digital world.”
Dr Salah al-Sharhan, dean, School of Business Management and Information Technology, said: “We are delighted to be partnering with Palo Alto Networks in order to align our educational curriculum with the latest advancement in the cybersecurity domain. This partnership will pave the path towards a wider digital educational approach, which we plan to lead in the near future.”
Ercan Aydin, vice-president, Middle East and Africa, Palo Alto Networks, added: “The cybersecurity challenges posed by today’s digital society mean we have an ever-increasing need for advanced skills in this area. Teaming up with College of the North Atlantic - Qatar will help develop the next generation of cybersecurity professionals and bridge the skills gap. At Palo Alto Networks, our vision is a world where each day is safer and more secure than the one before. We hope this initiative helps enable cybersecurity enthusiasts to continue studying, learning, and expanding their knowledge to contribute towards a future career.”
This programme will reinforce the actions taken to win the battle against cybercrime and preserve the trust of the local community in the digital world.