How Fortinet Helps Partners Simplify Cloud Security

Seventy-eight percent of organizations are now juggling multi cloud or hybrid environments, and with that flexibility comes greater complexity. From visibility issues to integration gaps, today's cloud strategies demand smarter security solutions.

CRNtv host Sydney Neely speaks with Jeremiah Johnson, the manager of cloud specialist systems engineering at Fortinet, about how the company is helping partners simplify cloud security with a unified platform—and how that approach creates new opportunities for solution providers.

Sydney: Why are so many organizations rethinking their cloud security strategy right now, and what does that shift mean for partners?

Jeremiah: We’re seeing a combination of factors driving this. There’s a lot of uncertainty around budgets—many organizations are struggling to get the funding they need. At the same time, we’re seeing rapid developments in AI. While AI can be used on the good side to protect us, the bad guys are using it to attack us. That shift is something partners need to be paying close attention to. Many organizations are in a position where they’re large enough to need advanced cloud security, but not large enough to manage it themselves. That’s where partners can make a real impact.

Sydney: And as partners step in to help, what are some of the biggest challenges they’re running into?

Jeremiah: One of the biggest challenges is data sharing, orchestration and integration across different tools. When organizations bring in multiple third-party products, integrating them securely can be difficult—especially when those tools don’t communicate well with each other. That’s where Fortinet stands out. Our Security Fabric is built with native integrations at the OS level, which makes it much more robust. We prioritize security over just selling a bundle of tools. When partners take advantage of that integration, it really expands their capabilities and offerings.

Sydney: CNAPP continues to gain traction across the industry. How does Fortinet’s approach stand out, especially when compared to native cloud tools, and how are partners using it to close security gaps?

Jeremiah: I saw a great quote recently that said, “In 2025, the question won’t be if you’re using a CNAPP or CSPM tool—it’ll be which one.” With all the threats coming at us in the public cloud, a CNAPP is a must-have.

What makes FortiCNAPP different is that it’s driven by AI and machine learning with a behavioral-based approach. We’re looking for anomalies, not just static threats. A lot of tools claim to be agentless, but that often means you’re not getting the real-time data you need. You don’t want to find out about a breach 24 hours later—you want to know immediately. Our partners are using FortiCNAPP’s AI capabilities to help close the cybersecurity skills gap for themselves and their customers.

Sydney: What kind of support is Fortinet offering partners who want to build out their cloud services and deliver more value?

Jeremiah: Today, Fortinet doesn’t offer any type of managed services for CNAPP internally. Instead, we’ve built out a practice to support partners who are interested in delivering those services themselves. One of the best things an MSSP or partner can do is build out a practice that creates a sticky environment for their customers. FortiCNAPP is a great way to do that.

Cloud can be intimidating for a lot of people, but it’s also required and necessary. If we can help partners get up to speed and understand what those threats look like, FortiCNAPP becomes an easy solution to learn. From there, it can evolve into a managed offering that drives monthly recurring revenue.

As cloud environments grow more complex, Fortinet is helping partners deliver simplicity, visibility and end-to-end protection—backed by a unified platform that’s built for scale. For information about FortiCNAPP, visit fortinet.com/forticnapp.