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NIST Cybersecurity Professional® (NCSP®) Framework

Fully Integrated, NIST‑Aligned Capability and Workforce Development Framework


The NIST Cybersecurity Professional® (NCSP®) Framework is a fully integrated, standards‑aligned capability development model designed, governed, and owned exclusively by CySec Professionals Ltd.


It provides organisations with a structured, scalable, and measurable approach to building cybersecurity capability aligned to the NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF) 2.0 and 16 key NIST Special Publications.

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As global adoption of NIST frameworks accelerates, the NCSP® Framework enables enterprises, governments, and academic institutions to align personal development, workforce readiness, and organisational resilience with recognised NIST guidance.

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What Is the NCSP® Framework?

 

The NCSP® Framework is a 48‑course ecosystem that delivers a complete progression from:

  • NCSP® Awareness

  • NCSP® Foundation

  • NCSP® Practitioner

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This multi‑layered structure provides a unified training architecture that supports:

  • cybersecurity capability development

  • NIST CSF 2.0 adoption

  • workforce development and talent pipelines

  • organisational maturity and resilience

  • alignment with regulatory and industry expectations

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The NCSP® Framework is the first and only capability model that integrates NIST CSF 2.0 with supporting NIST Special Publications across risk, resilience, engineering, identity, supply chain, AI, and secure software development.

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Why the NCSP® Framework Matters


Organisations worldwide face increasing pressure to:

  • adopt NIST CSF 2.0

  • strengthen cyber resilience

  • build workforce capability

  • align to regulatory expectations

  • reduce risk across digital ecosystems

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The NCSP® Framework provides a structured, measurable, and repeatable way to achieve these goals.

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It enables organisations to:

  • build capability with the same precision NIST applies to standards

  • align teams around a common cybersecurity language

  • accelerate adoption of NIST CSF 2.0

  • develop talent pipelines aligned to NIST NICE (800‑181)

  • improve governance, engineering, and operational resilience

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Alignment to NIST Standards

 

The NCSP® Framework aligns directly to:

  • NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF) 2.0

  • NIST AI Risk Management Framework (AI RMF)

  • NIST NICE Workforce Framework (800‑181)

  • NIST Secure Software Development Framework (800‑218)

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It integrates capability development across 16 NIST Special Publications, including:

  • SP 800‑12 — Information Security Principles

  • SP 800‑30 — Risk Assessment

  • SP 800‑37 — Risk Management Framework

  • SP 800‑53 — Security & Privacy Controls

  • SP 800‑61 — Incident Handling

  • SP 800‑63 — Digital Identity

  • SP 800‑82 — OT/ICS Security

  • SP 800‑115 — Security Testing

  • SP 800‑160 — Systems Security Engineering

  • SP 800‑161 — Supply Chain Risk Management

  • SP 800‑171 — CUI Protection

  • SP 800‑184 — Cyber Event Recovery

  • SP 800‑218 — Secure Software Development

  • AI 600‑1 — AI Risk Management

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This breadth of alignment makes NCSP® the most comprehensive NIST‑aligned capability framework available globally.

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NCSP® Framework Structure


1. NCSP® Awareness (16 Courses)
Baseline literacy for all personnel, including executives, managers, and non‑technical staff.
Focus: terminology, principles, and foundational NIST concepts.

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2. NCSP® Foundation (16 Courses)
Technical and governance‑level understanding aligned to NIST CSF 2.0 and 16 NIST SPs.
Focus: risk, controls, identity, engineering, supply chain, AI, and resilience.

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3. NCSP® Practitioner (16 Courses)
Applied, scenario‑driven capability development for technical leaders and architects.
Focus: implementation, integration, and operationalisation of NIST guidance.

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Together, these layers form a complete, end‑to‑end capability development pathway

 

NCSP® Capability Model

 

The Framework develops capability across five organisational domains:

1. Governance & Leadership
Cyber strategy, policy, oversight, and risk governance.

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2. Risk & Resilience
Risk assessment, RMF, resilience engineering, and recovery.

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3. Technical Security & Engineering
Controls, secure design, secure software, and system trustworthiness.

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4. Operational Security & Response
Incident handling, monitoring, testing, and operational resilience.

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5. Workforce & Talent Development
Role mapping, competency development, and NIST NICE alignment.

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This model ensures alignment between individual capability, team readiness, and organisational maturity.

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Benefits of the NCSP® Framework


For Organisations

  • Structured capability development

  • Accelerated NIST CSF 2.0 adoption

  • Improved resilience and readiness

  • Consistent workforce development

  • Reduced risk exposure

  • Stronger governance and assurance

 

For Professionals

  • Clear progression pathways

  • Recognised NIST‑aligned credentials

  • Increased employability

  • Role clarity and competency mapping

 

For Academia

  • Curriculum‑ready structure

  • Alignment to NIST NICE

  • Industry‑relevant capability development

  • Multi‑year programme integration

 

NCSP Ownership and Stewardship

 

CySec Professionals Ltd is the legal owner and global steward of the NIST Cybersecurity Professional (NCSP) brand, including all associated trademarks, course architectures, and training materials. The NCSP name, related course titles, and the NCSP Framework are protected intellectual property and may not be reproduced, adapted, or delivered by third parties without formal authorisation.

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CySec Professionals Ltd maintains the NCSP curriculum, ensures alignment with NIST guidance, and provides the authoritative source for all NCSP training and certification programs worldwide.​​​

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NIST content is republished courtesy of the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

For more information, please get in touch.
 

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