NIST Cybersecurity Professional®
NCSP® 800-181 Foundation Certificate
 
Build a Skilled, Capable Cyber Workforce with the NIST NICE Framework

NIST Cybersecurity Professional®

NCSP® 800-181 Foundation Certificate

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Course Description

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Cybersecurity is ultimately a human‑driven discipline. Technology, controls, and frameworks only succeed when organisations have the right people with the right skills in the right roles. NIST SP 800‑181 Rev. 1 — the NICE Workforce Framework for Cybersecurity — provides the authoritative taxonomy for defining cybersecurity work, competencies, tasks, and roles across the public and private sectors.

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The NCSP® 800‑181 Foundation Certificate is a 2‑day, instructor‑led course introducing participants to the structure, terminology, and practical application of the NICE Framework. This course explains how to use 800‑181 to build workforce strategies, define job roles, assess skills, design training programs, and align talent development with the NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF) 2.0.

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Participants learn how to operationalise the NICE Framework to strengthen organisational capability, support career pathways, and address the global cybersecurity skills gap.

 

What You Will Learn

 

Participants gain foundational knowledge required to apply the NICE Framework across workforce, HR, and cybersecurity programs. You will learn:

• How NIST SP 800‑181 aligns with the NIST CSF 2.0 and supports enterprise cybersecurity capability.

• The structure and purpose of the NICE Framework’s Work Roles, Tasks, Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs).

• How to map organisational roles to NICE Work Roles and identify workforce gaps.

• Techniques for building cybersecurity career pathways, training plans, and competency models.

• How to use NICE concepts to support recruitment, performance management, and workforce development.

• Approaches for integrating NICE into organisational strategy, governance, and talent pipelines.

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Course Agenda

 

Day 1: NICE Framework Foundations, Structure & Workforce Alignment

Module 1: Introduction to NIST SP 800‑181 Rev. 1

• Understanding the purpose, evolution, and strategic importance of the NICE Framework in modern cybersecurity workforce development.

Module 2: Structure of the NICE Framework

• Exploring Work Roles, Tasks, KSAs, Competencies, and the taxonomy that defines cybersecurity work.

Module 3: Workforce Planning & Organisational Alignment

• Using the NICE Framework to assess workforce needs, define roles, and align talent with organisational cybersecurity objectives.

Module 4: Mapping Roles to NICE Work Roles

• Applying NICE concepts to existing job descriptions, team structures, and cybersecurity functions.

 

Day 2: Competency Development, Career Pathways & Continuous Improvement

Module 5: Building Competency Models & Training Plans

• Developing training programs, learning pathways, and upskilling strategies based on NICE KSAs and competencies.

Module 6: Recruitment, Assessment & Performance Management

• Using NICE to support hiring, skills assessments, performance evaluation, and workforce readiness.

Module 7: Career Pathways & Professional Development

• Designing career progression models, cross‑training opportunities, and long‑term workforce development strategies.

Module 8: Continuous Workforce Improvement

• Implementing ongoing workforce assessments, capability reviews, and alignment with NIST CSF 2.0 outcomes.

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Learning Outcomes

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Participants will be able to:

• Explain how NIST SP 800‑181 Rev. 1 supports the NIST Cybersecurity Framework 2.0 and organisational capability building.

• Identify and describe the NICE Framework’s Work Roles, Tasks, KSAs, and Competencies.

• Map organisational cybersecurity roles to NICE Work Roles and identify workforce gaps.

• Develop competency‑based training plans and career pathways aligned with NICE guidance.

• Apply NICE concepts to recruitment, performance management, and workforce development.

• Translate NICE Framework guidance into actionable workforce strategies that strengthen cybersecurity resilience​.

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Who Should Attend?

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This course is designed for professionals responsible for cybersecurity workforce development, including:

• Cybersecurity Leaders & Managers

• HR, Talent, and Workforce Development Professionals

• Training & Professional Development Teams

• CISOs, CIOs, and Program Managers

• Educators, Academic Partners & Certification Bodies

• Anyone responsible for building or managing cybersecurity teams

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Prerequisites

 

There are no formal prerequisites for this Foundation‑level course, though a basic understanding of cybersecurity concepts and the NIST CSF is recommended.

 

Participants are provided with:

• NIST Cybersecurity Professional® (NCSP®) 800-181 Foundation Certificate courseware including links to further reading and resources.

• NIST Cybersecurity Professional® (NCSP®) 800-181 Foundation Certificate, Certificate of Completion.

• NIST Cybersecurity Professional® (NCSP®) 800-181 Foundation Certificate digital badge.

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​Enrol Today

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Learn how to apply the NICE Workforce Framework to build, map, and develop cybersecurity roles, skills, and organisational capability.