NIST Cybersecurity Professional®
NCSP® 800-53 Foundation Certificate

Master the Core Security & Privacy Controls of NIST SP 800‑53 Rev. 5.

NIST Cybersecurity Professional®

NCSP® 800-53 Foundation Certificate

​

Course Description

​

As cyber threats evolve and regulatory expectations intensify, organisations must implement security and privacy controls that are both comprehensive and adaptable. NIST SP 800‑53 Rev. 5 provides the most widely adopted catalogue of controls for securing federal and non‑federal information systems, forming the backbone of modern risk‑based cybersecurity programs.

​

The NCSP® 800‑53 Foundation Certificate is a 2‑day, instructor‑led course that introduces participants to the structure, purpose, and application of the NIST SP 800‑53 Rev. 5 control framework. This course explains how to select, tailor, implement, and assess controls within the context of enterprise risk management and the NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF) 2.0.

​

Participants learn how to translate control requirements into operational practices, integrate them into system lifecycles, and support compliance, assurance, and continuous monitoring activities.

.

 

What You Will Learn

 

Participants gain the foundational knowledge required to understand and apply the NIST SP 800‑53 Rev. 5 control catalogue. You will learn:

• How NIST SP 800‑53 aligns with the NIST CSF 2.0 and supports risk‑based cybersecurity programs.

• The structure and purpose of the 20 control families, including security and privacy controls.

• How to perform control selection, tailoring, and scoping based on organisational risk.

• The relationship between NIST SP 800‑53, SP 800‑37 (RMF), and SP 800‑53B (control baselines).

• How to integrate controls into system development lifecycles, procurement, and operational processes.

• Approaches for documenting, implementing, and assessing controls as part of continuous monitoring.

​​

Course Agenda

​

Day 1: Foundations, Governance & Control Architecture

Module 1: Introduction to NIST SP 800‑53 Rev. 5 

• Understanding the evolution of the standard, its role in federal and commercial cybersecurity, and its alignment with NIST CSF 2.0.

Module 2: Control Framework Structure & Concepts 

• Exploring control families, control types, control enhancements, and the shift to outcome‑based security and privacy controls.

Module 3: Governance, Risk & Compliance Integration 

• Establishing organisational roles, responsibilities, and governance structures that support control implementation and oversight.

Module 4: Control Selection & Tailoring 

• Applying NIST SP 800‑53B baselines, scoping considerations, and tailoring activities to align controls with organisational risk.

 

Day 2: Implementation, Assessment & Continuous Monitoring

Module 5: Implementing Controls Across the System Lifecycle 

• Integrating controls into planning, design, development, acquisition, deployment, and operations.

Module 6: Documentation & Evidence Requirements 

• Developing system security plans (SSPs), control documentation, and artifacts required for assurance and audit readiness.

Module 7: Assessing Controls & Managing Risk 

• Understanding assessment procedures, risk scoring, and how to interpret and act on assessment findings.

Module 8: Continuous Monitoring & Improvement 

• Implementing ongoing assessment, automation opportunities, and feedback loops that strengthen organisational resilience.

​

Learning Outcomes

​

Participants will be able to:

• Explain how NIST SP 800‑53 Rev. 5 supports the NIST Cybersecurity Framework 2.0 and enterprise risk management.

• Identify and describe the purpose and structure of the 20 NIST SP 800‑53 control families.

• Define the processes for selecting, tailoring, and implementing controls based on organisational risk and system criticality.

• Develop and interpret key documentation such as SSPs, control evidence, and assessment reports.

• Apply continuous monitoring practices to maintain control effectiveness and support ongoing authorisation.

• Translate control requirements into actionable security and privacy practices across the organisation.

​

Who Should Attend?

​

This course is designed for professionals responsible for implementing, managing, or assessing security and privacy controls, including:

• Cybersecurity & Risk Management Professionals

• Information Security Managers & System Owners

• Compliance, Audit, and Governance Personnel

• Security Architects & Engineers

• System Integrators & Technology Vendors

• Program & Project Managers supporting regulated environments

​

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®) 800-53 Foundation Certificate courseware including links to further reading and resources.

• NIST Cybersecurity Professional® (NCSP®) 800-53 Foundation Certificate, Certificate of Completion.

• NIST Cybersecurity Professional® (NCSP®) 800-53 Foundation Certificate digital badge.

​

​