NIST Cybersecurity Professional®
(NCSP®) 800‑70 Foundation Certificate

Learn how to apply NIST SP 800‑70 checklist principles to strengthen secure configuration management.

NIST Cybersecurity Professional®

(NCSP®) 800‑70 Foundation Certificate

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Course Description

Security configuration checklists help organisations implement secure baselines across systems and applications. NIST SP 800‑70 provides authoritative guidance for developing, using, and maintaining security checklists within the National Checklist Program (NCP).

The NCSP® 800‑70 Foundation Certificate is a 2‑day, instructor‑led course introducing participants to the principles and practices of security checklist development and use as defined in NIST SP 800‑70. This course explains how to apply checklists, validate configurations, and align secure baselines with NIST CSF 2.0.

Participants learn how to apply foundational checklist concepts across systems, networks, and applications, preparing them for more advanced NCSP® operational and configuration security training.

 

What You Will Learn

Participants gain knowledge of how to use and participate in the US National Checklist Program (NCP). You will learn:

• How NIST SP 800‑70 aligns with NIST CSF 2.0 and supports secure configuration management.

• The core concepts of security checklists and baselines.

• How to select, customise, and apply checklists.

• How to validate and monitor secure configurations.

• How to integrate checklists into operational processes.

• The role of continuous improvement in maintaining secure baselines.

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Course Agenda

Day 1: Checklist Foundations, Governance & Baseline Concepts
Module 1: Introduction to NIST SP 800‑70
Module 2: Core Checklist & Baseline Concepts
Module 3: Governance, Roles & Operational Responsibilities
Module 4: Checklist Selection & Customisation

Day 2: Application, Validation & Continuous Improvement
Module 5: Applying Security Checklists
Module 6: Configuration Validation & Monitoring
Module 7: Reporting & Operational Metrics
Module 8: Continuous Improvement & Alignment with NIST CSF 2.0

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Learning Outcomes

​Participants will be able to:

• Explain how NIST SP 800‑70 supports NIST CSF 2.0 and secure configuration programs.

• Describe checklist concepts and baseline structures.

• Apply foundational checklist practices.

• Validate and monitor secure configurations.

• Understand reporting and operational metrics.

• Translate NIST SP 800‑70 guidance into actionable configuration security practices.

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Who Should Attend?

​Ideal for individuals responsible the use and participation in the US National Checklist Program (NCP) including:

• IT Operations & System Administrators

• Cybersecurity Beginners & Career‑Changers

• Configuration Management Personnel

• Compliance & Audit Teams

• Technical Support Staff

• Anyone supporting secure configuration activities

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Prerequisites

There are no formal prerequisites for this Foundation‑level course. It is designed as an accessible entry point into NIST‑aligned cybersecurity training.

Participants are provided with:

• NIST Cybersecurity Professional® (NCSP®) 800‑70 Foundation Certificate courseware including links to further reading and resources.

• NIST Cybersecurity Professional® (NCSP®) 800‑70 Foundation Certificate, Certificate of Completion.

• NIST Cybersecurity Professional® (NCSP®) 800‑70 Foundation Certificate digital badge.

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