NIST Cybersecurity Professional®
NCSP® CSF 2.0 Foundation Certificate

Build Core Competency in the NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF) 2.0

NIST Cybersecurity Professional®

NCSP® CSF 2.0 Foundation Certificate

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Course Description

 

The NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF) 2.0 is the world’s most widely adopted cybersecurity and digital trust framework, used by organisations across all sectors to strengthen resilience, reduce risk, and align cybersecurity activities with business and mission objectives.

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The NCSP® CSF 2.0 Foundation Certificate is a 2‑day, instructor‑led course introducing participants to the structure, concepts, and practical application of the NIST CSF 2.0. This course explains how CSF 2.0 supports enterprise risk management, how it integrates with other NIST publications, and how organisations can use the Framework to build measurable, repeatable cybersecurity capability.

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Participants learn how to interpret the CSF 2.0 Core, apply the Governance and Cybersecurity Functions, understand Profiles and Tiers, and use the Framework to support continuous improvement and organisational resilience.

 

What You Will Learn

 

Participants gain foundational knowledge required to understand and apply the NIST CSF 2.0. You will learn:

• The structure, purpose, and evolution of the NIST Cybersecurity Framework.

• How CSF 2.0 aligns with NIST SP 800‑30, 800‑37, 800‑53, and other NIST guidance.

• How to interpret the CSF 2.0 Core, including Functions, Categories, and Outcomes.

• How Governance integrates cybersecurity, enterprise risk, and organisational objectives.

• How to develop and use CSF Profiles for current‑state and target‑state planning.

• How to apply Implementation Tiers to assess and improve organisational maturity.

• How CSF 2.0 supports continuous improvement, resilience, and digital trust.

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Course Agenda

 

Day 1: CSF 2.0 Foundations, Structure & Governance
Module 1: Introduction to the NIST Cybersecurity Framework 2.0

• Understanding the purpose, evolution, and global adoption of the NIST CSF, including major updates introduced in CSF 2.0.

Module 2: CSF 2.0 Structure & Core Components

• Exploring the CSF Core, including Functions, Categories, Subcategories, and Outcomes.

Module 3: The Governance Function

• Understanding how Governance integrates cybersecurity with enterprise risk management, strategy, policy, and oversight.

Module 4: The Cybersecurity Functions

• Detailed exploration of Identify, Protect, Detect, Respond, and Recover, including their role in operational resilience.

Module 5: Relationship to Other NIST Publications

• How CSF 2.0 aligns with NIST SP 800‑30, 800‑37, 800‑53, 800‑82, and 800‑184 to support a unified cybersecurity programme.

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Day 2: Profiles, Tiers, Implementation & Continuous Improvement
Module 6: CSF Profiles — Current‑State & Target‑State

• How to develop Profiles, assess gaps, prioritise improvements, and align cybersecurity with business objectives.

Module 7: Implementation Tiers

• Understanding Tier characteristics, assessing organisational maturity, and planning improvements.

Module 8: Applying CSF 2.0 in Practice

• Using the Framework to support risk management, compliance, operational resilience, and digital trust initiatives.

Module 9: Measurement, Metrics & Continuous Improvement

• Developing meaningful metrics, tracking progress, and integrating CSF 2.0 into ongoing governance processes.

Module 10: CSF 2.0 Use Cases Across Sectors

• How enterprises, governments, critical infrastructure, and SMEs apply CSF 2.0 to strengthen cybersecurity capability.

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Learning Outcomes

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Participants will be able to:

• Explain the purpose, structure, and components of the NIST Cybersecurity Framework 2.0.

• Interpret the CSF Core, including Governance and Cybersecurity Functions.

• Develop and use CSF Profiles to assess and improve cybersecurity posture.

• Apply Implementation Tiers to evaluate organisational maturity.

• Align CSF 2.0 with enterprise risk management and other NIST guidance.

• Support continuous improvement and resilience using CSF 2.0 principles.

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Who Should Attend?

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This course is designed for professionals involved in cybersecurity, risk, governance, and digital trust, including:

• Cybersecurity & IT Professionals

• Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC) Teams

• CISOs, Security Managers & Architects

• System Owners & Business Leaders

• Audit, Assurance & Compliance Professionals

• Programme & Project Managers supporting cybersecurity initiatives

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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®) CSF 2.0 Foundation Certificate courseware including links to further reading and resources.

• NIST Cybersecurity Professional® (NCSP®) CSF 2.0 Foundation Certificate, Certificate of Completion.

• NIST Cybersecurity Professional® (NCSP®) CSF 2.0 Foundation Certificate digital badge.

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