International Cybersecurity Workforce Framework Resources

The NICE Framework is used in public and private sectors in academia, service providers, and employers nationwide. It is also used internationally, including as a reference resource and a model for other national cybersecurity workforce frameworks. Goal 4.6 of the NICE Strategic Plan supports the expansion of international outreach to promote the NICE Framework and document approaches being used in other countries.

Introduction to the NICE Framework Model

The NICE Workforce Framework for Cybersecurity (NICE Framework) (NIST SP 800-181r1) defines a structure and common language for describing cybersecurity work and the knowledge and skills required to complete that work. At its foundation are Task, Knowledge, and Skill (TKS) statements that are used to define Work Roles and Competency Areas. The NICE Framework can be used as is or adapted for local use. The below resources can help you better learn about the framework and how to use it:

• Playbook for Workforce Frameworks: This page provides guidance on how to use the NICE Framework as a model workforce framework, whether when using the approach for cybersecurity or other workforces. It points to authoring guides that can help in the development of workforce frameworks. 
• NICE Framework Getting Started Guide: This page is a good first place to learn about the NICE Framework; it also provides links to useful FAQ pages.
• NICE Framework Current Version: If you want to dive deeper into the framework structure and its components, this page includes links to the PDF documents and component spreadsheets that comprise the NICE Framework. The NICE Framework is currently translated into five languages in addition to the original English. 

International Coordination

NICE coordinates internationally in a number of ways:

• Five Eyes: NICE engages with Five Eyes (FVEY) member countries in support of national cybersecurity workforce efforts. This group is currently working on a Playbook for Building National Cybersecurity Education and Workforce Efforts, which will be made available shortly.
• International Coalition of Cybersecurity Workforce Frameworks: NICE is a member of this coalition, whose goal is to drive consistency and coherent measures for our domestic cybersecurity workforces.
• Additional Engagement: NICE also works with the U.S. Department of State, USAID, and other organizations as well as individually to engage with nations on cybersecurity workforce efforts. More information about various national efforts can be found below.

Cybersecurity Skills and Workforce Frameworks

An international list of nearly 50 cybersecurity, cyber, and digital literacy skill and workforce frameworks is available online and as a downloadable spreadsheet.

Playbook for Building National Cybersecurity Education and Workforce Efforts

Coming soon! 

Contact Us

If you have any questions or would like to suggest additional resources for this page contact us at NICEFramework [at] nist.gov (NICEFramework[at]nist[dot]gov) 

NICE Framework Resource Center Inclusion Criteria
Resources must meet the below criteria for inclusion on NICE Framework Resource Center pages. Resources must be:

• Publicly available on the Internet
• Freely available for others to use (including free resources from for-profit entities) or pay-for resources associated with non-profit entities
• Accurate
• Comprehensive for a given dimension of NIST SP 800-181r1 (NICE Framework 2020 version)