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Applied Cybersecurity Division / NICE

NICE Framework Resource Center

Education and Training Provider Resources

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The Workforce Framework for Cybersecurity (NICE Framework) can be used by a wide array of education and training providers focused on cybersecurity. The resources on this page can support practitioners working in higher education, K-12, and industry certification and training spaces, and facilitate improved connections between these areas.

Education and training providers are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the basic structure of the NICE Framework. Work Roles and Work Role Categories, which describe groups of work responsibilities for cybersecurity professionals, are especially valuable in designing industry-relevant education and training programs. Users may review the Current Version page of the NICE Framework Resource Center as well as this series of videos describing Work Roles. 

 

 

CyberSeek 2023 Heat Map
Credit: CyberSeek

 

CyberSeek Education and Training Providers catalog  

CyberSeek, a joint project of NICE, Lightcast, and CompTIA, publishes cybersecurity labor market information with supply and demand insights according to NICE Framework elements. CyberSeek also maintains a catalog of education and training providers, which practitioners can use to identify training partners in their local region.

 

Logo for C3, the Cybersecurity Credentials Collaborative.
Credit: Cybersecurity Credentials Collaborative (C3)

C3 Mapping of Certifications to NICE Work Roles 

Cybersecurity employers commonly use industry certifications for hiring and talent management, and education and training providers at all levels can incorporate certifications to help learners get a foothold in the cybersecurity labor market. This page, published by the Cybersecurity Credentials Collaborative (C3) contains a spreadsheet showing the alignment of common industry certifications to NICE Framework Work Roles. 

 

Logo for the CLARK Center, a cybersecurity curriculum initiative led by Towson University.
Credit: CLARK Center

CLARK Center

CLARK, a multi-stakeholder project led by Towson University, hosts a large compilation of free cybersecurity curricula. Cybersecurity instructors use the platform to browse and share lesson plans, videos, labs, and slides. Artifacts shared on the site can be reused and modified under a Creative Commons license.  

 

An open book sitting on top of an open laptop surrounded by stacks of books and bookshelves
Credit: Shutterstock

 

Free and Low-Cost Cybersecurity Learning (NICE)

This catalog contains free and low-cost cybersecurity learning resources regularly updated by NICE Program staff. Resources may be incorporated into curricula at secondary and postsecondary levels to enhance learning outcomes. 

 

 

Many additional resources for education and training providers seeking NICE Framework-aligned content are available in the menus below. Practitioners working to align their offerings with the NICE Framework are encouraged to join the NICE Framework Users Group, an open forum for sharing questions, advice, and suggested improvements related to the NICE Framework. Practitioners may also request direct support from the NICE Framework team by emailing NICEframework [at] nist.gov (NICEframework[at]nist[dot]gov). 

 

Project Lead the Way Cybersecurity Course (Course Mapping) – A course with several lessons aligned to knowledge and ability statements from the NICE Framework. 

NICE Framework K12 Frequently Asked Questions-  Answers to your questions about using the NICE Framework to familiarize students with cybersecurity concepts, to help students explore cybersecurity work and chart paths for future learning, to develop K12 cybersecurity-specific content, and more.

CARE: Cybersecurity in Action, Research & Education - experiential learning projects that have been mapped to the NICE Framework. 

NICCS Education and Training Catalog - a central location where cybersecurity professionals across the nation can find over 3,000 cybersecurity-related courses that are aligned to the specialty areas of the NICE Framework. 

NICE Challenge Project – real-world cybersecurity challenges within virtualized business environments that bring students the workforce experience through the completion of tasks aligned to the NICE Framework. 

NSA DHS CAE KU Mapping to NICE Framework – an examination of the relationship between CAE-CD KUs and NICE Framework via a spreadsheet with a preliminary mapping between the CAE-CD KUs and NICE competencies. 

Palo Alto Networks Cybersecurity Academy Curriculum - course content that matches the educational needs of high school and university students and is aligned with NICE Framework work roles

Using The NICE Cybersecurity Workforce Framework To Develop A Cybersecurity Legal Awareness Course – a newsletter article (from National Defense University).

CertNexus Certification Mapping - maps to the NICE Framework Specialty Area, Work Role, and Work Role ID

Check Point Mind Platform – a catalogue of Cyber Security Learning & Training programs crafted to meet educational needs of organizations. Programs and curricula are aligned to NICE Workforce Framework work roles, knowledge, skills, abilities, and tasks.

Cisco Networking Academy Course Mapping – 8 Networking Academy courses are mapped to NICE Framework Task, Knowledge, Skill, and Ability statements.

Cloud Range FastTrak Candidate Assessments - Cloud Range provides simulation-based education, training, and cyber fitness. Cloud Range's FastTrak Candidate Assessments use simulation to assess KSATs that are mapped to the NICE Framework Work Roles.  

Cloud Range Live-Fire Exercises - Real-world, dynamic cyber attack scenarios for SOC and CSIRT teams. Live-fire simulation and lab exercises are mapped to industry-standard frameworks including the NICE Framework.

CompTIA Certification Mapping – See how CompTIA certifications map to the NICE framework categories and specialty areas. 

Cyberbit Alignment with the NICE Framework – The Cyberbit Range supports the NICE Framework, allowing meaningful hands-on training that covers KSAs for select Categories and Work Roles. 

Cybrary NICE Work Role Aligned Training - pre-built and customizable training paths, courses, labs, and more to develop work role specific skills aligned to the NICE Framework to accelerate organizational security.

DHS NICCS Education and Training Catalog – a central location where cybersecurity professionals across the nation can find over 3,000 cybersecurity-related courses. All of the courses are aligned to the specialty areas of the NICE Framework.

Fortinet Education Pathways - alignment of training courses to NICE Framework Work Roles.

Fourth Dimension Program Mapping – cybersecurity and data analytics training programs that are mapped to NICE Framework Categories and Specialty Areas.

Fusion Cyber Boot Camp – 10- or 24-week program focused on Risk Management that is aligned to NICE Framework Knowledge, Skill, and Ability statements.

Hack The Box Academy - training modules modules that have been mapped to NICE Framework Categories, Tasks, Knowledge, and Skills.

Immersive Labs NICE Framework Mapping – Augmenting hands on, challenge-based labs with NICE specialty areas and work roles.

Learning Tree International Courses and Certifications - Cyber Security Specialist and Expert Certifications that align with the National Cybersecurity Workforce Framework.

NetCom Learning – alignment of vendor-neutral training courses to the NICE Framework Categories, Specialty Areas, and Work Roles.

Sans and GIAC Certification Alignment – SANS and GIAC Certifications are mapped to the NICE Framework. For ease of use, a downloadable .pdf and an Interactive Map utilize the work role as the basis.

Synk Learn – training aligned to NICE Framework Work Role Categories that aims to help developers learn how to stay secure across a variety of languages and ecosystems.

United Training – training for cybersecurity and IT certifications that is mapped to NICE Framework Categories.

Zscaler Zero Trust Certified Architect - training for the Zero Trust Certified Architect (ZTCA) path that is aligned to NICE Framework Work Roles and Task and Knowledge statements. 

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Created November 13, 2019, Updated September 27, 2024