Cybersecurity Workforce Training Guide

CISA’s Cybersecurity Workforce Training Guide helps cyber professionals develop a training plan based on their current skill level and desired career opportunities. The Guide is downloadable, interactive, and meant to work in tandem with the Cyber Career Pathways Tool.

The Workforce Framework for Cybersecurity (NICE Framework)
The NICE Framework establishes a common lexicon to describe cybersecurity work and workers regardless of where or for whom the work is performed.  The NICE Framework is nationally focused and applies across public, private, and academic sectors.

NICE Framework Mapping Tool
The Mapping Tool allow Human Resources offices and Managers to input positions required knowledge skills, and abilities to build cybersecurity profiles that are mapped to the NICE Framework.  This tool ensures that your organization is on the same page as hundreds of other organizations when it comes to talking about cybersecurity work in the same way.

DHS PushButtonPD™ Tool
The PushButton PD™ Tool was developed to help human resources/managers quickly draft Federal cyber employee position description(s). This Tool is a no cost Microsoft Excel workbook file which makes drafting of the position description easier without any prior knowledge of the cyber position.

Cybersecurity Gaming Apps

CISA and PNNL partnered to develop a series of educational cybersecurity gaming apps (Defend the Crown; Network Collapse; Hotel Hijinks) for adults and children. Each game presents simulated cybersecurity threats, defenses, and response actions. The games are available for download on Android and Apple iOS devices.

Students – Start Your Cybersecurity Career!
A one-page flyer with cybersecurity career information for students (Grades 8-12).

A Teacher’s Guide for Integrating Cybersecurity into the Classroom
Teachers, use this guide to help you talk to your students about becoming the cybersecurity professionals of tomorrow.

5 Ways Cybersecurity is Like Gaming - but Better
An engaging hand-out to interact with students who might be interested in cybersecurity careers. By linking gaming and cybersecurity, students will see a career that is enriching and rewarding (Grades 6-12).

"How to Talk About Cybersecurity Careers”
A tip card that assists educators in guiding discussions about cybersecurity in the classroom and at home. This tip card aligns to the posters below.

Cybersecurity Careers Posters (2 poster series)
Exciting posters illustrating cybersecurity careers in an easy-to-understand format (Grades K-8).

Handout on Cybersecurity Education Resources
Information on how to integrate cybersecurity into the classroom including access to free course materials (student workbooks, teacher and master notes, lesson plans, assessments, and other supporting materials) for Grades K-12.

Cybersecurity Career Profiles
Exciting profiles of cybersecurity jobs designed to inspire and bring the cybersecurity career field to life for students (Grades 6-12).

Below is a collection of three white papers sponsored by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and authored by Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) Software Engineering Institute (SEI) that explore critical challenges facing our nation’s cybersecurity workforce. For an overview of the findings, please download the Executive Summary.

Cybersecurity Careers of the Future
Provides a list of key cybersecurity skills needed to close the workforce gap, based off workforce survey analysis, threat reports, service offerings, open job postings, applicable regulations, and emerging technologies to identify the required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) and Work Roles.

Cybersecurity Talent Identification and Assessment
Explores how cybersecurity talent is identified, highlights current and future assessment capabilities, and provides recommendations on candidate recruitment and talent evaluation.

Cybersecurity Career Paths and Progression
Explores the current state of cybersecurity careers from the importance of early exposure, to methods of entry into the field, to career progression.

Introduction to Assured Software Engineering Course - Instructor Notes
Downloadable course designed for Community College Professors to use as an introduction to assured software engineering. The course highlights software assurance challenges, foundations, and guiding principles, along with covering security models and methods.

Introduction to Assured Software Engineering Course – Slide Deck
The Introduction to Assured Software Engineering Course slide deck to be use in the classroom, along with the teacher instructions.

CYBER.ORG

Cybersecurity curricula and resources for K-12 teachers, educators, students, and parents including classroom materials, career profiles, event information, and more.

Workforce Management Guidebook - Cybersecurity is Everyone's Job

A publication that talks about cybersecurity from every business function and aspect of an organization’s operation. It is written for a general audience who may not be knowledgeable about cybersecurity and can be read as a complete guide or by each business function as standalone guides.

CyberMission.tech

A Department of Defense (DoD) cyber initiative with high-tech, hands-on opportunities for military personnel, Veterans, and the public.

CyberSeek

To help close the cybersecurity skills gap, CyberSeek provides detailed, actionable data around supply and demand in the cybersecurity job market.

STOP. THINK. CONNECT.™

The STOP. THINK. CONNECT.™ (STC) Campaign is a national public awareness campaign aimed at increasing the understanding of cyber threats and empowering the American public to be safer and more secure online.

Cyber.org

In addition to curricula for K-12 educators, Cyber.org offers resources for out-of-the-classroom settings. Activities and articles are available for students, parents, educators, and activity leaders looking to enhance students’ awareness and understanding of STEM, computer science, and cybersecurity topics.