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National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education |
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Fall is always an invigorating time of year at the NICE Program Office. With the changing colors of the leaves, we are engaged in final preparations for our Annual NICE Conference and Expo along with the events in October in recognition of Cybersecurity Awareness Month. Registration is now open at niceconference.org for this year’s virtual conference, and be sure to check out the pre-conference workshops, too. They always fill up fast! Our new all-virtual format means it’s easier than ever to attend. (Psst! It’s also free for students so please encourage any students you know to sign up!)
Another BIG fall event is the National Cybersecurity Career Awareness Week (NCCAW) on November 9-14, 2020. You can support the campaign with efforts as small as sending a tweet or posting on social media about what you do in cybersecurity. Or, sign up to give a virtual talk in a classroom or a virtual open house with your employees. Let’s help drive awareness of all the great work we do in cybersecurity. Be sure to register your commitments so we can recognize your efforts! Visit nist.gov/nice/nccaw for more information.
Our lead story highlights a very exciting pilot to create a digital record for a student’s education, skills, and competencies – a learning and employment record (LER) pilot program from IBM, Western Governors University, National Student Clearinghouse, and iQ4. Keep reading in the current issue to learn about Cisco’s terrific global mentoring program – perhaps this is something you’ve thought of starting; the Department of Education has a new, innovative program for Career and Technical Education teacher professional development – CTE CyberNet; and there’s a fascinating story about the varied career pathways in the U.S. Air Force for cybersecurity professionals. Be sure to check out our Framework in Focus, featuring Wintana Girma, who is an example of someone who took a non-traditional pathway to cybersecurity and a manager who was ready to spot her talent and give her a chance.
Marian Merritt
Deputy Director, NICE
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NICE Webinar: Addressing the Cybersecurity Talent Gap at Scale - Introducing LERs
October 21, 2020 at 2 p.m. ET
We are living in a skills-based economy where employers are seeking ways for learners to provide evidence of their skills or competencies. The National Student Clearinghouse, IBM, Western Governor’s University, and iQ4 have joined together to establish a pilot program to provide a test bed for a Cybersecurity Learning and Employment Record (LER). This webinar will introduce the emergence of LERs and describe the cybersecurity pilot project.
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Learning & Employment Records
to Accelerate Cybersecurity Careers
Employers know it can be difficult finding candidates with the right skills in the right locations, and candidates know it can be difficult finding jobs that match their skills and competencies. To effectively scale skills-based assessments, we need a national digital repository of candidates and a standardized way of capturing their skills and competencies. Fortunately, a solution for all stakeholders will soon be available to help close the gap between the supply of skilled talent and the demand for it.
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A profile of a cybersecurity practitioner to illustrate application of the NICE Framework categories and work roles.
CATEGORIES: Securely Provision; Oversee and Govern
Conceptualizes, designs, and builds secure information technology (IT) systems, with responsibility for aspects of systems and/or networks development.
Provides leadership, management, direction, or development and advocacy so the organization may effectively conduct cybersecurity work.
Name: Wintana Girma
Organization: Rush University Medical Center
Specialty Areas: Securely Provision; Oversee and Govern
Work Roles: Risk Management, Authorizing Official/Designating Representative and Cyber Policy and Strategy Planner
Academic Degree: B.A., Healthcare Administration
Certifications: GIAC Information Security Fundamentals
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By Steven Comer, Instructor, 333d Training Squadron, USAF
The Cyberspace Warfare Operations career field is one of the most technically demanding and academically rigorous communities in the Air Force. Learn about the career pathways and opportunities available to those considering service as a commissioned officer.
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By Noureen Njoroge, founder of Cisco’s Global Mentoring Program
The field of cybersecurity is so vast, with so many domains of expertise, that new entrants can get stuck trying to design their paths. The global mentoring program at Cisco offers a forum for employees to network, ask questions, share security resources, and, most importantly, get paired as mentor and mentee.
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By Albert Palacios, CTE CyberNet Program Manager, U.S. Department of Education
To help increase the supply of cybersecurity professionals, the U.S. Department of Education (ED) launched the CTE CyberNet — a national professional development initiative and network of high school educators. Through CTE CyberNet, teachers can enhance their technical and pedagogical abilities to teach rigorous coursework aligned with the NICE Framework.
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Affiliated Programs
In August 2020, NICCS released the Cyber Career Pathways Tool, in partnership with the Interagency Federal Cyber Career Pathways Working Group. The tool presents a new and interactive way to explore work roles within the NICE Cybersecurity Workforce Framework.
Funded Projects
CYBER.ORG Kicks Off National K-12 Cybersecurity Learning Standards Development. When complete, the standards will help ensure that students not only have a foundational understanding of cybersecurity, but the skills and knowledge they need to pursue cybersecurity careers in greater numbers. Learn more about the initiative here.
NICE Working Group
The NICE Working Group (NICEWG) was established to provide a mechanism in which public and private sector participants can develop concepts, design strategies, and pursue actions that advance cybersecurity education, training, and workforce development.
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