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National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education |
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Welcome to the Spring 2022 issue of the NICE eNewsletter. As NICE’s Lead for International Engagement, I am particularly excited to introduce our featured article this quarter from the United Kingdom’s Cyber Security Council. The article outlines the various strategies in the UK that are supporting the evolving needs of cybersecurity talent in the country. The government spotlight also focuses on strategies - and more specifically, policies - to qualify and manage the United States military’s cyberspace workforce. The industry spotlight shares insight on a tool that can be used to help document skills and streamline hiring for cybersecurity jobs. Finally, as we near the end of Mathematics and Statistics Awareness month, the academic spotlight article highlights how mathematics can be applied in cybersecurity careers.
Spring is a time of newness, so I’ll end with some exciting firsts! You’ll notice there are two Framework in Focus interviews this quarter, so don’t miss out on this double feature of unique paths in cybersecurity. Also, for the first time, this year the annual NICE Conference & Expo will take place in June. After two years of virtual events, I look forward to seeing many of you in-person again June 6-8 in Atlanta, Georgia!
Danielle Santos
NICE Manager of Communications and Operations
NICE Lead for International Engagement
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Updated NICE Framework Knowledge and Skill Statements for Public Comment
Comments Due June 3, 2022
NICE is continuing to refine and clarify the Workforce Framework for Cybersecurity (NICE Framework) as a fundamental reference resource that is agile, flexible, modular, and interoperable. As such, a review of the NICE Framework data - Competency Areas, Work Roles, and Task, Knowledge, and Skill (TKS) statements - is in progress and we are pleased to announce that the initial review of Knowledge and Skill statements is ready for your feedback!
NICE K12 Conference| December 5-6, 2022 | St. Louis, MO
The 2022 NICE K12 Conference program committee is seeking timely, topical, and thought-provoking presentations in line with the conference theme, “Expanding the Gateway to the Cybersecurity Workforce of the Future."
Submit your proposal by June 24, 2022, at 11:59 pm PT.
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The United Kingdom’s Self-regulated Model for Driving Progress in the Cyber Security Profession
By Simon Hepburn, Chief Executive Officer, UK Cyber Security Council
As the cybersecurity risk landscape continues to grow and evolve, so too does the workforce required to mitigate such risks. In this quickly advancing field, it’s often unclear how to get started in cybersecurity; and what skills are needed or what training or education will qualify one for a job. The United Kingdom (UK) identified this, and in the National Cyber Security Strategy of 2016 announced several initiatives to develop the cybersecurity profession, which includes achieving Royal Chartered status for a recognized body of cybersecurity excellence, providing a focal point that could advise, shape, and inform national policy.
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Profiles of a cybersecurity practitioner to illustrate application of the NICE Framework.
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Joshua Peebels
Organization: SpearTip, LLC
NICE Framework Category: Protect & Defend
NICE Framework Work Role: Cyber Workforce Developer and Manager
Academic Degrees: Associates in Sign Language Interpretation
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Karen Ribble
Organization: Augusta University Health
NICE Framework Category: Oversee & Govern
NICE Framework Work Role: IT Project Manager
Academic Degrees: MS in Information Security Management, BS in Business Administration with a concentration in Management Information Systems (MIS)
Certifications: Project Management Professional (PMP)
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By Alexis VanderWilt, IT Specialist, Western Area Power Administration
But how much math is needed to enter the cybersecurity workforce? Doesn’t cybersecurity involve complex math? All too often there is a misconception that a person needs to be a technological guru and have a deep understanding of high-level mathematics. To help answer these questions and in support of April’s Mathematics and Statistics Awareness Month, let’s take a look at what math is needed for cybersecurity work.
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By Peter Meehan, SVP International and Partnerships iQ4 Corp, Co-Founder Cybersecurity Workforce Alliance (CWA)
As of March 2022, the cybersecurity supply and demand website Cyberseek.org, reports 597,767 cybersecurity job vacancies, with only 1.5% (8,889) identified as open to entry level candidates. Why aren’t employers seeking more career entrants? Is it the pursuit of the “purple unicorn” who has a degree, 5-10 years’ experience, and multiple industry certifications? Or is it due to lack of data showing employers the positive return on investment (ROI) of investing in the next generation?
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By The Department of Defense Chief Information Officer, Cyber Workforce Management Directorate
The Office of the United States (U.S.) Department of Defense (DoD) Chief Information Officer (CIO) works with federal and private sector partners to continuously reduce the number of cybersecurity threats the U.S. faces every day. Through this collaborative effort, the DoD CIO can strengthen cyberspace defensive and offensive capabilities, as well as protect critical assets. In collaboration with federal partners, the Cyber Workforce Management Directorate (CWMD) developed the DoD 8140 policy series to strategically identify, develop, and qualify cyberspace professionals.
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Affiliated Programs
The NICE Framework is changing, and so is NICCS! CISA’s National Initiative for Cybersecurity Careers and Studies website (NICCS) is undergoing big changes! With the release of the new version of the Workforce Framework for Cybersecurity (NICE Framework) data, the NICCS website will have a new interactive version of the NICE Framework including an updated interface and new content. Learn more about these changes by using the Cyber Career Pathways Tool to compare work roles and gain a better understanding of the tasks, knowledge, and skills (TKSs) needed for each.
Funded Projects
CYBER.ORG’s Cyber Education Discovery Forum is June 20-22 in Alexandria, Virginia. Early bird registration ends May 15! Learn more and register here for this K-12 cybersecurity professional development event.
NICE COMMUNITY COORDINATING COUNCIL
Join the NICE Community Council at the 2022 NICE Conference and Expo in Atlanta, Georgia! The NICE Community Coordinating Council (NICE Community) will have Birds of a Feather sessions where Working Group and Community of Interest members can meet.
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