Strategic Plan 

NATIONAL INITIATIVE FOR 2021-2025

CYBERSECURITY EDUCATION 
OBJECTIVES 

• 1.1 ldentiffc and share effective 

practices or promoting GOAL 1 CAREER cybersecurity career awareness 

@ 

DISCOVERY and discovery to diverse 

stakeholders 

Promote the 

Discovery of • 1 .2 Increase understanding of 

Cybersecurity multiple learning pathways and 

Careers and credentials that lead to careers 

Multiple that are identified in the 

Pathways Workforce Framework for 

Cybersecurity (NICE Framework) 

• 1.3 Develop and utilize proven 

tools and resources to identify 

individuals most likely to succeed 

in a cybersecurity career 

• 1.4 Provide information and tools 

about cybersecurity-related 

career options to those who 

influence career choices (e.g., 

teachers and faculty, school 

counselors, career coaches, 

career development personnel, 

mentors, and parents or 

guardians) 

• 1.5 Galvanize employers to 

promote discovery and 

exploration of cybersecurity 

career ok-portunities

and vyor -based learning 

experiences 

OBJECTIVES 

• 2.1 Foster proven learning 

methods and exkeriences shown 

to effectively bui d and sustain a 

GOAL2 LEARNING diverse, inclusive, and skilled

PROCESS cybersecurity workforce 

@ • 2.2 Advocate for multidisciplinary Transform approaches that integrate Learning to cybersecurity across varied Build and curricula that support diverse Sustain a learners from a variety of 

Diverse and backgrounds and experiences Skilled 

Workforce • 2.3 Improve the quality and 

• 2.4 Facilitate increased use of 

performance-based assessments 

to measure competencies and 

the capability to perform NICE 

Framework Tasks 

• 2.5 Encourage the use of 

Learning and Employment 

Records to document and 

communicate skills between 

learners, employers, and 

education and training 

providers 

availability of credentials (e.g., • 2.6 Champion the development 

diplomas, degrees, certificates, and recognition of teachers, 

certifications, badges) that faculty, and instructors as part of 

validate competencies the in-demand workforce 
OBJECTIVES • 3.4 Promote the establishment of 

• 3.1 Enhance the capabilities of more entry-level positions and 

organizations and sectors to opportunities that provide 

effectively recruit, hire, develop, avenues for growth and 

and retain the talent needed to advancement 

GOAL3 

Ci) Talent 

Management 

TALENT 

MANAGEMENT 

Modernize the 

Talent 

Management 

Process to 

Address 

Cybersecurity 

Skills Gaps 

GOAL4 NICE

FRAMEWORK 

@ Expand Use of 

the Workforce 

Framework for 

Cybersecurity 

(NICE 

Framework) 

OBJECTIVES 

• 4.1 Document and widely disseminate methods, resources, 

and tools shown to successfully 

expand use of the NICE 

Framework 

• 4.2 Align the NICE Framework to 

the NIST Cybersecurity Framework, 

NIST Privacy Framework, and other 

cybersecurity, privacy, and risk 

management publications 

• 4.3 Establish processes for regularly 

reviewing, improving, and 

updating the NICE Framework 

• 4.4 Explore development of new 

tools or integration of NICE 

Framework aata into existing tools 

to increase access and facilitate 

interoperability 

• 4.5 Identify and highlight 

components of the NICE 

Framework (Tasks, Knowledge,and 

Skill Statements) that could be 

potentially performed via 

automated techniques 

• 4.6 Expand international outreach 

to promote the NICE Framework 

and document approaches

being used in other countries 

GOALS RESEARCH 

@ Drive Research 

on Effective 

Practices for 

Cybersecurity 

Workforce 

Development 

manage cybersecurity-related 

risks 

• 3.2 Utilize new technologies such 

as machine learning and 

automated approaches to 

increase connections and fit 

between employers and job 

seekers 

• 3.3 Align qualification requirements 

according to proficiency levels to 

reflect the competencies and 

capabilities required to perform 

tasks in the NICE Framework 

OBJECTIVES 

• 5.1 Collaborate with stakeholders 

to research and disseminate results 

on factors that influence the 

impact of cybersecurity 

education, training, and workforce 

development 

• 5.2 Inspire bold investigation of 

critical societal and global issues 

impacting cybersecurity education and workforce, 

synthesizing data-driven evidence, 

and proviaing trustworthy advice 

• 3.5 Encourage and enable 

ongoing development and 

training of employees, including 

rotational and exchange 

programs, to foster keep current 

talent with diverse skills and 

experiences 

• 3.6 Nurture effective practices in 

reskilling the unemployed, 

underemployed, incumbent 

workforce, and transitioning 

veterans to prepare them for 

careers in cybersecurity 

• 5.3 Prioritize research on the most 

effective and proven practices for 

blending successful learning practices across education, training, and workforce 

development settings 

• 5.4 Utilize research results to inform 

programs and curriculum design, 

foster continuous learning opportunities, impact learner 

success, and ensure equitable 

access 
ABOUT NICE 

The National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE) is a partnership among government, academia, 

and the private sector focused on education, training, and workforce development that will strengthen 

the cybersecurity posture of organizations. This "cybersecurity workforce" includes those whose primary 

focus is on cybersecurity as well as those in the workforce who need specific cybersecurity-related 

knowledge and skills in order to perform their work in a way that enables organizations to properly manage 

the cybersecurity-related risks to the enterprise. The NICE Strategic Plan outlines the vision, mission, values, 

goals, and objectives for both the organization and the greater NICE community. It is the result of the 

extensive experience of- and engagement with - NICE partners. NICE will develop implementation plans 

and metrics through a consultative process that includes the NICE lnteragency Coordinating Council and 

the NICE Community Coordinating Council. Actions based on this plan will be pursued and results 

achieved by organizations and individuals working collaboratively and through their independent efforts. 

NICE is led by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in the U.S. Department of 

Commerce. 

VISION 

Prepare, grow, and sustain a cybersecurity 

workforce that safeguards and promotes 

America's national security and economic 

prosperity. 

MISSION 

To energize, promote, and coordinate a 

robust community working together to 

advance an integrated ecosystem of 

cybersecurity education, training, and 

workforce development. 

VALUES 

Foster Communication and encourage openness to build trust. 

Facilitate Collaboration, combining the knowledge and skills of stakeholders with multiple viewpoints and 

approaches to achieve the best outcomes. 

Share and Leverage Resources to support community-developed approaches and solutions. 

Act Based on Evidence, pursuing objective and reliable sources of information and using data to inform 

actions or decisions. 

Evaluate and Improve our effectiveness by using quantitative metrics and qualitative measures. 

Challenge Assumptions, examining rationale for past and present education, training, and workforce 

approaches and applying critical analysis to future solutions. 

Stimulate Innovation, inspiring and experimenting with new approaches in a search for creative and 

innovative solutions that might disrupt or defy the status quo. 

Model Inclusion, advocating and enabling engagement of stakeholders from diverse backgrounds and with 

varying viewpoints. 

NICE Communication Channels 

NICE WEBSITE 

nist.gov/nice 

NICE EMAIL DISTRIBUTION LIST 

tinyurl. com/subscribe-nice 

EMAIL US 

nice@nist.gov 

trn linkedin.com/company/nist-nice 

eNEWSLETTER 

nist.gov/niceIenewsletter 

NICE WEBINAR SERIES 

nist.gov/nice /webinars 

0 twitter.com/NISTcyber 

#NICEatNIST