DHS CYBERSECURITY

Cyber Education & Workforce Development

ABOUT DHS CYBER DHS is responsible for safeguarding our Nation’s critical infrastructure from physical and cyber threats that can affect our national security, public safety, and economic prosperity. DHS actively engages the public and private sectors as well as international partners to prepare for, prevent, and respond to catastrophic incidents that could degrade or overwhelm these strategic assets.

For more information, visit www.dhs.gov/cyber.

National Cybersecurity Workforce FrameworkDHS led the development of a National Cybersecurity Workforce Framework, which serves as a foundation for increasing the size and capability of the U.S. cybersecurity workforce. The Workforce Framework provides a common definition of cybersecurity; a comprehensive list of cybersecurity tasks; an overview of the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform those tasks; and tools and resources for organizations to learn how to use the Workforce Framework and assess their own cybersecurity workforce needs. By using the Workforce Framework, educators can create programs that are aligned to jobs, students can graduate with knowledge and skills that employers need, employers can recruit from a larger pool of more qualified candidates, and employees will have portable skills and better defined career paths and opportunities.

For more information, visit www.niccs.us-cert.gov/training/tc/framework.

National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE)NICE is an initiative that enhances the overall cybersecurity posture of the United States by accelerating the availability of educational and training resources designed to improve the cybersecurity skills, and knowledge of our Nation’s students and workforce. DHS plays a prominent role in NICE to enhance the recruitment, training and retention of cybersecurity professionals; raise public awareness about cybersecurity; and establish foundational elements of cybersecurity education in primary schools and universities.

For more information, visit www.csrc.nist.gov/nice/.

America needs well-trained professionals working in cybersecurity roles. These professionals are critical in both private industry and the government for the security of individuals and the Nation.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is committed to strengthening the Nation’s cybersecurity workforce through standardizing roles and helping to ensure we have well-trained cybersecurity workers today as well as a strong pipeline of future cybersecurity leaders of tomorrow.

For more information, visit www.dhs.gov/topic/cybersecurity-education-career-development

National Initiative for Cybersecurity Careers and Studies (NICCS)NICCS serves as a national resource for cybersecurity awareness, education, training, and career opportunities. NICCS makes research and training information available through a robust, searchable catalog which allows users to find cyber training programs based on location, preferred delivery method, specialty area, or proficiency level. NICCS supports DHS’s objective to grow the cyber workforce by providing information about science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) and cyber-related degree programs; internship and scholarship opportunities; and cyber competitions and events.

For more information, visit http://niccs.us-cert.gov.

CyberCorps: Scholarship for Service (SFS)DHS partners with the National Science Foundation on the SFS program, which offers scholarships to outstanding undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students in exchange for government service to a federal agency. SFS is designed to increase and strengthen the cadre of federal information assurance professionals that protect the government’s critical information infrastructure.

For more information, please visit www.sfs.opm.gov.

National Centers of Academic Excellence (CAE) in Information Assurance/Cyber DefenseDHS and the National Security Agency (NSA) jointly sponsor the CAE in Information Assurance/Cyber Defense program. The goal of the program is to reduce vulnerability in our national information infrastructure by promoting higher education and research, and producing a growing pipeline of professionals with information assurance expertise in various disciplines.

For more information, visit www.nsa.gov/ia/academic_outreach/nat_cae/index.shtml.

Training Today’s Cyber WorkforceIt’s critical that cybersecurity professionals remain up to date on the latest technology. Our Nation needs cybersecurity education and training programs as flexible and responsive as the rapidly changing cyber environment. DHS meets this charge by offering:

• A searchable catalog with thousands of cybersecurity courses through its National Initiative for Cybersecurity Careers and Studies (NICCS)

• An online, on-demand training center that provides cybersecurity courses for Federal Government personnel through its Federal Virtual Training Environment (FedVTE)

• Live training for Federal Government personnel through its Federal Cybersecurity Training Events (FedCTE)

For more information on FedVTE, visit www.niccs.us-cert.gov/training/fedvte.

For more information on FedCTE, visit www.niccs.us-cert.gov/training/fedcte.

CyberPatriot National Youth Cyber Education ProgramDHS and the Department of Defense (DOD), along with several academic institutions and private sector companies, sponsor the CyberPatriot National Youth Cyber Education Program, which steers middle and high school students toward cybersecurity studies and careers through competitions and camps.

For more information, visit www.uscyberpatriot.org.

“DHS will continue to advanceexisting public education programs and promote cybersecurity strategies and awareness campaigns that engage the American people in keeping themselves—and the Nation—secure online.” – 2014 Quadrennial Homeland Security Review