Draft IT Security Essential Body of Knowledge

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has issued a draft document on the Information Technology Security Essential Body of Knowledge (EBK).  The framework outlines what knowledge and skills the DHS believes the United States needs to prevent cyber attacks.   It details fourteen key competencies to cover all public and private security roles and functions.

The EBK is not an additional set of guidelines that DHS believes organizations should follow nor is it intended to represent a directive from DHS.  Rather, the intent is for the document it “to help advance the IT security training and certification landscape as we strive to ensure that we have the most qualified and appropriately trained IT security workforce possible.”

If  your training and/or certification work is at all IT security-related, it's essential you review the document.  However, even if it's not, take a look to see a model process and outcome for identifying essential competencies/body of knowledge for a particular role.