– COMPETENCY MODEL
Eristotle Competency Models
FOUNDATIONAL > APPLIED > ADAPTIVE
Whether you are mapping your team’s capabilities, designing a development programme, or planning your own path to Eristotle certification, the competency models give you a structured, practitioner-defined benchmark to work from.
DETAILS
Three Paradigms of Professional Growth
Eristotle’s Learning Framework provides a comprehensive development path from foundational awareness to hands-on execution and strategic foresight. These three paradigms underpin every competency model and every Eristotle certification pathway.
In an era of rapid technological advancement and ever-evolving risks, building high-performing teams requires more than just job descriptions, it requires a clear understanding of the skills, behaviors, and expertise needed to succeed. Competency models serve as structured models that define the essential capabilities required for individuals and teams to perform effectively in specific roles and domains.
Whether you’re leading a cybersecurity team, designing artificial intelligence solutions, or shaping the future of cyber warfare strategy, competency models provide a strategic foundation for aligning talent with mission outcomes.
WHAT IS A COMPETENCY MODEL –
Structured models for security capability
A competency model is a systematic representation of the knowledge, skills, abilities, and behaviours expected in a particular role or area of practice. Each Eristotle framework is tailored to reflect the demands, complexity, and skill depth required to operate effectively within its domain.
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Clarity & Consistency
Establishes a common professional language for capability across roles, departments, and career levels throughout the security community.
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Strategic Alignment
Ensures individuals and teams are aligned with organisational goals, compliance obligations, and mission outcomes across all three skill levels.
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Talent Development
Supports targeted training, career progression, Eristotle certification pathways, and structured succession planning from Foundational to Adaptive
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Performance Management
Enables objective, structured evaluation of skills and role readiness against practitioner-defined standards at each skill level.
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Organisational Maturity
Guides capability development across emerging security functions including AI governance, cyber operations, and digital risk management.
How these frameworks are used?
①
Define role profiles and capability requirements across security, AI governance, and cyber warfare functions
②
Design structured training programmes and Eristotle certification pathways graded from Foundational to Adaptive skill
③
Conduct workforce gap analyses identifying the skill level at which each practitioner currently operates
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Guide recruitment, promotion decisions, and team structuring with objective capability benchmarks
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Support compliance with ISO 27001, NIST, DORA, NIS2, EU AI Act, and other regulatory frameworks
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Drive succession planning by identifying Applied-level practitioners ready to develop into Adaptive roles
DETAILS
Three Levels of Professional Skills
Every competency within Eristotle’s frameworks is graded across three skill levels. These levels reflect the depth at which a practitioner demonstrates that skill in their work, from building essential domain knowledge, through independent real-world application, to strategic leadership and mastery.
FOUNDATIONAL
The practitioner holds essential domain knowledge and applies established methods under guidance. They understand core principles, use standard tools and protocols, and bring structured thinking to defined problems within their area of practice.
SKILL INDICATORS
- Understands and accurately applies domain terminology, standards, and core concepts
- Executes established procedures and uses required tools effectively within defined scope
- Communicates technical information clearly and documents work to required standards
- Identifies and escalates issues appropriately; applies logical reasoning to defined problem types
- Works effectively under supervision and actively seeks guidance to develop competence
Typical Role Context
APPLIED
The practitioner works independently across complex, real-world scenarios, applying domain skills with consistent effectiveness. They bridge principles and practice, solve authentic operational problems, and contribute meaningfully to team and organisational outcomes.
SKILL INDICATORS
- Resolves complex operational problems independently without close supervision
- Adapts domain skills to varied real-world contexts, adjusting approaches based on situation
- Collaborates effectively across teams; provides reliable guidance to Foundational-level peers
- Manages ambiguity in technical decisions and takes accountability for outcomes
- Applies critical thinking to refine approaches and improve practice based on operational experience
Typical Role Context
ADAPTIVE
The practitioner leads, shapes strategy, and operates with authority in complex and evolving environments. They define standards, advise senior leadership and regulatory bodies, develop other practitioners, and drive long-term capability across the profession.
SKILL INDICATORS
- Leads security programmes and drives strategic alignment with organisational and regulatory goals
- Defines domain standards and shapes how the discipline is practised across the organisation
- Advises boards, C-suite executives, and regulatory bodies with depth and authority
- Mentors and develops Applied and Foundational practitioners, building team capability
- Adapts strategy continuously to emerging threats, technologies, and evolving priorities
Typical Role Context
FOUR COMPETENCY MODELS
Explore the Eristotle frameworks
Each framework defines the core and specialised competencies required within its discipline, graded across Foundational, Applied, and Adaptive skill levels. Browse the models to explore competency definitions, skill indicators, role alignment, and links to the relevant Eristotle certification pathway.
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Cyber Security Competency Model
Resilience in the modern digital landscape demands multidisciplinary expertise across human, legal, technical, and organisational dimensions. This model ensures security is embedded from strategy through operations.
FOUNDATIONAL
Core security principles and tool operation
APPLIED
Independent incident response and control management
ADAPTIVE
Security programme leadership and board advisory
EXPLORE CYBER SECURITY COMPETENCY MODEL >
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Information Security Office Competency Model
Delivering business-driven security requires strategic vision and continuous alignment. This framework equips security leaders to build, run, and evolve an effective information security organisation that keeps pace with business change.
FOUNDATIONAL
Policy application and risk documentation
APPLIED
Programme management and stakeholder engagement
ADAPTIVE
Security strategy and executive leadership
EXPLORE INFORMATION SECURITY OFFICE COMPETENCY MODEL >
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Cyber Warfare Competency Model
Winning in the modern cyber battlespace requires more than defence, it demands mastery. This model covers offensive and defensive strategies, threat intelligence application, and strategic planning for sustained advantage.
FOUNDATIONAL
Threat actor awareness and defensive concepts
APPLIED
Campaign analysis and countermeasure design
ADAPTIVE
Cyber warfare strategy and operational command
EXPLORE CYBER WARFARE COMPETENCY MODEL >
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Artificial Intelligence Competency Model
From fundamentals to frontier technologies, this framework structures the knowledge and skills needed to govern and secure AI effectively, covering core concepts, risk management, governance, and the AI innovation horizon.
FOUNDATIONAL
AI concepts, risks, and governance principles
APPLIED
AI risk assessment and lifecycle governance
ADAPTIVE
AI strategy, policy design, and regulatory advisory
EXPLORE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE COMPETENCY MODEL >
SKILL PROGRESSION –
From competence to accreditation
The three skill levels within each competency model correspond directly to Eristotle’s certification assessment standard — providing a clear, structured path from building domain knowledge through to formal professional accreditation.
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Build domain knowledge
Foundational skill is developed through Eristotle’s Bodies of Knowledge — ISOBOK™, AIBOK™, and CWBOK™ — and structured study across each competency domain.
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Apply skills in practice
Applied skill is demonstrated through real-world operational experience, case work, and structured learning pathways that bridge conceptual knowledge with independent professional judgement.
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Demonstrate mastery – achieve certification
Eristotle accredited qualifications assess Adaptive-level skill — strategic leadership, board advisory capability, and the authority to define standards and drive capability across the profession.
Eristotle Certified Qualifications
ECISO
Eristotle Certified Information Security Officer
Aligned to the Information Security Office Competency Model
ECAGO
Eristotle Certified AI Governance Officer
Aligned to the Artificial Intelligence Competency Model
ECCSP
Eristotle Certified Cyber Security Professional
Aligned to the Cyber Security Competency Model
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Eristotle certifications give you the credibility, visibility, and competitive edge to advance in today’s fastest-moving fields, from AI to cybersecurity. Get certified, get noticed, get ahead. Earn a credential assessed against a published body of knowledge, stand out to employers, and step into the next chapter of your career with confidence.