Designing a Flexible, Practice-Oriented Digital Forensics Cyber Exercise Aligned with the NICE Framework

This paper introduces a practice-oriented digital forensics cyber exercise aligned with the NICE Framework to bridge the gap between academic education and workforce demands. Using a structured methodology, the exercise integrates tasks such as evidence collection, forensic analysis, and incident response into realistic, scenario-based training environments. A custom Competency Area, ‘Digital Forensics and Incident Response (DFIR),” ensures alignment with industry-defined Tasks, Knowledge, and Skills, achieving a task coverage of 75.97%. The modular design enables scalability, allowing adaptation to emerging domains while fostering critical thinking, technical proficiency, and strategic decision-making. This approach advances cybersecurity education by preparing students for the complexities of real-world challenges.