The Cybersecurity Skills Academy is structured around four main pillars that together support the development of cybersecurity skills across Europe. These pillars provide a practical framework for organising activities, connecting stakeholders and measuring impact.

The first pillar focuses on knowledge generation, education and training. It supports the development of a common understanding of cybersecurity roles, skills and competences, while encouraging the design of training programmes that respond to labour market needs. This includes the use of common European reference frameworks, the promotion of cybersecurity curricula, the development of professional training opportunities and the creation of clearer learning pathways.

The second pillar concerns funding and investment opportunities. Cybersecurity skills initiatives require coordinated investment in order to become visible, scalable and effective. The Academy aims to improve the visibility of available funding opportunities and to help stakeholders identify the most appropriate sources of support for training, education, reskilling and upskilling activities.

The third pillar is stakeholder action. The Academy encourages public and private organisations, education providers, industry actors and cybersecurity communities to commit to concrete actions. These may include offering training, supporting internships, developing new curricula, contributing to skills mapping, engaging with learners, or helping to improve the connection between education and employment.

The fourth pillar focuses on monitoring and impact assessment. A strong cybersecurity skills ecosystem requires reliable information about labour market needs, skills gaps and emerging professional profiles. For this reason, the Academy promotes the use of indicators and common targets to monitor progress, assess the effectiveness of actions and support evidence-based decision-making.

Together, these four pillars aim to create a more coherent European cybersecurity skills ecosystem. They help transform separate initiatives into a coordinated effort with greater visibility, stronger cooperation and measurable impact.