An India–Germany collaboration brings ISAC certifications, National Security Database® empanelment and hands-on cyber training to Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
ISAC Foundation partners with GRUNDIG AKADEMIE to expand cybersecurity training, NSD certifications and professional empanelment across Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
By ISAC Foundation · Updated
ISAC Foundation and GRUNDIG AKADEMIE Bring NSD Cybersecurity Certifications to Germany, Austria and Switzerland
Bengaluru / NurembergISAC Foundation has entered into a five-year strategic partnership with Germany's GRUNDIG AKADEMIE für Wirtschaft und Technik to strengthen cybersecurity skills, professional certification and advanced security training across Europe. Signed on 20 August 2026, the agreement appoints GRUNDIG AKADEMIE as ISAC's Official Sales, Training & Certification Partner for Germany, Austria and Switzerland. The collaboration will introduce 15 National Security Database® (NSD) programmes, create pathways for professional empanelment, and support the development of Cybersecurity Centres of Excellence connecting India and Europe.
ISAC Foundation and GRUNDIG AKADEMIE für Wirtschaft und Technik have signed a Memorandum of Agreement to build cybersecurity capability across Europe. Under the agreement, GRUNDIG AKADEMIE becomes the Official Sales, Training & Certification Partner of ISAC Foundation for the DACH region: Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
The agreement was signed on 20 August 2026 by Jan Künne, CEO of GRUNDIG AKADEMIE, and Group Captain P. Aanand Naidu (Retd.), Executive Director of ISAC Foundation. The collaboration was facilitated by Frank Rajan, Advisor to ISAC Foundation. The initial term is five years.
Why this partnership matters
Governments, financial institutions, businesses and academic institutions in every region need more trained cybersecurity professionals. This partnership brings together two strengths. ISAC has a certification and empanelment model proven in India. GRUNDIG AKADEMIE has long experience in professional and technical education in Germany. European professionals gain access to globally benchmarked certifications, and ISAC gains a trusted partner to take its programmes into a new market.
A shared portfolio of 15 NSD programmes
The two organisations will jointly offer an initial portfolio of 15 certification programmes, from foundation to advanced and governance level:
Foundations: NSD Certified Basics of Information Security (NCBIS) and NSD Certified Basics of AI (NCBAI)
Offensive and defensive security: Penetration Tester (NCPT), SOC Analyst (NCSA), Threat Intelligence (NCTI), Reverse Engineer (NCRE) and Malware Analyst (NCMA)
Investigation: Forensic Investigator (NCFI) and OSINT Analyst (NCOSA)
Identity and cloud: Identity and Access Management Professional (NCIAM) and Cloud Security Professional (NCCSP)
AI security and governance: AI Security Professional (NCAIS), AI Risk and Governance (NCAIRG) and Security & AI Product Management (NCSAIPM)
Flagship: the National Cyber Security Scholar Program (NCSSP)
ISAC's Cyber Hygiene programme and Clean Exit, its professional-ethics programme, are also part of the offering.
A path to National Security Database® empanelment
Every programme leads towards the National Security Database® (NSD), ISAC's initiative for assessing, certifying and empanelling cybersecurity professionals. For the first time, professionals in the DACH region will have a structured route to NSD empanelment. Both organisations will also explore placement opportunities for certified professionals.
Who does what
GRUNDIG AKADEMIE will lead in the region. Its responsibilities are marketing, German-language consulting, participant registration, corporate client relationships and first-level support.
ISAC Foundation will provide the programmes themselves. That covers curriculum design, instructors, the learning platform, hands-on labs, live training, proctored examinations, certification and quality assurance.
Beyond the classroom
The partners will also collaborate on:
Hackathons and red-teaming exercises, including an annual hackathon hosted by GRUNDIG AKADEMIE or one of its partners
Bug bounty and zero-day intelligence initiatives
Faculty development programmes
Cybersecurity consultancy, forensic audits and training for government bodies, police organisations, industry and entrepreneurs
Centres of Excellence in Europe
The partners intend to set up Cybersecurity Centres of Excellence. Each centre will combine a Cyber Physical System Lab with virtual labs. The first is planned for the DACH region, with other European locations to follow. Each centre will be agreed separately to suit its host.
Information becomes powerful when it is shared
This collaboration reflects the belief on which ISAC was founded: security improves when knowledge is shared and communities act together. The two organisations aim to build a cross-border community of skilled, ethical cybersecurity professionals linking India and Europe.
About GRUNDIG AKADEMIE
GRUNDIG AKADEMIE für Wirtschaft und Technik gemeinnützige Stiftung e.V. is a non-profit education institution headquartered in Nuremberg, Germany. It offers professional education, technical training and organisational development for businesses and professionals. www.grundig-akademie.de
About ISAC Foundation
ISAC Foundation (Information Sharing and Analysis Center) is an international non-profit, with registered non-profit organisations in the United States and India. It advances cybersecurity, digital well-being, public safety, education and research. It is a public-private partner of the Ministry of Education, CERT-In, MeitY and AICTE. Its National Security Database® identifies, evaluates and recognises qualified cybersecurity professionals through structured assessment, certification and empanelment.
At a glance
- Organizations
- ISAC Foundation and GRUNDIG AKADEMIE
- Signatories
- Jan Künne and Group Captain P. Aanand Naidu (Retd.)
- Geographic Coverage
- Germany, Austria and Switzerland (DACH)
- Partnership Designation
- Official Sales, Training & Certification Partner
- Flagship Programme
- National Cyber Security Scholar Program (NCSSP)
- Professional Recognition
- National Security Database® empanelment
- Other Collaborations
- Hackathons, red teaming, bug bounty, zero-day intelligence, faculty development and consultancy
- Initial Term
- 2026–2031
Questions and answers
What is the ISAC Foundation and GRUNDIG AKADEMIE partnership?
It is a five-year collaboration to deliver cybersecurity training, professional certifications, practical assessments and skill development programmes across Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
What cybersecurity certification programmes will be offered?
The collaboration includes 15 NSD programmes covering information security, AI, penetration testing, SOC operations, threat intelligence, digital forensics, malware analysis, cloud security, identity management and cybersecurity governance.
What is the National Security Database (NSD)?
National Security Database® is an ISAC Foundation initiative that assesses, certifies and empanels cybersecurity professionals through structured examinations, practical evaluations and professional standards.
Will ISAC Foundation establish Cybersecurity Centres of Excellence in Europe?
Both organisations intend to develop Cybersecurity Centres of Excellence featuring Cyber Physical System Labs and virtual training environments. The first centre is planned for the DACH region, subject to a separate agreement.
Who will deliver the training and examinations?
ISAC Foundation will manage curriculum design, instructors, learning platforms, practical laboratories, examinations, certification and quality assurance. GRUNDIG AKADEMIE will coordinate regional marketing, registrations, corporate relationships and local support.
Will the partnership offer practical cybersecurity experience?
Yes. The planned collaboration includes hands-on laboratories, hackathons, red-teaming exercises, bug bounty initiatives, cyber-physical security training and other technical activities.
How can organisations in Europe participate?
Businesses, academic institutions and government organisations in the DACH region can approach GRUNDIG AKADEMIE to explore cybersecurity training, certifications and institutional collaboration opportunities.
Topics: ISAC Foundation, GRUNDIG AKADEMIE, Cybersecurity Training, Cybersecurity Certification, National Security Database, NSD Empanelment, Europe Cybersecurity, Germany Cybersecurity