You read about the CSF Profile Assessment Database getting listed on NIST.gov. You thought, "That's cool, I should contribute." Then you looked at the GitHub page and froze.

If the gap between "I want to contribute" and "I know how to contribute" feels like a canyon, this post is your bridge. No coding experience required. No special tools. Just a willingness to learn and a few hours of focused effort.

Follow the steps in the README and watch the pointy clicky installation video. Don’t hesitate to let me know if you have any questions in a YouTube comment, on Simply Cyber Discord, or subscribe to the blog to get my email address.

The community doesn't just need developers writing apps. It needs GRC practitioners documenting controls, writing test procedures, and creating implementation guides.

The most valuable contributions right now are case study content - the kind of work GRC analysts do every day: test procedures, sample artifacts, control documentation, and implementation examples.

Let me walk you through exactly how to make your first contribution.

Go to the GitHub Issues page and look for issues labeled "good first issue". These are specifically designed for newcomers.Here's one to start with:

Issue #43: DE.AE - Adverse Event Analysis

This means: document how an organization would test whether they're effectively detecting, analyzing, and responding to suspicious events and potential security incidents.

Other good first issues include:

For Issue #43 (DE.AE), you're helping document how to assess an organization's adverse event analysis capabilities. The issue includes rich context from our fictional case study company, Alma Security Business Case and Sample Artifacts

Think of your contribution as the checklist a GRC analyst would use during an assessment of the DETECT function. You're answering three questions:

Think of it like this: you're creating the checklist a GRC analyst would use during an assessment of the DETECT function.

You don't need to submit a pull request to contribute. Start by commenting on the issue with your ideas.

I'd like to contribute test steps for DE.AE-02 (Analyze Potentially Adverse Events). Here's what I'm thinking:

Test Procedure:

Sample Artifacts:

I noticed the issue mentions gaps in 24/7 coverage — should I document that as a finding?

That's it. You've just contributed.

I’ll respond. I might ask for clarification, suggest additions, or say "looks great, let's add it."

This back-and-forth is how open source works. You're not expected to get it perfect on the first try.

If you do have coding chops or security testing experience, there's plenty of work:

Current Focus Areas:

Check the full issues list and comment on anything that matches your skills.

Never used GitHub? Here's the minimum you need to know:

That's genuinely all you need to start contributing. You don't need to understand branches, pull requests, or merge conflicts. Those come later, if you want them.

When your contribution gets merged (added to the project), your GitHub username goes on the contributors list. That's the link you put on your resume.

But more importantly, you've now:

That's the work. That's what hiring managers want to see.

👉 Pro Tip: Don't just contribute content — ask thoughtful questions. "Should the TTD test procedure account for business hours vs. 24/7 coverage gaps?" shows you're thinking critically about Alma's real constraints.

👉 Pro Tip: Reference NIST guidance in your contributions. Link to specific CSF 2.0 subcategories (DE.AE-01 through DE.AE-07). It shows you did the research.

👉 Pro Tip: Volunteer for multiple issues in the same function. Becoming the go-to person for "DETECT" controls (DE.AE, DE.CM) is more valuable than scattered one-offs across different functions.

Once you're comfortable commenting, here's how to submit changes directly:

This is how your name ends up in the official contributors list.

Don't worry about this for your first contribution - commenting works great. But when you're ready, GitHub's "First Contributions" guide walks through the process step-by-step.

Here's your action plan:

Don't overthink it. Don't wait until you feel "ready." The best way to learn GRC is by doing GRC.

Please don't be shy in asking questions. I'll see you in the Simply Cyber community.

📚 Free Tool: CSF Profile Assessment Database on GitHub

📚 NIST's Official Resources Page: CSF 2.0 Community Resources

Want to build a stronger GRC foundation before contributing? Check out the Certified Cyber Resilience Fundamentals at Simply Cyber Academy, or start with the free How to Break Into GRC if you're still exploring the field.