Cyber Security Analyst Jobs

If you’re looking for a role in cyber security, be sure to apply for Upward Spiral or checkout what we’re about.

Cyber Security Analyst Jobs

From 2013 to 2021, the number of unfilled cybersecurity positions grew by a whopping 350%. It would be crazy to expect the demand for cyber security analysts to fall any time soon.
A cybersecurity analyst protects an organisation from cyber threats and actively develops processes, protocols and systems to respond to and quell attacks. Cybersecurity analysts protect an organisation’s infrastructure, such as computer networks and hardware devices, from cybercriminals and hackers seeking to cause damage or steal sensitive information.

What is a cyber security analyst?

Cyber security analysts can work across the spectrum of computer and information networks. A security analyst is a trained cyber professional who specialises in network and IT infrastructure security. From corporate databases to banking networks and from office networks to military intelligence, cyber security analysts can be found anywhere that large amounts of In an organisation a cyber security analyst thoroughly understands cyberattacks, malware, and the behavior of cybercriminals, and actively seeks to anticipate and prevent these attacks. A well-trained security analyst will probably have an advanced understanding of both hardware and software, and how data is stored and managed. The analyst usually possesses at least a bachelor's degree in cybersecurity or a related field.

The top three cyber security threats facing information technology networks of all scales are ransomware attacks, social engineering attacks, and the theft or compromise of sensitive information. Typically, threats inside the organisation - often accidentally - are the greatest risk an organisation will face. This means that cybersecurity analysts need to be familiar with a wide variety of threats both internally and externally when it comes to security issues.

What does a cyber security analyst do?

A cyber security analyst often wears a lot of hats in an organization or company. They are likely involved in security, system design, system policy, trainer, and educator.

A cyber security analyst protects an organisation’s hardware, software, and networks from cyber criminals and other threats. The analyst's primary role is to understand the organisation's IT infrastructure in detail, monitor it at all times, and evaluate threats that could potentially breach the network. The cyber security analyst continuously looks for ways to enhance company network security and protect its sensitive information.

Cyber security analysts are often thought of as first responders, as they often triage security incidents. In practice, cyber security analysts spend their time developing policies, procedures and reviewing best practices to implement within an organisation. Then, training an organisation on the change.

In the ideal world for an organisation with strong security posture, a cyber security analyst has the opportunity to be proactive. Taking steps to prevent security breaches. They have the opportunity to constantly update processes, policies, systems and software, they can penetration test the organisation and try to find loopholes in computer code or operating systems to guarantee security.

Broadly, the cyber Security analyst is responsible for:

• Configuring Tools: This may come in the form of virus software, password protectors, and vulnerability management software. They will evaluate what the company needs and use these tools to protect its information.
• Reporting: The analyst will detail what is currently going on in the network and evaluate its strengths. One of the skills needed is learning to read these reports. They will show what is well-protected and indicate if there is any unusual activity in the network.
• Evaluate Weaknesses: No network is fully secure, but the goal is to make it as secure as possible at every opportunity. Part of the job is to continuously test all company networks and find weaknesses before bad actors or external threats can compromise them.

What education does a Cyber Security Analyst need?

Cyber security analysts are more entry-level roles in the cyber security field. In order to be qualified it is recommended to have formal education in cyber security or more broadly information technology. This type of education program will help you learn IT fundamentals as well as critical cybersecurity foundations that will prepare you for the requirements of the job. Scripting and programming, data management, penetration testing, hacking and countermeasures, and more will all be critical elements of your cyber security education.

What skills does a Cyber Security Analyst need? The skills and expertise a cyber security analyst needs will vary from job to job. Some security analyst openings seek very specific skills due to the nature of a particular network or the organisation’s employees.

For early - or soon-to-be - career professionals, the key to understanding the most marketable skills to acquire is to study different job descriptions. Investigate the key words, problems, languages they refer to. Researching this information will reveal how skills and experience will map to opportunities and it will change over time. It will also inform the type of training, education or verification you might want to pursue.

Despite the wide variability of cyber security analyst jobs, there are a number of characteristics or skills that are consistent for cyber security analysts across the spectrum. Both hard- and soft-skills. These include:

• Programming experience: Cyber security analysts are charged with defending digital infrastructure. Consequently, cyber security professionals are expected to have some base level of programming experience and familiarity with foundational programming languages such as C, C++, PHP, Perl, and Java.
• Communication: Beyond understanding, is the expectation that you can communicate your understanding in laymen’s terms to others. You will have to communicate with others a lot in this job and work with a team that is responsible for security.
• IT Knowledge: This job requires you to stay up-to-date on trends in the technology world. You need to be aware of the best practices, techniques, and any laws that change.
• Analytical: Security analysts work with data from a variety of sources and so they need to be able to take information from many inputs to make decisions.
• Detail-oriented: Much of the work of cybersecurity analysts comes down to examining small details — like lines of computer code or network commands — that could have major impacts.
• Forward-thinking: Security analysts need to anticipate the future based on current data and trends and then make security recommendations accordingly.
• Creativity: You may not think a cyber security expert needs to be creative, but this is a must! You need to think of creative ways that bad guys can breach your organisation's system, then think of creative solutions to prevent them.
• Strong Attention to Detail: This is not something that should be overlooked. You need to be detail-oriented for this job, paying strong attention to the smallest adjustments and changes in your organisation's network.

How to become a Cyber Security Analyst?

Four steps to becoming a cyber security analyst:

• Research: The number of opportunities and and new roles within as a cyber security analyst continues to evolve, creating plenty of career opportunitities for cyber security professionals. The first step in becoming a cyber security analyst is to understand the kind of work you want to do and map out the relevant education and certifications you will need. Even entry-level cyber security analyst positions might require specialised training, so it’s best to plan in advance.
• Education: Most cyber security analysts have a bachelor’s degree in cyber security (or field such as mathematics, computer science, or information technology). However, this is not absolute. Cyber security certifications (see the next point) and associate’s degrees and/or relevant training or background (like military service, for example) can be sufficiant to obtain entry-level cyber security jobs in the private sector.
• Certification: It is very common for entry-level and mid-level opportunities to require differing levels of certification to demonstrate proficiency in the relevant skill.
• Network: An important part of becoming a cyber security analyst is developing a professional network. A network that is broad by aligned with the cyber security profession will help you stay informed about the latest trends, opportunities and changes in the sector.

Do Cyber Security Analysts need certifications?

Yes. To do the job, like any job, you need to be capable at the role. That doesn’t require a certification or degree but certifications and degrees make it much easier for recruiters to identify the candidates that are likely to be capable in the role. It’s really that simple when it comes to qualifications. In most fields.

Some of the industry-standard certifications you may want as a cyber security analyst are:

• Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP)
• Systems Security Certified Practitioner (SSCP)
• A+ (CompTIA)
• Cybersecurity Analyst Certification, CySA+ (CompTIA)
• Network+ (CompTIA)
• Network Vulnerability Assessment Professional (CompTIA)
• Network Security Professional (CompTIA)
• Security Analytics Professional (CompTIA)
• Security+ (CompTIA)
• Project+ (CompTIA)
• PenTest+ (CompTIA)
• IT Operations Specialist (CompTIA)
• Secure Infrastructure Specialist (CompTIA)
• ITIL1 Foundation

If you’re looking for a role in cyber security, be sure to apply for Upward Spiral or checkout what we’re about.