Who is a Cybersecurity Analyst?
A cybersecurity analyst is a professional who is often considered to be the first line of defense against cybercrime. He is a trained cyber professional who has generally specialized in network and IT infrastructure security. This individual has a clear understanding of what cyberattacks are and how to prevent them. With that, he also knows what malware is and understands the behavior of cybercriminals. In short, a cybersecurity analyst’s main goal is to anticipate and prevent all such attacks. You might also be interested in Highest Paying Cybersecurity Jobs Roles & Desired Skills at takethiscourse platform.
This article contains information about who a cybersecurity analyst is and what are the key responsibilities and skills required for this job.
Key Responsibilities of Cybersecurity Analyst:
Responsibilities of a cybersecurity analyst depend on how big or small your organization is. At smaller organizations, you might expect to perform certain tasks. But in larger organizations, you have a lot on your plate. Therefore, day-to-day tasks depend on the organization you work for. As a cybersecurity analyst, it is your job to:
- Protect the company’s hardware and software and all the networks from any kind of theft and loss.
- Monitor the network traffic for security incidents and events.
- Perform periodic risk assessments and penetration tests regularly.
- Investigate all the relevant incidents and then respond in real time.
- Conduct threat research, and write detailed incident reports.
- Install and operate firewalls, encryption programs, and other security software.
- Fix all kinds of vulnerabilities.
- Configure different tools and evaluate the requirements of the company’s needs.
- Test company networks and find weaknesses before external threats could compromise them.
Required Qualification/Education:
- To become a cybersecurity analyst, you need a bachelor’s degree in either computer science, Information Technology, or similar field.
- With that, some work experience in information security can also help land a job. Discover a selection of free CompTIA CySA+ training courses, ideal for those seeking to enhance their cybersecurity skills without breaking the bank.
Recommended Courses:
IT Fundamentals for Cybersecurity Specialization
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Cybersecurity for Everyone
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IBM Cybersecurity Analyst Prof Certificate
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What makes you qualified for this job?
To become qualified for this job role, you don’t just need a degree. Instead, some hard and soft skills are required by most companies at the time of hiring. Below we have listed down some of the important hard and soft skills which we believe are important to possess.
Hard Skills:
- Penetration Testing Knowledge: A cybersecurity analyst should have sufficient knowledge of penetration testing, network security, and other relevant techniques used for exposing and correcting security flaws.
- Risk Analysis: An excellent cybersecurity analyst always knows how to do risk analysis as it allows them to evaluate the impact of potential security breaches.
- Understanding of Security Technologies: Similarly, a broad understanding of security technologies is required. It includes firewalls, SIEM, proxies, IDPs, and antivirus software.
- Identifying Vulnerabilities: A Cybersecurity analyst should have ability to identify and prevent vulnerabilities and security breaches, both on-premises and remote networks.
- Keeping security protocols updated: It is required by a cybersecurity analyst to keep the security protocols updated.
Some more hard skills are:
- Intrusion Detection
- Cloud Security
- Malware Prevention
- Network Security Control
- Understanding of Operating Systems and Virtual Machines
Soft Skills:
- Effective Communication: Working as a cybersecurity analyst requires effective communication. As an analyst, it is expected of you to convey even complex and technical information to others in the right manner.
- Critical Thinking: Critical thinking and the ability to be innovative can also help you flourish in this role.
- Problem-solving: The ability to solve problems meticulously and timely is also important as it allows professionals to perform well.
- Must be vigilant enough to protect network security: A cybersecurity analyst has to be vigilant enough to recognize any security threats no matter how small they are. In other words, attention to detail is very important.
Cybersecurity Fundamentals
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- Rochester Institute of Technology via edX
- 8 weeks (10-12 hours weekly) of effort required
- 193,608+ already enrolled!
- Course Type: Instructor Paced
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In-demand Certifications:
There is no doubt that with a proper degree and possessing sufficient skills you can land a great job. But if you manage to earn a certification then this would help you earn more than those who don’t.
Top Companies/Organizations Hiring Cybersecurity Analyst
Cybersecurity analyst is a great career to enter right now as the demand for these professionals having such skills in increasing day-by-day. The number of jobs according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics is expected to increase more than 30% in the next ten years.
Top companies to hire cybersecurity analyst include Apple, Lockheed Martin, General Motors, Cisco Systems, Intel, Northrop Grumman, and Boeing etc.
Industries like government, healthcare, manufacturing, retail, and financial services are most likely to use services of cybersecurity analyst.
Cybersecurity Analyst Salary Statistics
In this section, we shall take a look at the average salaries of cybersecurity analysts in different major countries;
| Country | Average Salary (Yearly) |
| United States | $106,805 |
| Canada | CA$83,362 |
| United Kingdom | £35,105 |
| India | ₹580,854 |
| Australia | A$111,000 |
USA:
In United States, cybersecurity analyst can expect to earn around $106,805 annually.
Canada:
In Canada, working as a cybersecurity analyst can help you earn around CA$83,362 annually.
UK:
In United Kingdom, if you are working as a cybersecurity analyst, then you can expect to earn around £35,105 per annum.
India:
In India, cybersecurity analysts are making around ₹580,854 per year.
Australia:
In Australia, cybersecurity analysts can make around A$111,000 annually.
Cybersecurity Analyst vs Information Security Analyst
| Cybersecurity Analyst | Information Security Analyst |
| A cybersecurity analyst is responsible for data security that is stored in digital form including computers, hard drives, servers, networks, mobile devices etc. | On the other hand, an information security analyst protects data available in any form including digital as well as non-digital (including filing cabinet etc). |
References/Sources:
- https://www.glassdoor.com
- Please note that mentioned salary stats are as of September, 2023.
