Your Path to Becoming a Cybersecurity Analyst [2024]

What Is a Cyber Security Analyst?

A Cyber Security Analyst is a specialized IT professional dedicated to protecting an organization’s information systems and networks from cyber threats. Their primary responsibility is to safeguard data integrity, confidentiality, and availability by monitoring, detecting, and responding to security incidents. This role involves continuous vigilance through the use of security tools such as firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and SIEM software to identify and analyze potential threats. Cyber Security Analysts conduct vulnerability assessments and penetration testing to uncover and address weaknesses within the system. They also develop and enforce security policies and protocols, ensuring compliance with industry standards and regulations. Additionally, they play a critical role in incident response, managing and mitigating the impact of security breaches. By staying updated with the latest threat intelligence and cybersecurity trends, Cyber Security Analysts proactively defend against emerging cyber threats, thereby maintaining the resilience and security of an organization’s IT infrastructure. Their expertise is essential in a world where cyber threats are constantly evolving, making them indispensable in protecting sensitive information and maintaining operational continuity.

Cyber Security Analyst vs Cyber Security Engineer

• Role Focus:

• Cyber Security Analysts primarily focus on monitoring, detecting, and responding to security incidents and threats in real-time.
• Cybersecurity Engineers are responsible for designing, implementing, and maintaining security solutions and infrastructure to protect against cyber threats.

• Responsibilities:

• Cyber Security Analysts handle tasks such as incident response, threat analysis, vulnerability assessments, security monitoring, and developing security policies.
• Cybersecurity Engineers design and build secure networks, develop security protocols, implement access controls, and perform security assessments.

• Skill Set:

• Cyber Security Analysts require strong analytical skills, attention to detail, and proficiency in security tools like SIEM systems and intrusion detection systems.
• Cybersecurity Engineers need technical skills in areas such as network security, cryptography, secure software development, and knowledge of security standards.

• Education and Experience:

• Cyber Security Analysts typically have a bachelor's degree in a related field, practical experience, and relevant certifications like CompTIA Security+ or CEH.
• Cybersecurity Engineers usually hold a bachelor's or master's degree in computer science or cybersecurity, along with advanced certifications like CISSP or CEH.

• Focus Area:

• Cyber Security Analysts focus on operational aspects, identifying and mitigating immediate threats, and ensuring the organization's security posture.
• Cybersecurity Engineers concentrate on designing and implementing security solutions, architectures, and infrastructure to build resilient systems against cyber attacks.

Information Security Analyst vs Cyber Security Analyst

• Role Focus:

• Information Security Analysts primarily focus on protecting an organization's information assets by implementing security measures, policies, and procedures.
• Cybersecurity Analysts focus on monitoring, detecting, and responding to cyber threats and incidents to safeguard the organization's digital infrastructure.

• Responsibilities:

• Information Security Analysts handle tasks such as risk assessments, security audits, access controls management, incident response planning, and policy development.
• Cybersecurity Analysts are responsible for analyzing security data, investigating breaches, conducting threat assessments, and implementing security measures to mitigate risks.

• Skill Set:

• Information Security Analysts require skills in risk management, compliance frameworks, access control technologies, and incident response planning.
• Cybersecurity Analysts need strong analytical skills, proficiency in security tools like SIEM systems and intrusion detection systems, and knowledge of network security protocols.

• Education and Experience:

• Information Security Analysts typically have a bachelor's degree in information security, computer science, or a related field, along with relevant certifications like CISSP or CISA.
• Cybersecurity Analysts may have a similar educational background but often focus more on technical skills, gaining experience through internships, entry-level positions, and obtaining certifications such as CompTIA Security+ or CEH.

• Focus Area:

• Information Security Analysts concentrate on protecting data integrity, confidentiality, and availability, ensuring compliance with regulations and industry standards.
• Cybersecurity Analysts focus on monitoring and responding to cyber threats in real-time, conducting incident investigations, and implementing security measures to prevent future incidents.

Watch the video below to understand the career prospects of a cyber security professional.

How to Become a Cyber Security Analyst?

Here's a step-by-step guide on how to become a Cyber Security Analyst:

1. Educational Foundation

• Obtain a bachelor's degree: While not always mandatory, a bachelor's degree in computer science, information technology, cybersecurity, or a related field provides a solid foundation.
• Focus on relevant coursework: Take courses in cybersecurity, network security, cryptography, computer forensics, and information assurance to gain specialized knowledge in the field.

• Internships: Seek out internships or entry-level positions in IT, cybersecurity, or related fields to gain hands-on experience and exposure to real-world security practices.
• Work on projects: Engage in personal or academic projects related to cybersecurity, such as building secure networks, conducting vulnerability assessments, or participating in capture-the-flag (CTF) competitions.

• Learn security tools and technologies: Familiarize yourself with security tools such as SIEM (Security Information and Event Management) systems, intrusion detection/prevention systems (IDS/IPS), firewalls, and antivirus software.
• Gain proficiency in networking: Understand network protocols, routing, switching, and network security principles to effectively analyze and secure network traffic.

• CompTIA Security+: A foundational certification covering essential security concepts and best practices.
• Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH): Focuses on ethical hacking techniques, penetration testing, and identifying vulnerabilities.
• Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP): A more advanced certification covering a wide range of security topics, including risk management, cryptography, and security architecture.

• Stay informed: Keep up-to-date with the latest cybersecurity trends, threats, and best practices by following industry news, attending conferences, and participating in webinars.
• Join cybersecurity communities: Engage with cybersecurity professionals through online forums, social media groups, and local meetups to exchange knowledge, ask questions, and build connections.

• Look for entry-level positions such as Security Analyst, SOC (Security Operations Center) Analyst, or Junior Cybersecurity Analyst to kickstart your career.
• Highlight relevant skills and experiences from internships, projects, and certifications on your resume and during job interviews.

• Pursue advanced certifications: As you gain experience, consider pursuing advanced certifications such as Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) or Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP) to further enhance your skills and credentials.
• Never stop learning: Cybersecurity is a rapidly evolving field, so continuously seek opportunities for professional development, whether through formal education, online courses, or self-study.

By following these steps and continuously honing your skills and knowledge, you can embark on a rewarding career path as a Cyber Security Analyst.

What Are Cyber Security Analyst Roles and Responsibilities?

Cyber Security Analysts play a critical role in safeguarding organizations' digital assets and infrastructure from a myriad of cyber threats. Their responsibilities encompass a wide range of tasks aimed at detecting, mitigating, and preventing security breaches. Here's an elaborate breakdown of the roles and responsibilities typically associated with this vital position:

1. Investigating Security Breaches: Cyber Security Analysts are tasked with investigating and analyzing security breaches or incidents to identify the root cause, extent of damage, and potential vulnerabilities exploited by malicious actors.
2. Monitoring Attacks and Intrusion Detection: They continuously monitor networks, systems, and applications for suspicious activities or unauthorized access attempts using intrusion detection systems (IDS) and other security tools.
3. Incident Response: When security incidents occur, Cyber Security Analysts lead the incident response process, coordinating efforts to contain, mitigate, and recover from the incident while minimizing impact on operations.
4. Developing Best Practices: They develop and enforce security best practices, policies, and procedures to ensure compliance with industry standards and regulatory requirements, as well as to strengthen the organization's overall security posture.
5. Ethical Hacking: Some Cyber Security Analysts engage in ethical hacking or penetration testing to proactively identify and address vulnerabilities before they can be exploited by malicious actors.
6. Maintaining Security Software: They are responsible for installing, configuring, and updating security software such as firewalls, antivirus programs, and intrusion detection/prevention systems to protect against evolving threats.
7. Vulnerability Auditing: Conducting vulnerability assessments and audits to identify weaknesses in systems, networks, and applications, and recommending remediation actions to address these vulnerabilities.
8. Creating Disaster Recovery Plans: Developing and maintaining disaster recovery and business continuity plans to ensure the organization can quickly recover from cyber incidents and resume normal operations.
9. Cloud Security: Securing cloud-based infrastructure, applications, and data by implementing appropriate security controls, encryption mechanisms, and access management policies.
10. Developing Security Plans: Collaborating with IT teams and stakeholders to develop comprehensive security plans and strategies aligned with business objectives and risk tolerance levels.
11. Implementing Security Measures: Implementing technical security measures, such as access controls, encryption, multi-factor authentication, and network segmentation, to protect against unauthorized access and data breaches.
12. Managing Software: Managing security-related software solutions, including deployment, configuration, patch management, and license compliance.
13. Monitoring Networks: Continuously monitoring network traffic, logs, and security alerts to detect and respond to potential security incidents in real-time.
14. Monitoring Security Access: Monitoring user access privileges and permissions to ensure adherence to the principle of least privilege and prevent unauthorized access to sensitive data or systems.
15. Researching Security Trends: Staying abreast of emerging cyber threats, attack techniques, and security trends through continuous research and professional development activities.
16. Security Controls: Implementing and enforcing security controls, such as firewalls, intrusion prevention systems (IPS), data loss prevention (DLP) solutions, and security information and event management (SIEM) platforms.
17. Threat Analysis: Analyzing and assessing the severity and potential impact of security threats and vulnerabilities to prioritize remediation efforts and allocate resources effectively.
18. Software Testing: Conducting security testing, including vulnerability scanning, penetration testing, and code reviews, to identify and remediate security weaknesses in applications and systems.
19. Creating Incident Reports: Documenting security incidents, their impact, and the response actions taken in detailed incident reports for regulatory compliance and organizational learning purposes.
20. Fixing Vulnerabilities: Collaborating with IT teams and vendors to address and remediate identified security vulnerabilities through patches, updates, configuration changes, or other mitigation measures.
21. Intrusion Prevention: Deploying and managing intrusion prevention systems (IPS) and other security controls to detect and block unauthorized access attempts and malicious activities in real-time.
22. Monitoring and Implementing Antivirus Software: Ensuring antivirus and anti-malware solutions are up-to-date and effectively deployed across the organization's endpoints to prevent malware infections and data breaches.
23. Advising Management of Security Risks: Providing regular updates and reports to senior management on the organization's security posture, emerging threats, and recommended actions to mitigate security risks effectively.

What Are the Important Skills for Cyber Security Analysts?

A cyber security analyst needs to have a broad range of skills to be able to handle malware and security breaches. The most important skills for a cyber security analyst are:

Scripting

Working knowledge of computer programming languages and scripts like Java or C++ is highly sought after. This enables cyber security analysts to understand encoded threats and rewrite software, if needed.

Hacking

Cyber security analysts need to think like a hacker to understand the hacking process. This will enable them to prepare for cyber attacks and prevent them before they even occur.

Networking

Cyber security analysts need to have a vast expertise in working with diverse networks and understand how each of these elements can impact the security of an organization.

Operating Systems

Cyber security analysts need to be comfortable working on all types of operating systems such as Linux, Windows, iOS, Android etc.

Cyber Security Analyst Future Scope

As cyber attacks and threats become more frequent, the demand for cyber security analysts continue to grow. According to RiskBased Security, a shocking 7.9 billion records were exposed by data breaches in the first nine months of 2019. This was a 112% increase in the number of records exposed in 2018.

Cyber security analyst jobs are projected to grow upto 31 percent from 2019 to 2029, which is much faster than any other occupation. A job description for cyber security analysts may differ for different organizations and sectors. However, here are some common attributes found in every one of them:

• Configure antivirus systems and consoles and take care of day-to-day operations and data structures
• Conduct threat and risk analysis and provide viable solutions for them
• Collect and analyze data to eliminate risk, performance and capacity issues
• Create tools and actively take part in the security architecture reviews
• Design and develop security features and procedures
• Integrate and deploy security software solutions
• Design secure principles and optimize new technology services

Cyber Security Analyst Salary

A cyber security analyst salary depends on a range of factors including experience, qualifications, skills, sectors, and locations. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary of a cyber security analyst is  $99,730. Those at the highest 10 percent earn more than $158,860 per year, and those at the lowest 10 percent earn about $57,810 per year.

Certifications Required to Become a Cyber Security Analyst

There are a number of certifications out there that are beneficial for both entry-level and existing cyber security analysts. 

Certified Ethical Hacker Certification

A Certified Ethical Hacker certification allows you to lawfully use your hacking abilities and knowledge to improve an organization’s security. This certification validates that you have the skills to look for weaknesses and vulnerabilities in target systems like a malicious hacker, but uses it in a lawful and legitimate manner to assess the security of organizations.

CISSP Certification

A Certified Information Systems Security Professional or CISSP Certification is a globally recognized information security certification created by the International Information Systems Security Certification Consortium (ISC). It validates your skills in designing, building, and maintaining a secure business environment using globally approved information security standards

CISA Certification 

A Certified Information Systems Auditor or CISA Certification is a designation issued by the Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA). This is a globally recognized certification that validates your skills in auditing, control, and security of information systems.

Here’s What You Should Do Next

If you’re interested in ethical hacking and passionate about building the best defense systems out there, cyber security is the perfect career path for you. Simplilearn’s Advanced Executive Program in Cybersecurity is specially designed for those who want to enhance and upgrade their technical and programming skills to handle security challenges. With live Masterclasses from the amazing IIT Kanpur faculty, hands-on projects, and live classes from industry practitioners and experts, this program will help you learn all the in-demand skills you need to rock your cyber security career.

Explore the best cyber security courses and consider enrolling in a cybersecurity bootcamp to gain practical experience and further enhance your expertise in this dynamic field.

If you have any questions or doubts, feel free to post them in the comments section below. Our team will get back to you at the earliest.