Almost all personal, professional, and financial transactions can now be done online thanks to the digital era. However, the advantages of the cyber world come with the risk of cyber-attacks, data breaches, and a variety of other online threats. To protect individuals and large organizations, cyber security analysts play a critical role in preventing cyber-attacks or system compromise.
What exactly does a cyber-security analyst do?
People who monitor computer infrastructure, databases, computer networks, and information networks to ensure their security are known as cyber security analysts. Cyber security analysts, also known as information security analysts or threat intelligence analysts are responsible for a variety of tasks, including:
- Security incidents are prioritized.
- Policy and best practise development
- Preventing unauthorized access to networks and computer systems
- And, while securing as much data as possible, developing countermeasures to any potential breaches.
Key cyber security skills
Having the appropriate skill set can help you land the job.
1. Soft communication skills
Soft communication skills are a must for the best cyber security analysts. All of an analyst’s technical knowledge is useless if he or she cannot explain to a senior executive why or how changes are required.
2. Passion for computer technology
This one may seem self-evident, but it’s critical to remember that cyber security isn’t like most other IT jobs. You’ll need to stay on top of the latest technologies as well as the threats to which they’re vulnerable.
3. Detail-oriented and problem-solving abilities
For defending your company against cyber-attacks, having a keen eye for minor changes in the status quo is a useful skill. A detail-oriented person can quickly and effectively detect risks and loopholes. When you’re constantly monitoring systems and need to identify security concerns quickly, being vigilant is a crucial skill.
Responsibilities
- Demonstrate spreadsheet and Excel proficiency in a variety of data analysis tasks, including data wrangling and data mining.
- Work to build dashboards and create various charts and plots in Excel. Use Python libraries like Matplotlib to visualize data.
- Develop a working knowledge of Python so that you can use Python libraries like Pandas and Numpy to analyze data and call APIs and Web Services.
- Explain the data ecosystem. Create SQL and Python queries to access data in cloud databases from Jupyter notebooks.
Average pay for a cyber-security analyst
The average pay for a cyber-security analyst varies depending on the company. Education, certification, and years of experience are also factors that influence a cyber-security analyst’s salary.
In the United States, the average annual salary is $83,016. Salary ranges from $25,000 to $175,000 per year in some cases.
Career Path
Depending on a variety of factors, cyber security roles come with a wide range of job titles and responsibilities. For example, depending on regulatory and legal responsibilities, different industries (such as finance and healthcare) will have different cyber security requirements.
Consider the following roles:
- Cyber security engineer
- Ethical hacker
- Cyber security administrator
- Cyber security auditor
Are you planning to become a Cyber security analyst? We hope this informative article will help you get some direction. Do let us know in the comments below if you would want more such article on any other conventional or non-conventional professions.
