How To Become A Cybersecurity Analyst

Role of a Cybersecurity Analyst

The role of a security analyst is to keep an organization’s proprietary information secure. It involves correcting flaws and identifying errors in the company’s security systems, applications, and programs. A cybersecurity analyst improves the overall security of a business and develops specific measures focusing on the safety of the organization.

What is the process for becoming a cybersecurity analyst?

Following the steps to become a cybersecurity analyst is important.

Step 1: Earn Degree

There are cybersecurity positions demanding a bachelor’s degree in information technology and computer science, software engineering, or any related degree. The cybersecurity degree and the bachelor’s degree are almost the same, featuring database application foundations, statistics, and programming.  As advanced studies show, it includes artificial intelligence, cryptography, and ethical hacking.

For the skills of cyber security analysts, students may study data protection and information systems. Acquiring training in technical and business skills includes database applications, system administration, and data recovery. However, the cyber security training courses will also concentrate on criminal psychology, digital forensics, and policy analysis as part of the IT security process.

Earning a bachelor’s degree, the graduates qualify as computer forensic analysts and information/cyber security analysts for entry-level positions.

Step 2: Complete internship

A must is internship completion while earning the bachelor degree. It gives work experience, first-hand experience working with professionals, acquiring industry connections, and some extra cash. Joining as an information security analyst is possible even without experience, but having some experience is beneficial.

Step 3: Get credentials with certification

Getting a certification is time-consuming and costly. Thus, getting credentials helps to stand out and you can negotiate demanding higher starting salary. Your experience and knowledge with certifications ensure the way to become a cybersecurity analyst. One of the first steps to becoming a cybersecurity analyst is to get recognized for your knowledge. There are many certifications and courses that can help you qualify for a job as a cybersecurity analyst. One certification is the CISSP cyber security certification. This certification shows that you have the knowledge of specific topics related to information systems security.

A few of the Cybersecurity certifications are:

• CISM, CISSP, GPEN, ECSA, CEH, and GSEC.

Step 4: Look for a Position

On acquiring the bachelor’s degree and experience with internship, besides certifications, you may look for suitable security analyst job positions. Other responsibilities may include:

1. Monitoring security access

2. Vulnerability testing and performing risk analysis

3. Updating response plans and disaster recovery in a company

4. Performing external and internal security audits.

5. Verifying access of third-party vendor to understand their security clearance.

6. Identifying breaches and its cause by analyzing security.

Skills in cybersecurity are important as you must be one step ahead of hackers. Some important skills to acquire for a information security analyst are:

1. Working in a team

Getting long and working in a team with others is a skill required for any profession. It is important in cybersecuity professionals to regularly work in a team to establish secure networks and systems.

2. Communication skills

Professionals of cybersecurity must be experts in communication, verbal and written skills. It is because this job role requires communicating with employers, staff, clients, executives, network administrators, legal professionals, law enforcement, public relations staff, and lots more.

3. Comprehending security principles

Thoroughly understanding the security principles that encompass access control, confidentiality, privacy, and more keeping the systems less prone to attacks.

4. Programming skills

Following in systems and networking the programming skills is imperative. It means to regularly work with programming scripts and tools, and to analyze security programs from cyber-attacks and breaches.

5. Integrity

The cybersecurity analyst role or position requires you to be honest and sensitive to security issues. You should be capable to tackle the issue, trust your judgment, respect staff members, and accomplish goals as a team leader. You should possess analytical principles knowledge to access clients and staff security needs to secure networks and to keep the systems secure.