The cyber security analyst job description includes many services now deemed essential for modern businesses. Many companies have financial services that support their huge rosters of clients. This includes processing sensitive consumer information and storing it on a company’s system. If those systems aren’t secure, then all that data becomes vulnerable.
Companies need a cyber security (also called “cybersecurity”) analyst to make sure their systems are updated and their consumer information is secure. Otherwise, they put themselves at risk for lawsuits and data fraud. Therefore, to become a cybersecurity analyst or to hire one, you need to know what the job entails. Read on to learn the major skills required to become a cybersecurity analyst in a growing field.
What is a Cyber Security Analyst?
Hackers and data thieves have become more common as technology improves. Many companies’ default security procedures can’t keep up with the new methods of cyber thieves. They’re upping their game. Therefore, retailers, financial institutions, and any company that stores and processes financial information need advanced security features.
Just one bank could have thousands of customers whose financial information needs to be protected. They need secure systems that give customers peace of mind when they log into the bank’s servers and enter their financial information. Hackers know how to take advantage of outdated systems and expose private information.
So, companies hire a cybersecurity analyst. They analyze a company’s security systems, test for breaches in the system, and also keep the features updated. If a breach occurs, a cybersecurity analyst needs to know what to do. They will work to restore the system and locate the breach.
Duties in the Cyber Security Analyst Job Description
A company’s system has many moving parts. If they process financial information, especially as a large firm or banking institution, there are many factors that a cybersecurity analyst much consider.
Security access is a major aspect of cybersecurity analysis. Who has access to the network? What passwords do they use? Cybersecurity analysts ensure that passwords are strong and secure, log-ins are restricted to verified personnel, and firewalls are up to date.
Cybersecurity analysts also perform system assessments. They test a company’s security system for risks and vulnerabilities and help the institution maintain proper safety standards. This also includes security audits to keep company managers informed about how their systems are performing and how they could be improved.
In terms of eventual breaches, cybersecurity analysts first have to figure out where the breach came from. If there’s a weakness in the system, they deal with it. Then, the analyst comes up with a recovery plan for the company so that employers know what they need to do next. Installing or retrieving proper backups is part of this plan.
The Takeaway
The cyber security analyst job description includes building and refining a company’s security system, testing it for breaches, and helping a company respond to disaster. Audits, tests, and updates are part of the package.
Therefore, experience in IT tech can allow someone to transition easily to a cybersecurity analyst job, one of the fastest-growing fields in security technologies. As more people use computers to buy or save their money, more analysts will be needed.