Cybersecurity analyst

Cybersecurity analysts are primarily responsible for monitoring and responding to security incidents. They analyze security alerts, investigate potential threats, and take swift actions to mitigate risks. Cybersecurity engineers focus on designing, implementing, and maintaining security solutions and infrastructure.

The cybersecurity analyst is also responsible for:

• Configuring tools:?This may come in the form of virus software, password protectors, and vulnerability management software. They will evaluate what the company needs and use these tools to protect its information.
• Reporting:?The analyst will detail what is currently going on in the network and evaluate its strengths. One of the skills needed is learning to read these reports. They will show what is well-protected and indicate if there is any unusual activity in the network.
• Evaluate weaknesses:?No network is fully secure, but the goal is to make it as secure as possible. Part of the job is to continuously test all company networks and find weaknesses before bad actors or external threats can compromise them.

While the day-to-day tasks of a cybersecurity analyst will vary from company to company, here are a few tasks and responsibilities pulled from real job listings:

• Monitor network traffic for security incidents and events
• Investigate incidents and respond to events in real time
• Write detailed incident response reports
• Install and operate firewalls, encryption programs, and other security software
• Fix vulnerabilities
• Develop and promote best practices for information security
• Conduct threat research
• Perform periodic risk assessments and penetration tests

Cybersecurity analysts need to understand the latest cyber threat landscape, as well as their company’s IT infrastructure. Depending on where you work, this might mean having familiarity with Windows, Mac, and Linux operating systems and experience with firewalls, VPNs, and proxies, as well as security and information event management systems (SIEMs).?

Top cybersecurity challenges

Evolving threats

One of the most problematic elements of cybersecurity is the evolving nature of security risks. As new technologies emerge -- and as technology is used in new or different ways -- new attack avenues are developed. Keeping up with these frequent changes and advances in attacks, as well as updating practices to protect against them, can be challenging. Issues include ensuring all elements of cybersecurity are continually updated to protect against potential vulnerabilities. This can be especially difficult for smaller organizations that don't have adequate staff or in-house resources.

Data deluge

Organizations can gather a lot of potential data on the people who use their services. With more data being collected comes the potential for a cybercriminal to steal personally identifiable information (PII). For example, an organization that stores PII in the cloud could be subject to a ransomware attack.

Cybersecurity awareness training

Cybersecurity programs should also address end-user education. Employees can accidentally bring threats and vulnerabilities into the workplace on their laptops or mobile devices. Likewise, they might act imprudently -- for example, clicking links or downloading attachments from phishing emails.

Workforce shortage and skills gap

Another cybersecurity challenge is a shortage of qualified cybersecurity personnel. As the amount of data collected and used by businesses grows, the need for cybersecurity staff to analyze, manage and respond to incidents also increases. In 2023, cybersecurity association ISC2 estimated the workplace gap between needed cybersecurity jobs and security professionals at 4 million, a 12.6% increase over 2022.

Supply chain attacks and third-party risks

Organizations can do their best to maintain security, but if the partners, suppliers and third-party vendors that access their networks don't act securely, all that effort is for naught. Software- and hardware-based supply chain attacks are becoming increasingly difficult security challenges.

Examples of cybersecurity vendors include the following:

• Check Point Software.
• Cisco.
• Code42 Software Inc.
• CrowdStrike.
• FireEye.
• Fortinet.
• IBM.
• Imperva.
• KnowBe4, Inc.
• McAfee.
• Microsoft.
• Palo Alto Networks.
• Rapid7.
• Splunk.
• Symantec by Broadcom.
• Trend Micro.
• Trustwave.