How to become a Cybersecurity analyst ?

Become a Cybersecurity analyst

 A cybersecurity analyst is someone who monitors computer systems, networks, and software for potential security threats. They look for anything out of place or strange activity that could be considered suspicious.

Cybersecurity analysts work mostly in corporate settings, where they can monitor an employee’s computer use, check social media accounts, and investigate online shopping patterns.

Because their jobs often require working both independently and as part of a team, cyber analysts are sometimes called “team players.” Due to this reason, it is very important that they develop strong communication skills.

While most people will agree that cybersecurity professionals have a special talent, what sets them apart is how they apply that talent. This article will go into more detail about some of the qualities needed to become a cybersecurity professional.

Get a degree

After completing high school, most successful cybersecurity professionals have either received a bachelor’s or master’s degree in computer science, information technology, business administration, or some combination of these. These are typically generalist degrees that can help you become an analyst, software engineer, manager, or other roles within cybersecurity.

Most cyber analysts begin their careers as entry-level security consultants who work with small businesses on securing their networks and systems from internal and external threats. As they advance in their careers, many move up into more technical positions like working as a network/system administrator, developer, researcher, or program architect.

Education is one of the main factors leading to higher pay for cybersecurity professionals. According to Business Insider, the average total income for a senior IT specialist (which is what a cybersecurity professional was labeled in their article) is $66,000 per year – which makes a difference of almost 30% depending on where you reside.

That means if you are already trained in cybersecurity but are not making enough money, it may be time to look for another job!

Held by top-ranking organizations such as the IEEE and ISACA, this certificate recognizes individuals whose expertise in cybersecurity is well-rounded and mission-critical. It is also good certification for those looking to enter the field.

A CISSP is recognized nationally and globally as a standard for cybersecurity management professionals.

Find a job

As we know, cybersecurity is an ever-changing field that requires staying up-to-date with new technologies and skills. Due to this, most companies are not going to hire someone directly as a cybersecurity analyst. They’ll either recruit you for a position such as security consultant or information technology (IT) specialist, or they’ll have you complete certification exams before giving you the professional title of cyber analyst.

With there being so many different positions in cybersecurity, it can be tricky knowing where to look for work. Luckily, The Balance has you covered! We’ve gathered some great resources from top universities and career sites to help you find your dream job quickly and easily.

From this article, you will learn about three of these great websites. Check out the links after this paragraph!

How to become a cybersecurity analyst – the best way to get into the industry

Link 1: Monster

Monster is one of the biggest jobs listing sites in America. With over 10 million listings across all industries, employers have access to almost every job available. This includes positions at both large corporations and small businesses.

By using their powerful search features, you will be able to sort through millions of results to identify which positions are relevant to you. You will also be able to filter by employment type, area, and seniority.

Overall, Monster is a very accessible tool for professionals looking to start their career in cybersecurity.

Read up on cybersecurity

Now that you have an understanding of what it means to be a cybersecurity professional, your next step is to learn as much about it as possible. You will need to understand how individual pieces of cyber technology work, there are some major platforms used by professionals, and how various departments in a company use security software or products.

Cybersecurity analysts are usually involved with testing newly purchased devices and systems for vulnerabilities, ensuring that they’re secure before being deployed, investigating incidents to determine root causes and developing preventative measures, and helping develop new technologies or tools to help protect networks and users from malicious activity.

With the growth of mobile computing and social networking sites like Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter, protecting user data has become more important than ever! As companies continue to offer their services free to individuals, hackers have been able to target vulnerable accounts and personal information easily. Security experts must investigate these instances and find ways to mitigate threats.

There are several certification programs designed to test candidates on general cybersecurity concepts and skills. These programs do not require any background in computer science, but rather solid literacy and math skills along with an ability to apply knowledge across different fields.

A good starting point if you want to pursue this career path is the Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) credential. This credential is only available through Pearson VUE, a large vendor network that offers both virtual and in-person assessments.

Practice testing and debugging

A large part of cybersecurity analyst work is practicing test-and-debug processes. This means trying out new tools, applications, or systems and figuring out how they work under the hood before you apply them to real situations.

Practicing this process takes time, but it will make your career as a cybersecurity analyst much faster.

Start by taking some tests to see if you already have what it takes. There are many free resources that can help you hone your skills, such as websites, apps, and software designed to do exactly that — test yourself.

From there, read up on advanced uses for these tools so you can apply them in more complex scenarios. When possible, try experimenting with these practices on actual projects to get hands-on experience.

Cybersecurity analysts should always be looking into ways to improve their knowledge and skill sets, which is one of the main reasons why education is so important.

Be familiar with different software and hardware

As mentioned before, being a cybersecurity analyst is more than just knowing how to use certain applications like Norton Antivirus or Microsoft Office. It also means understanding various types of equipment used for cyber security such as firewalls, routers, and computer systems.

Security professionals must be able to identify if something seems off about these devices and what settings they have in order to ensure that computers are secure and protected. This includes things like checking search history, looking at browser logs, and testing functionality (does it work?)

It’s important to note here that not all technology companies create quality products. Some may develop poor quality apps or malware-ridden software. The next time you see a product described as “X best app ever!” make sure you do your research first by searching reviews online and talking to people who have already experimented with it.

Be familiar with different hacking techniques

As mentioned before, cybersecurity analysts work in various areas of technology and business. Therefore, what kind of job openings are available for you depends on your current skill set as well as how much experience you have in other areas.

For example, if you’re very knowledgeable about computer programming, then working as a software engineer is a great next step in career development. Or, if you’ve got some background in networking, that could open up opportunities in the fields of information security or system administrator.

And while most cybersecurity professionals focus exclusively on computer programs and technologies, there are also individuals who specialize in incident response or ethical issues related to cybersecurity.

Be familiar with different malware

Malware is a term that describes computer software or programs that have malicious purposes. There are many types of malware, such as viruses, spy tools, trojans, rootkits, and more.

Most cybersecurity analysts deal with one type of malware at least superficially. This could be through direct experience in removing it, having it analyzed by someone else, reading about it online, or through training courses or certification exams that include it.

There are several reasons why becoming a cybersecurity analyst is a worthy goal. First, being able to identify if something is malicious helps prevent damage to your computer or stolen information. Second, most jobs in this field require you to be very detail-oriented and careful with what you do so people can trust you. Third, finding employment as a cybersecurity analyst is quite competitive so getting trained ahead of time makes it easier to find work.

A good first step towards becoming a cybersecurity analyst is to become an expert in one particular piece of malware. It’s best to pick a virus or other program that is either particularly notorious or easy to analyze.

Understand the different types of attacks

A cybersecurity analyst does not just look for instances of malware, suspicious activity, or breach reports, they also analyze how attackers infiltrate systems and what actions they take once inside.

A security analyst looks at malicious software (also called computer viruses, worms, or Trojan horses) in depth. They assess whether the infected user acted normally before being duped into installing the virus, as well as if there is anything unusual about the way the infection occurred.

Cybersecurity analysts who study browser hijacks, for instance, examine whether the browser was tricked into visiting a fraudulent website that then uses stealthy methods to get the victim’s login credentials.

They also investigate why an attacker would choose to target a specific individual or organization, and what their intended goals are. All of this information helps prevent future cyberattacks by deterring potential perpetrators and figuring out how to protect your system or network from similar schemes.