If you wish to become a security analyst, you can rest assured that it’s an excellent and prolific career choice. However, the process will indeed involve intensive training and difficult coding work, but all the practice and efforts are worth it.

Though security analysts are primarily responsible for monitoring and protecting computer infrastructure and information networks, this role involves is a pretty broad range of duties.

So, let’s look at what security analysts do and how to become one.

Who is a Security Analyst?

“Security” is a security analyst’s primary goal. Security analysts strive to identify weaknesses and loopholes in a company’s network security system, rectify issues, and prevent possible data breaches.

They can be found working in different places, safeguarding various organizations and institutions, including corporate databases, banking networks, office networks, military intelligence, and other institutes and departments that deal with sensitive information.

In short, a security analyst is a computer scientist or IT expert who protects his agency or company from cyber-attacks or hacking activities by criminals.

How to Become a Security Analyst?

The best part about software-related jobs is that most tech giants no longer demand a formal college degree from job applicants. Instead, if you can prove that you have the necessary skills and can work with a team, you can be hired to work at Google, Facebook, Apple, and other software companies.

Since security analysts also work with software, they can also be hired without a degree, given the required skillset. But, some companies prefer hiring people with a bachelor’s degree and prominent certifications for critical positions like security analysts.

Ideally, security analysts hold a bachelor’s degree in information security, network systems, computer science, or related fields. However, some people learn the necessary coding and security analysis skills and obtain a degree later in their career.

Anyway becoming a security analyst can be broken down into three simple steps:

Earn a Degree: A bachelor’s degree is often the standard minimum education requirement for becoming a security analyst. But, the condition may vary from one industry to another or as per the seniority of the role.

So, research your industry of choice and find out which degree level you should pursue. The bachelor’s primary area of study can include computer programming, cybersecurity, information security, and other related fields.

Obtain a Certification: If your bachelor’s degree didn’t have specific credit hours for cyber security or security analysis, you might have to complete a few certifications separately. But, most undergraduate or graduate programs already include the required topics or special certificates in the coursework.

However, in some cases, with credible cybersecurity certifications, security professionals with associate’s degrees or simple training are able to obtain entry-level cybersecurity jobs in the private sector.

Gain Experienced: Future security analysts must have some experience working in security analysis and closely related fields. The experience strengthens your resume and helps you stand out to future employers.

The above three steps are an example of this career pathway and can differ from one person to another. Plus, the total duration of becoming a security analyst will also depend upon your chosen career path.

Still, one can become an entry-level security analyst with 2 to 4 years of education.

“It takes 20 years to build a reputation and few minutes of cyber-incident to ruin it.”

Job Responsibilities

The on-job duties of a security analyst can range from controlling file access and credentials to maintaining firewalls and network updates. Meanwhile, they proactively try to hack their own systems to look for vulnerabilities and weaknesses.

However, the following are the usual tasks performed by them:

• They secure both online and on-premises infrastructures using metrics and data to filter out suspicious activity and find and mitigate risks before breaches occur.
• In case of a breach, security analysts act as front-line workers and make significant efforts to counter the attack. Further, they analyze the breach to identify the root cause.
• Moreover, they are also responsible for generating reports for administrators and managers to evaluate the efficiency of the security measures in place. The management then helps make necessary changes for a more secure network.
• Security analysts also help management to introduce training programs and modules to educate employees and users on proper security protocols
• Furthermore, security analysts keep the company’s security systems up-to-date and create documentation and planning for all security-related information, including incident response and disaster recovery plans.
• Additionally, security analysts verify third-party vendors’ security before collaborating with them on any projects.
• Though they are mostly hired, security analysts often work as consultants to design security protocols and systems, test and monitor them, and offer complete support and recovery in case of a breach.

At the end of the day, security analysts ensure that their company’s digital assets are protected from unauthorized access.

In terms of working environment, security analysts work both individually and collectively with teams of professionals from the network and IT departments.

Career Growth

Motivated security analysts with an aim to advance in their careers keep obtaining certificates and a diverse experience to get senior roles like:

• Security consultant,
• Security architect,
• Security engineer,
• Systems analyst specialist,
• Senior analyst,
• Director of Security, or
• Chief Information Security Officer (CISO)

Job Outlook and Earning Potential

With the ever-growing digital transformation across different industries, the need to protect private and organizational data is growing every day. This means that security analysts will stay in high demand for the coming years.

Though traditional cyber security protocols are primarily followed in finance, banking, the military, and the energy sector, consumer companies and retail brands are also stepping up their security and data protection.

Hence, security analysts are now needed in almost all online businesses. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that the job opportunities for security analysts will grow by a whopping 26% in the next 2 years.

This projected growth rate is one of the fastest among modern-day job sectors, which means investing your time and energy in becoming a security analyst will definitely pay off.

Moreover, in terms of money, the profession is incredibly prolific as the annual median salary for security analysts in 2019 was $99,730!

So, if you wish to play your part in keeping an organization’s proprietary and sensitive information secure and earn a handsome living, becoming a security analyst is a wonderful option.