Cyber Security Analyst Spotlight

A Cyber Security Analyst is the gatekeeper of a company’s digital information. They are the body guards who keep out viruses, review suspicious activities and protect against hackers. They keep constant tabs on threats and monitor their organization’s networks for any breaches in security.

What a typical day looks like:

Cyber Security Analysts in oil and gas look after the security of their company’s traditional IT environment of computerized offices and also deal with the added complexity of securing their company’s Internet of Things (IoT). IoT is the connectivity between physical devices which communicate and interact with each other over the internet and can be remotely monitored and controlled.

These analysts investigate security alerts, monitor attacks and investigate intrusions and unauthorized or illegal activity to identify the cause. They will also look at unsafe employee practices, such as clicking suspicious links and help managers make improvements or implement corrective action.

Cyber Security Analysts also plan for potential future trouble. Since cyber attackers are constantly using new tools and strategies, cyber security analysts need to stay informed about the weapons out there to create an appropriate defence. They create contingency plans that the company will use in case of a successful attack. Because they always need to be on high alert, this role can be highly stressful.

The kinds of problems Cyber Security Analysts solve at work:

Cyber Security Analysts are constantly solving problems. They look for weaknesses in their company’s computer systems and connections, collect evidence when there is suspicious activity, and find solutions to the problem. They install software and encryption, report breaches or weak spots, research IT trends, and educate the rest of the company on security order to keep the company’s data safe.

Skills used most on the job:

Cyber Security Analysts have strong technical and computer-based knowledge. They are also strong at risk assessment, project management and communicating technical information to non-technical people.

Cyber Security Analysts research, plan, design, co-ordinate, implement and support security measures for all digital information systems within an organization.