What Does an Information Security Analyst Do In their Job?
Cyber-attacks have been on the rise around the globe and with the increase in hackers and data breaches sweeping through businesses and small, there is greater need to keep valuable and top-secret information safe from cyber criminals. Information security analysts are valued for their role in protecting data and information from malicious attacks. These professionals are often employed by government agencies, banking and financial services, healthcare companies, and IT service providers.
Information Security Analyst's Job Duties
The primary obligation of the information security analyst is to ensure that all subtle information within a company is fully secured. The analyst also helps create, implement, and make certain that there is total compliance with policies to protect a company’s data from inappropriate use or access. This is achieved by establishing firewalls and encoding all data transmissions to protect confidential information while it is transmitted or received. This means protecting the systems from internal and externals attacks.
An analyst promotes security awareness in an organization by improving both the security of its computer data and network and server efficacy. Furthermore, they document security and emergency policies, tests, and procedures. It’s, therefore, imperative for the analyst to be up-to-date with the regulatory requirements given that information security legal requirements are prone to changes.
If there are any areas vulnerable to attacks, information security analysts ought to communicate the same to the company or customers. The analyst also determines when to update protection. Moreover, they organize and conduct routine training of the organization’s staff concerning the security and information protection needs. The information security analyst is responsible for maintaining or modifying computer security files to integrate or add new software, correct errors, and even change an individual’s access status.
Information security analyst develops strategies to avert any inadvertent or malicious use of data, train users on security procedures, develop plans for emergency use, and monitors access to data. Also, the analyst may be required to go over information on viruses and make sure that appropriate virus protection is put in place. They may further be tasked to look at possible risks of data exposure and ensure that security system in good shape and working as intended. Information security analyst may be a great resource, especially for application development project teams since they will ensure that the application fully conforms to the company’s information security standards.
Information security analysts are required to be a step ahead of cyber attackers. This means staying up to date on the new IT security technology and the latest methods used by attackers to penetrate networks and computer systems. Analysts need to conduct thorough research on new security technology in order to come up with the most effective option that will be applied in protecting their organization.
Qualities and Skills to Excel in this Field
The demand for information security analysts is higher than it’s ever been and it’s improbable to slow down anytime soon. With the pressure from an ever-growing threat landscape, organizations in the business world continue to call on those professionals with the qualities and skills that can help protect their data and systems from harm. As such, information security analysts must hone and expand their skill set. The following are in-demand qualities and skills that employers look for and analysts should possess in order to succeed in this field:
- Writing and public speaking skills
- Problem-solving skills
- Detail oriented
- Ability to work in a team setting
- Analytical skills
- Ingenuity
- Curious, creative thinking
- Time management
- Judgment and decision making
- Service orientation
Importance of Information Security Education
Formal information security education is crucial as it ensures that only the right people learn the right things. You would not want to board a plane whose captain has read pilot books but has never attended aviation training. Formal education in the IT field is equally important as it enables analysts to perform certain tasks. In addition, education allows for the transfer of knowledge and evaluation of outcomes.
Formal education conforms to curricula that have been developed and refined by experts. Mastering such information makes one an appealing candidate to prospective employers. Information security analysts need at least a bachelor’s degree in cyber network security, computer science, or a related field.
Career opportunities in the information security field will continue to grow and analysts need to get caught up with the latest technologies, techniques, and tools to stay marketable. If you’re able to demonstrate an advanced skill set and understanding of information security, one can get a promising job opportunity across every sector whether public or private.
Are you interested in the world of cyber security? If you are and want to earn a Master of Science in Cyber Security, ECPI University offers this program at an accelerated pace. For more information about this exciting degree, connect with a friendly admissions representative today.
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