Cyber Security Analyst
Cyber Security Analysts play a vital role in protecting businesses from ever-evolving threats. Learn more about the role Cyber Security Analysts can play within an organisation, and the skills and training you need to become one.
Role profile
What is a cyber security analyst?
Cyber security analysts form an important part of any cyber security operation, forming the defensive backbone of organisation's security infrastructure and resilience. They support the active defence of an organisations networks, systems, services and data.
What does a cyber security analyst do?
A cyber security analyst is responsible for monitoring for potential threats, helping to prevent unauthorised access, analysing logs, reviewing vulnerabilities and responding to incidents as part of a wider team.
Threat research activities, as a cyber security analyst can help to develop deeper skills to progress to more specialist cyber roles, like the Cyber Security Threat Hunter.
What are the main responsibilities of a cyber security analyst?
These are the common roles and responsibilities of a cyber security analyst:
- Respond and triage security incidents
- Analyse security logs, alerts and breaches
- Conduct security vulnerability assessments
- Investigate potential threats
- Monitoring network traffic for suspicious activity
- Generate reports on security incidents with recommendations
- Maintain systems with the latest security patches
- Collaborate with colleagues and third parties
- Research threat activities
What are the key skills of a cyber security analyst?
Technical skills: These are the key technical skills that may be required by cyber security analysts:
- Python & PowerShell scripting
- Linux & Windows operating systems
- Networking & cloud platforms
- Vulnerability management
- Cryptography fundamentals
- Threat detection techniques
- Software engineering security
- Incident response processes
- Malware analysis investigation
Soft skills: here are some of the key personal and interpersonal skills that may be required for this role:
- Critical thinking
- Analytical problem solving
- Constant curious mindset
- Collaboration
- Communication
- Creative thinkers
- Report writing
What are other titles for cyber security analysts?
A cyber security analyst might also be known as a:
- Information security analyst
- Security operations centre analyst
- IT security analyst
- Network security analyst
How does QA support cyber security analyst training?
QA provides a number of industry-leading cyber security analyst courses and certifications, all delivered by cyber experts with real-world experience.
Our cyber security training portfolio includes qualifications from a number of leading accreditation bodies, including EC-Council, ISACA, ISC2, NotSoSecure and more.
We also provide a number of cyber security apprenticeship programmes, designed to help organisations upskill their teams and fill the vital skills gaps in their teams, such as cyber security analysts.
Cyber security analyst insights
How to become a cyber security analyst
There are a number routes and learning pathways available for those that want to become a cyber security analyst. Explore our training options, which includes courses, certifications and apprenticeship programmes.
Cyber security analyst learning paths
Our cyber security analyst pathway includes training for all levels of experience, from beginner essentials courses to the expert level Certified Security Operations Manager certification.
Cyber security certifications
Discover our range of cyber security certifications, perfect for security analysts that want to develop their skills and progress their career.
Cyber security apprenticeships
Our Cyber Security apprenticeship programmes are arming organisations with critical technical security know how, and enduring soft skills to become the defenders of the future.
Top certifications for cyber security analysts
CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst
EC Council Certified Network Defender (v3)
Certified Network Defender (CND) v3 is the world's first network security program with a continual / adaptive security strategy.
Certified Cyber Defence Operator
Certified Cyber Defence Operator (CDO) is a 12-month, self-paced, defensive cybersecurity pathway combining structured on-demand learning with continuous education and gamified skills assessment.
Certified in Hacking and Defending the Cloud
With the rapid adoption of cloud infrastructure and the prevalence of hybrid cloud environments among organisations, the need to address cloud misconfigurations has become paramount.
Insights from the experts
"A cyber security analyst is the defensive backbone of cyber security operations. Skilled individuals are vital for maintaining the security and resilience of an organisation’s digital assets, and supply chain, as they proactively defend against threats and respond swiftly when incidents occur."
"Their expertise helps protect sensitive data, maintain customer trust, and ensure business continuity in an increasingly connected and cyber-threat-prone world."
Cyber Security Portfolio Director
Useful reads on Cyber Security
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