{"id":4532,"date":"2022-09-22T05:24:24","date_gmt":"2022-09-22T12:24:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/?p=4532"},"modified":"2023-08-25T07:47:26","modified_gmt":"2023-08-25T14:47:26","slug":"security-analyst-requirements-salaries","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.springboard.com\/blog\/cybersecurity\/security-analyst-requirements-salaries\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Become an Information Security Analyst [9 Step Guide]"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

As consumers become increasingly aware of the importance of data privacy, the demand for information security analysts\u2014professionals tasked with protecting an organization\u2019s data\u2014is growing exponentially. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, information security analyst roles are projected to grow 33% from 2020-2030, much faster than the average growth rate for other occupations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If this lucrative and growing career sounds appealing to you, then you may be wondering: how do I become an information security analyst? With this guide, of course! Below, we\u2019ll detail what an information security analyst does, what technical and soft skills you need to become one, and where to find your first job.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Is an Information Security Analyst?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Information security analysts protect organizations from data breaches and hacks. They develop, implement, and enforce security standards to protect sensitive information by performing risk assessments, installing and implementing security controls, and doing cyber defense planning to prevent future security incidents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Does an Information Security Analyst Do?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"What<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Security analysts have a range of responsibilities, from designing and implementing security controls to incident response<\/a> and educating employees about security best practices. Here\u2019s what that looks like in practice: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maintaining an Organization\u2019s Information Systems<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Information security analysts protect the data and information of an organization, its employees, and customers. Examples include personally identifiable information (PII) and intellectual property. Analysts are responsible for monitoring and maintaining network security, application security, and physical security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Monitoring Networks and Systems To Ensure There\u2019s No Suspicious Activity or Intrusions<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Analysts use and maintain firewalls and data encryption programs to protect sensitive information. They may also deploy defensive AI software to check for vulnerabilities in computer and network systems and to perform automated incident responses in the event of a breach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Conducting Risk Assessments and Creating Security Policies<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Information security analysts assess an organization\u2019s ability to protect its information systems from breaches and devise security measures to correct errors. They also study industry trends to forecast future attacks based on the current threat landscape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Responding to Security Incidents, Investigate, and Provide Support<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A security specialist performs incident response in the event of an attack. They investigate the nature and severity of the threat, determine if the intruder is still in the system, perform a root cause analysis, and take preventative measures to avoid a recurring attack.<\/p>\n\n\n