How Does a Cybersecurity Analyst Help Fight Cyber Crime?

Posted on August 31, 2022 Blog Press Release

It’s a bird! It’s a plane! Wait… no… it’s… it’s…. a Cybersecurity Analyst!

Okay, okay, a Cybersecurity Analyst does not wear a cape or fly in the air, but they can fight crime. Cybercrime, that is.

The forecast for global spending on cybersecurity in 2022 expects to reach as much as $133.7 billion. Why so much?

For one reason, a hacker attacks a user online every 32 seconds. Another reason is that breaches can cost a company as much as $3.92 million.

With cybercrime on the rise, there are a lot of substantial reasons to hire a Cybersecurity Analyst. How do they help fight crime? Keep reading for a closer look.

What Is a Cybersecurity Analyst?

They can work as a part of the security team. Cybersecurity Analysts dedicate their role to protecting the company’s computer networks, software, and hardware.

The Cybersecurity Analyst has the primary responsibility of understanding the IT structure of the organization. This person always monitors it. They evaluate threats that can lead to a security breach.

A Day in the Life

A typical day for a Cybersecurity Analyst is one that preps and responds to cyber threats. They plan, evaluate, and execute security measures. Additional day-to-day tasks include:

  • Finding and reporting a security breach and vulnerabilities
  • Installing encryption
  • Installing firewall tools
  • Educating stakeholders on cybersecurity importance

These professionals will identify flaws and vulnerabilities. They will perform a thorough risk analysis, test, and simulate attacks to evaluate system performance.

This analyst will create a backup should a company suffer a cyber-attack.

What Does a Cybersecurity Analyst Need?

To qualify as a Cybersecurity Analyst, one must have a bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity, computer science, information technology, or a related field. Some of the critical elements of cybersecurity education include:

  • Scripting and programming
  • Data management
  • Penetration testing
  • Hacking and countermeasures

It requires a unique skillset too.

Communication

Understanding computer network cyber threats is one part of the job. Being able to communicate it in laypeople’s terms is important too. Someone in this position must be able to communicate well and be a good team player on the security team.

IT Knowledge

To perform the responsibilities to the best of one’s ability means staying up to date on global technology trends. This includes techniques, best practices, and changes in law and compliance.

Programming Skills

Being keen on networking and systems programming skills is crucial. That is because while they do not create code, they work with scripts and programming tools regularly to develop and analyze security programs that will work against cyber-attacks and breaches.

Knowledge of Security Principles

These professionals need a thorough understanding of security principles. This includes access control, confidentiality, privacy, and more. This helps to create systems with reduced vulnerability to be immune from failures and attacks.

Risk Analysis

It is important to possess a firm knowledge of analytical principles. Since it is the analyst’s responsibility to secure networks and systems, they must access the security needs of the organization, and risk analysis is a key part of being able to accomplish this.

Network Protocols

Not only does this professional need in-depth knowledge of typical network protocols, but also, they must understand how they work. Plus, they must understand their similarities, along with what they need them for.

Malicious Codes

Cybersecurity analysts must fully understand malicious codes. They need to understand the associated risks with each, as well as how they propagate. Typically, malicious code is part of a cyberattack.

Creativity

This may not be the most obvious skill, but yes, a Cybersecurity Analyst must be creative. Cybercriminals and their cyber threats are getting more and more “creative,” so it takes creative solutions to prevent them.

Integrity and Discretion

Individuals in this field require sensitivity and honesty for handling security issues. They are not reluctant to carry out direction and accomplish goals set by their leadership.

Strong Attention to Detail

Do not look over the importance of being detail-oriented. This job requires strong attention to detail, recognizing the need for even the smallest of adjustments. A good Cybersecurity Analyst needs to spot changes in organizations’ computer networks.

How to Become a Cybersecurity Analyst

After obtaining a bachelor’s degree, the next step is to complete an internship and attain experience in the field. Then, an individual will want to gain special credentials. There are many industry-standard certifications for a Cybersecurity Analyst, including:

  • Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP)
  • Systems Security Certified Practitioner (SSCP)
  • A+ (CompTIA)
  • Cybersecurity Analyst Certification, CySA+ (CompTIA)
  • Network+ (CompTIA)
  • Network Vulnerability Assessment Professional (CompTIA)
  • Network Security Professional (CompTIA)
  • Security Analytics Professional (CompTIA)
  • Security+ (CompTIA)
  • Project+ (CompTIA)
  • PenTest+ (CompTIA)
  • IT Operations Specialist (CompTIA)
  • Secure Infrastructure Specialist (CompTIA)
  • ITIL®1 Foundation

The last step in becoming a Cybersecurity Analyst is to find a position.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that there are 141,200 Information Security Analysts as of the year 2020. The job outlook for the next decade is excellent. In fact, it is expected to grow 33% from the years 2020 to 2030, which is much faster compared to other careers.

Why Is Cybersecurity Important?

Worrying about unauthorized access to sensitive data can keep you up at night. Cybersecurity reduces how much you worry about cyber threats. It protects data in all categories from damage and theft.

Cybersecurity protects everything, such as

  • Sensitive data
  • PII or personally identifiable information
  • PHI or protected health information
  • Personal information
  • Intellectual property
  • Government information systems
  • Industry information systems

When you do not have a cybersecurity program or a Cybersecurity Analyst on staff, your business cannot defend itself from a data security breach. To a cybercriminal, this means a simply irresistible target.

With the growth of global connectivity, it will only get worse. Cybercriminals will become more and more sophisticated. While firewalls and antivirus software are great to have, you cannot rely on these alone to keep your computer networks safe.

Providing Protection

No matter if you are concerned about cybercriminals, industrial spies, and hacktivists, all bad actors have a reputation for being agile and stealthy. That’s why a robust cybersecurity posture is necessary for devices, methods, and entry points being exploited, such as

  • IoT devices
  • Cloud and remote service attacks
  • Fileless attacks
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Supply chain attacks
  • Social engineering
  • Malware
  • Man-in-the-middle (MitM)
  • Denial of service
  • Domain name system attack
  • SQL injection
  • Advanced Persistent Threats (ATPs)
  • Zero-day exploits

Unfortunately, it is the human factor that is still the weakest link in the cybersecurity chain. It’s because of negligence, accident, or sometimes even outright malicious behavior.

Benefits of Cybersecurity

Today, businesses globally will not dispute the importance of cybersecurity or its necessity for businesses. While recognized for its critical part of the economy, more and more benefits are coming into focus. Innovative leaders understand that cybersecurity also increases productivity, ensures compliance, and builds brand trust in the market.

Improved Productivity

A recent survey suggests that of companies who experienced a ransomware attack, 38% suffered at least five days of disruption and 32% say their system was down for a range of one to four days.

When a cyberattack occurs, so does downtime and lost productivity. When Cybersecurity Analysts help organizations fight cybercrime, they also improve productivity. Keeping a business running smoothly means maximizing profits.

Compliance

Because of the increase in cyber threats and exploitation of sensitive data, regulatory bodies are stepping in to set standards that will protect both businesses and customers. These include standards like:

  • GDPR
  • HIPAA
  • PCI DDS
  • SOX

These are to name a few. Some industries are still under-regulated. For those businesses needing more regulation, there is an opportunity, especially for a Cybersecurity Analyst to come in and save the day from a cybercriminal penetrating a network system.

Reputation and Brand Trust

One of the greatest benefits of an excellent cybersecurity program is that it gives businesses brand recognition that you can trust them with your data and personal information. This is imperative for both business growth and customer retention.

Brand loyalty through strong cybersecurity is paramount. It is the shortest path to recommendations and repeat business. Also, doors will open for expansion and future ventures.

NETdepot Fights Cyber Crime

While we do not wear capes or fly in the air, here at NETdepot, we partner with our clients to prevent cybercrime. We are aware of the many trenches out there with data protection and we know of the many cybersecurity difficulties you face, which is why we have developed real-world solutions to help.

We can work with your Cybersecurity Analysts, leveraging our cybersecurity platform. If you have not hired a Cybersecurity Analyst just yet, we can still help you supercharge your security posture.

We have solutions to fit your needs. Reach out today and let’s stop cybercrime from where it starts.

Contact Us Today To Experience How We Can Save You Time, Money And Stress