Cybersecurity Analyst

A cybersecurity analyst is the professional responsible for protecting an organization’s systems, networks and data from digital threats. They are, in a sense, the defensive side of security, opposite the offensive nature of the ethical hacker ✕ A penetration tester, or ethical hacker, attacks systems legally and under control to find their security flaws before criminals do, and helps get them fixed. More in the glossary → : monitoring network activity for suspicious behaviour, detecting and responding to incidents when they happen, investigating vulnerabilities and helping close the gaps before someone exploits them. They also configure and supervise tools like firewalls and antivirus ✕ An antivirus is a program that detects, blocks and removes malicious software. Modern ones combine known signatures with behavior analysis. More in the glossary → , and educate staff against risks such as phishing ✕ Phishing is fraudulent messages that impersonate a trusted sender (like a bank or courier) to trick you into handing over passwords or login details. More in the glossary → . Many work in a security operations centre (SOC), watching alerts. It combines technical knowledge of networks, systems and malware ✕ Malware (from "malicious software") is the umbrella term for any harmful software — viruses, trojans, ransomware, spyware — that damages, spies on, or hijacks devices. More in the glossary → with analytical skill and a cool head in a crisis. It is an increasingly critical role as cyberattacks grow in number and sophistication.