What Do Cybersecurity Analysts Do? Job Types, Training, and Salary

The more people and organizations go digital, the more opportunities criminals have to wreak havoc and commit cybercrime. If you’re curious, a problem-solver, and want to advocate for the public good, then a career as a cybersecurity analyst might be right for you.

According to CompTIA, one of the most common cybersecurity roles is cybersecurity analyst. Cybersecurity analysts plan and implement security measures for an organization. They are integral in preventing data breaches and keeping employee and client data safe.

The demand for cybersecurity professionals is expected to increase 31% by 2031, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). And with cybercrime expected to cost the world $10.5 trillion by 2025, it’s a great time to explore a career in cybersecurity.

If you’re new to the industry or are thinking about a possible career change, this article will cover the following topics:

• What Do Cybersecurity Analysts Do
• Benefits of Becoming a Cybersecurity Analyst
• What Soft Skills You Need to Succeed as a Cybersecurity Analyst
• What Industries Do Cybersecurity Analysts Typically Work In
• Who in the Organization Do Cybersecurity Analysts Primarily Work With
• Cybersecurity Analyst Jobs and Salaries
• How to Become a Cybersecurity Analyst
• Why Pursue a Career in Cybersecurity
• Every Industry Needs Cyber Experts

What Do Cybersecurity Analysts Do?

Cybersecurity analysts are integral to any security team. If you’re wondering what a cybersecurity analyst's day-to-day looks like, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) outlines some core responsibilities, detailed below.

• Conduct Security Audits

• Monitor Security Access

• Keep Track of Security Breaches

• Install Software and Activate Encryption

• Maintain Security Software

• Research IT and Security Trends

• Develop Best Practices

Conduct Security Audits

One of the most important responsibilities of a Cybersecurity Analyst is to conduct frequent security audits. This means identifying potential threats to an organization, strategizing how to mitigate risk, and keeping track of a company’s assets.

Monitor Security Access

From onboarding to promotions and company exits, it’s important for Cybersecurity Analysts to monitor security access for everyone on their team and in their organization.

This can include firewalls, two-factor authentication, and physical access to office space—not to mention handling access for remote and onsite employees.

Keep Track of Security Breaches

In addition to monitoring potential risks, Cyber Analysts are responsible for responding to security breaches. This means it’s their job to determine the cause of the breach, communicate the next steps to the organization, and educate employees on how to avoid attacks like this in the future.

Install Software and Activate Encryption

Cybersecurity Analysts are responsible for installing and encrypting security software for their team and organization. This can include installing firewalls and breach-detection software.

Maintain Security Software

The tools and tactics cyber experts use are constantly evolving with the industry. As a Cyber Analyst, it’s important to keep security software updated. According to Norton Security, keeping operating systems updated and patched with the latest security measures will help keep them safe from the latest threats.

Research IT and Security Trends

Maintaining the latest IT and security trends is a top priority for Cybersecurity Analysts. This ensures their security strategies align with expert recommendations and industry best practices.

Develop Best Practices

Cybersecurity Analysts are also responsible for setting security standards and best practices for their teams and organizations.

This can include documentation, how to communicate safely with others without compromising sensitive information, how to handle support requests, and more.

Since cybersecurity is an ever-growing field, these responsibilities will continue to evolve along with advancements in cybersecurity best practices, tools, and technologies.

Benefits of Becoming a Cybersecurity Analyst

There are many benefits to becoming a cybersecurity analyst, including:

Higher Salaries

According to ZipRecruiter, the average salary for a cybersecurity analyst in the United States is $99,400. For comparison’s sake, the average salary in the United States is $59,228, according to Fidelity. Cybersecurity analysts have ample opportunities for advancement and growth throughout their careers.

Flexible Working Locations

In cybersecurity, many companies offer the ability to work remotely to give employees more flexibility.

Job Satisfaction

According to CompTIA's 2023 IT Industry Outlook report, cybersecurity professionals tend to be satisfied with their jobs, and nearly 80% of IT professionals feel optimistic about their role.

Opportunities to Get Started

One more benefit of becoming a cybersecurity analyst is that many training options are available for aspiring cybersecurity analysts, including traditional degree programs and tech bootcamps.

What Soft Skills You Need to Succeed as a Cybersecurity Analyst

Aside from the technical skills you need as a cybersecurity analyst, a variety of soft skills (or non-technical interpersonal skills) can help you succeed.

Review this series of questions to get a sense of whether or not a career in cybersecurity is a good fit for you:

• Curiosity: Do you like to take things apart to see how they work? Do you research topics that interest you?

• Passion for the industry: Are you studying for any specific certifications? Do you advocate for public safety and the common good?

• Tenacity: Are you resilient when solving a problem? Are you always hungry to learn something new?

• Collaborative: Are you eager to communicate and work with your team? Do you have strong writing skills to document incidents and communicate with other departments?

• Analytical: Can you notice minor anomalies in large data sets/logs? Are you detail-oriented?

These are just a sample of the soft skills that will set you apart in a job search, but they’re worth considering if you’re serious about joining the industry.

You can also use what you’ve learned in past roles—you don’t need a background in IT to succeed as a cybersecurity analyst. Many Fullstack Academy Cybersecurity Bootcamp students have backgrounds in teaching, communications, human resources, marketing, the military, and more.

What Industries Do Cybersecurity Analysts Typically Work In?

Cybersecurity analysts usually work in security operations centers (SOCs), monitoring suspicious activities and reporting them to the appropriate clients. However, more organizations today are hiring in-house cybersecurity analysts to fulfill these roles, plus other information security requirements. Sectors include industries such as banking, travel, retail, insurance, and tourism, as well as companies that provide software-as-a-service (SaaS).

Who in the Organization Do Cybersecurity Analysts Primarily Work With?

Cybersecurity analysts are collaborative and work with nearly everyone in a company, including IT professionals, C-Suite executives, and other employees.

Depending on the structure of their organization, a cybersecurity analyst might report to a chief information security officer (CISO) or a security director. They might also work alongside Penetration Testers, Security Engineers, Security Specialists, and other cybersecurity job types.

Cybersecurity Analyst Jobs and Salaries

Thanks to growing industry demand, skilled cybersecurity analysts are compensated well for the value they provide. The salary you can expect to make as a cybersecurity analyst will vary based on your location, experience, and company type. Still, the BLS lists the median annual salary for cybersecurity analysts in the United States at $120,360. According to Glassdoor, more senior-level roles can expect salaries in the $150,000 range. According to Cyberseek.org, there are nearly half a million unfilled cybersecurity roles nationwide, and demand is expected to grow by 31% through 2031 (BLS). A career in cybersecurity is not only a fulfilling way to make an impact, but it also provides job stability in an ever-changing world.

How to Become a Cybersecurity Analyst

If you want to break into the cybersecurity field, attending a cybersecurity bootcamp, like those offered by Fullstack Academy, could be a great fit. Cyber bootcamps allow students to learn in-demand skills in weeks or months.

Fullstack Academy’s program offers full-time and part-time courses (depending on what works best for you)—plus dedicated career support. This accelerated education option is a cost-effective way to jump-start your career as a cybersecurity analyst.

Sign up for Fullstack Academy’s intro course, Hacking 101, to get started. It’s a self-paced, video-based introduction to the industry that will help you learn what it’s like to work in cybersecurity and whether it's a good path for you.

Beyond attending a cybersecurity bootcamp, aspiring cybersecurity analysts can flesh out the educational component of their careers by obtaining industry certifications.

Popular certifications include Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP) from Offensive Security, Security+ from CompTIA, Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) from ISC2, and Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) from EC-Council.

Why Pursue a Career in Cybersecurity?

Let’s break down the most popular reasons why a career in cybersecurity is a good idea:

• You can be a crime fighter. Not all heroes wear capes. If you want to make the Internet safe for everyone and keep cybercriminals from getting away with their crimes, you should become a cybersecurity expert.

• There are plenty of entry-level opportunities. For example, Infosec reports that information security analysts are one of the top employment options.

• The field has excellent job prospects. With the advent and increased use of AI, machine learning, cloud computing, and the Internet of Things (IoT), there is a greater demand for professionals who can keep data and networks safe.

• It’s a good-paying career. As we’ve already touched on, annual salaries for cybersecurity professionals trend higher than the national average.

• You have excellent location flexibility. Demand for cybersecurity professionals isn’t limited to a handful of locations around the country. Rather, there are many opportunities on the East and West Coasts and everywhere in between. There’s even a greater chance of being able to work remotely.

• All sectors need cybersecurity. Every sector and industry needs cybersecurity, so if you have a particular field or company type you’d like to work for, odds are you can find the perfect position.

• It’s not boring. You and your team will often encounter hackers, cybercriminals, and other intruders. It’s a challenging job that will keep you on your toes.

It’s a great way to learn new things. If you enjoy constantly learning new things, you’ll love the cybersecurity field. The field is constantly changing, growing, and adapting. After all, cybercriminals and hackers are always coming up with new ways of committing crimes, so the field has to keep up with them. This translates into you increasing your technical understanding.

Every Industry Needs Cyber Experts

A cybersecurity analyst can work in almost any industry or organization with the proper qualifications.

While IT firms lead the pack in hiring cybersecurity analysts, government agencies, nonprofit organizations, healthcare facilities, transit and logistics companies, and nearly every other business needs security professionals.

No matter what industry you want to work in (and even where you want to live!), there are ample job opportunities for cybersecurity analysts.

Ready to apply to the Fullstack Academy Cybersecurity Bootcamp? Start your application today.