How to Become a Cyber Security Analyst

How To Become a Cyber Security Analyst

Cyber Security is one of the primary concerns of CEOs globally. By 2021 cyber threats worldwide will cost an estimated USD 6 trillion. Companies are hiring cyber security professionals at a record pace, and the compensation growth; see the article on salaries, which proves to validate that.

However, successfully cracking into cyber security requires technical expertise, an analytical mindset and a general affinity towards technology. This guide will provide you with a basic outline of how to become a cybersecurity analyst.

Step 1: Pick Your Niche

Cyber security is a vast field with specialisations ranging from network security to ethical hacking, forensics, audit, IT risk management, business continuity planning and everything else. Additionally, you also have thousands of technical specifications and dozens of competing platforms. You must pick your field because you can’t specialise in them all. Initially, you might get away with being a generalist, but as a specialist, you will grow much faster and can become an authority in your niche.

However, don’t niche down too much in your initial years, but do pick something that interests you. That will keep you engaged and will eventually reflect in your performance indicators. Remember that compensation depends not on which field you choose but on how well you do in that field.

Step 2: Get the Technical Knowledge

Our article on cyber security skills and qualifications covers in great detail the academic qualifications, the technical certifications and the work experience required to break into cyber security. However, remember that there is more than one way to demonstrate your technical abilities. For example, if you are someone who has learned a lot about digital platforms from self-study, you don’t have to join a Fortune 500 company and can just get hired by one of the many smaller consultancies that help companies find loopholes in their systems.

Irrespective of how you acquire it, the important thing is that you need to have the proper knowledge.

Step 3: Build a Killer Resume

Most recruiters spend at most 7 seconds going through a pile of CVs! It is essential to make sure that your CV stands out. Have instantly recognisable brands on your CV and something that will immediately catch the recruiter’s eye (and is relevant to the job). If you are not spending several dozen hours perfecting your CV, you are doing something wrong.

Step 4: Get Some Experience Under Your Belt

Knowledge and passion are one thing, but demonstrable practical experience can take you to the next level. Most jobs require some amount of on-the-job experience. Millions of people worldwide across all professions start small to get the relevant work experience to move towards their dream jobs. There is nothing wrong with starting small if you lack the work experience.

Another way to get some experience is through internships. If you have a good brand name company on your CV that you interned for, that can go a long way.

Step 5: Perform well and follow a continuous education regime

There are some fields which don’t change all that often. Technology is not like those fields. It changes faster than almost any other field that we can think of. The threats you face sometimes evolve every week! Thus, it is of the utmost importance to keep yourself updated and continuously educate yourself on the newest trends.

Being thorough and methodical in your current job will also do well for your career. Mistakes can happen, but you can minimise the damage if your thought process is straightforward and your approach logical.

Search other articles to learn more about cyber security analyst careers:

Qualifications, Skills & Requirements, Job Description & Profile, Salary & Pay, CV Template & Examples etc

Search Jobs to find out about the cyber security job roles we currently have available.