As cyberattacks become increasingly common, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) expects employment of cyber security analysts to grow 32% between 2018 and 2028, outpacing all other occupations during this period. Currently, virtually every industry, from retail to finance to manufacturing to engineering to healthcare, is working to develop innovative and effective solutions to deal with cybercriminals, making cyber threat analysts some of the most sought-after professionals today. Here is some more information about this line of work, including what it takes to become a qualified cyber threat analyst.
Job Description
In general, this line of work entails using technical and scientific knowledge to solve complex cyber-related problems and produce both short-term and long-term written assessments, including cybersecurity briefs for the C-suite level executives. More specifically, to monitor and counter cybercriminals, cyber threat analysts typical perform tasks such as digital forensics and targeting as well as all-source analysis.
Education Requirements
On the education front, the education requirements tend to vary from one employer to the other. In general, most employers require prospective candidates to have at least a bachelor’s degree in programming, information assurance, computer science, or any related field. However, some employers require an advanced qualification such as MBA in information systems, meaning you should not stop at a bachelor’s degree. Instead, you should always look for opportunities to advance your education in this field. At this point, it is worth noting that a typical MBA in information systems program requires two years of study beyond the bachelor’s degree level, and includes both computer and business-related courses.
Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations
Similar to education requirements, different employers require different licenses, certifications and registrations for this position. However, in general, you will need to have certification that validates your knowledge in this space. Of course, not all cyber threat certificates are created equal. Some, such as the CISSP or Certified Information Systems Security Professional have a broad focus, while others focus on a more narrow aspect of cybersecurity, such as systems auditing and penetration testing. In addition to these certifications, you may also require local licenses and registrations to work in this capacity in a particular state.
Conclusion
Due to the rise in cybercrimes, organizations are increasingly looking to hire qualified cyber threat analysts to protect their networks and data. As a result of this, the BLS expects the demand for these professionals grow by almost 33% from 2018 to 2028.
