How to become a Cybersecurity Analyst

by Ross Heintzkill | Published on November 18, 2024

Cybersecurity is like your immune system: always keeping you safe from invisible attackers who, if everything goes right, you'll never know about. Thanks to cybersecurity professionals, our data and networks are secure from hackers and bad actors who, like invisible viruses and bacteria in the air around us, will take every chance they can to get inside and wreak havoc. Cybersecurity analysts are one the front lines, protecting our digital lives. A cybersecurity analyst builds, monitors and safeguards the systems that keep our digital selves safe.

What does it take to become a cybersecurity analyst? What does the career path look like, leading up to cybersecurity analyst? What are the skills, training and certifications you need to be qualified as a cybersecurity analyst? And once you've made it that far, how much does a cybersecurity analyst make? We're going to answer all these questions and more, so join us in breaking down the career of a cybersecurity analyst.

What is a Cybersecurity Analyst? What Does a Cybersecurity Analyst Do?

Cybersecurity analyst is an early and mid-career cybersecurity job position, typically acting as the first line of defense against digital threats and attacks. A cybersecurity analyst's chief role is to identify and mitigate potential vulnerabilities in an organization's network, systems, and data storage. They do this by proactively searching for weaknesses in a network or system's security or monitoring traffic for unusual patterns or signs of attack.

On a day-to-day basis, a cybersecurity analyst will engage in a mix of monitoring, assessing, and responding. They'll spend a large part of their day using security tools that actively monitor network traffic, scanning for footprints that show someone was planning an attack or doing reconnaissance, or even finding evidence of an actual attack.

A cybersecurity analyst conducts regular vulnerability assessments and system log analysis to identify weaknesses that cybercriminals could exploit. When something suspicious is found, they'll investigate further and either handle it on their own or document it and pass it up the chain. Depending on the network, cybersecurity analysts may also work on implementing firewalls, managing access controls, and updating software to keep defenses strong.

Gaining technical skills is the most important part of becoming a cybersecurity analyst. Analysts need to be familiar with network protocols like TCP/IP, firewalls, intrusion detection and prevention systems (IDS/IPS), and encryption. Cybersecurity analysts often use specialized security tools, management platforms, antivirus software, and vulnerability scanners – all in an attempt to lock down networks and keep data safe. Skills in scripting and automation are increasingly in demand for cybersecurity analysts, with familiarity with languages like Python and PowerShell appearing on more job postings. 

It's a lot to learn, but don't get intimidated! Plenty of others have walked the path and laid a road for you to follow. From basic skills to advanced tools, there are lots of courses and training to help you get started in cybersecurity or advance your skills to the next level. To become a cybersecurity analyst, look at CBT Nuggets' cybersecurity courses and see what interests you.

It's a great time to get started, too. Cybersecurity analysts are key players in the security posture for companies in every industry. They're in high demand in financial institutions, healthcare providers, and tech companies, and the demand is growing. 

Cyber threats are growing in volume and sophistication, and companies need technical analysts keeping the defenses up. That need is intensified by how many organizations are going digital and moving to remote work. Vulnerabilities are expanding and cybersecurity professionals are needed.

Do I Need a Degree to Become a Cybersecurity Analyst?

No, a college degree is not a hard requirement for many cybersecurity analyst positions. That said, many employers will prefer that you have one, and it's always possible that preference goes to someone who applies to the same cybersecurity analyst job with a college degree in a related field like cybersecurity, computer science, or information technology. However, years of practical experience in the field is just as valuable, and being able to demonstrate real-world cybersecurity skills can look better in job interviews than formal education.

But how do you prove you have those real-world skills? Industry certifications are the most efficient way to document your real-world experience and knowledge. For people just starting cybersecurity, the vendor-neutral Security+ from CompTIA is one of the best options. Security+ covers a wide range of entry-level skills and doesn't emphasize or focus on any single piece of technology or manufacturer, so you're ready to work on nearly any set-up.

The Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) from ISC2 and Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) from EC-Council are also good options, but they're slightly more advanced and specialized than the broad, foundational Security+.

If a four-year bachelor's degree isn't within your reach, whether because of time, cost, or availability, some colleges offer associate's degrees in cybersecurity analysis or other related fields. However, formal education isn't mandatory to get work as a cybersecurity analyst. Look into industry certifications – they help prove you have hands-on experience in the field so that an employer knows they can trust you. 

Haven't developed those skills or experience yet? Look for online cybersecurity training that comes with virtual labs. Those are basically digital playgrounds that look and act just like a real network, so you can learn and practice all the skills of being a cybersecurity analyst and then earn the cert that says you're ready to work.

The Career Path to Becoming a Cybersecurity Analyst

The path to becoming a cybersecurity analyst will almost always begin with fundamental skills in managing, administering, and troubleshooting systems. So, jobs or roles that teach those skills are good places for a hopeful cybersecurity analyst to get started. 

If you have little to no training, education, or experience, look for jobs like Help Desk Technician (also known as Desktop Support or Tech Support) to get your foot in the door. If you have some practical familiarity with IT, an entry-level systems administration job is also a good place to start gaining the IT knowledge and experience that can land you a cybersecurity analyst job. At the start of your career, finding ways to get hands-on experience will be the most important part of preparing for a career in cybersecurity.

Once you've got some experience with managing and administering systems, you'll want to look for junior-level security roles like Junior Cybersecurity Analyst or Security Operations Center (SOC) Analyst. These are the jobs where you'll develop security-specific skills and learn the tasks you'll hone and improve throughout your career. Monitoring network traffic, responding to security alerts, and performing routine security assessments – these are the meat & potatoes of a cybersecurity analyst.

The transition from junior cybersecurity analyst to full-fledged cybersecurity analyst is a subtle one. Still, once you're doing penetration testing, ethical hacking, incident response, and threat mitigation, you can say you've made it! Those are essential skills for experienced cybersecurity analysts to have, but many companies expect you to already have those skills before they hire you. That means that in order to qualify for the best cybersecurity analyst positions, you'll need to proactively develop and improve your skills.

Being a cybersecurity analyst necessarily comes with a lifelong commitment to learning and self-improvement. You can do it on your own, exploring the world of cybersecurity like someone in the woods with just a flashlight. Or you can follow paths someone else has already laid out for you. Industry certifications can act like mountains in the distance you want to work toward, and the courses are like your sherpas, guiding the way and keeping you on the right track. 

Check out CBT Nuggets' cybersecurity training library. It's organized by job, skills, vendor, and individual certifications, so you can choose your own adventure and become a cybersecurity analyst on your terms and speed.

Cybersecurity Analyst vs. Cybersecurity Engineer

A cybersecurity analyst and a cybersecurity engineer both work to protect an organization's digital assets, but their roles are focused on different aspects of cybersecurity. A cybersecurity analyst is primarily responsible for monitoring network traffic and identifying potential security threats. You could think of the cybersecurity analysts as the "eyes" of the security team, keeping an eye on networks and systems and watching for unusual activity. Once they spot suspicious activity, a cybersecurity analyst investigates alerts, analyzes data, uses tools to make sense of traffic, and responds quickly to incidents.

Cybersecurity engineers, on the other hand, are more involved in building and implementing the security systems that analysts are monitoring. A cybersecurity engineer designs and sets up protective structures like firewalls, secure networks, and authentication systems. Engineers are focused on the building side of security – researching different technologies and vendors, evaluating threats and potential risks, balancing organizational concerns with technological needs, and then planning and building the cybersecurity infrastructure.

Cybersecurity analyst is an early-career role, and a cybersecurity engineer tends to be a late-career job. That doesn't mean there aren't many highly experienced cybersecurity analysts who happily spend their entire career in that job, but it would be extremely unlikely to see a cybersecurity engineer with only a year of prior experience. Cybersecurity analysts and engineers work together to create a strong defense team – analysts rely on the tools and structures that engineers build. Engineers rely on analysts to catch vulnerabilities and weaknesses they might have overlooked.

For people wondering how to become a cybersecurity analyst, it's important to remember the road doesn't have to stop there. There are cybersecurity engineers who got their start as a cybersecurity analyst. On the other hand, you don't have to move on from the cybersecurity analyst position – plenty of people make their entire career out of being a cybersecurity analyst. 

The cybersecurity analyst job tends to be well-suited for people who enjoy investigating and reacting to threats, while the cybersecurity engineer job is a better fit for people who like designing and constructing systems. Depending on which one sounds interesting to you, look at the CBT Nuggets cybersecurity training and see what skills can get you there. With the right course, you can become a cybersecurity analyst. From there, you can continue to grow your expertise or prepare for a more specialized and advanced job like cybersecurity engineer.

How Much Does a Cybersecurity Analyst Make?

Depending on how much experience they have, where they're working, and what industry they work in, a cybersecurity analyst can make anywhere between about $60,000 and over $120,000. You might think the sliding scale is based on experience and skills, but location is actually a huge factor. In a nation-wide survey of cybersecurity analyst salaries done by CBT Nuggets, we found that the average salary for a cybersecurity analyst in Kansas City was under $62,000 but the average in a city like Portland was close to $78,000. Read that report for more information about what affects a cybersecurity analyst's salary.

There are other sources of salary information, too. According to Glassdoor, a cybersecurity analyst might make between $60,000 and $120,000, depending on their level of experience:

(Source: Glassdoor, [10/13/2024])

There are many other factors that affect a cybersecurity analyst's salary, like size and profitability of the company they work for, what industry they work in, what technology stacks they support, and more. To get a better salary, build specialized skills, and earn certifications that are in high demand. Certifications like CompTIA Security+, Cisco CCNP Security, and Palo Alto PCNSA, can all distinguish you and qualify you for better salaries.

The path to earning certifications like the CCNP Security or PCNSA is a lot clearer when you follow a pre-made online course from CBT Nuggets. Look through all their cybersecurity courses and see if there's one you could take to qualify for better salaries and promotions.

Conclusion

A career as a cybersecurity analyst is great for anyone who wants to stand on the wall and fight against hackers to protect valuable digital assets. From monitoring network activity to responding to security incidents and learning the latest tools and protocols, cybersecurity analysts play a critical role in today's digital landscape.

Most people become a cybersecurity analyst by starting with foundational IT roles or earning a degree in a related field. But certifications help people without a degree become cybersecurity analysts by targeting specific skills and knowledge directly related to real-world cybersecurity concerns. All the while, demand for cybersecurity analysts is only growing, creating a wealth of opportunities across industries.

Do you want to work as a cybersecurity analyst? Want to just find out more? Check out the library of courses that CBT Nuggets has on basic IT skills, entry-level cybersecurity knowledge, or courses that are specifically made to prepare you for a cybersecurity certification. Gaining cybersecurity skills and experience is the best way to become a cybersecurity analyst or to get promoted into better paying positions.