How to Become a Cyber Analyst in An Industry on the Rise

With growing interest in the use of new tools and approaches to close off vulnerabilities in the multitude of IP-enabled devices Americans use at home and at work, now is an ideal time to gain the skills needed to become a qualified cyber analyst.

Forecasts for the cyber analytics industry are bullish, as sophisticated tools and software emerge that can help analysts pinpoint vulnerabilities and close off attack vectors using a data-driven approach.

“With the Internet of Things, we’re seeing the security challenge escalate exponentially, to the point where long-established cybersecurity tools and techniques no longer suffice,” says Dr. William Butler, chair of the cybersecurity program at Capitol Technology University. “The data-driven, analytical approach offers cybersecurity professionals some additional, very powerful tools to include in their toolkit.”

Below are some essentials you need to know concerning the rapidly emerging cyber analytics career field.

What is cyber analytics?

According to the Ponemon Institute, cyber analytics “applies big data tools and techniques to capture, process and refine network work activity data, applies algorithms for near real-time review of every network node, and employs visualization tools to easily identify anomalous behavior required for fast response and investigation. Cyber analytics allow Security Operation Centers (SOCs)/Network Operation Centers (NOCs) and network analysts to more easily recognize patterns of activity that represent network threats.

Why is it significant?

In a nutshell: cybersecurity threats have escalated in volume and sophistication, while the number of internet-connected devices continues to burgeon – with some estimates forecasting 50 billion such devices by 2020. The number of trained cybersecurity professionals is too small to keep up, and the standard tools and techniques are often no match for sophisticated adversaries working round the clock.

“There are not enough cyber specialists in organizations to deal with the number of threats today, and the imbalance will likely become much worse,” reports Deloitte Insights.  “Cybersecurity is too often reactive to hacks and breaches, with actions only taken after (sometimes long after) a problem has occurred. The technology most commonly used to address cyberattacks employs ‘threat signatures’ based on patterns of previous attacks. But these approaches are of limited value in preventing new types of attacks.”

How much does a cyber analyst make?

An Indeed.com search for jobs in the Washington, D.C. area with the keyword “cyber analytics” brings up hundreds of positions, with salaries ranging from $95,000 to $135,000.

What companies are looking to hire cyber analysts?

A search for the job title “cyber analyst” brings up openings from major corporations and government contractors, including Boeing, General Dynamics Information Technology, Lockheed Martin, ManTech International, Mitre, and SAIC, as well as numerous smaller businesses and start-ups.

What companies produce cyber analytics products and tools?

Sqrrl, co-founded in 2012 by former US cybersecurity policy director Ely Kahn, is known for its visual cyber threat hunting platform, which combines analytics, machine learning, and risk scoring. The platform generates a behavior graph that allows users to track security holes and detect previously unknown threats. In 2018, the company was acquired by Amazon Web Services. Other companies in the arena include Carbon  Black, DB Networks, Endgame,  FireEye, and Novetta.

SAS, the longtime leader in business analytics, launched its cybersecurity platform in 2015. The product “correlates and analyzes billions of daily network transactions with business contextual information across organizations such as asset data, functional business role, and existing security alerts,” writes IT journalist Nestor E. Arellano. Users can then gain an ongoing, real-time view of security risks.

How can I gain the knowledge and qualifications needed to become a cyber analyst?

Capitol Technology University, a longtime leader in cybersecurity education and a DHS and NSA-designated Center for Academic Excellence, is one of the first universities in the nation to offer degrees in cyber analytics, with programs available at the undergraduate and master’s levels. Interested in learning more? Contact Capitol’s admissions department at admissions@captechu.edu.