If you pride yourself on being able to stay one step ahead of everyone else, you could earn top dollar as a cyber risk analyst. Organizations all over the world are tasked with keeping their assets safe and secure, and hackers are up for the challenge. If you’re thriving in a cybersecurity role and want to take your analysis career to the next level, cyber risk analyst may be a good next step for you.
What is a cyber risk analyst?
A cyber risk analyst is responsible for predicting what cyberattack might come next. They then take that intel and strengthen the organization’s network to prevent attacks in the following ways:
- Researches the threat landscape and identifies current trends
- Performs security audits to address potential weaknesses and vulnerabilities
- Monitors user access to track anything that indicates a breach
- Installs software, including data encryption programs and firewalls
- Repairs and upgrades security systems as needed
- Establishes backup servers and protocols for the organization
- Designs and trains employees on organizational security best practices
In addition to these technical skills, a cyber risk analyst should also be able to see the big picture and apply their analytical and problem-solving skills to determine which potential threats deserve attention. There’s quite a bit of research involved in this role. Because a cyber risk analyst is charged with anticipating future cyberattacks, they must be up to date on the latest technologies, trends, and news.
Cyber risk analysts usually work with a team of IT pros. The team may include network security specialists, software engineers, or other cybersecurity analysts.
How to become a cyber risk analyst
The cyber risk analyst role is a more advanced role that requires training and experience. This is typically not an entry-level job. Most companies hiring a cyber risk analyst are looking for someone with a bachelor’s degree in a computer-related field.
Employers will also be looking for a candidate who has proven knowledge of network management, an understanding of attack threats and the ability to think outside the box.
Aspiring cyber risk analysts should first target positions that deal with software issues—either in the implementation or development phases. The skills you will learn in these roles will transition nicely to the cybersecurity team. It’s a plus to show potential employers that you are current on the latest attack trends and security software as well.
CompTIA SecurityX teaches these very skills—and more. SecurityX is the pinnacle of cybersecurity certifications and is intended for advanced-level IT pros who wish to remain immersed in hands-on enterprise security, incident response and architecture.
SecurityX proves cyber risk analyst candidates have the skills required to:
- Architect, engineer, integrate, and implement secure solutions across complex environments to support a resilient enterprise.
- Use automation, monitoring, detection, and incident response to proactively support ongoing security operations in an enterprise environment.
- Apply security practices to cloud, on-premises, and hybrid environments.
- Consider cryptographic technologies and techniques, as well as the impact of emerging trends (e.g., artificial intelligence) on information security.
- Use the appropriate governance, compliance, risk management, and threat modeling strategies throughout the enterprise.
SecurityX is compliant with ISO 17204 standards and has been approved by the U.S. DoD to meet Directive 8140 requirements. The new version of SecurityX (CAS-005) is now available. Updates will qualify the advanced skills required of security architects and senior security engineers to effectively design, implement, and manage cybersecurity solutions on complex enterprise networks.
A minimum of 10 years of general hands-on IT experience, with at least five years of broad hands-on security experience, is suggested for those pursuing a SecurityX certification.
In addition to the certification, CompTIA offers a full suite of training products to help you learn and practice penetration testing and vulnerability management skills and prepare for your certification exam.
- CertMaster Learn: Learn at your pace with interactive lessons and videos
- CertMaster Labs: Get hands-on practice using real software applications
- CertMaster Practice: Test your knowledge and find out if you’re ready for the exam
- The Official CompTIA Study Guide: Learn and review exam objectives with our comprehensive textbook
Job titles related to cyber risk analyst
- Cybersecurity analyst
- Cybersecurity engineer
- Network security engineer
- Security engineer
- Security architect
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Will your next move be cyber risk analyst? If so, download the exam objectives for CompTIA SecurityX to learn more.