What is a SOC analyst?
SOC Analyst is a security professional that actively monitors cybersecurity incidents within an organization and identifies threats or vulnerabilities that could pose serious risks to the IT infrastructure. SOC stands for Security Operation Center. It is a department within an organization that houses a team of cybersecurity professionals and the SOC Analysts. A SOC team’s primary purpose is to manage security operations within an organization. An organization can also outsource their SOC team to improve their security posture.
SOC Analyst can be applied for by both newbies and experienced professionals. This section will discuss the job description, salaries, certifications, and training required to make a successful career as a SOC analyst.
Job profile for SOC Analyst
SOC Analysts are responsible for protecting information assets from unauthorized access. They monitor suspicious activity in the network and reduce the risks associated with it. The three levels or tiers of the SOC analyst position are L1, L2, L3, and L3. Experts believe that most SOC analysts have at least two years experience in IT and networking before applying to the SOC Analyst job position. They start at L1 and progress to L2 and L3 as they gain specific skills and experience.
These levels are not the only ones that exist within a Security Operation Center. Shift Leads and Security Consultants, SOC Managements and SOC Engineers all make up the Shift Leads. SOC Engineers are software- and hardware specialists who are responsible for maintaining and developing the tools and systems used by analysts. SOC Shift Leads are responsible to formulate, implement, and document appropriate methodologies. They provide guidance to the junior members of SOC in handling security incidents. SOC Managers are at the top of the hierarchy and responsible for the hiring and training of SOC staff. They are responsible for managing the team if there is a security risk.
Skills required for a job as a SOC Analyst
These are the skills that are required to be a SOC analyst:
Network Defense: Networks are more vulnerable to cyberattacks if they are connected to the internet. Cybercriminals often target networks to exploit their vulnerabilities. SOC Analysts are responsible for protecting the organization’s network infrastructure. The SOC Analyst must understand the network’s functions and how to protect it from potential threats. They can monitor, detect and analyze threats to the network security posture.
SOC Analysts need to be able to think like hackers in order to defend networks against cyberattacks. SOC Analysts can uncover security holes in organizations’ security by being proficient in ethical hacking. They can test the web application, network, or systems for vulnerabilities and report them on to the authorities.
Incident response: It is crucial to be able to manage and mitigate cyberattack risks. An incident response is designed to minimize the damage done by cyberattacks and to recover as quickly as possible. The SOC Analyst must respond quickly to incidents and improve security controls to prevent future data breaches.
Digital forensics: SOC Analysts can use digital forensics to understand and analyze data breaches. The data and evidence collected are used to report and prevent future data breaches.
Reverse Engineering: An attacker may take advantage of bugs in software applications to compromise systems. Reverse engineering is used by the SOC Analyst
