Cybersecurity Consulting: why is important?

It's no coincidence that cybersecurity risks keep all organizations worldwide on high alert.

According to the Global Risks Report by the World Economic Forum, cybersecurity breaches are among the top ten most serious threats to businesses on the planet.

Computer security is not a minor issue in an era where everything depends on the fidelity and reliability of data. Information holds significant value and impact on the lives of individuals and businesses, ranging from a citizen's identity and medical history to personal and business financial data.

In the current context of hyperconnectivity, where information and data have acquired fundamental value in organizations, coupled with technological dependence for processing and communication both internally and externally, cybercriminals have found a highly profitable niche for their malicious activities. In this context, the role of cybersecurity analysts has become paramount.

The exponential increase in cyberattacks in recent years makes cybersecurity a key concern for all types of companies, organizations, or collectives. Protecting the confidentiality and integrity of information, as well as ensuring its availability, should be a priority for all of them. Thus, it has become a necessity to have a Security Operations Center (SOC). Within them, the most prominent profile is that of a cybersecurity analyst.

What is a Cybersecurity Analyst?

A cybersecurity analyst is responsible for safeguarding a company's hardware, software, and various networks. Their mission is to prevent and stop unauthorized access to sensitive information, as well as potential digital theft or losses that could have severe consequences.

Moreover, they must stay updated on the latest advances in information technology and understand programming and protection keys to ensure no incidents occur in this domain.

Roles and Responsibilities of a Cybersecurity Analyst:

As mentioned earlier, the primary goal of a cybersecurity analyst is to identify and mitigate cyber threats that could compromise an organization's security. Their common responsibilities and tasks include:

Security Monitoring

Analysts constantly monitor the network and systems of an organization for unusual or suspicious activity. They use advanced threat detection tools and log analysis to identify potential security breaches.

Vulnerability Analysis

In addition, these professionals are also responsible for examining systems for weaknesses or vulnerabilities that could be exploited by cybercriminals. When identified, they work collaboratively with other teams to address and resolve the issues.

Incident Response

In the event of a cyber attack, cybersecurity analysts are the first responders. Their goal in this domain is to contain the threat, minimize damage, and restore the normal operation of affected systems.

Security Policy Development

They collaborate in creating and updating cybersecurity policies and procedures. The objective is to ensure that the organization is adequately prepared to face constantly evolving threats.

Education and Awareness

These professionals play a crucial role in educating and raising awareness among employees about best security practices. This includes training in detecting phishing emails or using secure passwords.

Levels of Security Analysts

Security analysts can be divided into several levels. This means that, although the basic requirements for the profession are the same, an analyst who is just starting or has less experience can also work within the field.

Security analysts are typically categorized into three levels:

• Level 1 (N1)

Entry-level analysts responsible for security monitoring using SIEM tools, reviewing generated alerts and less complex incident procedures. They classify and prioritize cyber incidents, escalating more complex ones to Level 2.

• Level 2 (N2)

Experienced or specialized analysts handling responses to complex or non-procedural incidents. They provide support to Level 1, develop response procedures for Level 1 analysts, and engage in vulnerability detection and security audits.

• Level 3 (N3)

Highly experienced analysts and experts in specific services such as incident response, threat hunting, penetration testing, etc. They support Level 2 in handling complex tasks.

Key Skills for Cybersecurity Analysts

Cybersecurity analysts need a diverse set of skills to handle malware and security breaches. The most crucial skills include:

Scripting: Proficiency in programming languages and scripts like Java or C++ to understand and rewrite encoded threats when necessary.

Hacking: Thinking like a hacker to understand the hacking process, enabling preparation for and prevention of cyber attacks.

Networking: Extensive experience in working with diverse networks and understanding how each element can affect an organization's security.

Operating Systems: Comfort working with various operating systems, including Linux, Windows, iOS, Android, etc.

Career Opportunities

The field of cybersecurity is experiencing significant growth, fueled by advances in information technology. This growth translates into an increasing demand for professionals who can meet the sector's needs. Potential career paths for cybersecurity analysts include:

• Information Security Analyst

• Specialized Consultant

• Threat Researcher

• Incident Response Analyst

• Information Security Manager

Why should they be so prepared? Because cyberattacks can take many forms, such as malware, phishing, and denial of service, and over the years, certain forms have prevailed over others. Some of the major cybersecurity threats include:

Malware: Short for malicious software, refers to software designed to gain unauthorized access to information systems, damage or destroy data or disrupt operations. Malware, in turn, can take many forms, such as viruses, trojans, ransomware (which locks a computer system or threatens to destroy data unless a ransom is paid), and spyware.

Phishing: Is a type of social engineering attack in which an attacker uses fraudulent emails or messages to deceive people into disclosing confidential information, such as login credentials or financial data.

Internal Threats: Refer to attacks or security breaches that originate within an organization. These threats can come from employees, contractors, or partners with authorized access to systems or data.

Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs): Are targeted attacks by highly skilled and persistent attackers, often agents of a nation-state. APTs typically involve multiple stages and can last for months or even years.

Denial of Service (DoS) Attacks: Aim to disrupt or disable access to a website or service by flooding it with traffic or requests, rendering it unavailable to legitimate users.

As cyberattacks and threats become more frequent, the demand for cybersecurity analysts continues to grow.

It is projected that cybersecurity analyst positions will increase by up to 31% by 2029, which is much faster than any other occupation.

The penetration of information technologies into our routines and their high value for businesses brings with it a significant vulnerability to the risk of exposing and/or losing sensitive information.

In the face of these risks, the role of the cybersecurity engineer is growing in relevance, helping companies mitigate, reduce, and prevent threats related to information management.