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Career: Information security analysts

Hemant Kumar Jain
Last Updated 11 June 2014, 16:02 IST

With the rise of hackers and data breaches across companies and the government, there's a greater need to keep private and top-secret entropy safe from cyber attacks.

 That's where information security analysts come into the picture. A security analyst is accountable for maintaining the security and integrity of data. He has to understand of every aspect of information security within the company. Their main job is to examine the security measures of an organisation and find out how valuable they are. They implementing training required to teach staff on proper security measures both offline and online.
Scope

Data is the lifeblood of a corporation. Any turnaround of cyber affluence can damage the company’s reputation, or wipe out company’s resources. Therefore, there is a high requirement for precisely schooled and certified security analysts even in a time of economic slowdown. 

 Security is very important in high-profile technology companies and large enterprise business environments. As terrorization continues to increase, so does the requirement for security analyst in companies.
Skills

People who want to work in this area need strong problem-solving and analytical skills and understanding of computer systems. Information security analysts must be familiar with security rules and principles. Apart from that the individual should also have the following qualities to step further in this particular profession.  

Serious Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to recognize the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or access to the problems.

Active Listening: Giving full interest to what other people are saying, bringing time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at unfortunate times.

Management Skills: Consider the relative costs and benefits of probable actions to choose the most appropriate one.

Systems Analysis: Finding out how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the surroundings will affect outcomes.
Job Overview

Information security analysts work in a multiple number of positions within computer organisation, consulting firms and financial institutions. Employers often invite their analysts to supervise networks for the smallest of security gaps. Security specialists also identify, explore and counterbalance cyber threats as the breaches occur.

 Specialized analysts install and use multiple security systems and different types of software, such as data encryption, firewalls, and programs to secure socket layers. Other tasks include performing security infiltration testing, in which a cyber threat is replicated in order to assess the efficiency and effectiveness of the obtainable network's security.

Security analysts also find the intensities within every aspect of data protection protocols and decide where possible weaknesses can be subjugated. After they conduct a full examination of the organization's network, they help plan, build up and carry out security standards and best practices that meet the requirements of the company.

Eligibility

Most information security analysts should have a bachelor’s degree in computer science, programming, engineering, Management with specialization in IT etc from a reputed college. Some organisation favors candidates with specialized knowledge of information security, which may be incurred through a formal training program. Certain positions require work understanding or advanced degrees, such as MBA in Information Systems.

Information security analysts usually have a variety of competencies – creativity, inventiveness, leadership and teamwork, among them. A number of specialized certified course are available to the professional security analysts such as Certified Information Systems Security Professional and Certified Information Security Manager are offered by companies such as Microsoft and Cisco.
Remuneration

The positions here are diverse .and purely organization oriented. By and large these particular positions are headed up by senior persons who have spent a substantial time in the organization. Since the jobs are at different levels, the compensations are variable in this profession starting salaries depend on principal qualifications, skills and experience. The average pay for an Information Security Analyst is Rs 4-5 lakhs per year. Most people with this job move on to other positions after few years of experience. The highest paying skills associated with this job are Security Risk Management and I Security & Infrastructure. 

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(Published 11 June 2014, 16:02 IST)

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