Indeed, working as a security operations center (SOC) analyst is challenging. A career in cyber security can be incredibly fulfilling and lucrative, but it can also be quite tricky and stressful.
Since they are tasked with maintaining the confidentiality of sensitive and private data for a company, cyber security analysts have essential work. This can be a very demanding job that calls for extensive knowledge and strategic thinking.
As a result, a cyber security analyst’s duties may include the following:
- Managing firewalls and network updates
- Restricting file access and credentialing
- Actively attempting to hack systems to discover flaws and many more
What is a SOC Analyst?
A Security Operations Center (SOC) Analyst is a member of a group of analysts and professionals who work in the field of cybersecurity. SOC will exclusively serve a single business or act as security outsourcing for several clients. SOC analysts work in entry-level positions intended for newcomers to the field of data security.
Three primary levels of experience and responsibilities are split among SOC analysts:
Tier 1 – Triage:
The preceding description of SOC triage analysts, who have the least amount of experience and are charged with straightforward monitoring and logging duties, is accurate. The problem is passed on to the next tier when it is beyond their area of expertise and responsibility.
Tier 2 – Investigation:
SOC investigation analysts are intended to determine the precise nature of threats and are regarded as the field’s mid-level experts. They need to figure out where the danger came from, how much damage it did, and how far it had infiltrated the impacted systems.
Tier 3 – Threat Hunters:
Threat hunters are prepared to handle the most challenging threats at the pinnacle of SOC analysts. They examine data analysis and telemetry on risks not identified as harmful by security software when they are not addressing urgent risks.
Soft Skills Required to Become a SOC Analyst
To be a good SOC analyst, you’ll need a variety of talents and competencies, just like any other cybersecurity course online. Without at least a rudimentary understanding of the essential digital abilities, you will be kept from finding lucrative employment as a SOC analyst. Here, cyber security courses online can help you excel in the field.
Many job requirements may be broken down into complex skills that can be learned and essential to the job and a set of transferable skills based on your personality.
The following soft skills are required of a SOC analyst:
- Collaboration:
Teams of SOC analysts are required to identify threats and then take appropriate action. When a threat materializes, the analysts must work together to respond to it quickly and effectively. Any attempts at a countermeasure may fail as a result of a poorly timed response.
- Critical Thinking:
The capacity to think critically is one of a SOC analyst’s more evident but unjustly undervalued soft skills. Analysts must be able to examine the reasoning behind problems and practice practical fixes that address the many levels of the threat itself.
- Curiosity:
SOC analysts must always seek out new information to improve their abilities. Moreover, the cybersecurity industry is constantly changing, and SOC analysts never stop learning.
- Pressure Resistance:
SOC analysts must be able to function under pressure and make rational conclusions even while data is lost.
These abilities must come to you naturally, and cannot be taught, despite being very valuable to SOC analysts. The above-mentioned soft skills can be practical tools in your quest to become a SOC analyst and break into online cybersecurity courses if you possess at least some of them.
A SOC analyst’s hard skills are comparable to those of more demanding cybersecurity occupations. To succeed, many professionals need a similar set of skills.
Who Is Ideal to Become a SOC Analyst?
- Incident Reaction
A breach must be addressed in a way that lessens both its immediate and potential long-term effects.
- Technology Forensics
The techniques employed in computer forensics, including data gathering, processing, and reporting, must be understood by SOCs.
- Network Security
The network must be protected. Monitoring, finding, and assessing potential risks are necessary for this. SOC analysts must be skilled in maintaining secure network traffic and identifying suspicious activity.
- Reverse Engineering
A SOC must be able to decode and reverse-engineer malware at a higher tier level.
The Essentials of Becoming SOC Analyst
- Study the Fundamentals
A SOC analyst should have a foundational understanding of computer science. Networking, operating systems, programming foundations, cybersecurity, etc., are a few topics involved.
- Make a Portfolio
You should now be able to demonstrate them to others once you’ve finished the first level and have the fundamentals in place. The simplest method to accomplish this is blogging by creating a free blog page on websites like Medium and WordPress.
- Experience
This procedure will be made simpler by an internship in the field of the Blue team. Completing training in this industry will demonstrate your commitment to a career with the team if you are a college student.
- Certification by the Blue Team
Certification might not always make sense at this point, considering it’s costly and time-consuming. Nonetheless, having a certificate can still help you stand out. You can select a certificate with the help of the following website.
- Get a Job
Now that the initial phases are through, you may start looking for SOC analyst employment. Begin with a professionally crafted résumé and utilize your current networks to get work. If your circle is insufficient, apply for jobs through LinkedIn or other comparable websites.
Final Word
It is incredibly stressful to learn cybersecurity since threats can strike suddenly and be very harmful, depending on how quickly they are discovered. To excel in a career as a SOC analyst, you will need abundant knowledge and credentials so that you don’t falter in doing your job correctly. You could be tempted by the expected pay of a SOC analyst while knowing little about what it entails. However, it is the ideal and most likely first move to take if you are determined to pursue a career in cybersecurity by taking a cyber security course.