How to Become an Information Security Analyst: A Guide

How to Become an Information Security Analyst: A Guide

Cyberattacks are on the rise globally. In fact, cyber-related incidents were listed as the top business risk for companies worldwide in the Allianz Risk Barometer report. From cybercrime to data breaches and IT outages, these are just a few of the cyber incidents that companies and organizations face on a daily basis.  

Information security analysts are on the frontline fighting against these cyber incidents. As experts in technology and information security, these professionals keep organizations safe from cybercriminals. Not only do information security analysts perform important work, but they also earn excellent salaries. You may be surprised to learn that you do not even need a bachelor’s degree to get started. It is an attractive career with great employment prospects and opportunities for growth. Read on to learn how to become an information security analyst or advance in your IT career. 

What is an Information Security Analyst? 

An information security analyst is an IT professional who specializes in protecting information from data breaches and cybercriminals. Many organizations across a wide range of industries hire information security analysts to protect their local networks, sensitive information, and online platforms. Assets that information security analysts may protect include intellectual property, online banking passwords, patient data, and more.  

In their roles, information security analysts do many things related to protecting data. Some of their jobs include: 

• Identify security breaches 
• Investigate and adjust security practices when security incidents occur 
• Choose, maintain, and analyze software, including firewalls and data encryption, to secure the organization’s information 
• Do testing to evaluate the organization’s security systems 
• Produce reports and make recommendations about the organizations’ security systems 
• Stay up to date on the latest best practices in the industry and update the organizations’ systems accordingly 

Information security analysts are facing a favorable job market, with a projected growth rate of 33%. This is a much faster growth rate than what’s expected for the average job. As few as 1.2% of information security analysts experience unemployment. 

If you are wondering about what your information security analyst salary could potentially be, you can expect to earn as much as $102,600 in annual salary. Yet, the top ten percent of professionals in this role earn $165,920 or more. Information security analyst salaries are considered very good when compared to the national average salary of $55,628. 

Certification Training at Every Career Level 

Now that you know more about the career, it is time to learn how to become an information security analyst. With this goal in mind, it is important to know what qualifications you may see in job descriptions. Today, many information security analyst jobs focus on skills and certifications rather than degrees. As a result, depending on your IT knowledge, getting an information security analyst job can be as simple as obtaining a certification. 

Below, learn some of the best certification training options available to launch your career as an information security analyst: 

Security+ Certification for Entry Level IT Professionals 

In just five days, you can graduate from the CompTIA Security+ Training Boot Camp and gain the skills necessary to work in the information security industry. This boot camp will help you earn a CompTIA Security+ certification, which is an excellent first step on your path to becoming an information security analyst. The certification, provided through the Computing Technology Industry Association, is a widely recognized, industry-standard certification that will help you get your foot in the door and achieve relevant work experience to build information security analyst qualifications.  

The CompTIA Security+ certification covers five main areas: 

• Attacks, threats, and vulnerabilities 
• Architecture and design 
• Implementation 
• Operations and incident response 
• Governance, risk, and compliance 

The boot camp will cover all of these areas so that you can complete the 90-minute exam with confidence. If you need more study time after completing the boot camp, you will have access to the materials for 1 year, giving you plenty of time to prepare for the test.  

Certified Ethical Hacker Certification for Mid-Level Professionals 

Do you find yourself wondering how cybercriminals think? If you are ready to think like a hacker, you could benefit from our Ethical Hacking Dual Certification Boot Camp (CEH and PenTest+). This boot camp will give you essential information security analyst qualifications, such as the ability to perform penetration testing, identify and exploit vulnerabilities, and more. Through ethical hacking, you can help organizations pinpoint weak areas so that they can improve security measures.  

Ideal for professionals with 3-4 years of experience in the field, this five-day course prepares you for two highly sought-after certifications: the EC-Council CEH and the CompTIA PenTest+. Included in the course is the cost for these two exams. You will feel prepared with the robust course materials, highly experienced instructor, and thorough practice exams.  

CISSP Certification to Take Your Career to the Next Level 

For experienced professionals, the best way to improve your information security analyst qualifications is to obtain a CISSP certification. This certification is widely considered the most rigorous and adequate for professionals who lead or manage cybersecurity teams.  

To help you achieve this coveted certification, it can be helpful to take a course, such as our (ISC)² CISSP® Training Boot Camp. The six-day boot camp will prepare you for the (ISC)² CISSP exam, covering all eight of the essential domains. To obtain your full certification status, you will also need five years of relevant experience. If you do not have the relevant experience, you can still get started with the exam. You will be considered an associate until you complete the necessary experience.  

Move Forward in Your Career as an Information Security Analyst Today! 

Now that you know how to become an information security analyst, it is time to take action toward reaching your goals. One of the best steps you can take is enrolling in a course that will help you achieve in-demand certifications. These certifications will make a big difference in helping you get jobs that will move you toward an information security analyst career.  

Register for the boot camp that best fits your skill and career level today! Before you know it, you will obtain a certification that will make you a highly desirable IT professional. 

Do you have questions? Get in touch with one of our enrollment specialists today.