What Does a Career in Information Security Analytics Look Like?
| 5 Min Read
Security analysts are tasked with protecting organizations’ premium assets: their data and networks. Because of the rapid transition of businesses to digital platforms and cloud-based systems, organizations now face more cybersecurity vulnerabilities than ever. With businesses handling unprecedented amounts of critical information, the demand for security analysts is high across industries.
Serving as a bridge between raw data and actionable business insights, security analysts use software and analytical tools to identify patterns, trends and anomalies, and translate technical findings into clear, understandable recommendations for executives, department heads and other stakeholders. Graduates of the online Master of Science (MS) in Cybersecurity program offered by Southwest Minnesota State University (SMSU) are equipped for a career as an information security analyst.
Information Security Analyst Job Description and Key Principles
Information security analysts require expertise in safeguarding organizations’ proprietary and sensitive information. They must be able to identify and correct flaws in security systems, solutions and programs. Their primary duty is to ensure digital assets are protected from unauthorized access, which involves securing infrastructures both online and on-premises.
Information security analysts are involved in every phase of cybersecurity, and SMSU’s curriculum helps students gain insights and expertise into them through courses such as:
- Introduction to Information Security: This course explores key principles, including software vulnerabilities, secure design, authentication, access control, malware, network threats and cryptography. This foundational knowledge prepares students to understand and address modern security challenges in any organization.
- Computer System Security: The focus of this course is on secure system design, covering topics like authentication, access control, security policies, secure kernel design and database security. By mastering these concepts, graduates learn to build and maintain robust and secure computer systems, a skill highly valued in roles such as security analyst or systems architect.
- Internet Security: In this course, students delve into network-specific threats and defenses, exploring vulnerabilities in protocols like TCP/IP, DNS and BGP, as well as denial of service attacks, firewalls and web security. This course enables students to recognize and mitigate risks in online environments, preparing them for positions that require expertise in network protection and incident response.
- AI in Cybersecurity: Provides a comprehensive understanding of how artificial intelligence (AI) can be leveraged to enhance cybersecurity measures. Students explore AI-driven threat detection, response and prevention techniques.
- Malware Analysis: Introduces students to static and dynamic analysis, reverse engineering and behavioral assessments. Hands-on labs provide experience in detecting, analyzing and responding to malware threats.
- Penetration Testing (CEH-Aligned): Equips students with network and system penetration testing methodologies, vulnerability scanning and ethical hacking strategies. This course aligns with the EC-Council Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) certification.
“The intersection of cybersecurity and data analytics is large, given the amount of potential data involved,” according to InfoSec. “Data analytics can generate insights that can be used for threat detection, incident response and risk assessment.”
What Do Information Security Analysts Do?
Analysts monitor key security metrics and data to filter out suspicious activity, proactively find and mitigate risks, and lead efforts to prevent or limit damage and recover from successful breaches. They are often the first responders during security incidents. Other key responsibilities include the following:
- Producing detailed reports that evaluate the effectiveness of existing security measures and policies for IT administrators and business managers
- Recommending necessary changes to harden the security network
- Developing and deploying training programs to educate employees on proper security protocols
- Fostering a security-first mindset throughout the organization
- Documenting system updates, incident responses and disaster recovery protocols
“For the most part, security analysts work with scenarios — and this could mean poring over thousands and thousands of pages of data to look for anomalies. Interpersonal skills are also crucial; analysts need to train company staff on better security protocols and regularly communicate with executive leadership,” according to Fortra.
Security analysts also perform ethical (also known as white hat) hacking and penetration testing to expose vulnerabilities and test defenses. Monitoring data traffic across networks to detect suspect and anomalous incidents and developing forensics protocols to report on data breaches falls within their purview as well.
What Is Security Analytics and Why Is It Important?
Security analytics is a proactive approach in cybersecurity that involves collecting and analyzing large amounts of data from an organization’s digital environment. Analytics enable organizations to identify unusual patterns in data traffic, correlations to known hacker threats, and other out-of-the-ordinary events that could signal an attack or vulnerability.
Organizations use security analytics to accelerate incident response and prevent or contain breaches. Additionally, security analytics supports regulatory compliance efforts, avoids data loss, generates detailed reports and provides real-time visibility into cyberdefense processes.
“Attackers are always on the constant lookout to locate vulnerabilities and exploit them. Security analytics helps disrupt their movement by prioritizing risks and keeping pace with their growing efforts,” according to SentinelOne.
What Is the Career Outlook and Salary Expectation for Security Analysts?
Demand for digital security analysts is exceptionally strong due to the increasing frequency of cyberattacks and companies’ reliance on digital information storage. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), there will be a 33% job growth in the sector through 2033, which is much faster than the average for other occupations. About 17,300 job openings are expected each year, largely driven by the need to replace workers who move to other roles or retire. The median annual wage for these professionals was $124,910 in May 2024, reflecting the high value placed on their expertise.
Graduates of SMSU’s M.S. in Cybersecurity online degree are well-prepared for diverse roles, including information security analyst, malware analyst, penetration tester, threat intelligence specialist, AI-cybersecurity engineer and SOC analyst, across sectors such as healthcare, finance, government and technology. With no end in sight to the growing importance of data in business operations, security analytics will continue to play an essential role in the foreseeable future.
Take the Next Step Toward Your Cybersecurity Career
As organizations continue to expand their digital footprints and face increasingly sophisticated threats, the need for skilled professionals who can bridge technical expertise with strategic thinking has never been greater. Pursuing advanced education in cybersecurity positions you to meet this demand while building the specialized skills that employers across industries actively seek.
SMSU’s online M.S. in Cybersecurity program blends advanced coursework, hands-on experience and industry-aligned certifications to prepare you for leadership roles in cybersecurity. Whether you are advancing your current career or entering the cybersecurity field, SMSU provides the knowledge, skills and opportunities to succeed.
Learn more about SMSU’s online Master of Science in Cybersecurity program.