What Does a Cybersecurity Analyst Do? 2024 Job Guide
November 20, 2024
Article
New year. Big goals. Bigger savings. Unlock a year of unlimited access to learning with Coursera Plus for $199. Save now.
Launch your career as a cybersecurity analyst . Build job-ready skills for an in-demand role in the field, no degree or prior experience required.
Instructors: IBM Skills Network Team
223,797 already enrolled
Included with
(12,480 reviews)
Recommended experience
Beginner level
No degree or prior experience required. You should be comfortable working with computers.
(12,480 reviews)
Recommended experience
Beginner level
No degree or prior experience required. You should be comfortable working with computers.
The job-ready skills you need to get an entry-level position as a cybersecurity analyst in just 4-6 months.
Cybersecurity fundamentals and how to manage database vulnerabilities in operating systems administration and security.
How to use cybersecurity tools and techniques to perform penetration testing, respond to incidents, and conduct forensics.
How to use generative AI to boost your productivity and effectiveness as a cybersecurity analyst.
Add to your LinkedIn profile
August 2024
The global demand for cybersecurity professionals is set to surge by 6 million (Cybercrime Magazine). This IBM Professional Certificate gives you the essential skills you need to get your first job as a cybersecurity analyst.
What do cybersecurity analysts do? Cybersecurity analysts protect an organization's systems and networks by monitoring for security breaches, analyzing threats, and implementing defensive measures to prevent cyberattacks.
During this program, you’ll explore cybersecurity essentials, tools, and technologies, and learn about cyberattacks, operating systems, and networking fundamentals. You’ll dive into database fundamentals and vulnerabilities, cybersecurity architecture, compliance frameworks, standards, and regulations. You’ll explore using gen AI for cybersecurity. Plus, you’ll discover tools and strategies for job search, resume building, and interview preparation to kickstart your career.
You’ll gain valuable hands-on experience in penetration testing, incident response, forensics, and threat intelligence. Plus, you’ll work on real-world projects developing cybersecurity plans and compliance frameworks, giving you great practical work to talk about in interviews.
Once you’ve successfully completed this program, you’ll have an IBM Professional Certificate and digital badge showcasing skills you can add to your resume.
Enroll today and prepare to launch your cybersecurity career in less than 6 months!
Applied Learning Project
This Professional Certificate is specifically designed to help you build the practical experience that employers look for. Throughout the program, you’ll work on hands-on labs and projects that fine-tune your new competencies. This practical work will enable you to:
Build applied skills for incident response & forensics through real-world cybersecurity case studies.
Gain hands-on practice using industry-specific security tools.
Demonstrate how to apply cybersecurity industry standards and best practices to mitigate risks, enhance security, and ensure compliance through audit processes.
Apply incident response methodologies.
Work with generative AI tools that boost your cybersecurity effectiveness and productivity.
Showcase your ability to investigate a real-world security breach by identifying the attack, vulnerabilities, costs, and prevention recommendations.
This program is ACE® approved and FIBAA recommended - you can earn up to 10 degree credits & up to 4 ECTS credits.
Compare the roles and responsibilities of various careers within the cybersecurity field and how to progress from one level to the next level.
Map IT fundamental skills, technical skills, and soft skills to the different job roles at various levels in cybersecurity.
Identify the required certifications such as Security+, A+, CISSP, and CEH for different job roles and the contents of each certification.
Discover the right role for you in cybersecurity and learn how to prepare for your chosen career path.
Recognize the importance of data security, maintaining data integrity, and confidentiality
Demonstrate the installation of software updates and patches
Identify preferred practices for authentication, encryption, and device security
Discuss types of security threats, breaches, malware, social engineering, and other attack vectors
How to apply key cybersecurity concepts, tools, and methodologies to protect digital and physical assets
How to recognize various types of threat actors and malware and explore preventive measures
To identify various internet security threats and common cybersecurity best practices
To understand authentication and identity management concepts for safeguarding your organization
Essential OS knowledge for professionals looking to get started in cybersecurity and IT support
How to adeptly navigate features unique to Windows, Linux, and MacOS ecosystems
How to manage user accounts and permissions
Valuable insights into foundational cloud computing concepts such as virtualization and containerization
Sought-after computer network and network security skills businesses need to protect the network and endpoint devices from unwanted intrusions.
How to apply organization policies to protect endpoint devices from attacks using firewall settings, and outbound and inbound rulesets.
Install, configure, apply patches and use cloud-based software to find, quarantine, and remove malware and for intrusion detection systems
Perform the tasks necessary to provide recommendations for network hardware devices, network security, and network monitoring and management
Job-ready data management skills employers need, including how to implement various data protection techniques to secure sensitive information
How to configure and manage database user profiles, password policies, privileges, and roles
How to identify, analyze, and mitigate database injection vulnerabilities, including OS commands and SQL injection
How to design and implement comprehensive database and application auditing models
Describe the five foundational principles of cybersecurity and the Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability (CIA) triad
Summarize the different areas that a cybersecurity architect must adopt to develop a secure enterprise solution
Discuss the different security domains, including IAM, endpoint security, network security, application security, and data security
Demonstrate your proficiency in recommending methods to improve network security in a given scenario
Define fundamental concepts of cybersecurity, including governance, risk management, compliance, AI ethics, and the audit process.
Identify cybersecurity laws and regulations, both at a national and international level and comprehend their implications for organizations.
Explore industry standards and their significance in cybersecurity practices and gain insights into the COBIT framework and SOC reports.
Apply cybersecurity industry standards and best practices to mitigate risks, enhance security, and ensure compliance through audit processes.
In-demand penetration and threat hunting skills, supported by hands-on practice that employers are looking for on a resume.
Hands-on experience applying the principles of penetration testing using tools, such as OWASP ZAP and SNYK.
How to create penetration testing reports and integrate AI to perform advanced threat hunting and threat intelligence.
Use cryptography and cryptanalysis techniques like encryption and hashing to ensure data integrity and confidentiality.
Explain the principles and importance of incident response in cybersecurity.
Implement techniques for detecting and analyzing security incidents.
Implement methods for collecting and examining digital data.
Analyze and report digital forensic findings to support cybersecurity efforts.
This course gives you the background needed to gain Cybersecurity skills as part of the IBM Cybersecurity Professional Certificate programs.
You will explore incident response methodologies and security models. You will learn to recognize and categorize key types of vulnerabilities and associated attacks against today's organizations. You will explore in depth several past and recent breaches to learn how they were detected and what was done or could have been done to reduce the threat risk to the organization. Finally, you will explore the costs of data breaches through research studies and well known breaches. This course requires you to select and research a cybersecurity breach in the news today and apply your knowledge and skills from this course and previous cybersecurity courses to analyze the type of attack, attack timeline, vulnerable systems, and any missed opportunities. This project will be graded by your peers in the course. This course is intended for anyone who wants to explore examples of Cybersecurity breaches to work in the Cybersecurity field as a Cybersecurity Analyst or a Cybersecurity Specialist. The completion of this course also makes you eligible to earn the Cybersecurity Capstone: Breach Response Case Studies IBM digital badge. In this course, you will learn to: ● Apply incident response methodologies. ● Research and describe a watering hole attack. ● Research and describe ransomware threats and the consequences to organization. ● Research and describe 3rd party breaches and how they affect an organization. ● Research and describe the effects of a phishing attack. ● Research and describe a point of sale attack and approximate cost of data breaches. ● Perform a case study on a current cyber attack and breach.
Get CompTIA Security+ and CompTIA CySA+ exam-ready with study tips and rigorous exam-day preparation techniques
Validate your exam readiness with practice tests and timed mock exams
Ensure you’re familiar with the domains covered in each exam and how they are marked
Understand the certification process for each exam, including sign-up and testing procedures
Explain the fundamental concepts of Generative AI and its significance in cybersecurity.
Apply generative AI techniques to real-world cybersecurity scenarios, including UBEA, threat intelligence, report summarization, and playbooks.
Assess the use of generative AI in cybersecurity against threats, like phishing and malware, and understand potential NLP-based attack techniques.
Mitigate attacks on generative AI models and analyze real-world case studies, identifying key success factors in implementation.
Explain cybersecurity roles, titles, responsibilities, and required skills and competencies, and explore the NICE framework
Create a resume, portfolio, elevator pitch, and cover letter and apply best practices to prepare for a cybersecurity job interview
Respond effectively to various cybersecurity interview questions, including industry, skills, experience, and behavioral
Discuss post-interview actions required to position yourself for success and apply tips to help during salary negotiation
Add this credential to your LinkedIn profile, resume, or CV. Share it on social media and in your performance review.
When you complete this Professional Certificate, you may be able to have your learning recognized for credit if you are admitted and enroll in one of the following online degree programs.¹
When you complete this Professional Certificate, you may be able to have your learning recognized for credit if you are admitted and enroll in one of the following online degree programs.¹
University of Maryland Global Campus
Degree · 48 months
University of North Texas
Degree · 15+ hours of study/wk per course
Illinois Tech
Degree
University of Maryland Global Campus
Degree · 48 months
¹Successful application and enrollment are required. Eligibility requirements apply. Each institution determines the number of credits recognized by completing this content that may count towards degree requirements, considering any existing credits you may have. Click on a specific course for more information.
At IBM, we know how rapidly tech evolves and recognize the crucial need for businesses and professionals to build job-ready, hands-on skills quickly. As a market-leading tech innovator, we’re committed to helping you thrive in this dynamic landscape. Through IBM Skills Network, our expertly designed training programs in AI, software development, cybersecurity, data science, business management, and more, provide the essential skills you need to secure your first job, advance your career, or drive business success. Whether you’re upskilling yourself or your team, our courses, Specializations, and Professional Certificates build the technical expertise that ensures you, and your organization, excel in a competitive world.
“
Even though I’ve always had an interest in cybersecurity, this course was the first opportunity I had to explore the field, and it gave me a great foundation for further exploration.
Learning from India
“
Even though I’ve always had an interest in cybersecurity, this course was the first opportunity I had to explore the field, and it gave me a great foundation for further exploration.
Learning from India
Unlimited access to 10,000+ world-class courses, hands-on projects, and job-ready certificate programs - all included in your subscription
Earn a degree from world-class universities - 100% online
Upskill your employees to excel in the digital economy
Cybersecurity efforts protect organizations, individuals, or networks from digital attacks, thefts, or damage.
As organizations worldwide increasingly transfer to digital systems, many organizations need trained cybersecurity professionals to help ensure the security of their information and systems. The cybersecurity skills you learn in this program will qualify you for an entry-level role as a Cybersecurity Analyst.
It typically takes between 4 to 8 months to complete the 8 courses. But some learners may go through the content faster.
No previous cybersecurity knowledge or experience is required, but you should be comfortable working with computers, be willing to develop new technical skills, enjoy collaborative problem solving, and communicating solutions.
You will be unable to take the final course, IBM Cybersecurity Analyst Assessment, until the previous 7 courses are completed. It is recommended to take the courses in order.
Yes. The IBM Cybersecurity Analyst Professional Certificate secured a credit recommendation from the American Council on Education’s (ACE) Credit Recommendation, as well as the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) from the Foundation for International Business Administration Accreditation (FIBAA) – industry standards for translating workplace learning into college credit. This aims to help open up additional pathways to learners who are interested in higher education and prepare them for entry-level jobs.
To share proof of completion with schools, certificate graduates will receive an email prompting them to claim their Credly badge, which contains the ACE®️ credit or ECTS recommendation. Once claimed, you will receive a competency-based transcript that signifies the credit recommendation, which can be shared directly with a school from the Credly platform. Please note that the decision to accept specific credit recommendations is up to each institution and is not guaranteed.
For ACE recommendations, please see Coursera’s ACE Recommendations FAQ. For ECTS recommendations, please see Coursera’s ECTS Recommendations FAQ.
This course is completely online, so there’s no need to show up to a classroom in person. You can access your lectures, readings and assignments anytime and anywhere via the web or your mobile device.
If you subscribed, you get a 7-day free trial during which you can cancel at no penalty. After that, we don’t give refunds, but you can cancel your subscription at any time. See our full refund policy.
Yes! To get started, click the course card that interests you and enroll. You can enroll and complete the course to earn a shareable certificate, or you can audit it to view the course materials for free. When you subscribe to a course that is part of a Certificate, you’re automatically subscribed to the full Certificate. Visit your learner dashboard to track your progress.
¹ Median salary and job opening data are sourced from Lightcast™ Job Postings Report. Data for job roles relevant to featured programs (1/1/2024 - 1/1/2025)