Security operations analyst
Security operations analysts watch for, investigate, and respond to cyber security threats to the organization's systems and data. They triage alerts from security monitoring tools, investigate suspicious activity, contain incidents, and help fix weaknesses. In health care, fast detection and response protects clinical services and confidential patient information from attacks such as ransomware.
- Family
- Cyber security
- UK GDaD PCF role
- None: this reference defines the role
- ESCO occupations
- cyber incident responder (ISCO-08 2529); ICT security technician (ISCO-08 3512)
- On GitHub
- Role document · Role data
Levels
| Band | Role level | UK GDaD PCF level | Civil Service grades | Job evaluation points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Junior security operations analyst | — | — | 348 |
| 6 | Security operations analyst | — | — | 440 |
| 7 | Senior security operations analyst | — | — | 496 |
In a digital health care organization
- Health care is a frequent target for ransomware and data theft, and one attack can stop clinical systems across the organization.
- Containment decisions, such as isolating a server or part of the network, must weigh security risk against the effect on patient care, so analysts work with clinical and operational leads.
- Networks include medical devices and legacy systems that cannot run security agents or be patched quickly, so analysts rely on network monitoring and compensating controls.
- Monitoring covers access to patient records, so analysts help detect inappropriate access by insiders as well as external attacks, working with information governance.
- Security monitoring runs around the clock, so analysts may work shifts or on-call rotas.
ESCO occupations and skills
ESCO lists the skills and knowledge that employers usually need (essential) or may need (optional) for each occupation. Use them as a checklist for development conversations.
cyber incident responder
Cyber incident responders monitor and assess cybersecurity state systems, analysing, evaluating, and mitigating the impact of cybersecurity incidents. Moreover, they identify malicious actors and cyber incidents root causes. According to the organisation’s Incident Response Plan, they restore systems and process functionalities to an operational state, collecting evidence and documenting actions taken.
Essential skills and knowledge (23)
Skills and competences
- collect cyber defence data
- communicate with stakeholders
- create incident reports
- engage with stakeholders
- handle cybersecurity incidents
- protect ICT devices
- provide ICT consulting advice
Knowledge
- GDPR
- ICT network security risks
- ICT security legislation
- ICT security standards
- attack vectors
- building systems monitoring technology
- cyber attack counter-measures
- cyber security
- ethical hacking principles
- incidents and accidents recording
- operating systems
- operational tactics for emergency responses
- risk management
- security engineering
- security threats
Other
Optional skills and knowledge (52)
Skills and competences
- consult with business clients
- create project specifications
- define quality standards
- develop information security strategy
- ensure information security
- ensure proper document management
- give live presentation
- implement ICT risk management
- implement ICT security policies
- implement a firewall
- implement a virtual private network
- implement anti-virus software
- implement spam protection
- lead disaster recovery exercises
- manage ICT change request process
- manage IT security compliances
- manage a team
- manage changes in ICT system
- manage digital identity
- manage keys for data protection
- monitor system performance
- optimise choice of ICT solution
- perform project management
- perform risk analysis
- perform scientific research
- protect personal data and privacy
- provide information
- provide user documentation
- remove computer virus or malware from a computer
- track key performance indicators
- troubleshoot
Knowledge
- C++
- ICT encryption
- ICT process quality models
- ICT project management methodologies
- Internet of Things
- Process-based management
- Python (computer programming)
- business intelligence
- cloud monitoring and reporting
- cloud security and compliance
- cloud technologies
- copyright legislation
- defence standard procedures
- embedded systems
- information security strategy
- internet governance
- leadership principles
- lean project management
- project management
- safety engineering
- web application security threats
ICT security technician
ICT security technicians propose and implement necessary security updates and measures whenever is required. They advise, support, inform and provide training and security awareness.
Essential skills and knowledge (34)
Skills and competences
- address problems critically
- analyse ICT system
- communicate with stakeholders
- engage with stakeholders
- ensure proper document management
- establish an ICT security prevention plan
- estimate duration of work
- execute software tests
- identify ICT security risks
- identify ICT system weaknesses
- implement ICT risk management
- integrate system components
- manage alarm system
- manage closed-circuit television system
- manage system security
- protect ICT devices
- set up cybersecurity training programmes
- solve ICT system problems
- use access control software
Knowledge
- ICT networking hardware
- ICT security standards
- ICT system programming
- attack vectors
- audit techniques
- cyber attack counter-measures
- cyber security
- levels of software testing
- operating systems
- penetration testing tool
- procurement of ICT network equipment
- security engineering
- systems development life-cycle
- tools for ICT test automation
- web application security threats
Optional skills and knowledge (61)
Skills and competences
- comply with legal regulations
- cooperate with colleagues
- execute ICT audits
- implement ICT security policies
- implement a firewall
- implement a virtual private network
- implement anti-virus software
- implement cloud security and compliance
- install low voltage wiring
- manage IT security compliances
- manage cloud data and storage
- manage keys for data protection
- remove computer virus or malware from a computer
- use back-up and recovery tools
Knowledge
- ABAP
- AJAX
- APL
- ASP.NET
- Assembly (computer programming)
- C#
- C++
- COBOL
- Cisco
- CoffeeScript
- Common Lisp
- Erlang
- Groovy
- Haskell
- ICT encryption
- ICT network security risks
- ICT security legislation
- Internet of Things
- Java (computer programming)
- JavaScript
- Lisp
- MATLAB
- ML (computer programming)
- Microsoft Visual C++
- Objective-C
- OpenEdge Advanced Business Language
- PHP
- Pascal (computer programming)
- Perl
- Prolog (computer programming)
- Python (computer programming)
- R
- Ruby (computer programming)
- SAP R3
- SAS language
- Scala
- Scratch (computer programming)
- Smalltalk (computer programming)
- Swift (computer programming)
- TypeScript
- VBScript
- Visual Basic
- cloud monitoring and reporting
- cloud security and compliance
- computer programming
- organisational resilience
Other
Contains ESCO v1.2.1 data (https://esco.ec.europa.eu/). © European Union. Reuse authorised under Commission Decision 2011/833/EU.