Roles of Cyber Security Professionals: What They Do and Why It Matters

03 September 2024

A time when our lives have become one with technology, cyber security professionals have never been more needed. Here, we review the different roles and responsibilities of cyber security experts and their contribution to digital safety. Join us in cyber defence!

Roles of a Cyber Security Professional

The cyber security professionals are responsible for protecting IT infrastructures, edge devices, networks and data from ever-changing cyber threats. But their responsibilities go beyond these - they also protect against data breaches and respond to attacks.

Most cyber security professionals are graduates of programming, systems or network administration courses as well as of maths and statistics fields. Those attributes allow them to think like the adversaries they fight - creative and cunning.

Cyber Security Analyst Responsibilities

A cyber security analyst defends your business against cyber threats. Their responsibilities include:

Access Controls and Identity Management

With access control, an organisation can protect its sensitive information. By setting up strict identity and access management systems, cyber security professionals restrict access to critical data so only authorised personnel can gain access to systems.

Key Tasks Include

• Implementing Identity verification systems.
• Monitor & manage user access across platforms.
• Ensure secure login processes such as multi-factor authentication.

Network & Application Performance Monitoring

This is another important job of cyber security professionals where they need to watch very closely for irregular activity that may indicate a breach in these systems and correct it.

Key Responsibilities Include

• Monitoring network behaviour with advanced tools.  
• Identifying and responding to suspicious activities.
• Potential security incidents are flagged & investigated.

Regular Security Audits

Audits must be conducted on a regular basis to ensure robust security. These audits verify that security requirements are being followed and look for weaknesses. It's a proactive measure to find vulnerabilities before hackers may take use of them.

Key Actions Include

• Performing compliance security assessments.  
• Identifying Gaps in existing security.
• Making recommendations for changes based on industry standards.  

Installing Endpoint Detection and Prevention Systems  

Every device linked to a network is a possible port of entry for cybercriminals. Cyber security professionals install EDR tools on endpoints to prevent malicious attacks.

Main Duties Include

• Installation of electronic device-specific EDR software across devices.  
• Checking for abnormal behaviour at endpoints.  
• Blocking malware before it spreads.  

Handling Patch Updates & Vulnerabilities

Hackers often exploit old & outdated software. To ensure that security updates are administered as soon as possible, cyber security experts put up patch management systems that automatically update apps.

Key Steps Include  

• Configuring automatic patch updates for important systems.
• Watching for known vulnerabilities.
• Real-time assessment and resolution of security risks.

Disaster Recovery & Business Continuity Plans

A cyber security professional should prepare for the worst-case scenario. This includes developing disaster recovery and business continuity plans with IT teams so that minimal disruption occurs during an attack or data breach.

Key Responsibilities Include

• Collaborating with IT operations to develop recovery plans.
• Testing recovery protocols ensures that systems can be restored quickly.
• Strategies for keeping business running during an incident.

Educating Employees and Collaborating with HR

The weakest link in a company's cyber defence is often human error. Cyber security pros assist HR and management with regular training to help employees recognize and respond to threats.

Key Educational Efforts

• Organising security awareness programmes.
• Spotting  phishing emails and other common scams for staff.
• Highlighting best practices for data security in daily work tasks.

Key Roles in Cybersecurity Leadership

Cyber security analysts also have other responsibilities such as:

Chief Information Security Officer (CISO): Oversees cyber security strategy and protects organisations from cyber threats.

Security Architect: Secure systems / applications are designed / implemented to prevent cyber threats.

Incident Responder: Security incidents are responded to, contained and remediated quickly and effectively.

Security Awareness Specialist: Trains employees on cyber security best practices and the importance of cyber security.

Protect Your Business with Robust Cyber Security.

Renaissance we take a proactive view of cyber security. Get access to tailored business antivirus solutions to defend against malware and other threats. This dedication to excellence & constant development ensures that we are always prepared to meet or exceed the cyber security requirements of our clients. For security, reliability and trust, choose Renaissance.