Information Security Analysts

15-1212.00 Zone 4 — Considerable Preparation Needed

Plan, implement, upgrade, or monitor security measures for the protection of computer networks and information. Assess system vulnerabilities for security risks and propose and implement risk mitigation strategies. May ensure appropriate security controls are in place that will safeguard digital files and vital electronic infrastructure. May respond to computer security breaches and viruses.

Also known as: AI Security Specialist (Artificial Intelligence Security Specialist), All-Source Analyst, Application Security Analyst, Applications Security Analyst, Automatic Data Processing Systems Security Specialist (ADP Systems Security), Blue Team Member, Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), Cloud Security Architect, ...

Annual Salary

$124,910

Median annual wage (May 2024)

$92,160 25th – 75th percentile $159,600
10th percentile $69,660
90th percentile $186,420
U.S. Employment: 179,430

Job Outlook

+28.5%

Projected growth, 2024–2034 (Much faster than average)

Annual Job Openings 16,000 per year (avg. 2024–2034)
Typical education: Bachelor's degree
Experience: Less than 5 years

What You'd Do

  • Train users and promote security awareness to ensure system security and to improve server and network efficiency.
  • Develop plans to safeguard computer files against accidental or unauthorized modification, destruction, or disclosure and to meet emergency data processing needs.
  • Confer with users to discuss issues such as computer data access needs, security violations, and programming changes.
  • Monitor current reports of computer viruses to determine when to update virus protection systems.
  • Modify computer security files to incorporate new software, correct errors, or change individual access status.
  • Coordinate implementation of computer system plan with establishment personnel and outside vendors.
  • Monitor use of data files and regulate access to safeguard information in computer files.
  • Perform risk assessments and execute tests of data processing system to ensure functioning of data processing activities and security measures.
  • Encrypt data transmissions and erect firewalls to conceal confidential information as it is being transmitted and to keep out tainted digital transfers.
  • Document computer security and emergency measures policies, procedures, and tests.

Top Skills

Reading Comprehension 4.0
Critical Thinking 3.9
Active Listening 3.8
Complex Problem Solving 3.8
Speaking 3.6
Writing 3.5
Systems Analysis 3.4
Judgment and Decision Making 3.4

Importance scale: 1 (low) – 5 (high)

Knowledge Areas

Computers and Electronics 4.4
English Language 4.3
Administration and Management 3.7
Telecommunications 3.6
Engineering and Technology 3.6
Customer and Personal Service 3.4
Public Safety and Security 3.3
Education and Training 3.2

Importance scale: 1 (low) – 5 (high)

Education Level Distribution

Percentage of workers in this occupation by education level

Bachelor's
52.6%
Post-Bacc Cert
22.5%
Associate's
12.9%
Certificate
7.2%
Master's
2.8%
Some College
2%

Technology & Tools

Software and tools commonly used in this role

In-Demand Technologies

AJAX Amazon DynamoDB Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud EC2 Amazon Redshift Amazon Web Services AWS CloudFormation Amazon Web Services AWS software Ansible software Apache Cassandra Apache Hadoop Apache Hive Apache Kafka Apache Maven Apache Spark Apache Subversion SVN Apache Tomcat Apple macOS Atlassian Confluence Atlassian JIRA Bash Border Gateway Protocol BGP C C# C++ Chef Django Docker Eclipse IDE Elasticsearch Epic Systems ESRI ArcGIS software

Work Styles

Personality traits and work styles important for this career

3.0
Attention to Detail
2.9
Integrity
2.8
Cautiousness
2.7
Dependability
2.4
Intellectual Curiosity
2.4
Innovation
2.2
Perseverance

Key Abilities

Cognitive, physical, and sensory abilities important for this role

Oral Comprehension 4.0
Written Comprehension 4.0
Problem Sensitivity 4.0
Deductive Reasoning 4.0
Inductive Reasoning 4.0
Written Expression 3.9
Information Ordering 3.9
Oral Expression 3.8

Importance scale: 1 (low) – 5 (high)

Work Activities

General types of job behaviors occurring on this job

Working with Computers 4.7
Getting Information 4.5
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events 4.3
Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards 4.1
Processing Information 4.1
Analyzing Data or Information 4.1
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge 4.1
Documenting/Recording Information 4.0

Importance scale: 1 (low) – 5 (high)

Work Environment

Physical and social factors that influence the nature of work

E-Mail
5.0
Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
4.8
Telephone Conversations
4.5
Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
4.5
Contact With Others
4.3
Spend Time Sitting
4.2
Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
4.2
Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
4.1
Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
4.1
Freedom to Make Decisions
4.0
Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results
3.6
Time Pressure
3.6

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Salary data: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024. Outlook data: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034.

This page includes information from the O*NET 30.2 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license.