OVERVIEW
What Is a Threat Hunter?
A cybersecurity analyst of any type must be able to detect, analyze, predict, and neutralize vulnerabilities and outright affronts against their organizations. Data environments and software systems both fall within this domain. Once a problem crops up on an analyst’s radar, meeting this goal requires investigation into the nature of the fundamental issue.
Much of this work is carried out before a real problem has a chance to occur through things like penetration tests. Other episodes may involve taking a closer look at unusual behavior or findings. After detection, they then seek to eliminate the underlying cause.
These experts are responsible for many things, including:
- Postulating potential threats by asking questions
- Analyzing enormous amounts of data for weaknesses, anomalies, and patterns
- Detecting threats from both the inside and the outside
Threat hunters work within teams serving key stakeholders, offering recommendations on the most appropriate best practices for a given industry or sector. Pattern recognition, an understanding of forensics, and excellent communication skills are all musts in this career.
RESPONSIBILITIES
What Does a Threat Hunter Do?
- Perform audits on existing systems and processes, determining whether they’re secure enough and where they can be improved.
- Carry out risk assessments and other tests to demonstrate the efficacy of the measures in place.
- Monitor their organizations from a technical standpoint for security and compliance.
- Analyze data and documents to predict problems that may arise.
- Understand threat behavior.
- Gather intelligence on known threats and recent attacks to stay ahead of a potential problem.
- Communicating their team’s needs to administrators to adapt to potential future threats.
- Staying up-to-date on the industry’s latest, modifying solutions in place as their technological landscape evolves.
While know-how, instinct, and experience are important, a security analyst also utilizes software, data science, and other tools of analysis to carry out their work. Security monitoring tools, SIEM solutions, and other resources paint a complete picture of the system, the means of penetration, and even flaws in the security of the physical premises in question.
EDUCATION & BEST DEGREES
How Do I Become a Threat Hunter?
For most security analyst jobs, you’ll need at least a bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity, forensics, or a closely related field.
A master’s degree in cybersecurity will weigh heavily in your favor, as will certifications and other forms of continuous learning. After at least two years as a working professional, you’ll likely be able to advance considerably in both title and income level.
Best Degrees for a Threat Hunter
Technology
Cybersecurity and Information Assurance – B.S.
Protect your career and earning potential with this degree....
Protect your career and earning potential with this degree.
- Time: 60% of graduates finish within 29 months.
- Tuition: $4,265 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 34 total courses in this program.
Certifications included in this program at no extra cost include:
- Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP) - Associate of (ISC)2 designation
- Systems Security Certified Practitioner (SSCP) - Associate of (ISC)2 designation
- ITIL® Foundation Certification
- CompTIA A+
- CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst Certification (CySA+)
- CompTIA IT Operations Specialist
- CompTIA Network+
- CompTIA Network Vulnerability Assessment Professional
- CompTIA Network Security Professional
- CompTIA PenTest+
- CompTIA Project+
- CompTIA Secure Infrastructure Specialist
- CompTIA Security+
- CompTIA Security Analytics Professional
Skills for your résumé that you will learn in this program:
- Secure Systems Analysis & Design
- Data Management
- Web and Cloud Security
- Hacking Countermeasures and Techniques
- Digital Forensics and Incident Response
Technology
Cybersecurity and Information Assurance – M.S.
Become the authority on keeping infrastructures and information safe....
Become the authority on keeping infrastructures and information safe.
- Time: 63% of graduates finish within 18 months.
- Tuition: $4,555 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 9 total courses in this program.
Certifications in this program at no additional cost include:
- CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst (CySA+)
- CompTIA PenTest+
- CompTIA Advanced Security Practitioner (CASP+) Optional Voucher
- ISACA Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) Optional Voucher
- (ISC)² Certified in Cybersecurity (CC)
Skills for your résumé that you will learn in this program:
- Cybersecurity Strategy
- Information Assurance
- Incident Response
- Penetration Testing
The curriculum is closely aligned with the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE) Workforce Framework. The program was designed in collaboration with national intelligence organizations and IT industry leaders, ensuring you'll learn emerging technologies and best practices in security governance.
How Much Does a Threat Hunter Make?
$112,000
Just like any career in tech, a security analyst salary will often be quite lucrative. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, you can expect to earn around $112,000 on average, even with only a bachelor’s degree in the field.
What Is the Projected Job Growth?
35%
Just like many careers in tech, work as a security engineer is on the rise—the demand for security managers is projected to increase by 35% over the course of the next decade.
Right now, over 163,000 security analyst jobs are available currently in the United States. There is no better time to begin.
SKILLS
What Skills Do Threat Hunters Need?
The most challenging aspect of this career path is, arguably, the technical knowledge of network security it demands. A working knowledge of programming, coding, and development are essential, and so is an understanding of IT science and technology. Aside from this, any security manager should also pursue the following skills:
- Data analysis and the associated tools of the trade
- Forensics and behavioral analysis
- Skills of observation and pattern recognition
- Soft skills, such as communication, leadership, and moral development
The ability to recognize critical points of failure, vulnerabilities, attack profiles, and major holes in the security system enveloping the organization is a skill that develops naturally with time. Curiosity, a hunger for information, and an analytical mind all make a great security engineer—the devil is in the details, and these professionals live to dig deep into everything around them.
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