What to know to find the best threat management jobs
Threat management plays a key role in helping defend businesses against the risk of cyber threats. These professionals are on the front lines of cyber security, and as such are in high demand among employers.
But what do jobs in threat management involve, and what skills and qualifications should you have if you're going to turn this into a successful career?
Careers in threat management
There are a wide range of opportunities for cyber security professionals to forge a career in threat management. However, to do this, you need to know what to look for. Threat management is rarely a job title in itself. Instead, it refers to the set of processes used to identify and respond to cyber risks. As such, it covers a range of specific roles and career paths, so will require a combination of technical expertise and soft skills.
Why is threat management important?
Threat management, or risk management as it is also referred to, helps businesses identify potential weaknesses in their systems and alert them to emerging dangers that could compromise their security.
This is an essential part of security management, as without this information, businesses will be exposed to a range of issues, and could be presenting an easy target for any hackers.
What is a threat manager?
Threat managers are required to take a leading role in analysing the full range of risks their business faces and conduct vulnerability management assessments. They may run a team of information security analysts and make recommendations for the overall direction of a firm's cyber security strategy.
Threat managers are not usually entry-level positions, as they require professionals to have an in-depth knowledge of both business operations and the latest attack techniques used by hackers.
What is a SOC security analyst?
A security operations centre (SOC) analyst will work with threat managers to turn findings into action. Their role is to review incident notifications, run vulnerability assessments and look for malicious activity.
They may take the information delivered by risk management teams and use this in order to identify threats and investigate reports of suspicious activity. As such, they'll need to have a keen eye for detail, as well as strong knowledge of how to respond to incidents.
How do you become a cyber threat analyst?
If you're searching for a job in risk management, there are a few key things that recruiters will be on the lookout for. In addition, as these jobs require you to keep up to date with the latest threats in the sector, it pays to demonstrate to potential employers that you have a strong understanding of the wider information security industry.
What is the difference between cyber intelligence and cyber security?
Some risk management professionals may find their roles classified as cyber intelligence as opposed to cyber security. While the terms have a great deal of overlap, there are a few differences that will affect what professionals get up to day to day.
In essence, cyber security is about actively building defences and responding to cyber attacks. This ranges from developing secure software to enacting recovery and disaster response plans. Cyber threat intelligence, on the other hand, is about monitoring the landscape.
This involves gathering, analysing and acting on information about emerging threats, identifying and prioritising which ones will pose the greatest risk to a business, and developing recommendations for how to respond.
What skill set does someone working in this area need?
To be successful in threat intelligence and risk management, you'll need a range of technical and non-technical skills. These professionals usually won't be directly working to build cyber security defences, so knowledge of coding may not be a priority. However, the ability to analyse data from a wide variety of sources and apply this to a firm's operational situation is vital, as is a thorough understanding of privacy and compliance regulations.
In terms of softer skills, a keen, curious mindset, the desire to learn and the ability to draft clear, concise reports with recommendations for cyber security leaders to implement are all important.
Some of the key skills that you can expect to see listed on job postings for many threat management positions include:
- Analytical skills
- Problem solving
- Communication
- Leadership
- Ability to multitask and manage your time effectively
- Mathematical and financial skills
- Attention to detail
- A working knowledge of common cyber security techniques and vulnerabilities
Do you need a degree to work in cybersecurity threat management?
Like many cyber security careers, a degree in a related field is considered highly advantageous when applying for threat and risk management jobs. Any qualification in a STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) subject is likely to stand you in good stead for these roles.
However, experience in more general information technology roles could also be useful if you're looking to move into roles such as a cyber security analyst, as it will give you a strong understanding of how operations work and where potential vulnerabilities may lie.
Threat management jobs in the UK
Threat management jobs in the United Kingdom offer professionals great opportunities for advancement, as well as an interesting working environment where no two days are the same. Whether you're just starting out in this field or are looking to progress into a more senior role, companies are already on the lookout for people with the right skills and experience.
Are intelligence analysts in demand?
Threat management-related roles such as intelligence analysts have become increasingly in demand in recent years, as companies of all sizes find themselves needing to work harder to keep up with a growing range of threats.
For instance, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that employment across the information security sector as a whole will grow by 32% from 2018 to 2028, while figures from the UK Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport indicate there remains a significant skills shortage in the sector.
Therefore, there will always be opportunities for professionals with the right skills and experience to fill vacancies at companies throughout the US and UK.
How do you find threat management jobs in the UK?
The best way to find your next threat management job is to use a specialist jobs board that caters specifically to the information security sector. Recruiters come to these resources because they know they will be able to find the right people for the job, which may not always be the case on more general job boards.
Browse our range of threat management and security analyst jobs today to find your next position.