Career Profile: Information Security Analysts

Salary and Outlook

According to the US Department of Labor, there are 163,000 people employed as information security analysts in the United States. The median annual salary is $102,600. Entry level employees earn approximately $61,520 per year and senior employees earn approximately $165,920 per year.

Estimates do not include other potential benefits such as health insurance, overtime, or retirement benefits that may be offered by employers.

Job Duties

• Develop plans to safeguard computer files against accidental or unauthorized modification, destruction, or disclosure and to meet emergency data processing needs.
• Monitor current reports of computer viruses to determine when to update virus protection systems.
• Encrypt data transmissions and erect firewalls to conceal confidential information as it is being transmitted and to keep out tainted digital transfers.
• Perform risk assessments and execute tests of data processing system to ensure functioning of data processing activities and security measures.
• Modify computer security files to incorporate new software, correct errors, or change individual access status.
• Review violations of computer security procedures and discuss procedures with violators to ensure violations are not repeated.
• Document computer security and emergency measures policies, procedures, and tests.
• Confer with users to discuss issues such as computer data access needs, security violations, and programming changes.
• Monitor use of data files and regulate access to safeguard information in computer files.
• Coordinate implementation of computer system plan with establishment personnel and outside vendors.
• Train users and promote security awareness to ensure system security and to improve server and network efficiency.
• Maintain permanent fleet cryptologic and carry-on direct support systems required in special land, sea surface and subsurface operations.

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