Associate Security Analyst

As an Associate Security Analyst at ANS, your primary responsibilities include triaging and investigating security incidents in Microsoft Sentinel, responding to alerts generated by our SOC, assisting in compromise investigations, and liaising with clients to provide advice on vulnerability remediation. You will also engage in proactive monitoring of client solutions, aid sales teams with client security requests, and tune alerts to enhance their effectiveness, ensuring a robust defense against cyber threats.

To apply for the Associate Security Analyst role at ANS, candidates should have a solid understanding of technologies such as Microsoft Sentinel, Microsoft Defender, and cloud technologies. A background in Linux and Windows operating systems is also beneficial. Additionally, familiarity with the NIST CVSS vulnerabilities and secure development principles is crucial. The role demands that candidates be capable of obtaining HMG Security Clearance, which requires five years of residence in the UK.

ANS is dedicated to the growth of its team members, particularly in the Associate Security Analyst position. The company provides paid study leave to pursue relevant certifications, ensuring that you can enhance your skills and knowledge. Alongside this, the supportive team environment allows for continuous learning from experienced analysts, making it an excellent place for anyone looking to develop a successful career in cybersecurity.

The culture at ANS for an Associate Security Analyst is dynamic and inclusive, characterized by openness, ambition, and a collaborative spirit. The company promotes a flexible work-life balance, allowing team members to maintain their well-being. Through various social events and a supportive workspace, ANS encourages you to bring your authentic self, fostering a welcoming environment that celebrates diversity and creativity.

As an Associate Security Analyst at ANS, you will be expected to work in a shift pattern that includes nights. This arrangement ensures that our Security Operations Center can monitor and defend against cyber threats 24/7/365. Shift work offers an opportunity to gain experience in various situations, enhancing your skills in incident response and real-time decision-making.

In responding to this question, highlight your familiarity with tools like Microsoft Sentinel and how you have leveraged them for triaging security incidents. Discuss any specific experiences where you successfully identified and managed incidents, reflecting your analytic approach and technical skills.

Explain your methodology for handling a security alert, such as first assessing the criticality of the alert, then researching potential causes, and engaging in communication with your team for collaborative investigation. Providing a specific example from your past experience can help demonstrate your understanding of real-world application.

Share your strategies for staying updated, whether it's through reading industry blogs, following security news, attending webinars, or participating in online forums. Emphasize your proactive nature in seeking out information and learning opportunities to remain knowledgeable in a rapidly evolving field.

Use this opportunity to showcase your communication skills. Detail how you simplified technical jargon into layman’s terms, ensuring the client understood the situation while providing reassurance and actionable steps. Illustrate the importance of clear communication in strengthening client relationships.

Outline your experience with conducting vulnerability scans and how you interpret the results. Talk about how you've previously provided remediation advice to clients and how you prioritize vulnerabilities based on risk factors, demonstrating your analytical mindset and technical ability.

Choose a specific incident to showcase your problem-solving skills. Outline the steps you took to identify, analyze, and resolve the issue, detailing the methodologies and tools used. Highlight your collaborative approach if you worked with a team to achieve a positive outcome.

Discuss your theoretical knowledge and any practical experiences you may have in incident response. Reference frameworks and principles you have applied, such as NIST, and articulate your understanding of network defense mechanisms, showing your preparedness for an Associate Security Analyst role.

Express your enthusiasm for joining ANS by reflecting on the company’s values, culture, and opportunities for growth. Discuss how your career goals align with the company’s mission and emphasize your eagerness to learn from a team of skilled professionals.

Consider discussing your experience with configuring alert thresholds based on the characteristics of typical traffic. Talk about your analytical approach to reviewing past incidents for patterns and how you would leverage these insights to prevent alert fatigue while ensuring critical alerts are not missed.

Highlight your ability to remain calm and focused during high-pressure situations. Describe your strategies for prioritizing tasks, communicating effectively with your team, and expediting your decision-making processes to manage incidents promptly and efficiently.