Associate Principal/Cybersecurity & Incident Response (Forensic Services practice)

The Associate Principal in Cybersecurity & Incident Response at Charles River Associates plays a crucial role in leading investigations related to security and privacy. They work with clients to address issues such as data breaches and cyber threats, employing their skills in digital forensics and team leadership.

To join CRA as an Associate Principal, candidates typically need a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in a related field along with 7-10+ years of experience in cyber intrusion investigation or incident response analysis. Strong leadership and project management skills are also essential.

Charles River Associates is committed to career growth for Associate Principals by offering robust skills development programs, including 100 hours of annual training. This ensures that employees can thrive in their careers through continuous learning and mentoring.

As an Associate Principal at CRA, key responsibilities include leading investigations, performing forensic analyses, supervising project teams, improving incident response capabilities, and participating in business development efforts to expand the practice's reach.

An Associate Principal at Charles River Associates will manage various projects, including cybersecurity investigations, threat analysis, incident response activities, and collaborating with law enforcement on criminal matters, ensuring comprehensive support for clients.

Yes, teamwork is emphasized at CRA. The Associate Principal is required to create and maintain a collaborative team environment, actively recruiting and retaining talent, and overseeing team morale to achieve successful project outcomes.

CRA promotes a flexible work environment, encouraging a balance between in-office collaboration and remote work. Employees are typically expected to work in the office 3 to 4 days a week, but options for additional remote work are available based on specific roles and commitments.

When answering this question, highlight specific examples, the types of investigations you've conducted, the tools and methodologies used, and the outcomes of those investigations. Be sure to convey your role in leading teams and collaborating with clients.

Discuss your systematic approach, including identifying the breach, containing it, assessing the impact, notifying relevant parties, and implementing measures to prevent future breaches. Emphasize your experience managing such processes effectively.

Share specific resources, such as industry news, courses, webinars, and forums, that you rely on to stay informed. Mentioning any relevant certifications would also be beneficial to demonstrate your commitment to continuous learning.

Narrate a specific incident while outlining your role, the challenges faced, the strategies implemented, and the final results. Highlight how your leadership and expertise made a difference in resolving the situation.

List the tools you are proficient in, like EnCase, FTK, or other relevant software, as well as techniques such as disk imaging and data recovery. Explain how you apply these in real-world scenarios to generate actionable insights.

Discuss your thoughts on assessing current strategies, identifying weaknesses, and exploring new tools or processes. Providing clear examples of past improvements and their impacts would provide credibility to your suggestions.

Explain the importance of meticulous documentation for legal and compliance purposes. Describe the types of documentation you typically maintain and how you leverage it for reporting and future reference.

Mention specific frameworks you’ve worked with, such as NIST CSF or ISO 27001, and how you’ve applied their guidelines in your assessments or audits. This shows your familiarity with best practices.

Emphasize the collaborative nature of incident response, detailing how you effectively work with team members across various functions. Highlight any leadership experiences that showcase your ability to foster teamwork.

Discuss strategies you would employ to build relationships with clients, including networking, presenting capabilities, and responding proactively to client needs. Demonstrate how this aligns with CRA's values and goals.