Cybersecurity Role Guides

Penetration Tester

A Penetration Tester (also called a pentester or ethical hacker) is hired to attack your systems before the bad guys do. They find vulnerabilities and report how to fix them. This is an offensive security role — they need to think like an attacker.

SOC Analyst

A SOC Analyst is your company's security watchperson. They monitor security tools for suspicious activity, investigate alerts, and escalate real threats. Think of them as the first line of defense — they triage what matters from what doesn't.

Incident Response Analyst

An Incident Response Analyst is called in when something bad has happened — a breach, ransomware attack, or major security event. They investigate what happened, contain the damage, and help the company recover. It's high-pressure, time-sensitive work.

Threat Intelligence Analyst

A Threat Intelligence Analyst researches who is attacking companies like yours, what techniques they use, and what indicators to watch for. They turn raw threat data into actionable warnings that help your security team prepare for and detect attacks.

Security Engineer

A Security Engineer builds and maintains the systems that protect your company. They configure firewalls, set up security monitoring, harden systems, and make sure your security tools actually work. Less watching, more building.

Application Security Engineer

An Application Security Engineer (AppSec) works with your development teams to make sure the software your company builds is secure. They review code for vulnerabilities, run security tests on applications, and help developers write secure code from the start.

DevSecOps Engineer

A DevSecOps Engineer bridges security and software development. They build security into the development pipeline so vulnerabilities are caught automatically before code ships. They write code, manage infrastructure, and know security — a rare combination.

IAM Engineer

Network Security Engineer

OT/ICS Security Engineer

Data Security Analyst

Cloud Security Engineer

A Cloud Security Engineer secures your company's cloud infrastructure — AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud. They set up proper permissions, detect misconfigurations, and make sure cloud services are locked down. Cloud security is its own specialty distinct from traditional network security.

GRC Analyst

A GRC (Governance, Risk, and Compliance) Analyst makes sure the company follows security regulations and manages risk properly. They handle compliance audits, write security policies, assess vendors, and track risks. Less technical hands-on work, more process and paperwork.

Security Awareness Specialist

Security Program Manager

Security Architect

CISO

Vulnerability Management Analyst

Malware Analyst