Cyber Security Analyst
Also advertised as: Cyber Defence Analyst, Cyber Security Analyst, Information Security Analyst, Junior Penetration Tester, Security Engineer, Security Operations Analyst
Monitors for attacks, investigates alerts and hardens systems against threats.
What the job involves
Security analysts watch for suspicious activity, triage and investigate alerts, run vulnerability scans and help fix weaknesses. Many enter from IT support with certifications rather than a security degree. Demand consistently outstrips supply.
Typical responsibilities
- Monitor security alerts and triage incidents
- Investigate suspicious activity
- Run and interpret vulnerability scans
- Support incident response and recovery
- Improve security controls and awareness
Common employers
- Managed security providers
- Banks
- Government
- Retail groups
- Consultancies
Pay, hours and working environment
Typical pay
£28,000 – £35,000 a year
With experience
£45,000 – £70,000 a year
Typical hours
37.5 hours, often shift or on-call in a SOC
Working environment
Office or remote security operations
Remote working
remote
Demand for this work
high
Pay ranges are indicative guidance drawn from advertised UK vacancies and published careers information. They are not an offer, and actual pay varies by employer, location and experience.
Skills and qualifications
Core skills
- Threat detection
- Networking
- Incident response
- Log analysis
- Security tooling
Transferable skills you may already have
- IT support troubleshooting
- Methodical investigation
- Shift working
Requirements employers ask for
- Threat detection
- Networking
- Incident response
- Log analysis
- Security tooling
- No formal qualification required
- Security clearance for some employers
Useful but not essential
- IT support troubleshooting
- Methodical investigation
- Shift working
- CompTIA Security+
- Level 4 Cyber Security Technologist apprenticeship
- SC-200 or equivalent
Helpful qualifications
- CompTIA Security+
- Level 4 Cyber Security Technologist apprenticeship
- SC-200 or equivalent
Licences and checks
- Security clearance for some employers
Ways into this career
A degree is only one route. Where an apprenticeship, work-experience or qualification route exists, it is listed here alongside the academic option.
Apprenticeships and work-based routes
- Cyber Security Technologist (Level 4)
- Cyber Security Technical Professional (Level 6)
Degree and college routes
- Related subject: Cyber security
- Related subject: Computing
- Related subject: Networks
Where this career can lead
next
Senior Security Analyst
next
Incident Response Lead
next
Security Architect
The good parts and the hard parts
What people enjoy
- Severe skills shortage
- Clear certification ladder
- Strong pay progression
What people find hard
- Shift work in security operations
- High stakes during incidents
Common questions
- Do you need a degree to become a cyber security analyst?
- No. As well as degree routes, this career can be entered through an apprenticeship or by building experience and qualifications on the job. not_required
- How much does a cyber security analyst earn in the UK?
- Typical advertised pay runs from £28,000 to £35,000 a year, rising towards £70,000 with experience. Figures are indicative guidance rather than an offer.
- What skills transfer into this career?
- Skills that transfer well include IT support troubleshooting, Methodical investigation, Shift working.
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Where this information comes from
- National Careers Service
- Institute for Apprenticeships
Last reviewed 14 September 2026.
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