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Cyber Analytics: it’s a swiftly growing field that melds
cybersecurity with sophisticated data analysis tools and skills,
allowing threats to a company’s digital assets to be sealed off with
greater precision and effectiveness. It brings a crucial new dimension
to the fight against hackers and other information-age adversaries.
But who is hiring Cyber Analysts? With a degree in this area, where
should you be sending your resume and looking for available openings?
The Big Players
Major defense contractors with divisions spanning multiple industries have been ramping up their cyber analytical edge.
Boeing Intelligence and Analytics,
a division of the aerospace giant, primarily serves the U.S.
intelligence community, helping its customers “understand the strengths
and vulnerabilities of potential adversaries.” BI&A is located in
Annapolis Junction, Maryland, near the Baltimore-Washington
International (BWI) airport.
Lockheed Martin recently established a new
Cyber Works Centre
in the United Kingdom, with a mission of fighting cyber crime and
supporting the British government’s National Cyber Security Strategy.
But you don’t need to move to the U.K. to be part of Lockheed’s cyber
operations: the contracting giant has made cyber operations a mainstay
at home as well, with
cyber analyst positions
offered nationwide. Desired skills vary by position, and can include
proficiency in data modeling, familiarity with cybersecurity principles,
understanding of computer hardware and software, and experience with
encryption, malware analysis, and computer forensics.
Based in Linthicum, MD,
Northrop Grumman Mission Systems
(NGMS) boasts nearly 30,000 employees, with offices in 50 states and
more than 20 countries. Its activities cover everything from “creating a
citywide wireless network for our first responders, to protecting our
nation from cyber threats, to building software-defined radios that
change how our military communicates.” One of four Northrop Grumman
business sectors, NGMS has a Cyber Analytics Division that is pioneering
new ways to strengthen the company’s mandate of helping to defend the
United States and its global allies.
Other major companies that hire cyber analysts include
Booz Allen Hamilton,
General Dynamics Information Technology/CSRA, and
SAIC.
Local Subcontractors
Landing a job at one of the big contractors can be a challenge for
new cyber analytics graduates, as these companies are often looking for
candidates with significant professional experience. So how does a new
entrant in the field looking to build a career get that expertise?
According to Sarah Alspaw, Director of Career Development and Student
Success at Capitol Technology University, the big players are supported
by hundreds of smaller subcontractors, and many of these provide an
excellent way to get a foot in the door.
“You don’t hear their names so often, compared to the primary
contractors, but a lot of the best opportunities are with these smaller
organizations. Many of them are based in Howard County, Maryland, not
far from our campus here at Capitol Technology University,” Alspaw said.
“These subcontractors will often seek out a candidate who has one very
specific set of skills – for example, systems analyst skills. That’s
because the subcontractors need to show the primary contractor that they
are able to meet specific requirements in the contract.”
How to connect with these smaller companies? “The local chamber of
commerce is a good place to start,” Alspaw said. “Also, tech councils –
such as the Chesapeake Tech Council and Howard Tech Council -- can be
especially valuable in linking you up with local companies that aren’t
household names.”
Interested in building a cyber analytics career, or adding
analytics to your existing computer science or cybersecurity skill sets?
Capitol offers a bachelor’s degree in cyber analytics, as well as an online master’s program tailored for working professionals. Contact admissions@captechu.edu to learn more!
