15 Essential Skills for Cybersecurity Analysts in 2025

Key takeaways

• Working as a cybersecurity analyst requires a range of technical skills, such as intrusion detection, to help you keep an organization safe from cyber threats.

• Being a cybersecurity analyst also requires workplace skills, such as communication, to document incident reports, among other tasks.

• You can enhance your cybersecurity skills through courses and workshops, and by staying informed about current trends.

Learn more about the key skills you'll need to succeed as a cybersecurity analyst. Afterward, build many of these skills in the Microsoft Cybersecurity Analyst Professional Certificate, where you'll learn how to understand the vulnerabilities of a company's network and mitigate attacks on network infrastructures.

15 essential skills to succeed as a cybersecurity analyst

Cybersecurity analysts use a combination of technical and workplace skills to assess vulnerabilities and respond to security incidents.

10 technical skills for cybersecurity analysts

A cybersecurity analyst's technical skills are the foundation of their career. Below, we cover ten of the most essential technical skills that you'll need to thrive in the field.

1. Scripting

Scripting is a type of coding that enables you to create a program that performs a specific task. The difference is that coding is static, whereas scripts can animate images and text. Knowing how to build tools and automate repetitive tasks with languages like Python or PowerShell empowers you to become a more efficient analyst. Python, in particular, ranks among the most prevalent languages in cybersecurity. As a bonus, it’s also among the easiest to learn. 

2. Controls and frameworks

A cybersecurity framework provides a collection of best practices, policies, tools, and security protocols designed to help secure an organization’s data and business operations. A control is a measure your company uses to protect itself from vulnerabilities and attacks. 

The framework you use will vary depending on your organization and industry. You may find it helpful to familiarize yourself with some of the most common cybersecurity frameworks, including:

• National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)

• International Organization for Standardization (ISO)

• Center for Information Security (CIS)

• System and Organization Controls 2 (SOC 2)

3. Intrusion detection

As a cybersecurity analyst, a significant part of your job involves monitoring network activity for potential intrusions. Knowing how to utilize intrusion detection software—such as security information and event management (SIEM) products, intrusion detection systems (IDS), and intrusion prevention systems (IPS)—enables you to quickly identify suspicious activity or security violations. 

4. Network security control

Many cybersecurity attacks occur across a network of interconnected devices. The same technologies that enable companies to collaborate can also create security vulnerabilities. To keep an organization secure, you’ll need an understanding of wired and wireless networks and how to secure them. 

5. Operating systems

Security threats exist across all operating systems, both on computers and mobile devices. Set yourself up for success as a security analyst by building a deep familiarity with macOS, Windows, Linux, and their command-line interfaces. You may also find it helpful to study the threats and vulnerabilities associated with mobile operating systems, such as iOS and Android. 

6. Incident response

While prevention is the primary goal of cybersecurity, responding promptly to security incidents is crucial to minimize damage and loss. Effective incident handling requires familiarity with your organization’s incident response plan, as well as skills in digital forensics and malware analysis.

7. Cloud

As more businesses migrate to cloud environments, professionals with cloud expertise are in high demand. According to data from GIAC Certifications, possessing cloud security skills can result in a salary premium of more than $15,000 [1].

8. DevOps

Security risks often exist within applications themselves. Increasingly, companies are incorporating a security focus into their software development and operations (DevOps) phases to ensure that applications are secure from the outset. 

9. Threat knowledge

“Know thy enemy,” General Sun Tzu once said. You can be a more effective cybersecurity analyst by keeping up-to-date on the threat landscape. If you’re new to the field, get started with the Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP) Top 10—a document that outlines the top 10 web application security risks.

10. Regulatory guidelines

Cybersecurity must protect an organization from attacks, theft, and loss, while also complying with industry regulations. If you’re working for a company that does business around the globe, familiarity with General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) could be beneficial. Cybersecurity analysts in the health care industry will need to understand how to comply with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA)—a US federal law that helps protect the privacy of medical records. Some states within the US have their own privacy laws as well.

Read more: Cybersecurity Terms: A to Z Glossary

5 workplace skills to succeed as a cybersecurity analyst

Workplace skills are abilities you rely on to actually get your work done, collaborate with others, and accomplish your professional goals. Below, we explore some of the most important workplace skills you'll need to become the best cybersecurity analyst possible.

1. Communication

Both written and verbal communication play crucial roles in cybersecurity. As an analyst, you may need to communicate technical concepts to individuals without a technical background, such as executives or legal teams. You may also be asked to write incident reports, where you’ll have to document what you did in a concise and clear manner. 

2. Collaboration

As a cybersecurity analyst, you’ll likely work with a larger security team of other cybersecurity professionals. You may also need to collaborate with other teams within your company (legal, IT, public relations) or share your findings with other organizations or the greater cybersecurity community. 

3. Risk management

Your ability to think through what could possibly go wrong, assess the severity of threats, and gauge the potential impact empowers you to focus your energy on the tasks where you’ll have the biggest impact.

4. Adaptability

Cyber criminals are constantly adjusting and enhancing their attacks. Technology continues to advance, introducing new vulnerabilities. Adopting the mindset of a lifelong learner can help you keep up with (or stay one step ahead of) these changes.

5. Critical thinking

Working in cybersecurity sometimes means making high-stakes decisions about your organization’s security. Developing your critical thinking skills can help you to:

• Ask the right questions

• Evaluate and assess data

• Identify your assumptions

• Consider alternatives

• Understand context

• Draw data-driven conclusions

How to improve cybersecurity skills

Here are some options for building cybersecurity skills:

1. Take classes.

Whether you’re learning cybersecurity fundamentals or more advanced skills, enrolling in a course adds structure to your learning. Many courses that target specific technical skills, like network security or incident response, may also give you opportunities to practice workplace skills, like technical writing and collaboration. 

Read more: Is Cybersecurity Hard to Learn? 9 Tips for Success

2. Earn a certification or certificate.

Beyond a one-off course, you can find cybersecurity certifications or certificate programs to both gain new knowledge and formalize what you already know. These programs encompass a range of topics, including network security, ethical hacking, risk management, and compliance.

While certifications typically involve rigorous exams and may require work experience, certificate programs often offer more flexibility and can serve as stepping stones for newcomers or those seeking to specialize in specific areas of cybersecurity. Either can be beneficial to add to your resume, showing potential employers the extra effort you've put into developing your skill set.

3. Stay up to date on the latest trends.

Keeping your technical cybersecurity skills up to date with the current threat and technology landscape can help you build confidence as a security analyst and give you a competitive advantage in your job search. Pay attention to cybersecurity trends throughout the year, and look for resources to engage with other professionals. Here are some ideas to get you started:

• SANS StormCast: Subscribe to this daily podcast for five to 10-minute episodes covering the latest security threats.

• Security Now: Steve Gibson who coined the term “spyware” discusses current topics in cybersecurity on this weekly podcast.

• Reddit: Join a cybersecurity sub, like r/netsec, r/cybersecurity, or r/hacking.

• CISA Alerts: Sign up to receive technical alerts from the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency.

Build competitive cybersecurity skills on Coursera

Whether you want to develop a new skill, get comfortable with an in-demand technology, or advance your abilities, keep growing with a Coursera Plus subscription. You’ll get access to over 10,000 flexible courses from over 350 top universities and companies.

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