HOW TO BECOME AN INCIDENT RESPONDER

In today's interconnected world, cyber security threats are becoming increasingly sophisticated and frequent. As a result, organizations are increasingly prioritizing cyber security and incident response professionals to mitigate the risks posed by cyber attacks. These professionals play a critical role in protecting an organization's assets and ensuring business continuity in the face of security incidents.

If you're interested in pursuing a career in information security and have a passion for problem-solving, then becoming an incident responder could be an excellent career path for you. In this guide, we'll cover the steps you need to take to become an incident responder, including the necessary skills and knowledge, practical experience, salary, certifications, and career paths.

WHAT IS INCIDENT RESPONSE IN CYBER SECURITY?

Incident response in cyber security refers to the process of responding to security incidents or cyber attacks that occur within an organization. The aim of incident response is to detect and analyze the attack, contain and eliminate the threat, and recover from the incident while minimizing damage and preventing similar incidents from happening in the future.

Incident response is a critical aspect of an organization's overall cyber security strategy as it ensures the organization is well-prepared to respond effectively to security incidents, protect its assets, and restore normal operations as quickly as possible.

WHAT DOES AN INCIDENT RESPONDER DO?

Incident Responders could be considered police officers or firefighters for an organization's network or system. You are trying to protect and prevent major threats and/or attacks from happening, and if needed apply changes so they do not occur again. The role of incident responders can be compartmentalized into the following five areas:

Detection and Identification of Cyber Incidents

They monitor and analyze network traffic, system logs, and other data sources to identify potential security incidents. They investigate alerts and suspicious activity to determine if an incident has occurred. And they subsequently document and report incidents to the incident response team and other relevant stakeholders such as the Chief Information Security Officer.

Cyber Incident Containment

Responders are responsible for isolating affected systems and networks to prevent the incident from spreading. For implementing temporary measures to mitigate the impact of the incident. And working with other teams, such as IT and security operations, to develop and implement a containment strategy.

Incident Investigation

They conduct thorough investigations to determine the cause and scope of the incident. They collect and analyze data, such as network traffic and system logs, to identify the attacker and their tactics. They perform forensic analysis to gather evidence that may be used in legal proceedings.

Incident Resolution and Recovery

Incident responders also develop and implement a plan to resolve the incident and restore normal operations. As well as test systems and networks to ensure that they are secure and free from malware or other malicious activity. Lastly, conduct a post-incident review to identify lessons learned and make recommendations for improvements to the incident response plan.

Collaboration and Communication

Naturally, they have to work collaboratively with other teams, such as legal, IT, and public relations, to ensure that the incident is contained and resolved effectively. They have to provide regular updates to stakeholders, such as senior management and customers, on the status of the incident and its impact on the organization. Finally, they participate in incident response training and exercises to improve collaboration and communication across teams.

CYBER INCIDENT RESPONSE SALARY

This is a unique job in cyber security due to the job demands. If an incident or emergency occurs, you may work longer hours for a couple of days and then have time off for the rest of the week. Your employer is going to need you to help avoid a crisis, but also be present during a crisis until it is resolved.

The median annual salary, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics 2023, for a computer support specialist, a similar occupation to an incident responder, is $59,240. The top 10% in the field earned over $97,020.

WHAT IS REQUIRED TO BECOME A CYBER INCIDENT RESPONDER?

It is the perfect time to take advantage of this growing field of cyber security and start an exciting career as an incident responder. There are many advancement opportunities, along with the chance to become a hero for any number of major organizations and both the junior and senior levels.

CAREER PATHS AS AN INCIDENT RESPONDER

There are other cyber security jobs that can help you build some work experience to add or include on your resume in this area:

If you are interested in moving up into a higher position in incident response, a possible career title to consider might be the Director of Incident Response or a CSIRT (Computer Security Incident Response Team) Manager.

INCIDENT RESPONSE JOBS & TITLES

The job title of an incident responder could go under the umbrella of cyber security career descriptions. Some of the following could be comparable titles:

KNOW THE DIFFERENCE: INCIDENT RESPONDER VS. FORENSIC EXPERT

GETTING STARTED

Finding the right program is the first step to launching your career path towards incident response in cyber security. Using the Find Schools widget on this page you can browse and get in touch with an array of vetted universities that offer cyber security related programs and degrees.