Host Based Systems Analyst II
About The Position
The majority of the CNDA’s time (75%) will be spent executing tasks related to characterizing and analyzing network traffic to identify anomalous activity and potential threats. This includes coordinating with cyber defense staff, documenting and escalating incidents, performing trend analysis and reporting, and correlating events to gain situational awareness. The role involves receiving and analyzing network alerts, providing timely detection and alerting of potential attacks, and using cyber defense tools for continuous monitoring. Analysis of malicious activity, determination of intrusion tactics, and examination of network topologies are key. The CNDA will also identify applications and operating systems based on network traffic, reconstruct malicious attacks, identify OS fingerprinting activities, and assist in signature construction for cyber defense tools. Notification of suspected cyber incidents to designated personnel is also a responsibility. Approximately 25% of the CNDA’s time will be dedicated to preparing and updating manuals, evaluating and recommending changes to established methods and procedures, planning and executing complex assignments, conducting analyses, ensuring optimal use of commercial products, preparing and presenting reports, and evaluating the effectiveness of installed systems and services.
Requirements
- U.S. Citizenship
- Active TS/SCI clearance
- Ability to obtain Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Entry on Duty (EOD) Suitability
- 5+ years of direct relevant experience in cyber defense analysis using leading edge technologies and industry standard cyber defense tools
- Experience successfully developing and deploying signatures
- Experience detecting host and network-based intrusions via intrusion detection technologies (e.g., Snort)
- Experience implementing incident handling methodologies
- Experience implementing protocol analyzers
- Experience collecting data from a variety of cyber defense resources
- Experience reading and interpreting signatures (e.g. snort)
- Experience performing packet-level analysis
- Experience conducting trend analysis
Nice To Haves
- GSEC (SANS401), Arcsight (or other SEIM solution), Network+, Security+ and Python programming experience would be ideal.
- Strong math and science background.
- Experience with Carnegie Mellon SiLK tool suite.
Responsibilities
- Characterize and analyze network traffic to identify anomalous activity and potential threats to network resources
- Coordinate with enterprise-wide cyber defense staff to validate network alerts
- Document and escalate incidents (including event's history, status, and potential impact for further action) that may cause ongoing and immediate impact to the environment
- Perform cyber defense trend analysis and reporting
- Perform event correlation using information gathered from a variety of sources within the enterprise to gain situational awareness and determine the effectiveness of an observed attack
- Provide daily summary reports of network events and activity relevant to cyber defense practices
- Receive and analyze network alerts from various sources within the enterprise and determine possible causes of alerts
- Provide timely detection, identification, and alerting of possible attacks/intrusions, anomalous activities, and misuse activities and distinguish these incidents and events from benign activities
- Use cyber defense tools for continual monitoring and analysis of system activity to identify malicious activity
- Analyze identified malicious activity to determine weaknesses exploited, exploitation methods, effects on system and information
- Determine tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) for intrusion sets
- Examine network topologies to understand data flows through the network
- Identify and analyze anomalies in network traffic using metadata
- Conduct research, analysis, and correlation across a wide variety of all source data sets (indications and warnings)
- Validate intrusion detection system (IDS) alerts against network traffic using packet analysis tools
- Identify applications and operating systems of a network device based on network traffic
- Reconstruct a malicious attack or activity based off network traffic
- Identify network mapping and operating system (OS) fingerprinting activities
- Assist in the construction of signatures which can be implemented on cyber defense network tools in response to new or observed threats within the network environment or enclave
- Notify designated managers, cyber incident responders, and cybersecurity service provider team members of suspected cyber incidents and articulate the event's history, status, and potential impact for further action in accordance with the organization's cyber incident response plan
- Prepare and update manuals, instructions, and operating procedures
- Evaluate established methods and procedures and prepare recommendations for changes in methods and practices where appropriate
- Plan and carry out difficult and complex assignments and develop new methods, approaches, and procedures
- Conduct analyses and recommend resolution of complex issues affecting the specialty area
- Ensure optimal use of commercially available products
- Prepare and present reports
- Evaluate the effectiveness of installed systems and services
Stand Out From the Crowd
Upload your resume and get instant feedback on how well it matches this job.
What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
