Information Security Analysts
Plan, implement, upgrade, or monitor security measures for the protection of computer networks and information. Assess system vulnerabilities for security risks and propose and implement risk mitigation strategies. May ensure appropriate security controls are in place that will safeguard digital files and vital electronic infrastructure. May respond to computer security breaches and viruses.
Most important skills
- Reading Comprehension
- Critical Thinking
- Active Listening
- Complex Problem Solving
- Speaking
- Writing
- Monitoring
- Judgment and Decision Making
Key knowledge
- Computers and Electronics
- English Language
- Administration and Management
- Engineering and Technology
- Telecommunications
- Customer and Personal Service
- Public Safety and Security
- Education and Training
What the work involves
- Train users and promote security awareness to ensure system security and to improve server and network efficiency.
- Develop plans to safeguard computer files against accidental or unauthorized modification, destruction, or disclosure and to meet emergency data processing needs.
- Confer with users to discuss issues such as computer data access needs, security violations, and programming changes.
- Monitor current reports of computer viruses to determine when to update virus protection systems.
- Modify computer security files to incorporate new software, correct errors, or change individual access status.
- Coordinate implementation of computer system plan with establishment personnel and outside vendors.
- Monitor use of data files and regulate access to safeguard information in computer files.
- Perform risk assessments and execute tests of data processing system to ensure functioning of data processing activities and security measures.
Strongest interest areas (O*NET): Conventional, Investigative, Realistic.
Qualifications and licensing
- Most common education
- Bachelor's Degree (52.6% of respondents)
- Related experience
- Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years (24.1%)
- On-the-job training
- Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year (27.4%)
- Preparation level
- O*NET job zone 4: Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
- Licensing
- Not yet verified. Check your state licensing board.
Check before planning
- Licensing for Information Security Analysts is not yet verified for any state: check the state licensing board before planning.
Limits
- Distributions show what current workers or occupational experts report, not legal minimums.
- Requirements vary by employer and state; time to qualify is not estimated.
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0); BLS Employment Projections · dataset 2026.10.8 · method e3-qualification-1.0.0
Work environment
How the typical conditions of this occupation compare with 911 occupations in O*NET (very low = the lowest fifth).
Levels are relative. Most occupations involve a lot of contact with people, for example, so “very low” can still mean regular contact; the last column shows what workers actually reported.
| Condition | Level | Compared with other occupations | Most common answer (O*NET survey) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contact with others | Moderate | Lower on contact with others than 55% of occupations compared | 46% of surveyed respondents chose “Constant contact with others” |
| Dealing with the public | Low | Lower on dealing with the public than 71% of occupations compared | 29% of surveyed respondents chose “Fairly important” |
| Teamwork | Moderate | Lower on teamwork than 57% of occupations compared | 46% of surveyed respondents chose “Extremely important” |
| Freedom to make decisions | Low | Lower on freedom to make decisions than 63% of occupations compared | 64% of surveyed respondents chose “Some freedom” |
| Time pressure | Low | Lower on time pressure than 70% of occupations compared | 49% of surveyed respondents chose “Once a month or more but not every week” |
| Conflict situations | Moderate | Higher on conflict situations than 56% of occupations compared | 33% of surveyed respondents chose “Once a year or more but not every month” |
| Dealing with unpleasant or angry people | Moderate | Lower on dealing with unpleasant or angry people than 59% of occupations compared | 28% of surveyed respondents chose “Once a year or more but not every month” |
| Consequence of error | High | Higher on consequence of error than 70% of occupations compared | 33% of surveyed respondents chose “Extremely serious” |
Work-pressure profile
- Time pressure: low
- Conflict situations: moderate
- Dealing with unpleasant or angry people: moderate
- Consequence of error: high
Each part is shown on its own. There is no combined stress score, and conditions vary by employer and role.
Full answer distributions
Contact with others
- No contact with others: 0%
- Occasional contact with others: 0%
- Contact with others about half the time: 13.74%
- Contact with others most of the time: 40.06%
- Constant contact with others: 46.2%
n = 25, Incumbent 08/2018
Dealing with the public
- Not important at all: 17.16%
- Fairly important: 29.41%
- Important: 19.47%
- Very important: 17.66%
- Extremely important: 16.3%
n = 25, Incumbent 08/2018
Teamwork
- Not important at all: 0%
- Fairly important: 1.23%
- Important: 25.51%
- Very important: 27.58%
- Extremely important: 45.68%
n = 25, Incumbent 08/2018
Freedom to make decisions
- No freedom: 0%
- Very little freedom: 9.2%
- Limited freedom: 4.03%
- Some freedom: 64.19%
- A lot of freedom: 22.58%
n = 25, Incumbent 08/2018
Time pressure
- Never: 0%
- Once a year or more but not every month: 1.9%
- Once a month or more but not every week: 49.38%
- Once a week or more but not every day: 35.17%
- Every day: 13.55%
n = 25, Incumbent 08/2018
Conflict situations
- Never: 12.65%
- Once a year or more but not every month: 33.08%
- Once a month or more but not every week: 22.61%
- Once a week or more but not every day: 13.32%
- Every day: 18.33%
n = 25, Incumbent 08/2018
Dealing with unpleasant or angry people
- Never: 21.9%
- Once a year or more but not every month: 27.7%
- Once a month or more but not every week: 25.46%
- Once a week or more but not every day: 16.6%
- Every day: 8.33%
n = 25, Incumbent 08/2018
Consequence of error
- Not serious at all: 8.7%
- Fairly serious: 20.92%
- Serious: 19.68%
- Very serious: 18.16%
- Extremely serious: 32.55%
n = 24, Incumbent 08/2018
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O*NET-SOC 15-1212.00 · SOC 15-1212 (exact, high confidence) · dataset 2026.10.8