Cyber Incident Response Team Analyst (Tier 2)

Location: Beltsville, MD

Work Hours: Evening Shift, 1400 – 2200 EST, TUE-SAT

Program Overview

The DSCM program encompasses cyber security, data analytics, engineering, technical, managerial, operational, logistical and administrative support to aid and advise DOS Cyber & Technology Security (CTS) Directorate.  This includes protecting a global cyber infrastructure comprising networks, systems, information, and mobile devices all while identifying and responding to cyber risks and threats.  Those supporting the DSCM program strive to leverage their expert knowledge and propose creative solutions to real-world cybersecurity challenges.     

About the Role

• Detect, classify, process, track, and report on cyber security events and incidents.
• Perform advanced in-depth analysis of coordinated Tier 1 alert triage and requests in a 24x7x365 environment.
• Analyze logs from multiple sources (e.g., host logs, EDR, firewalls, intrusion detection systems, servers) to identify, contain, and remediate suspicious activity.
• Characterize and analyze network traffic to identify anomalous activity and potential threats.
• Protect against and prevent potential cyber security threats and vulnerabilities.
• Perform forensic analysis of hosts artifacts, network traffic, and email content.
• Analyze malicious scripts and code to mitigate potential threats.
• Conduct malware analysis to generate IOCs to identify and mitigate threats.
• Collaborate with Department of State teams to analyze and respond to events and incidents.
• Monitor and respond to the CIRT Security Orchestration and Automation Response (SOAR) platform, hotline, email inboxes.
• Create tickets and initiate workflows as instructed in technical SOPs.
• Coordinate and report incident information to the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA).
• Collaborate with other local, national and international CIRTs as directed.
• Submit alert tuning requests.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree and at least 2 years of experience or a High School diploma and 6 years of experience.
• Must possess one of the following certifications prior to start date:
  • A CE, CCNA-Security, CND, Network CE, SSCP, Security .
• Demonstrated experience in the Incident Response lifecycle.
• Knowledge of SOAR ticketing and automated response systems (e.g. ServiceNow, Splunk SOAR, Microsoft Sentinel).
• Demonstrated experience with using Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) platforms (e.g. Splunk, Microsoft Sentinel, Elastic, Q-Radar).
• Demonstrated experience in using Endpoint Detection and Response systems (e.g. MDE, ElasticXDR, CarbonBlack, Crowdstrike).
• Knowledge of cloud security monitoring and incident response.
• Knowledge of integrating IOCs and Advanced Persistent Threat actors.
• Ability to analyze cyber threat intelligence reporting and understanding adversary methodologies and techniques.
• Knowledge of malware analysis techniques.
• Knowledge of the MITRE ATT&CK and D3FEND frameworks.
• U.S. Citizenship required.
• Active Interim Secret clearance in order to start.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Proficiency with Splunk for security monitoring, alert creation, and threat hunting.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Azure access and identity management.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Defender for Endpoint and Identity for security monitoring, response, and alert generations.
• Experience in using digital forensics collection and analysis tools (e.g. Autopsy, MagnetForensics, Zimmerman-Tools, KAPE, CyLR, Volatility).
• Experience with using ServiceNow SOAR for ticketing and automated response.
• Knowledge of Python, PowerShell and BASH scripting languages.
• Experience with cloud security monitoring and incident response.
• Demonstrated ability to perform static/dynamic malware analysis and reverse engineering.
• Experience with integrating cyber threat intelligence and IOC-based hunting.
• Technical certifications such as: Security , CySA , Cloud , Try Hack Me SAL1, Hack the Box CDSA, CyberDefenders, CCD, Azure SC-900, CCSP, GCIH, CCSK, GSEC, CHFI, GCLD, GCIA.
• Advanced technical certifications such as: SecurityX/CASP , PRMP, GREM, GEIR, GNFA, or GCFA.