Cyber security jobs – explore security specialist roles and responsibilities

Published: February 23, 2026

Overview of roles and tasks to be performed

Cybersecurity specialists play a critical role in protecting an organization’s digital environment, ensuring business operations remain secure, resilient, and compliant. They identify and address vulnerabilities, implement strong security controls, and respond rapidly to emerging threats. To perform effectively, specialists must combine technical expertise, analytical skills, and proactive risk management. Below are eight core responsibilities they typically carry out on a regular basis.

8 key responsibilities of a cybersecurity specialist

1. Risk assessment and vulnerability management

Cybersecurity Specialists systematically identify, evaluate, and prioritize security vulnerabilities across the organization's digital infrastructure, devising effective strategies for mitigation.

Requires threat intelligence and analysis skills: Research, analyze, and interpret data on emerging cyber threats, attack vectors, and trends.

• Scanning systems for security issues
• Simulating cyberattacks to test systems
• Reviewing configurations for security gaps
• Prioritizing and addressing critical vulnerabilities

Sophos Solutions and Tools: Learn how Sophos provides a comprehensive vulnerability management lifecycle covering discovery, assessment, remediation, validation, and reporting. Our approach emphasizes integrating threat intelligence to prioritize critical vulnerabilities and proactively reduce the attack surface.

2. Security implementation

Cybersecurity Specialists implement and maintain robust technical defenses, ensuring layered protection of critical assets and secure infrastructure.

Requires technical skills: Proficiency in computer networks, operating systems, security software, and hardware. 

• Install antivirus and other protection software on devices
• Use monitoring tools to detect threats early
• Ensure security is included from the start in IT projects
• Set up and manage firewalls to block harmful traffic

Sophos Solutions and Tools: Through the Sophos Secure Development Lifecycle (SDL), security requirements are embedded into product management processes from the outset. This proactive approach ensures that security is a foundational aspect of all product development activities

3. Monitoring and incident response

Cybersecurity Specialists continuously monitor for potential threats, quickly responding to security incidents to minimize damage and swiftly restore operations.

Requires problem-solving skills: Quick identification and resolution of security incidents.

• Monitor security alerts around the clock
• Identify and contain cyberattacks quickly
• Remove threats and help recover systems safely
• Learn from attacks to improve security

Sophos Solutions and Tools: Sophos' Incident Response services are designed to swiftly address and manage security incidents, protecting customers, products, and the company. We utilize the NIST 800-61 definition of a security incident to optimize for rapid response time and customer transparency.

4. Security audits and compliance

Cybersecurity Specialists ensure organizational adherence to relevant security standards and regulations, maintaining compliance through regular audits and comprehensive documentation.

Requires auditing skills: Expertise in auditing, regulatory knowledge, analytical, and documentation skills to ensure compliance with security standards through regular audits and detailed reporting.

• Regularly check if security measures meet industry standards
• Prepare the organization for audits
• Keep detailed records to show security compliance

Sophos Solutions and Tools: Sophos incorporates industry security compliance and certification standards to ensure our organization adheres to legal, regulatory, and industry-specific security standards. Our staff support conducting regular internal checks and preparing for external audits to validate the effectiveness of security controls.

5. Employee training and awareness

Cybersecurity Specialists educate and train employees to recognize security threats, thus fostering a security-awareness culture and minimizing human errors.

Requires teaching skills: Strong communication, instructional design, and threat awareness skills to effectively educate employees

• Provide training on phishing and a variety of scams
• Teach safe password practices
• Run tests to see if employees follow security rules
• Build a workplace culture that values cybersecurity

Sophos Solutions and Tools: Sophos Phishing protection offers a suite of over 20 training modules aimed at increasing security awareness among staff. These modules include phishing simulations and interactive training to educate employees on recognizing and responding to cyber threats.

6. Documentation and reporting

Cybersecurity Specialists maintain detailed documentation of security processes and incidents, clearly communicating security status and actions to stakeholders.

Requires communication skills: Clear articulation of risks and solutions to technical and non-technical audiences.

• Record security configurations and procedures.
• Create easy-to-understand reports for managers and technical staff.
• Maintain detailed incident reports.

Sophos Solutions and Tools: Sophos Central Management Platform provides detailed reporting capabilities, including threat graphs and analysis reports. These tools help organizations maintain clear records of security activities and communicate information effectively to various stakeholders.

7. Threat intelligence analysis

Cybersecurity Specialists proactively research and analyze emerging cyber threats, enhancing organizational preparedness and strengthening defenses.

Requires analytical skills: Ability to assess threats, evaluate risks, and devise effective solutions.

• Stay informed about emerging threats and attacks
• Adjust security tools to stop new threats
• Brief management on important security trends

Sophos Solutions and Tools: SophosLabs Intelix delivers high-fidelity threat intelligence, offering detailed analysis for known clean and malicious objects. Our team supports informed decision-making by providing explainable and proven threat intelligence.

8. Security policy development

Cybersecurity Specialists develop comprehensive security policies, ensuring clarity, enforceability, and alignment with business objectives and regulatory compliance.

Requires industry knowledge: You will need to be versed in policy development, risk assessment, regulatory knowledge (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA).

• Develop and regularly update security policies
• Ensure policies are practical and align with business goals
• Work with other departments to enforce security guidelines

Sophos Solutions and Tools: Sophos Central Management Platform allows for the creation and management of security policies applied to protected users, devices, servers, or networks. These policies can be customized to align with organizational goals and regulatory requirements.

Essential skills for modern cybersecurity careers

Today’s cybersecurity professionals must blend technical expertise with strong problem-solving skills and the ability to communicate complex risks clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Cybersecurity skills and certifications

Sophos Academy offers comprehensive training to help you effectively defend against cyberattacks. Our wide range of courses, webinars, workshops, videos, and certifications are designed to equip you with essential cybersecurity knowledge, whether you're selling or implementing Sophos solutions.

Cybersecurity career training options

Explore various entry points to start your cybersecurity journey:

• Online Training: Browse the Sophos online training catalog below, featuring diverse courses designed to boost your cybersecurity expertise.
• Degrees: Earn a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Cybersecurity, or a related field.
• Bootcamps: Participate in practical, accelerated training programs to quickly develop job-ready skills.
• Certifications: Obtain valuable credentials such as CISSP, CEH, or CompTIA Security+ to enhance your qualifications and career opportunities in cybersecurity.

The cybersecurity skills gap

Yes—there’s a significant shortage of qualified professionals. The cybersecurity talent shortage presents a tremendous opportunity for career changers and new graduates alike, with high job security and competitive salaries.

Read the report: Addressing the cybersecurity skills shortage in SMBs 

Starting a career in cybersecurity?

At Sophos, we protect people from cybercrime with powerful, easy-to-use cybersecurity solutions. Explore in-demand roles available at Sophos

Cybersecurity jobs are in high-demand

Since cybersecurity jobs are in high demand, this career space has excellent stability, competitive salaries, and opportunities to protect organizations from increasing cyber threats. Here are some examples of emerging rolls and responsibilities you may want to consider.

Threat Intelligence Analyst

A Threat Intelligence Analyst is a cybersecurity professional who helps defend organizations from cyberattacks by detecting, analyzing, and responding to threats in real time. Working on a 24/7 Managed Detection and Response (MDR) team, they investigate suspicious activity using logs, endpoint data, and network signals. They guide junior analysts, lead complex investigations, and communicate findings to both technical teams and executives. Tier II Analysts also conduct threat hunting, analyze malware, and stay up to date on emerging threats. Their goal is to stop attacks before they cause harm and help customers strengthen their defenses through ongoing support and recommendations.

Responsibilities:

• Detect and analyze real-time cyber threats across various telemetry sources
• Investigate suspicious activity using logs, endpoint data, and network signals
• Lead complex threat investigations and guide junior analysts
• Conduct malware analysis and threat hunting
• Communicate technical findings to both executives and IT teams
• Offer continuous support and strategic threat mitigation guidance

Cyber Security Analyst

A Cyber Security Analyst is a security professional who monitors, analyzes, and responds to threats across networks, endpoints, and systems. They assess security events, validate risks, and deliver clear, actionable reports that include root cause analysis and remediation guidance. By reviewing telemetry, logs, and threat intelligence, analysts detect intrusions, malware, and suspicious behavior, helping organizations understand and respond to evolving threats. They also assist in incident resolution, mentor team members, and advise clients on improving their security posture. With expertise in security controls, protocols, and attacker techniques, Cyber Security Analyst play a vital role in strengthening defenses and reducing organizational risk.

Responsibilities:

• Monitor and manage overall security posture across systems and networks
• Analyze threats and validate security events
• Deliver reports with root cause analysis and remediation strategies
• Detect intrusions, malware, and suspicious behavior
• Guide incident response and assist in resolution
• Mentor peers and help enhance organizational defense strategies

Threat Hunter

Threat hunting is performed by a cybersecurity specialist who proactively searches for hidden threats and suspicious behavior across enterprise environments. Using advanced tools, techniques, and threat intelligence, they identify malicious activity that evades automated defenses. Threat Hunters analyze alerts, create countermeasure tuning requests, and conduct in-depth investigations to detect early signs of compromise. They also research evolving attacker tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) to enhance detection capabilities. Often serving as mentors within the Security Operations Center (SOC), Threat Hunters contribute to internal innovation, guide process improvements, and share expertise to improve overall security posture and resilience against advanced persistent threats.

Responsibilities:

• Proactively search for hidden threats and signs of compromise
• Use advanced detection tools and threat intelligence for hunting
• Analyze alert patterns and create tuning requests
• Investigate anomalies to detect advanced persistent threats
• Research attacker TTPs to enhance detection capabilities
• Mentor SOC team members and drive innovation

Malware Researcher

A Malware Researcher is a cybersecurity expert who analyzes how malicious software behaves in real-world systems and creates protection logic to stop it. These professionals study how malware operates—from its initial entry to its actions on compromised machines—by conducting deep behavioral analysis. They write detection and clean-up rules that protect users from both known and emerging threats, often before those threats are even documented in frameworks like MITRE ATT&CK. Working across red, blue, and purple team contexts, malware researchers help improve real-time defenses, reverse-engineer evasive techniques, support threat sandbox environments, and contribute to threat intelligence and remediation strategies.

Responsibilities:

• Analyze malware behavior through reverse engineering and deep behavioral study
• Write detection and cleanup logic before threats are publicly documented
• Work across red, blue, and purple team settings
• Contribute to threat intelligence and response strategies
• Help improve sandbox testing and real-time protection

Cybersecurity Risk Advisor

A Cybersecurity Risk Advisor is a trusted expert who helps organizations identify, assess, and manage cybersecurity risks. They offer strategic guidance to strengthen security posture, improve incident response readiness, and align security efforts with business goals. Advisors often assist in developing cybersecurity policies, conducting risk assessments, and supporting the creation of incident response frameworks, including tabletop exercises and training. With a strong foundation in cybersecurity principles, system operations, and security governance, they help organizations navigate complex threats and implement practical, effective defenses. Cybersecurity Risk Advisors also guide organizations on technical controls, compliance, and long-term risk mitigation strategies across the business.

Responsibilities:

• Assess and manage organizational cybersecurity risks
• Align security initiatives with business goals
• Develop policies, conduct risk assessments, and design response frameworks
• Guide compliance efforts and improve governance models
• Conduct tabletop exercises and stakeholder training

Incident Response Consultant

An Incident Response Consultant is a cybersecurity expert who helps organizations detect, investigate, and recover from security breaches. They lead technical investigations, conduct digital forensics, and analyze attacker behavior to determine the root cause and scope of incidents. Beyond response, they also prepare organizations through training, threat hunting, and proactive strategy development. Using tools like EnCase, Volatility, and other forensic platforms, they collect and analyze data across multiple systems and networks. Incident Response Consultants work closely with threat intelligence and testing teams, translate complex findings into actionable reports, and guide clients through recovery, helping them strengthen defenses against future attacks.

Responsibilities:

• Lead incident investigations and conduct digital forensics
• Analyze attacker behavior to identify scope and root cause
• Use forensic tools like EnCase and Volatility
• Deliver recovery strategies and clear reports to stakeholders
• Train teams on incident readiness and mitigation

Vulnerability Management Engineer

A Vulnerability Management Engineer is a cybersecurity professional responsible for identifying, analyzing, and helping remediate security weaknesses in an organization’s systems. They interpret vulnerability scan results, reduce false positives, and act as a trusted advisor by aligning remediation strategies with business and compliance goals. These engineers work closely with customers to understand their environment, prioritize risks, and implement scanning policies using tools like Qualys, Nessus, or Rapid7. They validate vulnerabilities, support compliance assessments, and guide remediation efforts. With strong knowledge of operating systems, networks, and security frameworks, they ensure vulnerabilities are managed effectively to reduce organizational risk.

Responsibilities:

• Analyze vulnerability scans and reduce false positives
• Align vulnerability management with business and compliance needs
• Validate vulnerabilities and prioritize remediation
• Use tools like Nessus, Qualys, and Rapid7
• Advise clients on remediation and risk prioritization

Penetration Testing Advisor (or Consultant)

A Penetration Testing Advisor (or Consultant) is a cybersecurity professional who uses offensive security techniques to identify and exploit vulnerabilities in an organization’s systems. Specializing in either application security (such as web or API testing) or network security (such as external and internal penetration testing), the advisor simulates real-world attacks to assess the strength of defenses. By applying threat intelligence, they expose weaknesses before adversaries can exploit them. The advisor produces detailed security assessment reports, communicates findings to clients, and provides remediation guidance. They also stay current on new threats and attack methods, using advanced tools and certifications to improve testing accuracy and impact.

Responsibilities:

• Simulate cyberattacks to uncover exploitable vulnerabilities
• Conduct internal and external pen testing on apps and networks
• Use threat intelligence to enhance assessments
• Write detailed vulnerability reports with remediation advice
• Stay up to date on attack techniques and testing tools

Security Automation Researcher

A Security Automation Researcher is a cybersecurity expert who identifies and defines opportunities to improve threat detection and response through automation. By studying workflows, analyzing operational data, and working closely with teams such as security analysts and incident responders, they uncover inefficiencies and design processes that can be automated. They evaluate which tasks require human review, how often those tasks lead to real security incidents, and measure the success of automated solutions in improving speed and accuracy. Their work results in detailed technical requirements used by engineers to build automated systems that increase efficiency and reduce risk across managed security services.

Responsibilities:

• Identify and evaluate tasks for automation in security operations
• Collaborate with analysts and incident responders to refine workflows
• Create detailed technical specs for automation systems
• Measure effectiveness of automated vs manual processes
• Guide engineering teams on automation priorities

Security Playbook Engineer

A Security Playbook Engineer is a cybersecurity professional who designs, builds, and maintains automated security workflows that improve the speed and efficiency of managed security operations. They translate security use cases into functional playbooks using scripting languages like Python and Bash, integrating these with existing tools such as SIEMs and EDR platforms. Their role ensures automated solutions are secure, scalable, and reliable through thorough testing and validation. By working closely with managed services, DevOps, and security operations teams, they help streamline incident response, reduce manual tasks, and improve overall threat detection and response capabilities through well-documented, automated processes.

Responsibilities:

• Build and maintain automated playbooks for security workflows
• Use scripting languages like Python and Bash to implement use cases
• Integrate automation into SIEMs, EDRs, and other platforms
• Validate workflows for scalability and reliability
• Improve threat response and reduce manual analyst workload

Related resources

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