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Defense analyst skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted experts

Louis Bobelis,

Louis Bobelis

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical defense analyst skills. We ranked the top skills for defense analysts based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 13.8% of defense analyst resumes contained incident response as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a defense analyst needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 defense analyst skills for your resume and career

1. Incident Response

Incident response is defined as the process by which a company or organization handles a cyber attack or a data breach. Along with dealing with the initial attack, this also deals with the possible consequences of the breach. The goal of incident response is to limit the damage caused by the attack.

Here's how defense analysts use incident response:

Perform Computer Security Incident Response activities for a large organization, coordinates with other government agencies to record and report incidents.
Develop and compile mitigation strategies related to emerging threats, vulnerabilities, and incident response and analysis findings.

2. DOD

Definition of Done (DoD) is a set of deliverables that are needed to devise software. These deliverables are valuable to the system and can be exemplified by writing code, coding comments, unit testing, integration testing, design documents, release notes, and so on.

Here's how defense analysts use dod:

Conducted INFOCON assessments and collaborated with clients to provide recommendations regarding network security operations on DoD systems.
Conducted vulnerability assessments and passive network traffic analysis of DoD and US Government networks.

3. Windows

Windows is a chain of operating systems that controls a computer and is developed by Microsoft. Every version of Windows consists of GUI (graphical user interface), with a desktop that allows the user to open their files.

Here's how defense analysts use windows:

Use various Windows and Linux command line tools to gather information about systems.
Worked on both Linux and Windows based systems performing network log analysis.

4. Tcp Ip

Here's how defense analysts use tcp ip:

Analyzed computer/network problems; analytical reports; risk assessment; TCP IP ICMP IDS HTTP HTTPS VPNS.

5. Network Security

Here's how defense analysts use network security:

Performed computer/network security incident management.
Provided technical briefings and training based on selected research topics related to network security and associated functions.

6. Network Traffic

Here's how defense analysts use network traffic:

Characterized and analyzed network traffic to identify anomalous activity and potential threats to network resources.
Analyzed network traffic and IDS alerts to assess, prioritize and differentiate between potential intrusion attempts and false alarms.

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7. Computer Network Defense

Here's how defense analysts use computer network defense:

Drafted Computer Network Defense activity reports identifying malicious activity within National Threat Operation Center and extended enterprises.
Supervised the monitoring, investigation and reporting of Computer Network Defense events and incidents.

8. Wireshark

Here's how defense analysts use wireshark:

Utilized tools for network intrusion detection such as ArcSight, SourceFire, NetWitness, Centaur, Tshark and WireShark.
Utilized Wireshark to perform in depth intrusion analysis from packet capture (PCAP) files.

9. Threat Analysis

A threat analysis is a process of assessing the credibility and severity of a potential threat to an information system or business; describing the nature and type of threat and the likelihood that the threat may become a reality; determining what system components need to be protected, and the types of security risks they must be protected against.

Here's how defense analysts use threat analysis:

Facilitated sensor operation training to new personnel to increase the technical knowledge of the threat analysis and network forensics department.
Streamlined reporting of threat analysis data by initiating an analyst template.

10. Linux

Linux is a Unix-like operating system. Just like Windows, Mac OS, and IOS, Linux is an operating system used by millions across the globe. Android itself is powered by the Linux operating system. Linux manages all the hardware resources that are associated with your computer. The software is famous because of the protection it grants from viruses, malware, and crashes. The Linux operating system is entirely free and is an open-source software meaning it can be altered by those equipped with the knowledge to code.

Here's how defense analysts use linux:

Provided training for red team members on Kali Linux, Metasploit, Burp, Nmap, Netcat, Hydra, etc.
Perform in-depth analysis on Linux web host servers to identify sources of intrusion and vulnerability.

11. Data Collection

Data collection means to analyze and collect all the necessary information. It helps in carrying out research and in storing important and necessary information. The most important goal of data collection is to gather the information that is rich and accurate for statistical analysis.

Here's how defense analysts use data collection:

Coordinated interaction with other data collection and processing activities.
Developed active and passive data collection plans for FCC/C10F ISO USCYBERCOM priorities, draft studies, reports and briefings.

12. ArcSight

Here's how defense analysts use arcsight:

Analyze firewall, Blue Coat proxy, and IronPort logs on HP ArcSight Logger and HP ArcSight ESM.
Utilize Arcsight as a security information manager to monitor events produced by Snort, CISCO, Microsoft, UNIX and ASIM.

13. PCAP

Here's how defense analysts use pcap:

Analyzed all aspects of Packet Capture (PCAP) for indication of malicious activity.
Performed PCAP analysis of suspicious traffic.

14. Data Loss Prevention

Here's how defense analysts use data loss prevention:

Developed end user education materials for Data Loss Prevention Program.
Created Data Loss Prevention program reducing the opportunity for company data to leave company networks/devices without a record of its leaving.

15. Situational Awareness

Situational awareness is one's perception of environmental aspects and events regarding space or time, the understanding of their meaning, and the prediction of their future status.

Here's how defense analysts use situational awareness:

Provide situational awareness, reporting and mitigation recommendations to customers when confirmed compromises are identified.
Conducted morning status briefing providing upper management situational awareness and system metrics.

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What skills help Defense Analysts find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What skills stand out on defense analyst resumes?

Louis Bobelis

Part-Time Faculty, The University of Tampa

Cybersecurity is emerging as one of the hottest and most desirable job industries globally, so I feel student graduates must stick out far beyond just what their degree provides them with. As an IT-based profession, Industry Standard Certificates play a crucial role in the hiring process because it assures the individual as the basic knowledge set required to fulfill a "base-level" qualification. In the current job market, I would say it is almost mandatory to have a CompTIA Security+ in order to be competitive. SSCP, CEH, OSCP, CCSP, and CySA+ are other great options but may be more difficult for graduates.

What soft skills should all defense analysts possess?

Louis Bobelis

Part-Time Faculty, The University of Tampa

I feel the most important soft skill is character. Being outspoken and able to explain technical cyber incidents decisively and clearly for non-IT-oriented people in your organization is especially important when you are in more senior-level positions.

What hard/technical skills are most important for defense analysts?

Louis Bobelis

Part-Time Faculty, The University of Tampa

An ability to triage events and understand a cyber investigation process. Understand how to sandbox a file and locate IOCs (Indicators of Compromise) within the file. Knowing and understanding the MITRE Kill Chain and other Cybersecurity standards.

What defense analyst skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

Kermit Burley M.Ed.

Program Coordinator of Information Technology and Cybersecurity Analytics and Operations, Pennsylvania State University - Lehigh Valley

In my fields of Cyber and Information Technology we truly need the abilities to be always learning and always preparing for the next great breakthrough or the next big threat. So, adaptability and a willingness to always be learning are essential for success. Of course, our greatest challenge now and certainly in the next 3-5 years will be AI. (Artificial Intelligence) It is already upon us and has the potential to revolutionize our field and the entire landscape of what we do. The ability to stay ahead of that very steep hill will require constant innovation and an ability to accurately anticipate what is coming just around the corner. What I also see is an increased need for "people" skills, the ability to lead a team of people to achieve goals and budgetary requirements. All too often graduates in Cyber and IT are stereotyped as not having any people skills at all and preferring to work alone. This stereotype must end and those graduates who possess people skills will be in great demand not only in the next 3-5 years, but for decades to come.

Do you want to know more?

List of defense analyst skills to add to your resume

The most important skills for a defense analyst resume and required skills for a defense analyst to have include:

Incident Response
DOD
Windows
Tcp Ip
Network Security
Network Traffic
Computer Network Defense
Wireshark
Threat Analysis
Linux
Data Collection
ArcSight
PCAP
Data Loss Prevention

Situational Awareness
McAfee
Network Devices
FireEye
Disa
Unix
Network Intrusion Detection
Emerging Technologies
In-Depth Analysis
Intelligence Analysis
Government Agencies
SME
Intelligence Community
Analytical Support

Level Analysis
Missile
Trend Analysis
Subject Matter Expertise
National Security
Network Operations
AOR
Media Analysis
Phishing
Database Queries
Intrusion Detection Analysis
Network Events
Sourcefire

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Updated January 8, 2025

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