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The differences between information security officers and information assurance analysts can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both an information security officer and an information assurance analyst. Additionally, an information security officer has an average salary of $135,040, which is higher than the $77,184 average annual salary of an information assurance analyst.
The top three skills for an information security officer include risk management, risk assessments and incident response. The most important skills for an information assurance analyst are RMF, DOD, and ACAS.
| Information Security Officer | Information Assurance Analyst | |
| Yearly salary | $135,040 | $77,184 |
| Hourly rate | $64.92 | $37.11 |
| Growth rate | 32% | 32% |
| Number of jobs | 145,907 | 104,926 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
Information security officers are responsible for planning and implementing policies to safeguard an organization's computer network and data from different types of security breaches. Their duties typically include identifying computer network vulnerabilities, developing and executing a plan to secure and protect the network, and tracking computer network usage to ensure adherence to security policies. In addition, information security officers are also expected to conduct penetration tests to look for flaws and work closely with the IT and management departments to improve security.
Information assurance analysts are professionals who are responsible for conducting vulnerability management activities to assess potential threats. These analysts are required to establish information technology (IT) programs that protect member information from internal and external data loss. They need to develop security policies and procedures so that they can achieve ISO certification. They must also monitor and maintain networks while conducting a full range of security-related analysis to evaluate suspicious activities. Information assurance analysts must also review logs and interview personnel to determine the level of investigation or disciplinary actions.
Information security officers and information assurance analysts have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Information Security Officer | Information Assurance Analyst | |
| Average salary | $135,040 | $77,184 |
| Salary range | Between $95,000 And $190,000 | Between $55,000 And $108,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | Pennsylvania |
| Best paying company | Twilio | Apptio |
| Best paying industry | Professional | Professional |
There are a few differences between an information security officer and an information assurance analyst in terms of educational background:
| Information Security Officer | Information Assurance Analyst | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 64% | Bachelor's Degree, 62% |
| Most common major | Business | Computer Information Systems |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between information security officers' and information assurance analysts' demographics:
| Information Security Officer | Information Assurance Analyst | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 85.9% Female, 14.1% | Male, 72.3% Female, 27.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 6.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.0% Asian, 9.6% White, 65.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 6.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.0% Asian, 9.6% White, 65.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 9% |