Network security analyst vs information security manager

The differences between network security analysts and information security managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a network security analyst and an information security manager. Additionally, an information security manager has an average salary of $126,447, which is higher than the $81,623 average annual salary of a network security analyst.

The top three skills for a network security analyst include network security, windows and incident response. The most important skills for an information security manager are risk management, NIST, and infrastructure.

Network security analyst vs information security manager overview

	Network Security Analyst	Information Security Manager
Yearly salary	$81,623	$126,447
Hourly rate	$39.24	$60.79
Growth rate	32%	32%
Number of jobs	82,954	115,414
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 62%	Bachelor's Degree, 62%
Average age	42	42
Years of experience	6	6

What does a network security analyst do?

Network security analysts are information technology (IT) professionals who are responsible for designing and implementing security measures to prevent suspicious or hostile activities on the computer and network systems for an organization. These analysts must install firewalls while working with the IT team to protect their systems against malicious attacks. They are required to perform forensic analysis on those malicious activities so that they can determine the source of the threats. Network security analysts must also communicate the state of information security to the stakeholders as well as suggesting ways to improve system security.

What does an information security manager do?

An information security manager is primarily in charge of overseeing the security systems established to protect a company's data from hackers or cyber-attacks. Their responsibilities revolve around monitoring networks for any security breaches, designing and developing new security systems, and improving existing ones when necessary. They may also perform research and analysis to determine company needs, provide instructional materials, and produce progress reports. Furthermore, as an information security manager, it is essential to provide technical support to employees, all while adhering to the company's policies and regulations.

Network security analyst vs information security manager salary

Network security analysts and information security managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Network Security Analyst	Information Security Manager
Average salary	$81,623	$126,447
Salary range	Between $61,000 And $108,000	Between $91,000 And $175,000
Highest paying City	San Jose, CA	San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state	California	California
Best paying company	Bunge	eBay
Best paying industry	Professional	Media

Differences between network security analyst and information security manager education

There are a few differences between a network security analyst and an information security manager in terms of educational background:

	Network Security Analyst	Information Security Manager
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 62%	Bachelor's Degree, 62%
Most common major	Computer Science	Business
Most common college	University of Pennsylvania	Stanford University

Network security analyst vs information security manager demographics

Here are the differences between network security analysts' and information security managers' demographics:

	Network Security Analyst	Information Security Manager
Average age	42	42
Gender ratio	Male, 84.9% Female, 15.1%	Male, 85.8% Female, 14.2%
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%

Differences between network security analyst and information security manager duties and responsibilities

Network security analyst example responsibilities.

Manage endpoint encryption, antivirus/anti-malware host IPS, process documentation, incident management.
Design and manage information systems security policy, implementation, and management for a globally distribute MPLS infrastructure.
Install and provide upkeep for Linux scanning, storage and group-relate web and network management servers.
Create shell scripts to generate list of all files directories ownership companywide on all UNIX and Linux systems.
Assist with NIST 800-171 compliance initiative.
Utilize ArcSight SIEM to create rules, filters and channels.

Information security manager example responsibilities.

Develop goals and strategies to achieve company goals while improving upon current ITIL processes and procedures.
Provide direct leadership with managing corporate HIPAA Privacy/Security compliance initiatives.
Manage the administration of various encryption, authentication and public/private key management technologies and certificate/digital authority.
Manage the conversion to a hybrid NAS/disk/tape CommVault base backup environment resulting in decreasing backup windows and improving recovery objectives.
Conduct risk assessments and collaborate with leadership to provide recommendations regarding critical infrastructure and network security operations enhancements.
Coordinate penetration testing, address vulnerabilities, and analyze NIST 800-82 and ISO 27001 standards/gap analysis for SCADA and business networks.

Network security analyst vs information security manager skills

Common network security analyst skills

Network Security, 11%
Windows, 5%
Incident Response, 4%
Switches, 3%
Linux, 3%
Tcp Ip, 3%

Common information security manager skills

Risk Management, 7%
NIST, 7%
Infrastructure, 5%
Governance, 5%
Incident Response, 5%
Risk Assessments, 5%

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Network Security Analyst vs Information Security Manager

Updated January 8, 2025

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