Cyber Incident Response Monitoring Analyst- 1st Shift - SkyePoint Decisions

SkyePoint Decisions is a leading Cybersecurity Architecture and Engineering, Critical Infrastructure and Operations, and Applications Development and Maintenance IT service provider headquartered in Dulles, Virginia with operations across the U.S. We provide innovative enterprise-wide solutions as well as targeted services addressing the complex challenges faced by our federal government clients. Our focus is on enabling our clients to deliver their mission most efficiently and effectively – anytime, anywhere, securely. We combine technical expertise, mission awareness, and an empowered workforce to produce meaningful results.

As a SkyePoint employee you will be given the opportunity to support some of our nation’s most critical information systems by utilizing not only your existing cybersecurity skills and talents, but those that you will learn in your new role. In your new role as a cyber security professional, you will protect our customer’s most sensitive data and complex systems from all forms of threats including cyber-attacks, insider threats, rogue network devices, and malicious software and applications. You will work with a team of like-minded professionals to share and collaborate upon your ideas to improve the cybersecurity infrastructure, architecture, and configuration deployments. Your ideas and contributions will matter.

This is a contingent position based upon customer approval. 

Skyepoint Decisions is seeking a Cyber Incident Response Monitoring Analyst to support the Diplomatic Security Cyber Mission (DSCM) program providing leading cyber and technology security experience to enable innovative, effective, and secure business processes. 

The customer requirement requires every employee to be onsite for the first 90 days. After the 90 day period, a hybrid schedule may be offered. This position is located in Beltsville, MD. 

You must be able to support shift work. This position will support 1st Shift (Days) which is Sunday-Thursday, 6:00 AM – 2:00 PM.

What you'll do: 

• Provide Monitoring support in a 24x7x365 environment.
• Share in-depth knowledge and intelligence gained from cyber security events with stakeholders. Protect against and prevent potential cyber security threats and vulnerabilities.
• Monitor and analyze network traffic to identify potential security threats and vulnerabilities.
• Monitor and analyze Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) alerts to identify security issues for remediation and investigate events and incidents.
• Provide response, technical assistance and expertise for significant cyber incidents, investigations, and related operational events.
• Contribute to security policies, procedures, and documentation.
• Conduct advanced analysis and recommend remediation steps.
• Analyze network events to determine impact.
• Develop and maintain analytical procedures to meet changing requirements.
• Coordinate during all cyber incidents.
• Analyze identified malicious activity to determine weaknesses exploited, exploitation methods, effects on system and information.
• Determine tactics, techniques, and procedures for intrusion sets.
• Work with stakeholders to resolve computer security incidents and vulnerability compliance.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure compliance with security standards and best practices.
• Collect and analyze intrusion artifacts (e.g., source code, malware, and system configuration) and use discovered data to enable mitigation of potential cyber defense incidents within the enterprise.
• Perform real-time cyber defense incident handling (e.g., forensic collections, intrusion correlation and tracking, threat analysis, and direct system remediation) tasks to support incident response.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree and 2 years of experience required. An additional 4 years of experience may be substituted in lieu of degree 
• Possess ONE of the following certifications: CND; CCNA Security; CySA+; GICSP; GSEC; Security+ CE; SSCP
• Experience with Security Operations Center, network event analysis and/or threat analysis.
• Knowledge of cloud computing technologies to include Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS) and Software as a Service (SaaS).
• Knowledge of traditional computing technologies architecture, design, and security.
• Expertise in usage of log aggregation and security analysis tools.
• Demonstrated knowledge of the Incident Response Lifecycle and how it applies to cloud, legacy, and hybrid environments.
• Ability to identify remediation steps for cybersecurity events.
• Demonstrated ability to utilize and leverage host-based tools to assist in determining scope and severity of a cybersecurity incident.
• Demonstrated strong organizational skills.
• Can analyze common encoding and obfuscation types (Base64, Caesar cipher, junk data, etc) and recognize advance types (XOR, AES, etc)
• Can examine and investigate common packet traffic and protocols.
• Can analyze common attack types (Cross-site scripting, directory traversal, denial of service, etc) and identify more advanced types (Ex. novel CVE related attacks)
• Proven ability to operate in a time sensitive environment.
• Proven ability to communicate orally and written.
• Proven ability to brief (technical/informational) senior leadership.
• Ability to scope and perform impact analysis on incidents.
• U.S. citizenship and an active Secret security clearance
  • Ability to obtain a final Top Secret security clearance

Preferred Qualifications:

• Knowledge of network architecture, design, and security.
• Ability to analyze static and dynamic malware analysis reports.
• Ability to analyze and identify anomalous code as malicious or benign.
• Skill in detecting host and network-based intrusions via intrusion detection technologies.
• Knowledge of which system files (e.g., log files, registry files, configuration files) contain relevant information and where to find those system files.
• Skill in conducting trend analysis.
• Knowledge of adversarial tactics, techniques, and procedures.
• Knowledge of different classes of attacks (e.g., passive, active, insider, close-in, distribution attacks).
• Knowledge of cyber attackers (e.g., script kiddies, insider threat, non-nation state sponsored, and nation sponsored).
• Knowledge of cyber-attack stages (e.g., reconnaissance, scanning, enumeration, gaining access, escalation of privileges, maintaining access, network exploitation, covering tracks).
• Knowledge of system administration, network, and operating system hardening techniques.
• Knowledge of packet-level analysis using appropriate tools.
• Knowledge of intersection of on-prem and cloud-based technologies.
• Knowledge of system design and process methodologies.
• Ability to coordinate with enterprise-wide cyber defense staff to validate network alerts.
• Assist in the construction of signatures which can be implemented on cyber defense network tools in response to new or observed threats within the network environment or enclave. 

What We Can Offer You:

• At SkyePoint, we go B.I.G. (beginning in GRATITUDE) by recognizing all we have and giving back to our employees, families, and communities. It instills a positive mindset that permeates all we do. By beginning in gratitude, SkyePoint can continue to spread living in gratitude each day.
• Great Benefits: Several insurance options including HMO and High Deductible plans with Health Savings Accounts [HSAs], Flex Spending Accounts [FSAs], Full Dental Plans, ST/LT Disability, Life Insurance, floating federal holiday options, and 401k matched
• Certificate Incentive Program: To promote professional development, we recognize and reward employees who obtain new certifications aligned with business needs.
• SkyePoint DoD SkillBridge Industry Partner Fellowship Program

• Flexible Work Environment

Compensation:

Salary Range: $67,000-$80,000

The SkyePoint Decisions salary range for this position is a general guideline only. It represents an estimated range for this position and is just one piece of our total compensation package. 

Salary at SkyePoint is determined by various factors, including but not limited to location, work schedule, the candidate’s combination of education, knowledge, skills, competencies, and experience, as well as contract-specific affordability, market data and business considerations.

In addition to a competitive salary, SkyePoint offers benefits including a certification incentive program, PTO, floating federal holiday options, several insurance options including HMO and High Deductible plans with Health Savings Accounts [HSAs], Flex Spending Accounts [FSAs], Full Dental Plans, Vision, ST/LT Disability, Life Insurance, and 401k matched.

SkyePoint Decisions is an established ISO 9001:2015 and ISO/IEC 27001:2013 certified small business and appraised at CMMI Level 3 for Services and Development. We possess a common vision of excellence and foster a collaborative team culture built upon individual performance and accountability. We invest in our people and systems to create value for our clients. It is the SkyePoint Way. We are grateful for the opportunity to work with exceptional people and give back to the communities we serve. Our employees value the flexibility at SkyePoint that allows them to balance quality work and their personal lives.

Please be aware of recruiting scams and people claiming to be from SkyePoint Decisions. For more information, please see the Welcome Page of our Careers site.

Skyepoint Decisions is a participating E-Verify Employer. 

U.S. Citizenship is required for most positions.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled.