How to Get SOC Analyst Certification- A Beginner Guide

Organisations face significant challenges with the rising cybersecurity threats in the modern digital age. Therefore, to handle this, the role of a Security Operations Centre (SOC) Analyst is irreplaceable. Working tirelessly, the security experts keep a system safe. However, if you are new to this field and planning to start a career, earning a SOC analyst certification is the first thing you should do. This article will guide you on those methods.

Steps to Get Your SOC Analyst Certification

Do you want to kickstart your career as a full-time SOC analyst and become successful in this profession? Then, follow the step-by-step breakdown

1. Choose the Right Course for Education

Firstly, you must choose the right education stream before becoming a SOC analyst. You can earn a bachelor’s degree in computer science or an SIEM-related field, but no specific requirements exist. Many professionals join the cybersecurity field with specialised courses or boot camps.

2. Choose the Right Certification

There are different certifications available for this role. However, you should choose the right SOC analyst certification. Moreover, the most popular ones include:

• CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst (CySA+) – This is highly popular among entry-level candidates. This certification covers key aspects, including access control, cryptography, and cloud security risks.
• Certified SOC Analyst (CSA) by EC-Council – This course is for candidates interested in incident response. However, a candidate requires proven experience and expertise to get this certification.

So, you can choose the right one based on your career goals and the job roles you want to perform.

3. Enrol in a Training Programme

Many certifications offer official training. Similarly, online courses, boot camps, or authorised training centres are available to train candidates. Furthermore, these programmes also guide on real-world scenarios and practice tests.

4. Take the Certification Exam

Schedule your certification exam after completing the SOC analyst course and thoroughly preparing. Hence, once you pass the exam, you will be certified as a SOC analyst.

What Can You Learn in the SOC Analyst Programme?

A SOC certification programme allows you to learn many hard and soft skills. All these skills together allow you to solve critical cybersecurity problems. These skills include –

Hard Skills

1. Programming
2. Threat Hunting
3. Log Analysis
4. Digital Forensics and Incident Response (DFIR)
5. Incident Handling & Documentation
6. Cloud Security
7. Hacking
8. SIEM Operations

Soft Skills

1. Communication & Collaboration
2. Risk Management
3. Pressure Handling
4. Innovative Thinking

Conclusion

So, are you an aspiring candidate who wants to start your career as a full-time SOC analyst? Then, follow a structured roadmap for starting and earning the SOC analyst certificate. Remember that learning to detect, solve, and monitor complex cybersecurity threats makes your job role valuable in this critical landscape.