Network Security Analyst Performance Goals And Objectives

Develop and maintain network security policies and procedures.

Perform vulnerability and risk assessments on company networks.

Participate in incident response efforts to prevent network breaches.

Conduct security audits and identify security gaps that require remediation.

Monitor network traffic for signs of potential cyber attacks.

Implement technical controls, such as firewalls and intrusion prevention systems, to protect networks from unauthorized access.

Establish access controls to limit access to sensitive data and resources.

Investigate and resolve security incidents, including malware infections and phishing attacks.

Maintain network security software and hardware solutions.

Analyze network traffic patterns to detect potential intrusions or data leakage risks.

Create reports to document network security incidents, investigations, and findings.

Work with other IT teams to ensure that all network devices are up-to-date with the latest patches and updates.

Create disaster recovery plans for network security events, such as ransomware attacks or data breaches.

Provide education and training to employees on how to avoid common security threats, such as phishing emails and weak passwords.

Manage user accounts and passwords to ensure that access is limited to authorized users only.

Utilize encryption technologies to protect sensitive data in transit and at rest.

Test security controls to ensure they are working effectively and efficiently.

Evaluate new security technologies to determine if they can improve network security posture.

Keep up-to-date with the latest security threats, vulnerabilities, and attack techniques so that appropriate measures can be taken to mitigate them quickly.

Coordinate with other departments, such as legal and compliance teams, to ensure that network security practices comply with industry regulations and standards.

Continuously monitor and analyze logs from various network devices to detect anomalous activity.

Develop incident response plans that outline the steps that should be taken in case of a security breach or attack.

Collaborate with outside vendors and consultants to ensure that network security practices are robust and effective.

Develop network segmentation strategies to limit the impact of a potential security breach or attack.

Evaluate third-party applications and services for their security risks before integrating them into the corporate network environment.

Implement multi-factor authentication solutions to enhance the security of user accounts and passwords.

Develop secure coding best practices for developers to follow when creating custom applications for the company's network environment.

Establish a framework for analyzing, classifying, and prioritizing security incidents based on their severity level and potential impact on business operations.

Configure firewalls and other network devices to block unwanted traffic from known malicious sources.

Monitor network performance metrics to identify bottlenecks or areas where additional bandwidth may be required for optimal performance while maintaining security posture intact.

Test backup and recovery procedures on a regular basis to ensure they work correctly during an emergency situation.

Train employees on how to recognize and report suspicious activity or potential cyber threats.

Conduct penetration testing exercises on the company's networks to test their resilience against external attacks.

Regularly update network antivirus solutions with the latest virus definitions for better protection against malware.

Create a comprehensive inventory of all assets in the network environment, including servers, routers, switches, firewalls, and other devices.

Configure intrusion detection systems (IDS) to alert on suspicious activities or unusual behavior.

Use virtual private networks (VPNs) to encrypt communication between remote locations securely.

Ensure wireless access points are secured using WPA2 encryption protocols.

Continuously monitor user activity logs for signs of inappropriate usage or policy violations.

Audit third-party service providers to ensure they meet the company's security standards.

Implement web filtering technologies that block access to malicious websites or content that violates company policies.

Restrict access to sensitive data based on job roles, responsibilities, and the principle of least privilege.

Monitor dark web forums for information related to your organization or your customers.

Conduct social engineering tests to assess employee susceptibility to phishing attacks or other tactics used by hackers.

Implement proper logging mechanisms for infrastructure devices, server logs etc.

Monitor Security Information Event Management (SIEM) tool alerts for possible malicious activity.

Utilize Network Access Control (NAC) technologies to control which devices can connect to the network.

Update firmware on all network devices regularly with latest patches.

Follow general security practices as outlined by NIST Cybersecurity Framework or similar frameworks.

Perform regular reviews of firewall ruleset to ensure no unnecessary exceptions exist.

Ensure that all passwords are complex enough by enforcing password policy adequately.

Regularly monitor all egress/ingress traffic through firewall tools like Wireshark or NetFlow analyzer.

Establish clear guidelines for handling sensitive information via email or chat systems.

Set up Virtual Local Area Networks (VLAN) for separation of traffic flows based on sensitivity levels.

Use next-gen firewalls instead of traditional firewalls for enhanced intrusion prevention capabilities.

Validate SSL/TLS certificates for expiration dates periodically and keep them updated timely.

Establish a process for patch management across all devices especially legacy equipment.

Test recovery procedures in live environment without affecting production systems.

Revoke access for inactive accounts after a specified period automatically.

Have a defined incident response plan tailored for your specific business landscape.

Utilize DNS Sinkhole technology for blocking domains used by malware authors.

Utilize DMARC/DKIM/SPF records in DNS entries as part of email hardening strategy.

Restrict any unapproved USB devices or CD/DVD drives from accessing machines.

Use IPsec tunnels instead of plain text communication or VPN over SSL.

Establish a standard image deployment process that ensures proper software configurations right from day one.

Maintain strict governance around administrative privileges with limited access control mechanisms in place.