Researcher, Cyber Threat Intelligence

Control-Risks; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working arrangements

Discretionary global bonus scheme

Equal opportunities employer

Job summary

Control Risks is seeking a Researcher to conduct desktop research into cyber and online threats, enriching our Cyber Threat Intelligence (CTI) reports for clients. The role supports ongoing reporting and bespoke engagements, with potential to lead later projects.

Responsibilities include researching new information sources, building threat actor knowledge, and contributing to routine CTI updates, with some weekend monitoring. Hybrid working arrangements are offered.

Qualifications

• Interest in cyber threat and risk issues and political/geopolitical links.
• Knowledge of AI trends and regulatory landscape.
• Understanding of threat assessment methods and threat actor profiling.

Responsibilities

• Conduct desktop research into cyber threats to enrich CTI reporting.
• Support bespoke engagements and client-specific threat assessments.
• Develop knowledge of collection tools and open source sources for investigations.
• Provide periodic CTI insights and contribute to subscription updates.

Skills

Cyber threat knowledge

Open source research

Artificial intelligence interest

Education

Degree level qualification or equivalent

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Job description

As the Researcher you will conduct desktop research into cyber and online threats, to enrich our Cyber Threat Intelligence (CTI) reporting. This role will primarily involve contributing regular reporting for Control Risks' clients that subscribe to our intelligence platform, as well as supporting on and eventually leading bespoke engagements.

Tasks and Responsibilities

Research and Information Gathering

• Research new sources of information and develop capabilities to collect and analyse information in support of the team.
• Demonstrate strong investigation skills relating to specific cyber threat incidents, data breaches and other cyber security incidents.
• Build knowledge of collection tools to support bespoke investigative projects and Cyber Incident Response engagements.
• Conduct research on topics which support other service lines, notably Intelligence and Analysis and and Response.
• Develop knowledge of principal cyber and online threat actors through research on open source, social media, deep and dark web sites and Control Risks internal intelligence systems.
• Contribute continuous research for inclusion in routine CTI reporting and bespoke threat assessments.
• Support CTI threat monitoring activities with consistent and routing intelligence collection for our bespoke clients. Please note that this role includes some flexible weekend monitoring.

General Analytical Responsibilities

• Support analysis on bespoke projects through data collection across all CTI products, demonstrating an ability to make judgments on the value of research collected.
• Be technically aware and understand basic cyber security principals e.g. MITRE ATT&CK, the unified kill chain, the intelligence life cycle
• Be alert to the political implications of developments among cyber threat groups and bring these to the attention of other service lines.
• Contribute analysis for subscription updates.

Marketing and Business Development

• Support business development by initial research scoping for proposals and other business development and marketing exercises.

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

• Interest in and knowledge of cyber threat and risk issues and the interaction between political and geopolitical developments and the evolving threat landscape.
• Interest in and knowledge of broader trends and developments in technology, including AI, and associated regulatory landscape.
• Interest in and knowledge of intelligence and threat assessment principles, understanding of methods used to identify, understand and compare threat actors.
• Academic or professional training in online investigations or open source collection.
• Ability to prepare sizable written reports for a senior business audience.

Preferred

• Experience in undertaking operational and tactical level research and investigations relating to cyber threat incidents or using cyber as a means of collecting information.
• Additional languages to English. Russian, Chinese, Farsi preferred.

Qualifications and specialist skills

Essential

• Degree level qualification or equivalent.
• Demonstrable experience in collecting information from multiple sources in support of complex research projects in the online intelligence or cyber threat and security domains.

Preferred

• High level of Microsoft Excel proficiency (knowledge of pivot tables and macros).
• Intelligence analysis training or qualifications (e.g. City and Guilds, SANS GIAC, CREST threat intelligence practitioner or researcher, GIAT or DIAM UK government modules).
• Open source intelligence collection and investigation qualifications.
• Interest and experience in analysing complex international relations issues.

• Control Risks offers a competitively positioned compensation and benefits package that is transparent and summarised in the full job offer.
• We operate a discretionary global bonus scheme that incentivises, and rewards individuals based on company and individual performance.
• Control Risks supports hybrid working arrangements, wherever possible, that emphasise the value of in-person time together - in the office and with our clients - while continuing to support flexible and remote working.
• As an equal opportunities employer, we encourage suitably qualified applicants from a wide range of backgrounds to apply and join us and are fully committed to equal treatment, free from discrimination, of all candidates throughout our recruitment process.

If you require any reasonable adjustments to be made in order to participate fully in the interview process, please let us know and we will be happy to accommodate your needs.