Threat Researcher

CloudFlare; Manchester; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A global internet security company located in Manchester, UK, is seeking a talented Senior Threat Intelligence Analyst to focus on East Asian cyber threats. This role involves monitoring threat activities, collaborating with engineering for analytical improvements, and analyzing data to protect customers. Ideal candidates will have over 10 years of experience in intrusion analysis and cyber threat intelligence, with exceptional analytical skills. The company offers a comprehensive benefits package and a dynamic working environment.

Benefits

Medical/Rx Insurance

Flexible Spending Accounts

401(k) Retirement Savings Plan

Qualifications

• Proven expertise in tracking threat groups using the Cyber Kill Chain.
• Experience in network and host-based intrusion analysis.
• 10+ years of cyber threat intelligence or intrusion analysis experience.

Responsibilities

• Monitor cyber threat activity and trends to focus efforts.
• Collaborate with engineering to improve intelligence analysis workflows.
• Propose and lead reporting on threat actor TTPs.

Skills

Deep understanding of the cyber threat landscape

Expert knowledge of APT groups in East Asia

Exceptional analytical and critical thinking skills

Teamwork and interpersonal skills

Education

BA/BS in related discipline or military training

Tools

SQL

Job description

About the Team

Cloudforce One is Cloudflare's threat operations and research team, responsible for identifying and disrupting cyber threats ranging from sophisticated cyber criminal activity to nation-state sponsored advanced persistent threats (APTs). Cloudforce One works in close partnership with external organizations and internal Cloudflare teams, continuously developing operational tradecraft and expanding ever-growing sources of threat intelligence to enable expedited threat hunting and remediation. Members of Cloudforce One are at the helm of leveraging an incredibly vast and varied set of data points that only one of the world's largest global networks can provide. The team is able to, and methodologies across multiple platforms, supporting both client requests and proactive internal research. You will serve an integral role in the discovery and analysis of East Asian cyber threat adversaries, their Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures (TTPs), along with applying knowledge of transnational issues and geopolitical developments to understand adversary actions and anticipate their next moves.

About the Role

Cloudflare is a system spanning the globe, on a mission to make the internet better, safer, and more powerful everyday. To help fulfill this mission, we are seeking a talented Senior Threat Intelligence Analyst that specializes in East Asian cyber threats to join us in growing our Cloudforce One Organization. You will be instrumental in building a proactive and threat intelligence-driven approach to protecting Cloudflare and its customers from nation-state, cybercriminal, and hacktivist threat activity originating from the East Asia. This position requires an innovative, OPSEC-savvy, self-starting, and detail-oriented problem solver with a passion for identifying, tracking, and assessing sophisticated cyber threats.

Key Responsibilities

• Monitor cyber threat activity, trends, intelligence requirements, ensuring Cloudforce One focuses resources and efforts on our clients' most relevant and crucial intelligence needs.
• Collaborate with engineering teams to ensure relevant data and analytics are incorporated in internal platforms to improve and/or automate intelligence analysis workflows.
• Track and analyze threat activity, synthesizing findings into actionable threat intelligence to better protect our customers.
• Analyze complex data points, at massive scale and efficiency, synthesizing findings into actionable threat intelligence.
• Propose subject matter for proactive reporting on threat actor TTPs and trends, and lead the corresponding reporting efforts.

Desired Skills, Knowledge and Experience

• Deep understanding of the cyber threat landscape and the intelligence lifecycle.
• Expert knowledge of state-sponsored APT groups in East Asia.
• Proven expertise in tracking and clustering multiple threat groups using techniques such as the Cyber Kill Chain or Diamond Model of Intrusion Analysis.
• Experience with open source intelligence gathering tools and techniques.
• Experience tracking and analyzing cyber campaigns utilizing structured analytical techniques involving numerous sources of threat intelligence and varied forms of threat data.
• Understanding of the latest security trends as they relate to East Asian cyber threat adversary operations and motivating factors.
• Exceptional analytical and critical thinking skills.
• Experience in network and/or host-based intrusion analysis.
• Proficiency in packet, metadata analysis.
• Knowledge of networking protocols (e.g., TCP/IP) and datasets relevant to intrusion and network infrastructure analysis.
• Experience using a comprehensive data analysis platform, with ability to recognize patterns and transform data into useful information.
• Advanced communication (written and verbal) and presentation skills, both internally to CXO level and externally to clients.
• Working/in-depth knowledge of technical reporting and editing.
• Ability to synthesize technical information and document it, in both a technical and non-technical manner, through written, graphical and verbal representation.
• Either BA/BS or equivalent in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Information Security, Computer Security, Information Systems, Intelligence, a related discipline, OR Military training and experience in Cyber Intelligence, General Intelligence Studies, Security Studies, or a related discipline.
• At least 10 years of experience in one or more of: intrusion analysis, cyber threat hunting, cyber threat intelligence, incident response, network defense, endpoint forensics, malware analysis.
• Excellent teamwork and interpersonal skills with ability to collaborate with a globally distributed team.
• Willing and eager to share knowledge and mentor colleagues on intrusion analysis and threat intelligence best practices.

Bonus Points

• MA/MS or equivalent in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Information Security, Computer Security, Information Systems, Intelligence, or a related discipline.
• Malware analysis and reverse engineering skills.
• Foreign language proficiency in one of the commonly spoken languages of East Asia.
• Prior intelligence community background.
• Familiarity with detection capabilities and their practical application in tracking malicious activity.
• Working knowledge of SQL and devising SQL queries.

Compensation

Compensation may be adjusted depending on work location. Equity: This role is eligible to participate in Cloudflare's equity plan.

Benefits

• Medical/Rx Insurance, Dental Insurance, Vision Insurance.
• Flexible Spending Accounts, Commuter Spending Accounts, Fertility & Family Forming Benefits.
• On-demand mental health support and Employee Assistance Program.
• Global Travel Medical Insurance.
• Financial Benefits.
• Short and Long Term Disability Insurance.
• Life & Accident Insurance.
• 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan, Employee Stock Participation Plan.
• Time Off: Flexible paid time off covering vacation and sick leave, leave programs including parental, pregnancy health, medical, and bereavement leave.
• Benefits support health care expenses, caregiving, build capital for the future, and make life a little easier and fun.

About Us

Cloudflare, we are on a mission to help build a better Internet. Today the company runs one of the world's largest networks that powers millions of websites and other Internet properties for customers ranging from individual bloggers to SMBs to Fortune 500 companies. Cloudflare protects and accelerates any Internet application online without adding hardware, installing software, or changing a line of code. Internet properties powered by Cloudflare all have web traffic routed through its intelligent global network, which gets smarter with every request. As a result, they see significant improvement in performance and a decrease in spam and other attacks. Cloudflare was named to Entrepreneur Magazine's Top Company Cultures list and ranked among the World's Most Innovative Companies by Fast Company.