Cyber Defense Specialist - Secure IT & Emerging Tech

Intermountain Farmers Association (IFA); Salt Lake City (UT); On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical and dental insurance

401K matching

Paid holidays and vacation time

Job summary

Intermountain Farmers Association (IFA) in Salt Lake City, Utah seeks a Cyber Security Specialist to protect our systems, networks, and data through proactive monitoring, incident response, and security best practices. The role supports the development and enforcement of cybersecurity policies while collaborating with IT and business teams to reduce risk.

The ideal candidate has 2–5 years of cybersecurity experience and relevant certifications, with a focus on practical security controls and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience in cybersecurity/IT.
• 2-5 years of cybersecurity, network security, system administration, or related IT experience.
• Security+ certification preferred; certification required within a reasonable timeframe after hire.
• Experience with vulnerability scanning and remediation tools.
• Working knowledge of TCP/IP, ports, protocols, OSI model, and defense-in-depth concepts.
• Experience analyzing logs and security events during investigations.
• Familiarity with Antivirus, EDR/XDR, IDS/IPS, MFA, DLP, and SIEM platforms.
• Experience with Microsoft Windows, Microsoft 365, Active Directory, and endpoint management.
• Knowledge of cloud security concepts and best practices.
• Familiarity with AI technologies and security/data governance considerations.
• Experience with SIEM solutions is preferred.
• Relevant certifications (Security+, CySA+, SSCP, CASP+, CISSP, GIAC) are a plus.

Responsibilities

• Safeguard company systems, networks, applications, and data by identifying and mitigating security risks.
• Monitor security alerts, logs, and events to detect and respond to potential threats and incidents.
• Conduct vulnerability scans and coordinate remediation with IT staff and system owners.
• Assist in developing and maintaining cybersecurity policies, standards, and procedures.
• Support secure adoption and use of emerging technologies, including AI tools and services.
• Manage and maintain security technologies such as firewalls, endpoint protection, antivirus, EDR/XDR, and email security solutions.
• Perform periodic security audits, assessments, and reviews to identify vulnerabilities and areas for improvement.
• Assist with incident response investigations, root cause analysis, and corrective actions.
• Support identity and access management processes, including user provisioning, permissions reviews, and MFA.
• Maintain documentation, security reports, and compliance records.
• Deliver security awareness education to employees.
• Stay informed on cybersecurity trends and best practices through professional development.
• Collaborate with internal teams, vendors, and partners to support security initiatives.

Skills

System administration

Network security

Vulnerability management

Firewall administration

Endpoint security

Incident response

Security policies

Traffic analysis

Network infrastructure

Analytical thinking

Written communication

Process improvement

Prioritization

Education

Bachelor's degree in Cybersecurity/Info Security/CS/IS

2-5 years IT/cybersecurity experience

Security+ or equivalent certification

Tools

Microsoft Sentinel

Splunk

Wazuh

QRadar

Job description

Intermountain Farmers Association (IFA) in Salt Lake City, Utah seeks a Cyber Security Specialist to protect our systems, networks, and data through proactive monitoring, incident response, and security best practices. The role supports the development and enforcement of cybersecurity policies while collaborating with IT and business teams to reduce risk.

The ideal candidate has 2–5 years of cybersecurity experience and relevant certifications, with a focus on practical security controls and