Host Based Systems Analyst II

Solutions³ LLC; Arlington (VA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Solutions³ LLC is seeking a Host Based Systems Analyst II to support a government mission, performing cyber defense analysis, DFIR, and threat hunting across host, network, and cloud environments. Responsibilities include incident response, trend analysis, and signature development for defense tools.

Must have active TS/SCI clearance, be a US citizen, and able to obtain DHS suitability. Prior experience with Snort and protocol analyzers is required.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of direct relevant experience in cyber defense analysis
• Active TS/SCI clearance and ability to obtain DHS suitability
• US citizen
• Experience developing and deploying signatures
• Experience detecting host and network-based intrusions via IDS technologies (e.g., Snort)
• Experience implementing incident handling methodologies
• Experience implementing protocol analyzers
• Experience collecting data from cyber defense resources
• Experience reading and interpreting signatures (e.g. Snort)
• Experience performing packet-level analysis
• Experience conducting trend analysis

Responsibilities

• Characterize and analyze network traffic to identify anomalous activity and threats
• Coordinate with cyber defense staff to validate network alerts
• Document incidents and escalation history for action
• Perform cyber defense trend analysis and reporting
• Perform event correlation to gain situational awareness of observed attacks
• Provide daily summaries of network events relevant to cyber defense
• Receive and analyze alerts to determine possible causes
• Provide timely detection of possible attacks and anomalies
• Use cyber defense tools for continual monitoring and analysis
• Analyze identified malicious activity to determine weaknesses and exploitation methods
• Determine TTPs for intrusion sets
• Examine network topologies and data flows
• Identify anomalies in network traffic using metadata
• Conduct cross-source data analysis and correlation
• Validate IDS alerts against traffic with packet analysis
• Identify devices OS from traffic
• Reconstruct malicious activity from traffic
• Identify network mapping and OS fingerprinting
• Assist in signature development for new threats
• Notify managers and responders per incident response plan

Skills

Signature development

Intrusion detection

Incident handling

Protocol analyzers

Data collection

Signature interpretation

Packet-level analysis

Trend analysis

Education

BS in Computer Science / Cybersecurity / Computer Engineering or related degree

HS Diploma + 7+ years network investigations experience

Job description

Host Based Systems Analyst II

Solutions³ LLC is supporting our prime contractor and their U.S. Government customer on a large mission-critical provide remote and onsite advanced technical assistance, proactive hunting, rapid onsite incident response, and immediate investigation and resolution using host-based, network-based, and cloud-based cybersecurity analysis capabilities. Personnel provide front line response for digital forensics/incident response (DFIR) and proactively hunting for malicious cyber activity. Solutions³ LLC is seeking Cyber Network Defense Analysts (CNDA) to support this critical customer mission.

Eligibility

• Must be a US Citizen
• Must have an active TS/SCI clearance
• Must be able to obtain DHS Suitability prior to starting employment
• 5+ years of direct relevant experience in cyber defense analysis using leading edge technologies and industry standard cyber defense tools

Responsibilities Include

The majority of the CNDA’s time (75%) will be spent executing the following tasks:

• Characterize and analyze network traffic to identify anomalous activity and potential threats to network resources
• Coordinate with enterprise-wide cyber defense staff to validate network alerts
• Document and escalation incidents (including event's history, status, and potential impact for further action) that may cause ongoing and immediate impact to the environment
• Perform cyber defense trend analysis and reporting
• Perform event correlation using information gathered from a variety of sources within the enterprise to gain situational awareness and determine the effectiveness of an observed attack
• Provide daily summary reports of network events and activity relevant to cyber defense practices
• Receive and analyze network alerts from various sources within the enterprise and determine possible causes of alerts
• Provide timely detection, identification, and alerting of possible attacks/intrusions, anomalous activities, and misuse activities and distinguish these incidents and events from benign activities
• Use cyber defense tools for continual monitoring and analysis of system activity to identify malicious activity
• Analyze identified malicious activity to determine weaknesses exploited, exploitation methods, effects on system and information
• Determine tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) for intrusion sets
• Examine network topologies to understand data flows through the network
• Identify and analyze anomalies in network traffic using metadata
• Conduct research, analysis, and correlation across a wide variety of all source data sets (indications and warnings)
• Validate intrusion detection system (IDS) alerts against network traffic using packet analysis tools
• Identify applications and operating systems of a network device based on network traffic
• Reconstruct a malicious attack or activity based off network traffic
• Identify network mapping and operating system (OS) fingerprinting activities
• Assist in the construction of signatures which can be implemented on cyber defense network tools in response to new or observed threats within the network environment or enclave
• Notify designated managers, cyber incident responders, and cybersecurity service provider team members of suspected cyber incidents and articulate the event's history, status, and potential impact for further action in accordance with the organization's cyber incident response plan

Approximately 25% of the CNDA’s time will be spent executing the following tasks:

• Prepare and update manuals, instructions, and operating procedures
• Evaluate established methods and procedures and prepare recommendations for changes in methods and practices where appropriate
• Plan and carry out difficult and complex assignments and develop new methods, approaches, and procedures
• Conduct analyses and recommend resolution of complex issues affecting the specialty area
• Ensure optimal use of commercially available products
• Prepare and present reports
• Evaluate the effectiveness of installed systems and services

Required Skills

• Experience successfully developing and deploying signatures
• Experience detecting host and network-based intrusions via intrusion detection technologies (e.g., Snort)
• Experience implementing incident handling methodologies
• Experience implementing protocol analyzers
• Experience collecting data from a variety of cyber defense resources
• Experience reading and interpreting signatures (e.g. snort)
• Experience performing packet-level analysis
• Experience conducting trend analysis

Desired Skills

• GSEC (SANS401), Arcsight (or other SEIM solution), Network+, Security+ and Python programming experience would be ideal.
• Strong math and science background.
• Experience with Carnegie Mellon SiLK tool suite.

Desired Certifications

One or more of the following certifications: GNFA, GCIH, GCIA, GSEC, CASP+, CySA+, PaLMS, FedVTE

Required Education

BS in Computer Science, Cybersecurity, Computer Engineering or related degree; or HS Diploma and 7+ years of network investigations experience