IT SECURITY ANALYST I

State of Arkansas; Little Rock (AR); On-site; USD 66,000 - 108,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension

Maternity leave

Paid state holidays

Job summary

The Department of Human Services in Arkansas seeks an IT Security Analyst I to protect agency computer systems, networks, and data from cyber threats. This role monitors security systems, analyzes risks, responds to incidents, and implements safeguards to ensure confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

Key duties include vulnerability assessments, incident response, policy development, secure configuration coordination with IT teams, and ongoing training to improve security awareness.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in IT, cybersecurity, CS, or related field.
• Familiarity with GDPR or PCI DSS.
• Strong understanding of networks, OS, and cloud security principles.

Responsibilities

• Monitor network traffic for suspicious activity and threats.
• Perform vulnerability assessments and penetration testing.
• Investigate, document, and respond to security incidents, breaches, and anomalies.
• Develop and implement security policies, standards, and procedures.
• Collaborate with IT teams to ensure secure configurations of systems and applications.
• Maintain and update security tools such as firewalls, antivirus software, and IDS.
• Conduct regular security audits and risk assessments.
• Provide security awareness training to employees to promote best practices.
• Prepare detailed reports on security incidents, vulnerabilities, and risk mitigation strategies.

Skills

Analytical skills

Attention to detail

Communication skills

Proactive mindset

Continuous learning

Education

Bachelor's degree in IT / Cybersecurity / CS

Job description

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Position Number: 22159322
County: Pulaski
Posting End Date: September 29, 2026

The Department of Human Services is a place for people passionate about serving others and changing lives for the better. We care for Arkansans of all ages and ensure places like child care centers and nursing homes are safe. We are the safety net for the most vulnerable Arkansans. Whether you answer the phones, take applications, protect children, or help care for residents or patients at one of our facilities, you make a difference by working at DHS. Plus, working for the State has great perks, including a pension, maternity leave, paid state holidays, and much more. At DHS, we take care of our employees so you can help care for others.

Position Information

Job Series: Information Technology - IT Security

Classification: IT Security Analyst I

Class Code: IIE02P

Pay Grade: IST06

Salary Range: $66,458 - $108,431

Job Summary

The IT Security Analyst I is responsible for protecting an agency's or organization's computer systems, networks, and data from cyber threats and vulnerabilities. This role involves monitoring security systems, analyzing potential risks, responding to incidents, and implementing measures to safeguard sensitive information. The IT Security Analyst I works proactively to identify weaknesses, maintains compliance with security standards, and ensures the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of organizational data.

Primary Responsibilities

Monitor network traffic, systems, and applications for suspicious activity and potential threats.Perform vulnerability assessments and penetration testing to identify and mitigate security risks.Investigate, document, and respond to security incidents, breaches, and anomalies.Develop and implement security policies, standards, and procedures to protect information technology infrastructure.Collaborate with information technology teams to ensure secure configurations of systems and applications.Maintain and update security tools such as firewalls, antivirus software, and intrusion detection systems.Conduct regular security audits and risk assessments to ensure compliance with industry standards.Provide security awareness training to employees to promote best practices.Research and evaluate emerging security technologies and threats to recommend innovative solutions.Prepare detailed reports on security incidents, vulnerabilities, and risk mitigation strategies.

Knowledge and Skills

Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills to detect and resolve security threats.Strong attention to detail and ability to work under pressure in high-stakes situations.Effective communication skills for reporting incidents and providing recommendations to technical and non-technical personnel.Proactive mindset with the ability to anticipate and prevent potential security breaches.Commitment to continuous learning to stay current with evolving cybersecurity threats and technologies.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor's Degree in Information Technology, Cybersecurity, Computer Science, or a related field.

Familiarity with regulatory requirements and frameworks such as General Data Protection Regulation or Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard.

Strong understanding of network protocols, operating systems, and cloud security principles.

Satisfaction of the minimum qualifications, including years of experience and service, does not entitle employees to automatic progression within the job series. Promotion to the next classification level is at the discretion of the department and the Office of Personnel Management, taking into consideration the employee’s demonstrated skills, competencies, performance, workload responsibilities, and organizational needs.

Licensure/Certifications

N/AOTHER JOB RELATED EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE MAY BE SUBSTITUTED FOR ALL OR PART OF THESE BASIC REQUIREMENTS, EXCEPT FOR CERTIFICATION OR LICENSURE REQUIREMENTS, UPON APPROVAL OF THE QUALIFICATIONS REVIEW COMMITTEE.

The State of Arkansas is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, age, disability, citizenship, national origin, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other status or characteristic protected by law.