Network Based Systems Analyst III

solutions3llc; Arlington (VA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Solutions³ LLC in Arlington, VA, seeks a Network Based Systems Analyst III to join a government-focused DFIR and cyber defense program. You will analyze network traffic, correlate alerts, and support incident response for critical infrastructure and government agencies.

This senior role requires US citizenship and an active TS/SCI clearance, with 5+ years of cyber defense experience and proficiency with Snort, protocol analyzers, and SiLK.

Qualifications

• Experience developing and deploying signatures for cyber defense.
• Experience detecting host and network intrusions with IDS like 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 potential threats to network resources
• Coordinate with cyber defense staff to validate network alerts
• Document and escape incidents with history, status, and impact for action
• Perform cyber defense trend analysis and reporting
• Perform event correlation to determine effectiveness of observed attacks
• Provide daily summaries of network events relevant to cyber defense
• Receive and analyze network alerts and determine possible causes
• Provide timely detection and alerting of possible attacks/intrusions
• Use cyber defense tools for monitoring and analysis of system activity
• Analyze identified malicious activity to determine exploitation methods
• Determine TTPs for intrusion sets
• Examine network topologies to understand data flows
• Identify anomalies in network traffic using metadata
• Conduct research and correlation across data sets (indications and warnings)
• Validate IDS alerts against network traffic with packet analysis tools
• Identify applications and OS of a network device from traffic
• Reconstruct a malicious attack from network traffic
• Identify network mapping and OS fingerprinting activities
• Assist in signatures for cyber defense tools in response to threats
• Notify managers and responders of suspected incidents per IR plan
• Prepare and update manuals, instructions, and SOPs
• Evaluate methods and prepare change recommendations
• Plan and carry out complex assignments and develop new methods
• Conduct analyses and resolve complex issues in the specialty area
• Ensure optimal use of commercially available products
• Prepare and present reports
• Evaluate the effectiveness of installed systems and services

Skills

Signature development

IDS Snort

Incident handling

Protocol analyzers

Data collection

Signature reading

Packet analysis

Trend analysis

Education

BS Computer Science / Cyber Security / Computer Engineering

HS Diploma + 7+ years experience

Tools

Snort

SiLK tool suite

Job description

Title: Network Based Systems Analyst III

Solutions³ LLC is supporting our prime contractor and their U.S. Government customer on a large mission critical development and sustainment program for on and offsite incident response to Government agencies and critical infrastructure owners who experience cyber-attacks. Solutions³ LLC provides advanced technical assistance, proactive hunting, rapid onsite incident response, and immediate investigation, using host and network-based cybersecurity analysis capabilities.

Solutions³ LLC is seeking a Network Based Systems Analyst III to support this critical mission by providing front line response for digital forensics/incident response (DFIR) and proactively hunting for malicious cyber activity.

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 directly relevant experience in cyber defense analysis using leading edge technologies and industry standard cyber defense tools

Responsibilities Include

• 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 escape 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
• 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 professional certifications: GNFA, GCIH, GCIA, GSEC, CASP+, CySA+, PaLMS, FedVTE
• GSEC (SANS401), Arcsight (or other SEIM solution), Network+, Security+

Required Education

BS Computer Science, Cyber Security, Computer Engineering, or related degree; or HS Diploma and 7+ years of network investigations experience.