Incident Response Specialist

Placements24; East London; Hybrid; ZAR 550,000 - 850,000; Full time

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a highly skilled Incident Response Specialist to join their cybersecurity team in East London. The role focuses on leading the response to security incidents, including detection, analysis, containment and remediation to minimize business impact.

The successful candidate will perform malware analysis, digital forensics, and threat intelligence, while developing incident response playbooks and coordinating with IT, legal and external stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in CS/Cybersecurity or equivalent experience.
• 3+ years in incident response or related field.
• Proficiency with incident response tools including forensic imaging, memory and log analysis.
• Strong OS, network protocol knowledge and attack vector understanding.
• Experience with SIEM and threat intelligence platforms.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end incident response for security breaches.
• Analyze incidents with malware analysis, forensics, and threat intel gathering.
• Develop and maintain incident response playbooks, procedures, and communication plans.
• Coordinate response efforts with IT, legal, communications, and external stakeholders.
• Implement containment strategies to prevent spread and eradicate threats.
• Conduct post-incident reviews and provide root-cause recommendations.

Skills

Incident response

Digital forensics

Threat intelligence

Analytical thinking

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or Cybersecurity

Tools

Forensic imaging

Memory analysis

Log analysis

SIEM tools

Threat intel platforms

Job description

About the Role

Our client is seeking a highly skilled and motivated Incident Response Specialist to join their cybersecurity team in East London . This role is critical for protecting the organization from cyber threats by leading the response to security incidents. You will be responsible for detecting, analyzing, containing, and remediating security breaches, minimizing their impact on the business. The ideal candidate possesses a strong technical background, excellent analytical skills, and the ability to remain calm and effective under pressure, ensuring swift and decisive action during critical security events.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the end-to-end incident response process for security breaches and cyberattacks.
• Perform in-depth analysis of security incidents, including malware analysis, forensic investigations, and threat intelligence gathering.
• Develop and maintain incident response playbooks, procedures, and communication plans.
• Coordinate response efforts with internal teams (IT, legal, communications) and external stakeholders.
• Implement containment strategies to prevent the spread of incidents and eradicate threats.
• Conduct post-incident reviews, identify root causes, and provide recommendations for preventing future occurrences.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Cybersecurity, or a related field, or equivalent work experience.
• 3+ years of experience in incident response, digital forensics, or a related cybersecurity field.
• Proficiency with incident response tools and techniques, including forensic imaging, memory analysis, and log analysis.
• Strong understanding of operating systems, network protocols, and common attack vectors.
• Experience with SIEM tools and threat intelligence platforms.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills, with the ability to document findings clearly for stakeholders in East London .

Benefits

• Competitive salary and performance-based bonuses.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Opportunities for advanced training and certifications in incident response and digital forensics.
• Work on challenging and impactful security scenarios.
• A supportive and collaborative team environment dedicated to proactive security defense.