Information Security Operations Center (SOC) Analyst

Placements24; Bloemfontein; Hybrid; ZAR 180,000 - 360,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Retirement benefits

Training and development opportunities

Supportive team environment

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a vigilant Information Security Operations Center (SOC) Analyst for a client in Welkom, Free State. You will monitor security alerts, investigate incidents, and respond to threats to protect critical data and infrastructure.

The role requires 1–3 years in a SOC or related field, familiarity with SIEM tools such as Splunk or QRadar, and a proactive mindset. Shift work including nights and weekends may be required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Information Security, CS, or related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• 1–3 years in SOC or related cybersecurity role.
• Experience with SIEM tools such as Splunk or QRadar.
• Knowledge of TCP/IP, DNS, HTTP and Windows/Linux basics.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication.
• Willingness to work night/weekend shifts.

Responsibilities

• Monitor security alerts and events from SIEM, IDS/IPS, and endpoint tools.
• Analyze security incidents to determine scope, impact and root cause.
• Perform initial triage and response actions for alerts and threats.
• Escalate critical incidents to senior analysts and IR teams.
• Document events, findings and actions clearly.
• Assist in developing and refining SOC playbooks and procedures.
• Contribute to ongoing improvements of monitoring capabilities.
• Identify trends to proactively detect threats.
• Participate in threat hunting activities.
• Stay updated on latest threats and attack vectors.

Skills

Analytical skills

Communication

Problem-solving

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Information Security, Computer Science, or related field

Equivalent practical experience

Tools

Splunk

QRadar

Job description

About the Role

Our client is seeking a vigilant and detail-oriented Information Security Operations Center (SOC) Analyst to join their growing security team in Welkom, Free State . This role is fundamental in monitoring, detecting, and responding to security threats and incidents across the organization's network and systems. The ideal candidate will be passionate about cybersecurity, possess strong analytical skills, and be adept at utilizing various security tools to identify and mitigate potential risks. You will work within a collaborative environment, contributing to the protection of critical data and infrastructure. This is an excellent opportunity for an aspiring security professional looking to make a significant impact in a vital operational role.

Key Responsibilities

• Monitor security alerts and events from various sources, including SIEM, IDS/IPS, and endpoint detection tools.
• Analyze security incidents to determine the scope, impact, and root cause.
• Perform initial triage and response actions for security alerts and potential threats.
• Escalate critical security incidents to senior analysts and incident response teams.
• Document security events, investigation findings, and actions taken in a clear and concise manner.
• Assist in the development and refinement of SOC playbooks and procedures.
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of security monitoring capabilities.
• Identify trends and patterns in security events to proactively identify potential threats.
• Participate in threat hunting activities to discover and address undetected threats.
• Maintain an up-to-date understanding of the latest cyber threats and attack vectors.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Information Security, Computer Science, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• 1-3 years of experience in a Security Operations Center (SOC) environment or related cybersecurity role.
• Familiarity with security monitoring tools, including SIEM platforms (e.g., Splunk, QRadar).
• Understanding of common security threats, vulnerabilities, and attack methods (e.g., phishing, malware, DDoS).
• Basic knowledge of networking concepts (TCP/IP, DNS, HTTP) and operating systems (Windows, Linux).
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment.
• Certifications such as CompTIA Security+ are a plus.
• Willingness to work shifts, including nights and weekends, as required by the SOC operations.

Benefits

• Competitive entry-level to mid-level salary range.
• Standard health and retirement benefits.
• Training and development opportunities to enhance cybersecurity skills.
• A supportive team environment focused on learning and growth.
• Exposure to a wide range of security technologies and operational challenges.
• Opportunity to gain valuable experience in a critical cybersecurity function.