Student Placement - Cyber Security SOC Analyst

Job Description

You must be a current undergraduate to be eligible for this role.

This role is for a Placement Year and not a summer/short term internship.

The purpose of the placement provides an opportunity for students to gain practical experience and hands-on training in the field of Cyber Security, specifically within a Security Operations Centre (SOC) environment. This role offers immersive learning experiences where students apply knowledge gained through academic studies to real-world scenarios. Working alongside our experienced colleagues, students can enhance their skills in monitoring, detecting, and responding to various security incidents.

Students will be provided with guidance and mentorship throughout the learning journey, providing a wide range of benefits designed to foster professional growth and development. Overall, the purpose of the role is to bridge the gap between academic learning and practical application.

Upon successful completion of the placement, students will have the opportunity to apply for any full or part-time vacancies whilst completing studies.

Key Responsibilities:

In this client-facing, hands-on role, you’ll monitor, investigate, and help respond to security alerts using industry-leading tools like Microsoft Sentinel, Defender XDR, CrowdStrike Falcon, Rapid7, and Microsoft Defender for Endpoint. You’ll work closely with experienced analysts, benefit from mentorship, and gain exposure to a variety of cyber threats and client environments.

• Monitor and triage security alerts across multiple platforms and technologies (SIEM, EDR, XDR, etc.).
• Investigate potential security incidents and escalate according to established protocols.
• Collaborate with higher-tier analysts and threat response teams to resolve incidents.
• Maintain detailed documentation of investigations, incidents, and actions taken.
• Provide basic guidance and support to clients regarding incident handling and threat mitigation.

The successful candidate will have

• Foundational Knowledge of Cybersecurity Principles: A solid grasp of network security, threat detection, risk management, and incident response is essential. This includes an understanding of MITRE ATT&CK, the cyber kill chain, and common attack vectors.
• Embrace Technical Continuous Learning: Thriving in Cybersecurity demands a dedication to ongoing learning. Staying up to date with emerging threats, tools, and evolving techniques is fundamental in this role.
• Foster Team Collaboration: Success is cultivated through seamless collaboration with team members, fostering an environment where knowledge sharing and collective problem-solving to help overcome security challenges effectively.
• Exemplify Adherence to Security Policies and Procedures: Adherence to established security protocols and standards, ensuring consistency and regulatory compliance, safeguarding organisational assets and maintaining trustworthiness within the industry.
• Passion for Cybersecurity & Continuous Learning: Cyber threats evolve daily, so the ability to adapt, learn new techniques, and stay ahead of attackers is crucial. Continuous upskilling through research, certifications, and hands-on practice is essential.
• Strong Attention to Detail: Cyber threats often hide in the smallest anomalies. A keen eye for unusual behaviour in logs, alerts, and user activity is a valuable asset.
• Curiosity & Proactive Research: The best analysts don’t just wait for alerts; they investigate, ask questions, and explore new threats. A natural curiosity about how systems work (and how they can be exploited) is essential.
• Resilience Under Pressure: Security incidents can be high-stakes and fast-moving. A successful candidate remains calm, methodical, and focused when responding to threats.
• Ethical & Security-First Mindset: Security professionals hold significant trust and responsibility. Integrity, confidentiality, and adherence to cybersecurity best practices are essential. 

Qualifications

What you need

• Pursuing a Degree in Cybersecurity or Related Field: Currently enrolled in a Cybersecurity or closely related academic program, demonstrating a commitment to advancing knowledge and expertise in the field.
• Demonstrate Familiarity with MDR Services, Vendor Products, and Client Solutions: Proficient in understanding Managed Detection and Response (MDR) services, vendor offerings, and client-specific solutions, showcasing a grasp of industry technologies and capabilities.

Skills you will need to excel

• Excellent Customer Service Skills – Ability to speak with customers in a calm and confident manner to explain in detail technical security alerts.
• Willingness to learn – Staying up to date and remaining open to learning is also key in this position.
• Analytical Mindset & Problem-Solving Skills - Cybersecurity requires sharp analytical thinking. You should be able to assess threats, identify vulnerabilities, and respond to incidents efficiently.
• Strong Analytical & Investigative Abilities: Security analysts must be able to identify patterns, spot anomalies in logs, and correlate security events to detect potential threats. Being comfortable analysing logs and alerts in an MSSP environment is a key skill.
• Collaboration & Communication Skills - As part of an MSSP, you will work closely with teams across security operations, incident response, and threat intelligence. The ability to explain technical details to both security experts and non-technical stakeholders is key
• Adaptability & Continuous Learning: Cyber threats evolve constantly, and an MSSP operates in a fast-paced, high-alert environment. A candidate who can quickly absorb new security concepts, tools, and best practices will thrive in this role.