Junior Cyber Security Analyst

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join our growing ICT Department as a junior member of the InfoSec team, working in a dynamic and fast-paced environment with new challenges every day, based in our Manchester Head Office. This is an entry-level role offering a structured route into a rewarding cyber security career. With a modern, cloud-first security stack already in place, it is an exciting time to join the business and learn your craft as we mature our detection, response, and automation capabilities across a global estate. You will work alongside the wider IT team - Infrastructure, Network, Development, DevOps, and Service Desk - gaining a rounded understanding of how security supports the business.

The purpose of this role is to build a working knowledge of security operations, protective monitoring, and incident handling by working closely with, and learning from, the wider InfoSec team. Reporting to the Associate Director - Cyber Security, with day-to-day guidance from our Cyber Security Analysts and Senior Cyber Security Analyst, you will develop the skills, knowledge, and confidence to grow into a Cyber Security Analyst over time.

You will learn to analyse security alerts and incidents, help identify issues, and support the team in recommending solutions, while building familiarity with the tools we use every day - Palo Alto Cortex XSIAM and XSOAR, Cortex XDR, Microsoft Purview, Mimecast, Abnormal, Nessus, and Microsoft 365. You will manage your assigned tickets and requests through Halo ITSM and, under guidance, support our day-to-day security operations to help ensure risks are identified and resolved in a timely manner.

You will support security investigations and incident response - learning how we respond to events involving malware, data loss, phishing, or network intrusion - and begin to apply the principles of layered security, risk, and information governance. You will work both independently and collaboratively, sharing what you learn and contributing openly to team projects and meetings across all regions.

We are looking for someone bright, enthusiastic, and quick to learn, with a genuine passion for data and cyber security and a real appetite for problem-solving. You will be a developing communicator, self-motivated, and reliable, and you will be actively encouraged and supported to study towards relevant certifications as part of a genuine commitment to continual learning and professional development.

Key Objectives and Responsibilities

• Daily Operations & Incident Handling
• Work alongside the team to actively support day-to-day security operations and monitoring.
• Learn to analyse security alerts and incidents within Cortex XSIAM and respond effectively under guidance.
• Build familiarity with the organisation’s SIEM, SOAR, DLP, email security, and endpoint tooling and processes.
• Use developing analytical skills to help evaluate risks posed by cyber threats and support reporting for decision-making.
• Manage assigned tickets and requests through Halo ITSM.

Strategic & Developmental Duties

• Learn how to develop effective controls to detect, prevent, and mitigate cyber-attacks.
• Provide regular status updates to the team and stakeholders.
• Support the team in preparing documentation, communications, and reports.
• Learn about risk and information governance within the context of cyber security.
• Participate in and contribute to relevant project and team meetings.
• Work towards becoming a recognised contact within the context of the role.

Knowledge & Technical Skills

• A working understanding of cyber-attack techniques, tools, and mitigation controls.
• Awareness of up-to-date security threats and common exploits.
• Understanding of threat vectors against Windows, macOS, and Linux platforms.
• Awareness of anti-virus, anti-malware, and endpoint protection concepts.
• Familiarity with SIEM concepts (Cortex XSIAM, Microsoft Sentinel, or equivalent).
• Familiarity with cloud services (Microsoft Azure, Microsoft 365, AWS).
• Awareness of incident management processes.
• Understanding of adversary motivations in cybercrime and phishing attacks.

Qualifications

• A degree in Information Security, Computer Science, Computer Forensics, or a similar subject; alternatively, equivalent prior experience or a demonstrable hands-on interest in cyber security.
• Holding, or actively working towards, an entry-level certification (e.g. ISC2 Certified in Cybersecurity, CompTIA Security+ or Blue Team Level 1) is desirable.

Benefits

• 25 Days Holiday + Bank Holidays
• Day off for your birthday
• Health Shield Cash Plan
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Train Season Ticket Scheme
• Profit Share Scheme
• Contributory company pension scheme
• Access to the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)

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The Portfolio Group are acting on behalf of our client in recruiting for this position.