Cybersecurity Professional Career Paper: Cyber Security Analyst
Student Name: Donovan Jimenez
School of Cybersecurity, Old Dominion University
CYSE 201S: Cybersecurity and the Social Sciences
Instructor Name: Dr. Jordan Quinn
Date: 4/14/26

Introduction
A Cybersecurity Analyst is in charge of protecting an organization’s computer systems from unauthorized attacks. This includes computer networks, sensitive information and data, as well as other programs. An analyst will often monitor networks for security breaches, install protective software systems like firewalls and/or encryption, and perform vulnerability testing to prevent threats. This is a key aspect of cybersecurity that has a huge impact on this world. This is because cybersecurity helps protect the online world, and that is used for every single person in their day-to-day lives. So, this paper will cover all the different aspects of the profession of a Cybersecurity Analyst and how essential they are to cybersecurity, and therefore, the world.

Social Science Principles
When it comes to being a Cybersecurity Analyst, there are multiple different angles they use to analyze hackers. It is very often not just technical; there are plenty of different social sciences that go into it. This means not just knowing how a hacker might hack, but why they might hack. There are various factors that go into explaining motivations, this includes cognitive biases, social engineering tactics, and ethical decision-making; they all strongly influence different outcomes. For example, an analyst might understand hacking motivations that range from financial gain and political activism to curiosity or revenge. This will then help them understand how to counter hackers, or better, prevent them from hacking before it happens. Social science principles are also integrated into cybersecurity practices through human-computer interaction (HCI) and user behavior analysis. This means they examine how people interact with computer systems and why they may interact with unsafe systems that put them at
risk, for example, phishing links or weak passwords. Professionals will keep these insights in mind when making a system and then incorporate them into the system. This prevents human error and gives the person less responsibility, for example, password requirements to prevent weak passwords. Lastly, they use social science research to help develop educational awareness programs. This includes phishing simulation exercises and targeted training campaigns that address different common vulnerabilities in a system. Overall, Cybersecurity Analysts use lots of social science research to help them be more efficient in doing their job.

Application of Key Concepts
A major concept covered is that cybersecurity is more than just a technical job, but instead involves key aspects of the social sciences. It is no different with a Cybersecurity Analyst, specifically, they use concepts like routine activity theory, deterrence theory, and organizational security culture to help them make different tools and assess risks. One way they do this is by continuously evaluating organizational systems to see which assets are at the most risks at any moment in time. While doing this, they also make sure to implement knowledge on legal standards and protocols to reduce liability and maintain trust. They do this by ensuring that monitoring practices, data handling, and incident reporting follow all the regulations and policies they have. They use different tools and techniques to implement all of this when making systems and analyzing data; some of the main ones are the NIST Cybersecurity Framework and Security
Information and Event Management (SIEM). The NIST framework helps them to categorize and manage cybersecurity risks by providing a flexible and more structured approach. This acts as a good middle ground for technical teams and business leaders, so that analysts can communicate and be more efficient. SIEM helps organizations detect, analyze, and respond to security threats in real-time by aggregating and correlating log data. So, these professional analyst make sure to incorporate key social science concepts into different tools and techniques to be efficient in their analysis.

Marginalization
Issues of marginalization is a topic that is examined by Cybersecurity Analysts, it is covered because it influences both exposure to cyber threats and access to digital protection. Some of the earlier concepts mentioned help them realize that not all users or groups experience cybersecurity risks equally. For example, people who come from lower-income communities may rely on older devices or unsecured networks, which then puts them at an increased risk of cyberattacks. Marginalized groups also face increased risks of targeted harassment and discrimination in online communities. This just goes to show how cybersecurity is not just a technical issue but also a social inequity concern. Cyber analysts keep this in mind when they assess different organizational risks. This will then influence their decisions about access controls, privacy protections, and user education strategies to make sure that security measures
aren’t unfair for specific groups. Another way they address these challenges is by diversifying the workforce. This means different people with different backgrounds can help contribute with more various considerations. Lastly, analysts support policies and frameworks that emphasize equal digital protection; this includes stronger privacy standards and inclusive security awareness training. In summary, analysts use different social concepts to recognize and counter the unfair marginalization of different groups.

Career Connection to Society
There are plenty of connections between society and a Cyber Security Analyst. This is because a Cyber Security Analyst is crucial for the protection of different systems. All digital infrastructure relies on good cybersecurity to keep it safe. Specifically, cybersecurity connects to different societal systems like financial networks, healthcare systems, government services, and critical infrastructure such as energy and transportation. Cyber Analysts protect all these systems by monitoring systems for threats, responding to incidents, and preventing future incidents using previous research. There are also public policies that are upheld by these analysts that are used to shape how organizations collect, store, and protect data, such as data privacy laws and breach notification requirements. These policies have some positive implications; they balance privacy rights with organizational stability and accountability. They often implement these different policies by documenting incidents and supporting audits that make sure legal and ethical
standards are met. Overall, Cyber Analysts have a vital connection with society, helping to keep everything safe, while also upholding ethical and legal standards.

Conclusion
In conclusion, the role of a Cybersecurity Analyst combines technical skills with a strong understanding of social science principles, allowing professionals to address both system vulnerabilities and human factors that contribute to cyber risk. Across areas such as threat analysis, organizational behavior, and risk management, analysts apply various social science concepts to better understand how and why security incidents happen, not just how to respond to them. This also helps them consider broader issues like inequality, policy, and societal impact, ensuring that cybersecurity practices are both effective and responsible. As digital systems continue to expand into every part of daily life, the need for cybersecurity analysts who can connect technical defense with human behavior and societal awareness becomes even more important. Ultimately, cybersecurity analysts play a key role in protecting organizations and individuals while also supporting a safer and more stable digital society.

Scholarly Journal Articles

• Ramezan, C. A., Ahmad, M. J., Schaupp, L. C., Hatten, F. W., & Starling, M. A. (2026,
  April).
  Https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1047847720300046?via=ihub.
  The modern cybersecurity analyst: An international position analysis.
  https://www.med.upenn.edu/pmi/events/https-www-sciencedirect-com-science-article-
  abs-pii-s1047847720300046-via-3dihub
• Loiseau, H., Ventre, D., & Aden, H. (2020, October 16). Cybersecurity in humanities and
  Social Sciences | Wiley online books. Cybersecurity in Humanities and Social Sciences:
  A Research Methods Approach.
  https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/book/10.1002/9781119777588
• Zhong, C. (2023, November 6). Enhancing Communication Among Remote
  Cybersecurity Analysts With Visual Traces.
  https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10309291