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CybersecurityTop JobColorado Talent Pipeline Report-aligned occupation with strong annual openings, growth, and wage signals.

Cyber Defense Analyst

Uses data collected from a variety of cyber defense tools (e.g., IDS alerts, firewalls, network traffic logs) to analyze events that occur within their environments for the purposes of mitigating threats.

Annual openings

553

Median wage

$135,220

Typical education

Education not reported

Growth 2026–2032

+19%

Median wage source: Colorado BLS OEWS (2025).

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Career requirements

What does this career require?

Explore education, required qualifications, voluntary credentials and employer preferences for this role. Check the details to see which apply.

Typical education

Education not reported

Credential requirement

A credential is recommended.

Credential detail

Certifications addressing new attack vectors (emphasis on cloud computing technology, mobile platforms and tablet computers), new vulnerabilities, existing threats to operating environments.

Experience detail

Previous experience in information assurance, networks, sensor operations, network/data analysis, packet capture analysis, hunts methodologies, or intelligence analysis.

Remote work

More companies employing "blue team" or cyber defense capabilities are open to remote work, including from rural locations. To see if a job offers this opportunity, please review job postings from job banks such as ZipRecruiter, Indeed or ConnectingColorado, and look for key words such as "location independent", "remote", "virtual", "telecommute", "flex" or for companies posting the same job in many locations.

Is this work a fit?

What the work actually feels like

How people in this career tend to spend their time, the interests it draws on, and a look at a typical day.

Work style

The type of work can vary by job and employer.

  • With childrenNo
  • On a computerYes
  • OutdoorsNo
  • With your handsNo

Interests it draws on

  • Technology
  • Cybersecurity

Automation exposure

Low exposure

Tasks here lean on judgement and people skills that are hard to automate.

A typical day

  1. Develop plans to safeguard computer files against accidental or unauthorized modification, destruction, or disclosure and to meet emergency data processing needs.
  2. Monitor current reports of computer viruses to determine when to update virus protection systems.
  3. Encrypt data transmissions and erect firewalls to conceal confidential information as it is being transmitted and to keep out tainted digital transfers.
  4. Perform risk assessments and execute tests of data processing system to ensure functioning of data processing activities and security measures.
  5. Modify computer security files to incorporate new software, correct errors, or change individual access status.
  6. Review violations of computer security procedures and discuss procedures with violators to ensure violations are not repeated.
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