Vulnerability Assessment Analyst

Work Role ID: 541 | Workforce Element: Cybersecurity

What does this work role do? Performs assessments of systems and networks within the NE or enclave and identifies where those systems/networks deviate from acceptable configurations, enclave policy, or local policy. Measures effectiveness of defense-in-depth architecture against known vulnerabilities.

CORE KSATs

KSAT ID	Description	KSAT
10	Knowledge of application vulnerabilities.	Knowledge
10A	Skill in conducting application vulnerability assessments.	Skill
22	* Knowledge of computer networking concepts and protocols, and network security methodologies.	Knowledge
92	Knowledge of how traffic flows across the network (e.g., Transmission Control Protocol [TCP] and Internet Protocol [IP], Open System Interconnection Model [OSI], Information Technology Infrastructure Library, current version [ITIL]).	Knowledge
105	Knowledge of system and application security threats and vulnerabilities (e.g., buffer overflow, mobile code, cross-site scripting, Procedural Language/Structured Query Language [PL/SQL] and injections, race conditions, covert channel, replay, return-oriented attacks, malicious code).	Knowledge
108	* Knowledge of risk management processes (e.g., methods for assessing and mitigating risk).	Knowledge
150	Knowledge of what constitutes a network attack and the relationship to both threats and vulnerabilities.	Knowledge
692	Maintain knowledge of applicable cyber defense policies, regulations, and compliance documents specifically related to cyber defense auditing.	Task
784	Prepare audit reports that identify technical and procedural findings, and provide recommended remediation strategies/solutions.	Task
1072	Knowledge of network security architecture concepts including topology, protocols, components, and principles (e.g., application of defense-in-depth).	Knowledge
1157	* Knowledge of national and international laws, regulations, policies, and ethics as they relate to cybersecurity.	Knowledge
1158	* Knowledge of cybersecurity principles.	Knowledge
1159	* Knowledge of cyber threats and vulnerabilities.	Knowledge
6900	* Knowledge of specific operational impacts of cybersecurity lapses.	Knowledge
6935	* Knowledge of cloud computing service models Software as a Service (SaaS), Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), and Platform as a Service (PaaS).	Knowledge
6938	* Knowledge of cloud computing deployment models in private, public, and hybrid environment and the difference between on-premises and off-premises environments.	Knowledge

ADDITIONAL KSATs

KSAT ID	Description	KSAT
3B	Skill in conducting vulnerability scans and recognizing vulnerabilities in information systems and networks.	Skill
4	Ability to identify systemic security issues based on the analysis of vulnerability and configuration data.	Ability
27	Knowledge of cryptography and cryptographic key management concepts.	Knowledge
27B	Skill in assessing the application of cryptographic standards.	Skill
29	Knowledge of data backup, types of backups (e.g., full, incremental), and recovery concepts and tools.	Knowledge
49	Knowledge of host/network access control mechanisms (e.g., access control list).	Knowledge
63	Knowledge of cybersecurity principles and organizational requirements (relevant to confidentiality, integrity, availability, authentication, non-repudiation).	Knowledge
79	Knowledge of network access, identity, and access management (e.g., public key infrastructure [PKI]).	Knowledge
81A	Knowledge of network protocols such as TCP/IP, Dynamic Host Configuration, Domain Name System (DNS), and directory services.	Knowledge
95B	Knowledge of penetration testing principles, tools, and techniques, including specialized tools for non-traditional systems and networks (e.g., control systems).	Knowledge
102A	Ability to apply programming language structures (e.g., source code review) and logic.	Ability
102	Knowledge of programming language structures and logic.	Knowledge
128	Knowledge of systems diagnostic tools and fault identification techniques.	Knowledge
160	Skill in assessing the robustness of security systems and designs.	Skill
181A	Skill in detecting host and network based intrusions via intrusion detection technologies.	Skill
210	Skill in mimicking threat behaviors.	Skill
214B	Knowledge of packet-level analysis using appropriate tools (e.g., Wireshark, tcpdump).	Knowledge
225A	Skill in the use of penetration testing tools and techniques, including specialized tools for non-traditional systems and networks (e.g., control systems).	Skill
226	Skill in the use of social engineering techniques.	Skill
411A	Analyze organization’s cybersecurity policies and configurations and evaluate compliance with regulations and organizational directives.	Task
448	Conduct and/or support authorized penetration testing on enterprise network assets.	Task
685A	Maintain deployable cybersecurity audit toolkit (e.g., specialized cyber defense software and hardware) to support cybersecurity audit missions.	Task
801B	Knowledge of threat and risk assessment.	Knowledge
897A	Skill in performing impact/risk assessments.	Skill
904	Knowledge of interpreted and compiled computer languages.	Knowledge
922B	Skill in using network analysis tools, including specialized tools for non-traditional systems and networks (e.g., control systems), to identify vulnerabilities.	Skill
939	Conduct required reviews as appropriate within environment (e.g., Technical Surveillance, Countermeasure Reviews [TSCM], TEMPEST countermeasure reviews).	Task
940B	Perform technical (evaluation of technology) and non-technical (evaluation of people and operations) risk and vulnerability assessments of relevant technology focus areas (e.g., local computing environment, network and infrastructure, control system and operational environments, enclave boundary, supporting infrastructure, and applications).	Task
941A	Make recommendations regarding the selection of cost-effective security controls to mitigate risk (e.g., protection of information, systems and processes).	Task
991	Knowledge of different classes of attacks (e.g., passive, active, insider, close-in, distribution).	Knowledge
992C	Knowledge of threat environments (e.g., first generation threat actors, threat activities).	Knowledge
992B	Knowledge of cyber attackers (e.g., script kiddies, insider threat, non-nation state sponsored, and nation sponsored).	Knowledge
1033	Knowledge of basic system administration, network, and operating system hardening techniques.	Knowledge
1038A	Knowledge of infrastructure supporting information technology (IT) for safety, performance, and reliability.	Knowledge
1069	Knowledge of general attack stages (e.g., foot printing and scanning, enumeration, gaining access, escalation or privileges, maintaining access, network exploitation, covering tracks).	Knowledge
1141A	Knowledge of an organization’s information classification program and procedures for information compromise.	Knowledge
1142	Knowledge of security models (e.g., Bell-LaPadula model, Biba integrity model, Clark-Wilson integrity model).	Knowledge
3150	Knowledge of ethical hacking principles and techniques.	Knowledge
3222	Knowledge of data backup and restoration concepts.	Knowledge
3513	Knowledge of system administration concepts for Unix/Linux and/or Windows operating systems.	Knowledge
6210	Knowledge of cloud service models and possible limitations for an incident response.	Knowledge
6660	Skill in reviewing logs to identify evidence of past intrusions.	Skill
6918	Ability to apply cybersecurity strategy to cloud computing service and deployment models, identifying proper architecture for different operating environments.	Ability