Jr. Security Analyst
Job Title: Junior Security Analyst Location: Remote Department: Information Security Reports To: Security Operations / Information Security Manager Employment Type: Contract-to-hire Job Summary The Junior Security Analyst supports the organization’s security operations by monitoring security events, assisting with incident response, and helping maintain a strong security posture across endpoints, identities, and cloud services. This role is ideal for someone early in their security career who has hands-on experience with Microsoft Defender , communicates clearly with both technical and non-technical audiences, and is eager to grow in a collaborative, hybrid environment.
Key Responsibilities
Security Operations & Monitoring
- Monitor and triage security alerts from
Microsoft Defender and related security tooling.
- Assist with investigation of endpoint, identity, and cloud security events.
- Escalate potential security incidents to senior analysts following documented procedures.
- Help validate alerts and reduce false positives through analysis and documentation.
Incident Response Support
- Participate in incident response activities, including evidence collection, documentation, and follow-up tasks.
- Assist with containment and remediation efforts under the guidance of senior security staff.
- Support post-incident reviews and lessons learned documentation.
Communication & Collaboration
- Clearly document security findings, incidents, and remediation steps.
- Communicate security issues in a professional, easy-to-understand manner to IT teams and business stakeholders.
- Work closely with IT, Help Desk, and Infrastructure teams to resolve security-related issues.
- Provide timely updates on alert status and investigation progress.
Security Hygiene & Continuous Improvement
- Assist with maintaining endpoint security baselines and security best practices.
- Help review and improve security processes, runbooks, and documentation.
- Stay current on common security threats, attacker techniques, and Microsoft security platform updates.
Required Qualifications
- 1–2 years of experience in
IT, security operations, SOC, or a related role .
- Hands-on experience with Microsoft Defender
(endpoint, identity, or cloud).
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to document technical issues clearly and accurately.
- Basic understanding of cybersecurity concepts such as malware, phishing, endpoint security, and incident response.
- Ability to work in a
hybrid environment with on-site presence in Birmingham, Alabama.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience working with Microsoft security tools beyond Defender.
- Familiarity with basic security frameworks or concepts (e.g., NIST).
- Experience working with ticketing or incident tracking systems.
- Security-related certifications or coursework (e.g., Security+, Microsoft security fundamentals).
Key Skills & Competencies
- Microsoft Defender alert review and investigation
- Clear, professional communication
- Attention to detail and documentation
- Willingness to learn and take feedback
- Team-oriented mindset