SOC Analyst → Incident Response Analyst

A realistic transition from SOC Analyst to Incident Response Analyst: transferable skills, the gaps to close, a step-by-step learning plan and alternative routes. Estimated skill overlap 63%. Difficulty: Medium.

Difficulty: Medium7 stepsDuration: 9 to 13 monthsOverlap: 63%

Transition from SOC Analyst to Incident Response Analyst.

Transferable skills

  • Malware analysis basics
  • SIEM & EDR

Skills to learn

  • Containment & recovery
  • Crisis communication

Step-by-step learning plan

  1. 1. Build on your SOC Analyst experience

    2–4 weeks

    Leverage

    • Malware analysis basics
    • SIEM & EDR

    Map transferable skills — Malware analysis basics, SIEM & EDR — against what an Incident Response Analyst needs.

  2. 2. Close the partial gaps toward Incident Response Analyst

    3–6 weeks

    Improve

    • Incident response
    • Digital forensics
    • MITRE ATT&CK
    • Scripting (Python)

    Raise Incident response, Digital forensics, MITRE ATT&CK to the level an Incident Response Analyst relies on.

  3. 3. Learn the core of the Incident Response Analyst role

    6–10 weeks

    Learn

    • Containment & recovery

    Technologies

    CrowdStrikeVelociraptorAutopsy

    Cover the biggest gaps first: Containment & recovery.

  4. 4. Master advanced Incident Response Analyst skills

    6–10 weeks

    Learn

    • Crisis communication

    Technologies

    KapeVolatilityServiceNow

    Handle the advanced topics: Crisis communication.

  5. 5. Get productive with the Incident Response Analyst toolchain

    4–8 weeks

    Technologies

    CrowdStrikeVelociraptorAutopsyKapeVolatilityServiceNowZeekGit

    Be hands-on with CrowdStrike, Velociraptor, Autopsy and the rest of the target stack.

  6. 6. Practise Incident Response Analyst work in real conditions

    4–8 weeks

    Ship a portfolio project or take on Incident Response Analyst tasks at work.

  7. 7. Get certified and position yourself as a Incident Response Analyst

    4–8 weeks

    Technologies

    GIAC GCIHGIAC GCFACompTIA CySA+ECIH

    Update your CV and LinkedIn around Incident Response Analyst, then apply to target roles.

Alternative routes