SOC Analyst Roadmap

Foundations

  • Learn basic networking (TCP/IP, DNS, HTTP/HTTPS)
  • Understand operating systems (Windows & Linux basics)
  • Learn basic cybersecurity concepts and terminology
  • Familiarize with SIEM and log sources

Security Tools & Monitoring

  • Introduction to SIEM (Splunk, ELK, or QRadar)
  • Understand alert types and incident categorization
  • Learn endpoint detection & response (EDR) tools basics
  • Basic log analysis skills

Incident Response

  • Triage alerts and determine severity
  • Basic malware and phishing investigation
  • Document incidents and report findings
  • Learn escalation procedures

Continuous Learning

  • Stay updated with latest threats and vulnerabilities
  • Participate in security communities
  • Practice on labs (TryHackMe, CyberSecLabs)
  • Learn basic scripting for automation (Python, PowerShell)