Network Security Analyst

Network Security Analyst

Location: Columbia, SC 29201

Worksite: 1801 Main Street, Columbia, SC 29201

Employment Type: Long-Term Contract (12 Months, Potential Extension)

Work Arrangement: 100% Onsite – Monday through Friday

Candidate Requirement: Must currently reside in South Carolina. Relocation candidates will not be considered.

Position Overview

CornerStone Technology Talent Services (TTS) is seeking an experienced Network Security Analyst to support enterprise cybersecurity operations, network security monitoring, and infrastructure protection in Columbia, South Carolina.

This is a hands-on technical opportunity for someone with a strong networking foundation and practical experience in cybersecurity, firewall administration, routing and switching, and security monitoring.

The ideal candidate has approximately 3–5 years of networking experience, along with hands-on experience in IT security or systems administration. We're looking for someone who enjoys investigating security alerts, analyzing network traffic, identifying vulnerabilities, and helping strengthen security across enterprise infrastructure.

Candidates with a background in network engineering or administration who have transitioned into cybersecurity are especially encouraged to apply.

Key Responsibilities

• Monitor, investigate, and respond to network security alerts, suspicious activity, and potential cybersecurity threats.
• Analyze network traffic, firewall logs, and security telemetry to identify vulnerabilities, policy violations, and unusual activity.
• Conduct security assessments for proposed firewall changes, network connectivity requests, and infrastructure modifications.
• Review firewall rules, website blocking requests, and network access changes to evaluate potential security risks.
• Support enterprise firewall management, ruleset reviews, recertification, and security auditing.
• Assist with the implementation, maintenance, and improvement of network security controls.
• Monitor on-premises and cloud environments for emerging threats, vulnerabilities, and configuration issues.
• Work with intrusion detection and prevention systems (IDS/IPS) and other network security monitoring technologies.
• Support vulnerability scanning, risk assessments, and remediation activities.
• Collaborate with infrastructure, security, and business teams to troubleshoot network security issues and implement improvements.
• Assist with network security planning, architecture reviews, and infrastructure enhancement initiatives.
• Support cybersecurity compliance requirements involving NIST, HIPAA, and other applicable security frameworks.
• Develop and review security reports, operational metrics, and key performance indicators (KPIs).
• Provide technical recommendations and contribute to ongoing Security Operations Center (SOC) activities.
• Maintain accurate technical documentation and security assessment records.

Required Qualifications

• Approximately 3–5 years of hands-on experience in network design, implementation, administration, or technical support.
• Practical experience in network security, IT security, or systems administration.
• Strong understanding of enterprise networking concepts, including routing, switching, TCP/IP, and secure network design.
• Hands-on experience working with enterprise firewalls and network security controls.
• Ability to investigate security alerts, analyze logs, and troubleshoot network traffic issues.
• Familiarity with intrusion detection and prevention systems (IDS/IPS), network monitoring, and security auditing.
• Understanding of network security architecture, access controls, data protection, and cybersecurity best practices.
• Working knowledge of Windows, macOS, and Linux environments.
• Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating with senior cybersecurity and infrastructure professionals.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications.
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Cybersecurity, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• Network or network security certification, such as CCNA or PCNSE.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) platforms such as Splunk or IBM QRadar.
• Familiarity with vulnerability scanning tools, including Nessus or Qualys.
• Experience supporting cloud network security environments, particularly Microsoft Azure or AWS.
• Knowledge of security compliance frameworks such as NIST, FISMA, HIPAA, or CMS ARC-AMPE.
• Experience working in regulated industries, healthcare IT, or public-sector environments.
• Previous involvement in Security Operations Center (SOC) activities.
• Additional cybersecurity certifications, such as CompTIA Security+ or CISSP.

What We're Looking For

We're looking for a technically strong, hands-on professional who understands how enterprise networks operate and how to protect them.

This is an excellent opportunity to work in a large enterprise environment, gain exposure to complex network security infrastructure, and contribute to cybersecurity initiatives that protect critical systems and information.

You'll collaborate with experienced security and infrastructure professionals while expanding your expertise in firewall security, threat monitoring, vulnerability management, and enterprise network protection.