Target Network Analyst

Work Role ID: 132  |  Workforce Element: Cyberspace Effects

What does this role do? Conducts advanced analysis of collection and open-source data to ensure target continuity; to profile targets and their activities; and develop techniques to gain more target information. Determines how targets communicate, move, operate and live based on knowledge of target technologies, digital networks and the applications on them.

CORE KSATs
KSAT ID Description KSAT
22 * Knowledge of computer networking concepts and protocols, and network security methodologies. Knowledge
108 * Knowledge of risk management processes (e.g., methods for assessing and mitigating risk). Knowledge
264 Knowledge of basic physical computer components and architectures, including the functions of various components and peripherals (e.g., CPUs, Network Interface Cards, data storage). 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
2081 Classify documents in accordance with classification guidelines. Task
2089 Collaborate with other customer, Intelligence and targeting organizations involved in related cyber areas. Task
2099 Compile, integrate, and/or interpret all-source data for intelligence or vulnerability value with respect to specific targets. Task
2121 Conduct nodal analysis. Task
2127 Conduct quality control in order to determine validity and relevance of information gathered about networks. Task
2134 Conduct target research and analysis. Task
2243 Determine what technologies are used by a given target. Task
2251 Apply analytic techniques to gain more target information. Task
2427 Gather information about networks through traditional and alternative techniques, (e.g., social network analysis, call-chaining, traffic analysis.) Task
2441 Identify and evaluate threat critical capabilities, requirements, and vulnerabilities. Task
2469 Identify network components and their functionality to enable analysis and target development. Task
2639 Perform content and/or metadata analysis to meet organization objectives. Task
2719 Profile targets and their activities. Task
2779 Review appropriate information sources to determine validity and relevance of information gathered. Task
2781 Reconstruct networks in diagram or report format. Task
2798 Research communications trends in emerging technologies (in computer and telephony networks, satellite, cable, and wireless) in both open and classified sources. Task
3001 Ability to accurately and completely source all data used in intelligence, assessment and/or planning products. Ability
3002 Ability to focus research efforts to meet the customer’s decision-making needs. Ability
3020 Ability to clearly articulate intelligence requirements into well-formulated research questions and requests for information. Ability
3022 Ability to communicate complex information, concepts, or ideas in a confident and well-organized manner through verbal, written, and/or visual means. Ability
3039 Ability to develop or recommend analytic approaches or solutions to problems and situations for which information is incomplete or for which no precedent exists. Ability
3043 Ability to evaluate, analyze, and synthesize large quantities of data (which may be fragmented and contradictory) into high quality, fused targeting/intelligence products. Ability
3044 Ability to exercise judgment when policies are not well-defined. Ability
3047 Ability to function effectively in a dynamic, fast-paced environment. Ability
3048 Ability to function in a collaborative environment, seeking continuous consultation with other analysts and experts—both internal and external to the organization—in order to leverage analytical and technical expertise. Ability
3052 Ability to identify intelligence gaps. Ability
3077 Ability to think critically. Ability
3078 Knowledge of target methods and procedures. Knowledge
3081 Ability to utilize multiple intelligence sources across all intelligence disciplines. Ability
3095 Knowledge of internet network addressing (IP addresses, classless inter-domain routing, TCP/UDP port numbering). Knowledge
3106 Knowledge of a wide range of basic communications media concepts and terminology (e.g., computer and telephone networks, satellite, cable, wireless). Knowledge
3113 Knowledge of target intelligence gathering and operational preparation techniques and life cycles. Knowledge
3172 Knowledge of collection sources including conventional and non-conventional sources. Knowledge
3177 Knowledge of common computer/network infections (virus, Trojan, etc.) and methods of infection (ports, attachments, etc.). Knowledge
3188 Knowledge of computer networking fundamentals (i.e., basic computer components of a network, types of networks, etc.). Knowledge
3291 Knowledge of how internet applications work (SMTP email, web-based email, chat clients, VOIP). Knowledge
3298 Knowledge of how to extract, analyze, and use metadata. Knowledge
3382 Knowledge of methods to integrate and summarize information from any potential sources. Knowledge
3407 Knowledge of network security (e.g., encryption, firewalls, authentication, honey pots, perimeter protection). Knowledge
3418 Knowledge of organization and/or partner collection systems, capabilities, and processes (e.g., collection and protocol processors). Knowledge
3441 Knowledge of physical and logical network devices and infrastructure to include hubs, switches, routers, firewalls, etc. Knowledge
3450 Knowledge of principles and practices related to target development such as target knowledge, associations, communication systems, and infrastructure. Knowledge
3564 Knowledge of the data flow from collection origin to repositories and tools. Knowledge
3608 Knowledge of the purpose and contribution of target templates. Knowledge
3616 Knowledge of the structure, architecture, and design of modern digital and telephony networks. Knowledge
3617 Knowledge of the structure, architecture, and design of modern wireless communications systems. Knowledge
3664 Skill in identifying how a target communicates. Skill
3667 Skill in analyzing a target’s communication networks. Skill
3670 Skill in analyzing terminal or environment collection data. Skill
3671 Skill in analyzing essential network data (e.g., router configuration files, routing protocols). Skill
3674 Skill in analyzing midpoint collection data. Skill
3689 Skill in applying various analytical methods, tools, and techniques (e.g., competing hypotheses; chain of reasoning; scenario methods; denial and deception detection; high impact-low probability; network/association or link analysis; Bayesian, Delphi, and Pattern analyses). Skill
3692 Skill in assessing the applicability of available analytical tools to various situations. Skill
3704 Skill in conducting non-attributable research. Skill
3708 Skill in conducting social network analysis, buddy list analysis, and/or cookie analysis. Skill
3724 Skill in defining and characterizing all pertinent aspects of the operational environment. Skill
3742 Skill in determining the physical location of network devices. Skill
3771 Skill in evaluating data sources for relevance, reliability, and objectivity. Skill
3773 Skill in evaluating information to recognize relevance, priority, etc. Skill
3778 Skill in exploiting/querying organizational and/or partner collection databases. Skill
3787 Skill in identifying a target’s communications networks. Skill
3793 Skill in identifying critical target elements, to include critical target elements for the cyber domain. Skill
3797 Skill in identifying leads for target development. Skill
3831 Skill in number normalization. Skill
3842 Skill in performing target system analysis. Skill
3851 Skill in providing understanding of target or threat systems through the identification and link analysis of physical, functional, or behavioral relationships. Skill
3861 Skill in recognizing denial and deception techniques of the target. Skill
3864 Skill in recognizing relevance of information. Skill
3865 Skill in recognizing significant changes in a target’s communication patterns. Skill
3866 Skill in recognizing technical information that may be used for leads for metadata analysis. Skill
3873 Skill in researching essential information. Skill
3880 Skill in reviewing and editing target materials. Skill
3885 Skill in fusion analysis Skill
3895 Skill in target network anomaly identification (e.g., intrusions, dataflow or processing, target implementation of new technologies). Skill
3908 Skill in using research methods including multiple, different sources to reconstruct a target network. Skill
3915 Skill in using geospatial data and applying geospatial resources. Skill
3951 Skill in writing about facts and ideas in a clear, convincing, and organized manner. Skill
6900 * Knowledge of specific operational impacts of cybersecurity lapses. Knowledge
ADDITIONAL KSATs
KSAT ID Description KSAT
2059 Provide expertise to course of action development. Task
2101 Identify and conduct analysis of target communications to identify information essential to support operations. Task
2393 Generate and evaluate the effectiveness of network analysis strategies. Task
2429 Generate requests for information. Task
2453 Identify collection gaps and potential collection strategies against targets. Task
2568 Make recommendations to guide collection in support of customer requirements. Task
2628A Provide subject matter expertise to development of exercises. Task
2767 Provide target recommendations which meet leadership objectives. Task
3073 Ability to recognize and mitigate cognitive biases which may affect analysis. Ability
3074 Ability to recognize and mitigate deception in reporting and analysis. Ability
3107 Knowledge of a wide range of concepts associated with websites (e.g., website types, administration, functions, software systems, etc.). Knowledge
3129 Knowledge of attack methods and techniques (DDoS, brute force, spoofing, etc.). Knowledge
3137 Knowledge of basic malicious activity concepts (e.g., foot printing, scanning and enumeration). Knowledge
3155 Knowledge of client organizations, including information needs, objectives, structure, capabilities, etc. Knowledge
3158 Knowledge of cyber operation objectives, policies, and legalities. Knowledge
3237 Knowledge of denial and deception techniques. Knowledge
3262 Knowledge of evolving/emerging communications technologies. Knowledge
3274 Knowledge of fundamental cyber operations concepts, terminology/lexicon (i.e., environment preparation, cyber attack, cyber defense), principles, capabilities, limitations, and effects. Knowledge
3281 Knowledge of governing authorities for targeting. Knowledge
3286 Knowledge of host-based security products and how they affect exploitation and vulnerability. Knowledge
3288 Knowledge of how converged technologies impact cyber operations (e.g., digital, telephony, wireless). Knowledge
3292 Knowledge of how modern digital and telephony networks impact cyber operations. Knowledge
3338 Knowledge of intelligence reporting principles, policies, procedures, and vehicles, including report formats, reportability criteria (requirements and priorities), dissemination practices, and legal authorities and restrictions. Knowledge
3348 Knowledge of intrusion detection systems and signature development. Knowledge
3349 Knowledge of intrusion sets. Knowledge
3372 Knowledge of malware analysis and characteristics. Knowledge
3534 Knowledge of target, including related current events, communication profile, actors, and history (language, culture) and/or frame of reference. Knowledge
3542 Knowledge of the basic structure, architecture, and design of converged applications. Knowledge
3627 Knowledge of cryptologic capabilities, limitations, and contributions to cyber operations. Knowledge
3699 Skill in conducting research using deep web. Skill
3737 Skill in determining appropriate targeting options through the evaluation of available capabilities against desired effects. Skill
3794 Skill in identifying cyber threats which may jeopardize organization and/or partner interests. Skill
3822 Skill in managing client relationships, including determining client needs/requirements, managing client expectations, and demonstrating commitment to delivering quality results. Skill
3890 Skill in synthesizing, analyzing, and prioritizing meaning across data sets. Skill