Cyber Security Analyst

Cyber Security Analyst - £45k -Microsoft Security

Join a growing cyber security team focused on strengthening and securing modern Microsoft environments across a diverse client base. This is a hands-on role suited to a well-rounded Cyber Security Analyst who thrives across threat detection, identity security, and vulnerability management—rather than purely operating in a traditional SOC.

You’ll play a key role in designing, improving, and operating security capabilities across Microsoft Defender and Sentinel, working closely with engineering and infrastructure teams to proactively reduce risk and enhance security maturity.

This role would suit someone operating in a Cyber Security Analyst role or L2 in a SOC who wants to move away from monitoring. There is plenty of development opportunity in the position and an opportunity in the future to move towards security engineering.

The Role

This position goes beyond alert monitoring, focusing on security improvement, investigation, and engineering within Microsoft’s security stack. You’ll:

Lead investigations across Microsoft Defender XDR and Sentinel, owning incidents through to resolution

Develop and optimise detections, analytics rules, and automation within Sentinel

Proactively identify security gaps, misconfigurations, and emerging threats across Microsoft environments

Strengthen identity security (Azure AD / Entra ID, MFA, RBAC) and support secure access controls

Own and evolve vulnerability management processes, prioritising and driving remediation

Contribute to incident response, digital forensics, and root cause analysis

Work closely with engineering teams to improve security tooling, integrations, and overall posture

Support compliance initiatives (e.g. Cyber Essentials / Plus, internal security standards)

Mentor junior analysts and contribute to best practices and process improvementsWhat We’re Looking For

We’re looking for a well-rounded Cyber Security Analyst with strong Microsoft security experience and a proactive mindset.

3 years+ experience in a Cyber Security position

Proven experience in a Cyber Security Analyst / Security Engineering / Blue Team role

Strong hands-on expertise with Microsoft Defender (MDE / M365 Defender) and Microsoft Sentinel

Ability to build and tune detections using KQL

Experience across incident response, threat investigation, and security improvement initiatives

Solid understanding of identity & access management (Azure AD / Entra ID, MFA, RBAC)

Experience with vulnerability management tools and remediation processes

Ability to work across both operational security and longer-term improvements

Confident communicator who can engage with technical and non-technical stakeholders

Based within commuting distance of Manchester and eligible to work in the UKNice to Have

Microsoft certifications (SC-200, SC-300, SC-900 etc.)

Experience with Defender suite integrations (Endpoint, Identity, Cloud Apps, Office 365)

Exposure to automation or scripting (PowerShell, Python)

Background in digital forensics or incident response frameworks

Experience supporting compliance frameworks or auditsBenefits

£45,000 salary

Predominantly remote with monthly travel to Manchester

Flexible working hours

25 days holiday + bank holidays

Pension scheme

Fully funded Microsoft/security certifications

Clear progression into senior analyst or security engineering pathways

Collaborative, non-SOC culture with a focus on real security improvement