Malware & Digital Forensics Analyst

Spektrum supports apex purchasers (NATO UN EU and National Government and Defence) and their Tier 1 supplier ecosystem with a wide range of specialist services. We provide our clients with professional services specialised aerospace and defence sales delivery and operational subject matter expertise. We are looking for personnel to join our team and support key client projects.

Who we are supporting

The NATO Communication and Information Agency (NCIA) is responsible for providing secure and effective communications and information technology (IT) services to NATOs member countries and its partners. The agency was established in 2012 and is headquartered in Brussels Belgium.

The NCIA provides a wide range of services including:

• Cyber Security: The NCIA provides advanced cybersecurity solutions to protect NATOs communication networks and information systems against cyber threats.
• Command and Control Systems: The NCIA develops and maintains the systems used by NATOs military commanders to plan and execute operations.
• Satellite Communications: The NCIA provides satellite communications services to enable secure and reliable communications between NATO forces.
• Electronic Warfare: The NCIA provides electronic warfare services to support NATOs mission to detect deny and defeat threats to its communication networks.
• Information Management: The NCIA manages NATOs information technology infrastructure including its databases applications and servers.

Overall the NCIA plays a critical role in ensuring the security and effectiveness of NATOs communication and information technology capabilities.

The program

Assistance and Advisory Service (AAS)

The NATO Communications and Information Agency (NCI Agency) is NATOs principal C3 capability deliverer and CIS service provider. It provides maintains and defends the NATO enterprise-wide information technology infrastructure to enable Allies to consult together under Article IV and when required stand together in the face of attack under Article V.

To provide these critical services in the modern evolving dynamic environment the NCI Agency needs to build and maintain high performance-engaged workforce. The NCI Agency workforce strategically consists of three major categorises: NATO International Civilians (NIC)s Military (Mil) and Interim Workforce Consultants (IWC)s. The IWCs are a critical part of the overall NCI Agency workforce and make up approximately 15 percent of the total workforce.

Role ID 2025-0210

Role Background

he NCI Agency has been established with a view to meeting the collective requirements of some or all NATO nations in the fields of capability delivery and service provision related to Consultation Command & Control as well as Communications Information and Cyber Defence functions thereby also facilitating the integration of Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance Target Acquisition functions and their associated information exchange

The NATO Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) is a team of over 200 members working to monitor and protect NATO networks. In the NCSCs role to deliver robust security services to the NATO Enterprise and NATO Allied Operations and Missions (AOM) the centre executes a portfolio of programmes and projects around 219 MEUR euros per year in order to uplift and enhance critical cyber security services.

The Portfolio ranges from Programme of Work (POW) activities funded via the NATO Military Budget (MB) to Critical / Urgent Requirements (CURs/URs) and NATO Security Investment Programme (NSIP) projects funded via the Investment Budget (IB). In some edge cases projects are also funded via the Civilian Budget (CB). Projects can span multiple years and are governed by various frameworks including the Common Funded Capability Development Governance Framework (CFCDGM).

In order to execute this work the NCI Agency requires support with the workundertaken by the NATO Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) in the area of Communications and Information System (CIS) security cyber defence and cyberspace operations. This Statement of Work (SoW) specifies the required skillset and experience.

Role Duties and Responsibilities

• Deliverable: Based on a specific malware analysis task (TASK) received via the NCSC COMS system. Analyse what is required (malicious email URL binary) and perform a comprehensive analysis using automated and manual approaches
• Outcome: The analysis is presented in the updated TASK following the template.
• Deliverable: Malware analysis research on samples of particular interest. When such a research is required the provider will perform additional tasks to analyse in depth the sample and produce rules to better detect it.
• Outcome: A page in the NCSC wiki containing a detailed research about the samples including links to Yara rules and IOCs created
• Deliverable: Create update and modify existing SOI/SOPs to reflect the current best practices.
• Outcome: The SOI/SOP has been updated created or modified to reflect the current practices.
• Deliverable: Acquire and analyse digital forensics evidence following the forensics task (TASK) raised in NCSC COMS
• Outcome: The evidence has been acquired analysed and the analysis outcome has been documented in COMS
• Deliverable: Use and configure security tools such as Microsoft Defender for Endpoint Fidelis Endpoint Security F-Response as well as supporting scripting and tools
• Outcome: Documentation about the configuration change.
• Deliverable: Brainstorm during weekly meetings with the rest of the Cyber Threat Investigation Team how to improve the services delivered by the team.
• Outcome: Participation in the meetings
• Deliverable: Perform supporting activities around malware and digital forensics such as informing relevant stakeholders liaising with other teams in the NATO
• enterprise preparing administrative documents and technical implementation to assist with continuous service improvements.
• Outcome: Updated Routine Task (ORT) containing regular updates and the final outcome of the task given.

Essential Skills and Experience

• Experience of at least 2 years in:
  • Malware analysis techniques and technologies;
  • Analysis of digital forensic artefacts in the context of cyber security o Cyber security in cloud-based environments
  • Analysing Windows forensics artefacts such as Windows Event logs UAL MFT
  • Writing scripts (Python Powershell) and building automation workflows
  • Report writing about a technical task and communication with stakeholders
• Excellent ability to recognise when an IT network/system has been attacked be able to take immediate action to limit damage and to escalate the event to higher authority;
• Good knowledge of the principles of computer and communications security networking and vulnerabilities of modern operating systems and applications;
• Good understanding of the MITRE ATT&CK framework and its applicability in Cyber;
• Good knowledge of cyber security incident handling;
• Knowledge of Azure Sentinel Microsoft Defender for endpoint
• Good knowledge of networking protocols
• Knowledge of Fidelis EDR is an asset
• They shall be dressed suitably for meetings with high ranked officials.
• No religious sign shall be worn during such meeting.
• They shall actively collaborate during internal meeting and touchpoints discussions to improve the quality of services.
• Strong reporting skills to various levels of seniority
• Accuracy and attention to detail.

Desirable Skills and Experience

• Previous experience in working for or supporting a military or governmental organization is an asset.

Working Location

• Mons Belgium

Working Policy

• On-Site

Travel

• Some travel may be required to other NATO sites

Security Clearance

• Valid National or NATO Top Secret personal security clearance