Entry-level

How to become a GRC Analyst

Governance, risk and compliance (GRC) analysts help an organization decide which risks matter, write the policies everyone follows, and show regulators and customers that security is under control. It suits people who like structure, writing and working with business teams.

First job?: Entry-levelOften hired straight from business, IS or accounting programs.
Coding: Little or none
Start with: ISC2 Certified in Cybersecurity (CC)
Median US pay: $129,180BLS May 2025, Information Security Analysts

What the job is like

The planner: you set the rules and priorities that keep a business safe. A typical week might include:

Update a security policy after a new law or contract requirement
Run a risk assessment with a business team
Gather evidence for an upcoming audit

How to get in

Often hired straight from business, IS or accounting programs.

Learn one framework well, such as the NIST Cybersecurity Framework.
Practise writing a short policy or risk register for a made-up company.
Apply to GRC, risk, compliance and security analyst roles.

Close cousin: GRC and IT audit are close cousins. GRC builds and runs the security program from the inside; IT audit checks it, often from outside, and grades it. Compare with IT Auditor →

Certifications

Start with

ISC2 Certified in Cybersecurity (CC)
CompTIA Security+

Later, with experience

ISACA CRISC
ISC2 CISSP

Free places to practise and learn

NIST Cybersecurity Framework 2.0The most widely used security framework CIS ControlsA prioritized list of protections NIST SP 800-53The detailed catalogue of security controls

Habits that help in every cyber role

Build a small home lab (an old laptop or free virtual machines is enough) and write up what you try.
Do beginner capture-the-flag challenges and keep a simple public portfolio of what you learned.
Go to a local ISSA, ISACA, OWASP or BSides meeting. Most are free for students, and many jobs come from people you meet there.

Questions about this role

Can I get a GRC Analyst job straight out of school?

Often, yes. Often hired straight from business, IS or accounting programs.

Do I need to know how to code to become a GRC Analyst?

Very little. Comfort with computers matters more than programming; basic scripting can help later.

What certification should I get first to become a GRC Analyst?

Good starting points: ISC2 Certified in Cybersecurity (CC); CompTIA Security+. Later, with experience: ISACA CRISC; ISC2 CISSP.

How much does a GRC Analyst make?

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median of $129,180 a year (May 2025) for Information Security Analysts, the closest official category. Starting pay is usually lower and varies by city and employer.

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NICE work roles: Security Control Assessment; Systems Authorization; Cybersecurity Policy and Planning. Pay: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, May 2025. Reviewed 2026-10-17 by Dr. Benjamin M. Ampel, Director of CCAIR.