Language Analysis
Applies language, cultural, and technical expertise to support information collection, analysis, and other cybersecurity activities.
Applies language and culture expertise with target/threat and technical knowledge to process, analyze, and/or disseminate intelligence information derived from language, voice and/or graphic material. Creates, and maintains language specific databases and working aids to support cyber action execution and ensure critical knowledge sharing. Provides subject matter expertise in foreign language-intensive or interdisciplinary projects.
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 |
1056 | Knowledge of operations security. |
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 |
2099 | Compile, integrate, and/or interpret all-source data for intelligence or vulnerability value with respect to specific targets. |
Task |
2890 | Advise managers and operators on language and cultural issues that impact organization objectives. |
Task |
2891 | Analyze and process information using language and/or cultural expertise. |
Task |
2897 | Conduct analysis of target communications to identify essential information in support of organization objectives. |
Task |
2902 | Evaluate and interpret metadata to look for patterns, anomalies, or events, thereby optimizing targeting, analysis and processing. |
Task |
2905 | Identify target communications within the global network. |
Task |
2906 | Maintain awareness of target communication tools, techniques, and the characteristics of target communication networks (e.g., capacity, functionality, paths, critical nodes) and their potential implications for targeting, collection, and analysis. |
Task |
2910 | Perform foreign language and dialect identification in initial source data. |
Task |
2912 | Perform or support technical network analysis and mapping. |
Task |
2921 | Scan, identify and prioritize target graphic (including machine-to-machine communications) and/or voice language material. |
Task |
2922 | Tip critical or time-sensitive information to appropriate customers. |
Task |
2923 | Transcribe target voice materials in the target language. |
Task |
2924 | Translate (e.g., verbatim, gists, and/or summaries) target graphic material. |
Task |
2925 | Translate (e.g., verbatim, gists, and/or summaries) target voice material. |
Task |
2927 | Identify foreign language terminology within computer programs (e.g., comments, variable names). |
Task |
2930 | Provide near-real time language analysis support (e.g., live operations). |
Task |
2931 | Identify cyber/technology-related terminology in the target language. |
Task |
3022 | Ability to communicate complex information, concepts, or ideas in a confident and well-organized manner through verbal, written, and/or visual means. |
Ability |
3106 | Knowledge of a wide range of basic communications media concepts and terminology (e.g., computer and telephone networks, satellite, cable, wireless). |
Knowledge |
3154 | Knowledge of classification and control markings standards, policies and procedures. |
Knowledge |
3158 | Knowledge of cyber operation objectives, policies, and legalities. |
Knowledge |
3219 | Knowledge of cyber operations. |
Knowledge |
3225 | Knowledge of data communications terminology (e.g., networking protocols, Ethernet, IP, encryption, optical devices, removable media). |
Knowledge |
3298 | Knowledge of how to extract, analyze, and use metadata. |
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 |
3407 | Knowledge of network security (e.g., encryption, firewalls, authentication, honey pots, perimeter protection). |
Knowledge |
3450 | Knowledge of principles and practices related to target development such as target knowledge, associations, communication systems, and infrastructure. |
Knowledge |
3534 | Knowledge of target, including related current events, communication profile, actors, and history (language, culture) and/or frame of reference. |
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 |
3678 | Skill in analyzing traffic to identify network devices. |
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 |
3708A | Skill in conducting social network analysis. |
Skill |
3765 | Skill in disseminating items of highest intelligence value in a timely manner. |
Skill |
3867A | Skill in recognizing technical information that may be used for target development including intelligence development. |
Skill |
4086 | Knowledge of relevant laws, regulations, and policies. |
Knowledge |
4087 | Knowledge of target cultural references, dialects, expressions, idioms, and abbreviations. |
Knowledge |
4094 | Knowledge of networking and internet communications fundamentals (i.e. devices, device configuration, hardware, software, applications, ports/protocols, addressing, network architecture and infrastructure, routing, operating systems, etc.). |
Knowledge |
4105 | Knowledge of language processing tools and techniques. |
Knowledge |
4106 | Knowledge of analytic tools and techniques. |
Knowledge |
4116 | Knowledge of transcript development processes and techniques (e.g., verbatim, gists, summaries). |
Knowledge |
4117 | Knowledge of translation processes and techniques. |
Knowledge |
4123 | Skill in conducting research using all available sources. |
Skill |
4124 | Skill in translating target graphic and/or voice language materials. |
Skill |
4125 | Skill in complying with the legal restrictions for targeted information. |
Skill |
4128 | Skill in developing intelligence reports. |
Skill |
4129 | Skill in evaluating and interpreting metadata. |
Skill |
4133 | Skill in gisting target communications. |
Skill |
4135 | Skill in identifying non-target regional languages and dialects |
Skill |
4140 | Skill in prioritizing target language material. |
Skill |
4141 | Skill in providing analysis on target-related matters (e.g., language, cultural, communications). |
Skill |
4148 | Ability to review processed target language materials for accuracy and completeness. |
Ability |
4149 | Skill in transcribing target language communications. |
Skill |
4152 | Knowledge of specialized target language (e.g., acronyms, jargon, technical terminology, codewords). |
Knowledge |
4165 | Knowledge of obfuscation techniques (e.g., TOR/Onion/anonymizers, VPN/VPS, encryption). |
Knowledge |
4167 | Knowledge of target language(s). |
Knowledge |
4169 | Ability to apply language and cultural expertise to analysis. |
Ability |
6900 | * Knowledge of specific operational impacts of cybersecurity lapses. |
Knowledge |
Additional KSATs
KSAT ID | Description | KSAT |
---|---|---|
915 | Knowledge of front-end collection systems, including traffic collection, filtering, and selection. |
Knowledge |
2243 | Determine what technologies are used by a given target. |
Task |
2434 | Identify threat tactics, and methodologies. |
Task |
2453 | Identify collection gaps and potential collection strategies against targets. |
Task |
2568 | Make recommendations to guide collection in support of customer requirements. |
Task |
2621 | Provide SME and support to planning/developmental forums and working groups as appropriate. |
Task |
2893 | Assess, document, and apply a target’s motivation and/or frame of reference to facilitate analysis, targeting and collection opportunities. |
Task |
2894 | Collaborate across internal and/or external organizational lines to enhance collection, analysis and dissemination. |
Task |
2896 | Conduct all-source target research to include the use of open source materials in the target language. |
Task |
2901 | Perform quality review and provide feedback on transcribed or translated materials. |
Task |
2909 | Provide feedback to collection managers to enhance future collection and analysis. |
Task |
2916 | Provide requirements and feedback to optimize the development of language processing tools. |
Task |
2919 | Perform social network analysis and document as appropriate. |
Task |
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 |
3262 | Knowledge of evolving/emerging communications technologies. |
Knowledge |
3564 | Knowledge of the data flow from collection origin to repositories and tools. |
Knowledge |
3595 | Knowledge of the organization, roles and responsibilities of higher, lower and adjacent sub-elements. |
Knowledge |
3771 | Skill in evaluating data sources for relevance, reliability, and objectivity. |
Skill |
3772 | Skill in evaluating information for reliability, validity, and relevance. |
Skill |
3822 | Skill in managing client relationships, including determining client needs/requirements, managing client expectations, and demonstrating commitment to delivering quality results. |
Skill |
3861 | Skill in recognizing denial and deception techniques of the target. |
Skill |
3865 | Skill in recognizing significant changes in a target’s communication patterns. |
Skill |
3890 | Skill in synthesizing, analyzing, and prioritizing meaning across data sets. |
Skill |
3923 | Skill in using non-attributable networks. |
Skill |
4072 | Knowledge of collection systems, capabilities, and processes. |
Knowledge |
4073 | Knowledge of the feedback cycle in collection processes. |
Knowledge |
4078 | Knowledge of target or threat cyber actors and procedures. |
Knowledge |
4079 | Knowledge of basic cyber operations activity concepts (e.g., foot printing, scanning and enumeration, penetration testing, white/black listing). |
Knowledge |
4085 | Knowledge of approved intelligence dissemination processes. |
Knowledge |
4088 | Knowledge of target communication profiles and their key elements (e.g., target associations, activities, communication infrastructure). |
Knowledge |
4089 | Knowledge of target communication tools and techniques. |
Knowledge |
4090 | Knowledge of the characteristics of targeted communication networks (e.g., capacity, functionality, paths, critical nodes). |
Knowledge |
4095 | Knowledge of concepts related to websites (e.g., web servers/pages, hosting, DNS, registration, web languages such as HTML). |
Knowledge |
4097 | Knowledge of network security implementations (e.g., host-based IDS, IPS, access control lists), including their function and placement in a network. |
Knowledge |
4099 | Knowledge of customer information needs. |
Knowledge |
4108 | Knowledge of the impact of language analysis on on-net operator functions. |
Knowledge |
4113 | Knowledge of the request for information process. |
Knowledge |
4118 | Skill in identifying a target’s network characteristics. |
Skill |
4119 | Skill in analyzing language processing tools to provide feedback to enhance tool development. |
Skill |
4121 | Skill in assessing a target’s frame of reference (e.g., motivation, technical capability, organizational structure, sensitivities). |
Skill |
4134 | Skill in identifying intelligence gaps and limitations. |
Skill |
4160 | Skill in interpreting traceroute results, as they apply to network analysis and reconstruction. |
Skill |
4164 | Skill in identifying language issues that may have an impact on organization objectives. |
Skill |
4166 | Knowledge of computer programming concepts, including computer languages, programming, testing, debugging, and file types. |
Knowledge |