Overview of the Business Analyst profession in IT: what a BA does, where to study, and how much you can earn in Central Asia

BA is a key player in any IT team, especially in projects with a large number of stakeholders. A Business Analyst is a specialist who helps the business and the IT team speak the same language. Their task is to understand what the customer needs, translate these needs into clear requirements, and help the development team create a product that solves real business problems.

Main responsibilities:

— analyzing business processes and identifying bottlenecks
— gathering and structuring requirements from customers
— documenting requirements: user stories, use cases, acceptance criteria
— helping designers and developers understand the business goals of the product
— participating in testing and product acceptance
— training customers on how to use the new solution.

BA is often called the "translator" between business and IT — they must be able to listen to both sides and find compromises.

Skills and tools

A successful BA combines analytical thinking with communication skills. The following will be useful in work:

— knowledge of Agile/Scrum/Kanban
— ability to work with Jira, Confluence, Miro, Notion
— basic understanding of SQL and API integrations
— process modeling skills: BPMN, UML
— strong soft skills.

Where to study

Business Analysis Fundamentals by Microsoft
An English-language course consisting of four modules and covering the key fundamentals of the business analyst profession. Students learn to analyze business needs, identify stakeholders, formulate and document requirements. Suitable for those just starting their journey in IT and wanting to understand what a BA does.

Microsoft Business Analyst Professional Certificate
A complete professional program consisting of six courses in English, designed for approximately three months of study at 8-10 hours per week. Includes studying Excel, Power BI, SQL, and data visualization tools. Suitable for those who want comprehensive training to work as a Business Analyst from scratch.

Business Analysis & Process Management
A short practical project-based course in English, lasting about two hours. Provides the opportunity to quickly master basic business process analysis techniques, learn to build diagrams, and describe processes. Ideal for those who want to try themselves in the role of a BA and gain some practical experience.

Business Analysis Fundamentals — IIBA Endorsed
One of the most popular courses on Udemy, endorsed by IIBA. The course includes over nine hours of video content in English, covers six project methodologies, requirements gathering and analysis techniques, prioritization, and documentation preparation. An excellent option for preparing for ECBA or CCBA certifications.

Free Business Analysis Fundamentals for IT Professionals on Udemy
A free introductory course in English, lasting 1 hour and 50 minutes. Designed for IT professionals and beginners who want to quickly understand the role of a business analyst, their tasks, and key work phases — from requirements analysis to solution testing. A good way to get familiar with the profession without financial investment.

Market and salaries

According to hh.kz, hh.uz, and hh.kg, approximate salaries in 2025 are: junior BA — $400-600, middle — from $1000, senior — from $1500.

Career growth

BA is not the end of the career path. The next steps could be:
Product Owner / Product Manager — managing the product and its strategy.
Project Manager / Scrum Master — managing processes and the team.
System Analyst / Solution Architect — deeper technical specialization.
Business Consultant — consulting and process optimization in various companies.