Security Consultant | How to become a reputed security consultant and 12 best career options!

Are you passionate about internet security and consulting? Here is a guide to get you to the path of a reputed security specialist. Read on!

Security Consultant

A security consultant is a professional entrusted to verify a company’s readiness in handling cybersecurity. He or she detects the security gaps and designs the appropriate defense against cyberattacks. In this article, we will discuss how to become a security specialist, their job description, career paths, and market salaries

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Security consultant job description

A security consultant job description involves the following roles and responsibilities,

1. Analyzing the potential security threats on a company’s capital or physical asset and data is the first activity
2. Identifying the threats and documenting them
3. Designing and implementing security protocols to prevent cyberattacks
4. Checking and maintaining the protocols to ensure zero gaps in the overall security system
5. Educating and training the security specialists on how to detect, and prevent security threats
6. Conducting risk assessment and mitigation exercises at regular intervals
7. Preparing regular status reports on security and risks
8. Awareness of the latest trends and technologies on security

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Top 12 career options within security consulting

With qualifications in security consulting, there are multiple profiles available to pursue a career as a security consultant. We have picked up 12 key profiles for you along with the services offered for your reference and guide.

1. Enterprise security consulting services

Enterprise security consulting services are one of the vital profiles within security consulting. The services involve monitoring the threats to the internal and proprietary business assets, confidential and sensitive data. The data is related to employees and customers of the company. Various innovative security control measures are adopted to prevent the threats.

2. Head IT security consultant

Head IT security consultant is entrusted with the responsibility of managing and maintaining the security of the entire organization. The duties span multiple departments, subunits, and even subsidiaries. The person is an IT security expert and leads a team of experienced IT security consultants overseeing the cyberattacks, threats, and vulnerabilities.

3. Cyber security consulting services

Cyber security consulting services essentially focus on threats and attacks on the company’s IT assets and environment. The services timely detection and identify the measures to proactively prevent the damage. Besides the duties involve adherence to the information security standards and protocol of the particular industrial sector the company belongs to.

4. Head cybersecurity consultant

Head cybersecurity consultant owns the cyber cell of the entire organization. The person specializes in the detection of cybercrimes within the organization and preventing cyberattacks from external elements. He or she excels in planning strategies and devising techniques for securing the systems, data, and information of the company.

5. Lead Information security consultant

A lead information security consultant is responsible for managing and coordinating a team of consultants entrusted with the tasks of maintaining the security protocols of a company. Also, the person needs to ensure the company’s information-related data and assets are secure and not subject to external security threats.

6. Cloud IT security consulting

Maintaining data and information in the private or public cloud is now the trend in the modern world. Along with its tons of advantages of high ROI and low costs, there are certain risks of sensitive and confidential information being hacked in the cloud as well. Cloud IT security consulting is one of the services provided by a consultant to prevent such an occurrence.

7. Professional security consultant for risk management

A professional security consultant for risk management is responsible first and foremost to assess the risks to a company’s infrastructure, data, information, and security. He or she prepares a risk matrix and conducts risk assessment exercise; based on which risk mitigation strategies are adopted to avert the risks.

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8. Network security consultants

Network security consultants are one of the significant profiles within security consulting. They possess the expertise in protecting the networks and the data against cyber risks. Their tasks involve frequent monitoring of threats, analysis, and adopting prevention measures. They continuously enhance the security validation and verification criteria and procedures.

9. Home security consultant

A home security consultant performs the role of securing the homeowners of any crime threats or fire threats harming their property. Hardware and customer support services are provided to prevent such mishaps. Fire alarms, electronic burglar systems, closed-circuit television, and exterior lighting are some of the means adopted by them to install security measures in homes.

10. National security consultants

National security consultants work under the guidance and management of the National security advisor of the United States government. The team is responsible for the national security of the President and the country as a whole. They research and study to find out any potential threats from bureaucrats and provide appropriate guidance.

11. Computer security consultant

A computer security consultant is an expert in computer hacks, deciphering any potential threats through online or internet media. He or she creates an innovative design to control the threats and prevent them from occurring. The role of such profiles within security consulting is mainly focused on attacks via digital media.

12. Cyber security advisor

A cyber security advisor can work independently or along with a team of cyber security specialists. They tend to discover the weaknesses in the security systems in a company and find out ways to stop hackers from accessing data, information, and the systems. Any vulnerabilities are tackled by them through their expert security prevention techniques.

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How to become a cyber security consultant?

How to become a cyber security consultant? In this section, we will discuss the key steps that you must follow. Along with academic qualifications and skills, experience plays a big role while applying for cyber security consulting jobs.

1. Educational Qualifications for security consultant jobs

The first step to prepare for security consultant jobs is to acquire the mandated academic qualifications. Obtain a Bachelor’s degree in any of the fields – IT, computer science, or cybersecurity. If you want to opt for higher roles like security advisor jobs then it is good to go for the Master’s degree.

2. Professional certifications for a cyber consultant

Security consulting companies often seek professional certifications while hiring a cyber consultant. Hence it is recommended to obtain the relevant certifications like CISSP, CPP, CSC, etc., the details of which are elaborated in the Section on the list of certifications for cybersecurity.

3. Gain hands-on experience in security consultancy

It is better to gain hands-on experience before joining long-term security consultancy jobs. You can join internship programs in cyber security. Another option is to join as a small business private security consultant for gaining the requisite knowledge, experience, and expertise.

4. Search for security consulting jobs

Search for security consulting jobs in the major job portals. You must check the cyber security consultant job description, offered salary, and job location thoroughly before applying for them. Ensure the roles match your qualifications and skills.

5. Join discussion forums of cyber security consultants

Discussion forums help connect with fellow and experienced cyber security consultants. You can gain insights into the latest trends in security frameworks or strategies. Besides in the forums information on data security consulting jobs are shared. You will also come to know about the latest IT or physical security consultant salary prevailing in the market.

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Cybersecurity consulting qualifications

Cybersecurity consulting demands the following educational qualifications you need to attain as mentioned below,

1. Bachelor’s Degree in information technology, computer science, cybersecurity, or any related field
2. Master’s Degree in information technology, computer science, cybersecurity, or any related field
3. Additional certifications on cybersecurity are a boon to enhance knowledge, stand a good chance in recruitment.

Besides, it is good to obtain work experience of 3 to 5 years in IT before opting for a career. A hands-on experience working as an intern may also help in securing a good job in the field of information security consulting.

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Security consultant certification

The security consultant certification paths are quite vast with numerous courses and certifications offered to pursue the role. Here are the top cyber, information, and physical security certification courses,

1. CISSP or Certified Information Systems Security Professional – granted by ISC, the International Information System Security Certification Consortium
2. CPP or Certified Protection Professional – for cyber security consulting or IT security consultancy
3. CSC or Certified Security Consultant – granted by the International Association of Professional Security Consultants
4. GIAC or Global Information Assurance Certification – on key areas of computer and network security consulting
5. OSCP or Offensive Security Certified Professional – for ethical hacking granted by Offensive Security
6. PSP or Physical Security Professional – for assessing skills on risk analysis and threat assessment

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Cyber security consulting skills

Cyber security consulting requires both technical as well as soft skills for achieving success as a security consultant. The key ones are,

1. Penetration testing for verifying and validating the security vulnerabilities
2. Knowledge of ethical hacking and threat modeling
3. Prevention protocols for firewall management
4. Efficiency on programming languages and operating systems
5. Expertise in security regulations and standards like PCI, SOX, HIPAA, etc.
6. Experience in using frameworks like ITIL, COBIT, etc.
7. Coordination and collaboration capabilities with various units in the company and the security officials
8. Good verbal and written communication skills
9. Excellent analytical capability to debug flaws in the security systems

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Security consultant salary

The salary normally varies between USD 100K and USD 140K per annum with the average being USD 118K per year. The variations in IT or network security consultant salary is majorly due to educational qualifications, experience level, certifications, and additional skills.

A security advisor salary may rise to USD 150K per annum,

1. 10 percentile of IT security jobs earn USD 85K per annum approximately.
2. 25 percentile of cyber consultant jobs is around USD 100K per year.
3. 75 percentile of jobs is USD 140K per year and
4. 90 percentile is USD 162K per year.

Kuntala Banerjee

Kuntala is a versatile writer with a focus on diverse areas around work, productivity, collaboration at work, hiring, management, HR, and training. Her background of past experience in technology and consulting helps in molding razor-sharp insights into the research and user-focused content she creates. Professionally she is an IT consultant in a sales role and also a writer of short stories and poems, travel blogger, and fashion influencer.