HOW TO BECOME A CYBER SECURITY CONSULTANT

What Is a Security Consultant?

A security consultant, often referred to as a security analyst, specializes in identifying weaknesses within computer systems, networks, and software applications. Their primary objective is to develop effective solutions to fortify these systems against potential cyber threats and hackers. With their specialized expertise in IT security, security consultants play a crucial role in safeguarding digital environments and mitigating security risks.

Whether you work as a physical or IT security consultant, it is a rewarding role to help people with their security problems and needs. Security consultants may work for consulting firms or as self-employed contractors, but all of these professionals need basic education and certification requirements to work in their sectors.

WHAT DO CYBER SECURITY CONSULTANTS DO?

Security consultants deal with various threats to physical and computer security. Security threats come in many forms such as computer hackers, terrorists, and attacks on physical assets. There are specializations for security consultants in building security, natural and man-made disaster prevention, or with computer security issues.

Risk Assessment & Resolutions

Some of the roles professional security consultants may do for companies or private individuals are installing physical protection of video surveillance and alarm systems.

Physical security risks are issues for many companies and security consultants may determine physical security risks such as threats of violence in the workplace, the stability of a building during tornadoes, earthquakes, fires, or other natural disasters, and the development of evacuation plans for personnel during emergencies. Cyber security consultants also may advise on building maintenance issues.

Team & SECURITY MANAGEMENT Consultations

They may counsel businesses about hiring competent security personnel and help perform background checks on potential employee hires. Training new employee hires or existing employees on security issues specific to the company or individual can be a critical role for security consultants. Non-physical roles for cyber security consultants can be as computer consultants who assess IT systems, databases, and computer infrastructures for weaknesses hackers can exploit with unauthorized access, data loss, or data modification. On state and federal levels, security consultants might advise leaders about what actions to take in times of war, national crisis, or how to counter terrorism.

EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS FOR SECURITY CONSULTING

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, most IT security consultants require at least a bachelor's degree to enter the field. As in any profession, employment opportunities improve with educational achievement.

Majors & Courses

Your major in college depends on what type of security consulting you want to pursue. A degree in criminal justice is useful or you might choose to pursue an IT degree if you intend to be a computer security consultant.

Other information security-related college courses you may want to take include intelligence management, public safety, criminology, and homeland security. Accounting and finance are useful courses if you have your own security business. Foreign language proficiency is useful for those who plan to work at the federal level as cyber security consultants.

Professional Certifications

Certification, some specialized, is also helpful for security consultants. For example, a physical or IT security consultant could benefit from becoming a Certified Security Consultant (CSC) or a Certified Protection Professional. Consultants working in IT could benefit from earning a Certified Information Systems Security Professional certification.

In addition, there are many other certificates such as network security certification that computer security consultants may choose to pursue to enhance their educational and professional skills. Certification programs exist in loss prevention, cyber-crime investigation, logistics, safety, and computer security.

On-the-job training under the mentorship of senior IT security consultants can be an important part of a professional information security consultant's education, training, and career.

CYBER SECURITY CONSULTANT SALARY

Salaries for professional cyber security consultants vary depending on worker education, training, certification, and experience. The median salary for an information security analyst, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) most recent data is $120,360.

Increasing Your Earning Potential as a Security Consultant

Earning further certifications and belonging to professional organizations can help raise your earning potential through training, networking, and other professional opportunities. Some professional organizations that help their members keep current with security consultant best practices are the International Association of Professional Security Consultants and ASIS International.

The ASIS International, the American Society for Industrial Security, is a worldwide organization for security professionals. It was founded in 1955 and is dedicated to developing educational programs and materials to help security consultants increase their effectiveness and productivity through events such as the ASIS International Annual Seminar and Exhibits.

The organization also advocates the security management profession to businesses, governments, and the public. The organization also publishes an international magazine, Security Management, to keep its members informed about current issues in information security consulting. The International Association of Professional Security Consultants was founded in 1984.

Its mission is to provide membership and set standards for professional consultants in security management, security systems, information security, physical security, security operations, security risk assessment, and security training. It offers seminars and other educational opportunities for security consultants to pursue better careers in the security field.

JOB OUTLOOK FOR PROFESSIONAL SECURITY CONSULTING

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment outlook for information security consultants is excellent, with a 31.5% growth rate for careers in the information security field through 2032.