Cybersecurity Consultants are highly in demand today. They protect important data from cyber attacks and hackers. Let’s take a look at their role and the responsibilities that follow.
Who are Cyber Security Consultants?
We live in a heavily growing digital era. With it comes data. Digital data is everywhere – from our social security numbers to our social media accounts, to private financial data.
A cybersecurity consultant is responsible for protecting sensitive data that come from these different aspects of the digital world. They evade security risks and prevent cyber attacks.
As we grow heavily reliant on technology, or rather as the role of technology grows more involved every day, the risks to the security of our data have increased as well. This creates a demand for Cybersecurity Consultants that can help businesses protect their data against security risks.
Responsibilities of a Cybersecurity Consultant
As a Cybersecurity Consultant, your role is about the protection of data. This may be visited in several different ways. Security consultants are responsible for the development of strategy relating to your client’s security.
Regardless of your role as a full-time consultant or on a freelance basis, you will find yourself involved in the evaluation of cyber risks, faults in existing security strategies, and developing and implementing security solutions. This can also include working on physical computer systems to protect them from cyber risks or malware.
What are the responsibilities of a Cybersecurity Consultant?
- Developing efficient strategies to protect the system, the networking infrastructure, data, and information systems against potential cyber risks.
- Routinely performing threat analysis, system checks, and security tests.
- Defining and updating cybersecurity criteria and validation procedures.
- Managing meetings with other IT departments to fix safety problems.
- Estimating costs and categorizing integration issues for IT project teams.
- Creating technical reports relating to tests performed.
- Giving professional suggestions and guidance to IT teams.
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Skills
In order to be a successful Cybersecurity Consultant, it is important to be skilled in areas of cloud technology, data, and network security, creating secure infrastructures, etc.
Having a passion for knowledge and new learning is also essential since there are new risks in cyberspace every day. Keeping yourself up to date on relevant tools and technologies for cybersecurity will greatly enhance your skillset.
As the world heads towards a more global and interconnected approach, there has been a rise in international hackers and hacking risks. This has created a demand for cybersecurity consultants all over the world and so you can find cybersecurity consultant jobs everywhere.
Essential skills for a Cybersecurity Consultant
- Understanding of the latest threats, procedures, and strategies
- Security Incident Handling & Response
- SIEM Management
- Audit & Compliance
- Analytics & Intelligence
- Firewall/IDS/IPS Skills
- Knowledge of Encryption technologies
- Intrusion Detection
- Application Security Development
- Advanced Malware Prevention
- APTs management (Advanced persistent threats)
- Knowledge of threat modeling and coding practices
- Mobile Device Management
- Data Management Protection
- Digital Forensics
- Identity & Access Management
- Understanding of ethical hacking
Besides the more technical skills listed above, cybersecurity consultants would need great communication skills to discuss with the client and to manage a security team. They must be proactive and be good at leadership roles.
Background: Education and work experience
To work as a Cybersecurity Consultant, you will generally require a Bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity, IT, or Computer Science. In the world of IT, certifications can play a valuable role in further enhancing your portfolio.
Here are a few industry-recognized qualifications in the field of Cybersecurity:
- CISM: Certified Information Security Manager
- CEH: Certified Ethical Hacker
- CISSP: Certified Information Systems Security Professional
- CompTIA Security+
- CompTIA CySA+ : Cybersecurity Analyst
Cyber Security Consultants are expected to have some past working experience of at least 2 or 3 years. There is no exact career path to follow but here’s a path that could perfectly work:
- Starting out as a Junior role on as Information Security Manager
- Working up to a Senior role as Security Administrator or Security Engineer
- Getting some official certifications (e.g. CompTIA Security+ and CEH
- Starting as a Cybersecurity Consultant.
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Cybersecurity Consultant Salary
As a Cyber Security Consultant, you can expect a good salary figure. On average, Cybersecurity Consultants start their careers with an annual salary of just over $51,000. This number increases to about 84,000 with a few years of experience and advanced skills.
Senior consultants can earn up to $149,000 a year.
How much do Cybersecurity Consultants make?
| Junior | $51,000 |
| Average | $84,000 |
| Senior | $149,000 |
How much do Freelance Cyber Security Consultants charge per hour?
| Average rate Cybersecurity Consultants (2022) | $100/hr |
According to freelancermap’s price and rate index in September 2022, freelance Cybersecurity Consultants charge $100/hour on average.
Freelance rates in Cybersecurity Consultancy range between $72 and $127 for the majority of freelancers.
If we consider an 8-hour working day at $100/hour, the daily rate for freelance Cybersecurity Consultants is around $800/day.
