Cyber Security Consult – What specific industry does your business operate in?
Cyber Security Consult
As a cyber security consultant, you work on behalf of your clients to ensure that their information systems and networks are protected from hacking and other online threats. Your responsibilities include reviewing and analyzing existing security strategies, identifying faults in those systems, and developing new methods to protect data, information, and networking infrastructure from cyber risks and malware. You also may perform cyber risk analysis and system tests, and you can be called upon to conduct security audits and respond to incidents.
Cyber Security Consulting may choose to work for a consulting firm or directly for their clients. Both types of positions offer the opportunity to build a portfolio of projects that demonstrate your skills, knowledge, and ability to solve problems in a diverse range of business environments. If you enjoy interacting with clients on a regular basis, a consultancy firm role might be better suited for your personality and career goals.
Regardless of whether you’re employed on a full-time or freelance basis, most cybersecurity consultants work as part of a team and rely on a wide network of colleagues to help them do their jobs. As such, it’s important to communicate clearly orally and in writing, particularly when working with non-technical employees or senior management.
Cyber Security Consult – What specific industry does your business operate in?
You’ll need to be familiar with industry-standard computer software and programs, including those used for network administration, risk assessment, and reporting. As a cyber security professional, you’ll also regularly upgrade your knowledge base and pursue industry certifications. This reflects the fact that hackers and cybercriminals are always evolving their attack methods, so you need to keep up with the latest developments in the field to maintain a competitive advantage.
If you’re working directly for a client, you’ll need to be able to quickly and efficiently analyze their needs, design appropriate architecture to address those needs, and explain the results of your work to them. This will often involve using the language of their business to deliver your reports. You’ll also need to be able to identify and articulate threats and how serious those threats are in a way that’s easily understandable by non-technical employees and their senior managers.
A bachelor’s degree is a minimum requirement for becoming a cyber security consultant, but many professionals take steps to further their education by earning advanced degrees. These are typically in fields like computer science, information technology, and cybersecurity. Some even go as far as to earn a master’s degree in this field.
Gaining entry-level work experience in an IT-related field is a good start to this career path, and some individuals have used their time in these entry-level roles to obtain industry certifications that will make them more valuable in the marketplace. Others have taken the route of completing a bootcamp program, which provides intensive training on in-demand cybersecurity skills in a short amount of time. While not a requirement for the job, these courses have proven popular among aspiring cybersecurity consultants because they give them the skills they need to find and secure employment in this fast-growing sector.