What Does a Cybersecurity Consultant Do?

The number of data breaches grew by 72% from 2021 to 2023, according to the Identity Theft Resource Center’s 2023 Data Breach Report. Compounding this concern, Egress reports in its 2024 Email Security Risk Report that 94% of organizations faced an email security incident during 2023. As a result, demand for cybersecurity professionals continues to grow.

Experienced cybersecurity consultants help organizations prevent cyberattacks, detect intrusions, and strengthen their security protocols. A cybersecurity degree can help professionals launch careers in this in-demand field.

What’s a Cybersecurity Consultant?

Across industries, organizations rely on cybersecurity consultants to protect their sensitive networks and systems. Cybersecurity consultants conduct risk assessments and test network vulnerabilities. They evaluate security procedures and develop new policies. They also recommend new technologies and address vulnerabilities in software programs or networks.

These cybersecurity professionals work in many industries, including technology, finance, healthcare, and the public sector. In many industries, particularly healthcare and finance, organizations have a legal duty to protect sensitive data from breaches. Investing in data protection and compliance represents a significant concern in these industries.

Consulting roles come in several forms. Other job titles for cybersecurity consultants include information security consultant, security risk consultant, information assurance consultant, or cybersecurity advisor. As consultants, they may work on a contract basis or as part of a cybersecurity consulting firm.

Cybersecurity Job Duties and Specializations

Cybersecurity consultants take on many responsibilities, including preventing cyberattacks, identifying vulnerabilities in networks and systems, and responding to unauthorized access attempts.

Depending on their focus areas, cybersecurity professionals may perform vulnerability tests, create security policies, analyze security risks, or implement defense strategies.

Common cybersecurity specializations include the following:

• Cyber Forensics: In the field of cyber forensics, cybersecurity professionals investigate security breaches to improve defenses. This can involve tracing the steps that hackers use to access systems, determining the extent of data loss, or recovering damaged or lost data.

• Software Security: Software programs, including applications, can leave organizations vulnerable to cyberattacks. Cybersecurity professionals who specialize in software or application security identify vulnerabilities before hackers can exploit them. They also determine the best methods to address vulnerabilities.

• Cybersecurity Risk: Organizations face many different cybersecurity risks, from phishing schemes to malware, data breaches, or distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks. Cybersecurity professionals who specialize in risk management conduct security audits and recommend solutions. They may also recommend changes to meet compliance requirements.

Cybersecurity professionals can specialize their skills through degree programs or by gaining work experience.

Cybersecurity Career and Job Outlook

Cybersecurity careers report strong earnings and high demand. For example, information security analysts earned a median annual wage of $120,360 as of May 2023, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The BLS also projects cybersecurity professionals to benefit from a faster-than-average job growth rate of 32% from 2022 to 2032.

With experience, cybersecurity professionals can move into consulting and management roles. Computer and information systems managers had a median annual wage of $169,510 as of May 2023, with the top-paid managers earning over $239,000, according to the BLS. Employment of technology managers is projected to increase by 15% from 2022 to 2032.

How to Become a Cybersecurity Consultant

Becoming a cybersecurity consultant requires both knowledge and experience. As a result, it takes five to 10 years to land an information security consulting role.

Cybersecurity consultants hone their technical skills during educational programs and strengthen their teamwork and leadership abilities in entry-level cybersecurity roles.

Step 1. Earn a Bachelor’s Degree

Most cybersecurity professionals hold bachelor’s degrees. According to ONET OnLine, over three-quarters of jobs require a bachelor’s degree or higher. A bachelor’s degree in computer science, cybersecurity, or information technology (IT) can prepare graduates for cybersecurity careers.

During an undergraduate program, majors explore computer programming, database administration, and software development. Specialized coursework in cybersecurity principles, network security, and cyber risk management build career-ready skills. Many programs also incorporate coursework in digital forensics and incident response.

Step 2. Gain Work Experience

Consulting jobs typically require several years of professional experience in cybersecurity. Gaining entry-level experience as an information security analyst, cybersecurity analyst, or information assurance specialist can prepare technology professionals for consulting roles.

Experience in IT, network administration, or database management can also build valuable skills for a cybersecurity career.

Step 3. Pursue Professional Certification

As of 2022, 96% of cybersecurity professionals held at least one professional certification, according to the ISC2 Cybersecurity Workforce Study. Career advancement and professional development ranked as popular reasons for pursuing certification.

Common certifications include the ISC2 Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) credential or the CompTIA Security+ credential. Cybersecurity professionals can also seek out specialized certifications in their focus areas.

4. Look For Consulting Jobs

After building the expertise required for cybersecurity careers, professionals can pursue consulting jobs. Freelance cybersecurity consultants may work on a contract basis with one or multiple companies. Cybersecurity firms may also hire consultants to work with diverse organizations. Finally, some companies hire in-house cybersecurity consultants.

Pursue a Cybersecurity Consultant Career

Ready to take the next step in your tech career? The online Bachelor of Science in Information and Cybersecurity Technology degree completion program at East Carolina University® builds advanced technical and professional skills.

Designed for beginners in the cybersecurity field, the program introduces cybersecurity technology and network fundamentals in the classroom and hands-on laboratory courses. Students also complete an internship to strengthen their technical skills.

The cybersecurity concentration gives you the option of customizing your degree with upper-division cybersecurity courses, including cyber infrastructure security, penetration testing, and intrusion detection technologies. You’ll also explore digital forensics, cyber threat intelligence, and cryptography as a cybersecurity major.

With a cybersecurity degree from ECU, you can launch your cybersecurity career and gain experience in consulting roles. Learn more about the program today.

Recommended Readings

How to Get Started in Cybersecurity With No Experience

Cloud Computing vs. Cybersecurity

Network Administrator Job Description and Overview

Sources:

Egress, New Report Reveals That 94% Of Global Organizations Have Experienced Email Security Incidents Last Year

Forbes, “How to Become a Cybersecurity Consultant: Salary, Education and Career Outlook”

Identity Theft Resource Center, ITRC Annual Data Breach Report

ISC2, ISC2 Cybersecurity Workforce Study, 2022

ONET OnLine, Information Security Analysts

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Information Security Analysts

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Interview With a Cybersecurity Consultant”