How to Become a Security Consultant?

Security consultants have a pivotal role to play in various industries. They identify vulnerabilities, assess risks, and develop strategies to improve or enhance a company’s security setup. Recently, the demand for security consultants has surged because of increasing digital dependency and cyber threats. Business owners focus on keeping their networks safe, so they hire professionals who can manage things effortlessly. The demand is so high that you will get plenty of opportunities if you are proficient enough and have earned proven expertise through a CEH Course. Your responsibility would include being the custodian of the company’s security system and doing everything it takes to protect it from intruder attacks. The perks, salary, and demand of this domain would make you wonder how to become a security consultant. In this article, I will try to answer that. I will share all the details about a step-by-step process to become a successful security consultant and all the details you must know. 

Who is a Security Consultant, and What Do They Do?

A security consultant is an expert who specializes in enhancing security measures. These professionals have diverse skills that help them identify security vulnerabilities and use various technical strategies to keep the system safe. They thoroughly analyze the existing security infrastructure of a company and propose changes that can help improve it. Furthermore, they implement tailored strategies to mitigate risks and offer a secure environment for the teams to work.

An efficient security consultant should have CISA Certification or proven experience in the industry. Their job role might also include training or educating the employees about the latest security risks and the best practices to eliminate them. While you are on the journey of becoming a security consultant, ensure you learn all the skills to keep your doors open to explore every opportunity in the domain. Top of Form

How to Become a Security Consultant in 5 Simple Steps

A security consultant is a high-in-demand career option where the experts get excellent salary packages and a secured career. That is why IT professionals often wonder how to become a security consultant. If you are also sailing in the same boat, I am here to help! From my personal experience and after carefully studying multiple case studies, I have curated the step-by-step strategy to become a successful security consultant. Refer to these steps to plan a fruitful journey for yourself.

Step 1: Master Skills

The first step to entering a professional career with the aim to excel is to gain the right skills. Your path to becoming a security consultant also starts with acquiring a diverse skillset that makes you technically and analytically skilled for that industry. Generally, the skills are categorized into two primary categories. Let us discuss them in detail. 

A. Soft Skills 

Your soft skills are as significant for a human as technical expertise. Some soft skills you should focus on developing are listed below. 

• Communication Skills: Security consultants have to communicate the security concepts and complexities to multiple teams. So, they must develop strong communication skills.
• Analytical Thinking: These professionals have to assess complex systems and identify patterns to anticipate potential threats. Hence, analytical thinking is crucial for them, as it helps them analyze situations well enough to make good decisions.
• Project Management: Security consultants engage with different people working on a project, manage timelines, allocate resources, and do a lot more. So, having strong project management skills is inevitable.

B. Hard Skills 

The technical expertise or hard skills you would require to become a qualified security analyst are listed below. 

• Network Security: You should have a thorough understanding of network protocols, firewalls, and intrusion detection and prevention systems (IDPS).
• Encryption Techniques: Gain thorough knowledge of cryptographic principles, including encryption algorithms, key management, and secure communication protocols.
• Security Auditing and Compliance: Gather experience in auditing systems and networks for compliance with security standards and ensure adherence to regulatory requirements.

Top Security Consultant Certifications / Degree 

Now, the question that arises here is how you will gain these skills. The simple and one of the most effective ways is to go for certifications. Some certification programs that can help you in this journey are:

• KnowledgeHut’s Cyber Security training programs 
• Certified information systems security professional (CISSP)
• Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)
• Global Information Assurance Certification

Step 2: Determine Your Ideal Timeline [Add learning format in a detailed way] 

While exploring how to become a security consultant after the 12th, you will find there are different milestones you have to achieve. Furthermore, each has its own timeline. However, you do not have to prepare yourself forever to become a security consultant. So, let me explain how much it should ideally take you to enter this industry. 

A. Start Learning in a Format That Suits You 

Before moving forward, it is crucial to mention you do not have to follow any footprints. If someone you know took 4 years before entering the industry, it is not necessary that you will take the same amount of time. You should curate your own learning graph and follow a format that suits your requirements. 

B. How Long Does It Take to Become a Security Consultant? 

Ideally, it shouldn’t take more than 4-5 years for you to start a career as a security consultant after 12th. 

• Complete a bachelor’s degree in IT or computer science; it is a 4-year program. 
• The next step is to complete an online Cyber Security certification course that helps develop essential skills for you. Keeping a year for the add-on courses is apt. 

Step 3: Begin Building Your Portfolio / Resume 

Once you are ready to join the industry, the next step is to build an effective resume. Your resume is your first interaction with the employer. So, make sure you curate this document carefully, listing all the essential details in a sorted manner. Ensure that this document is easy to read and engaging enough to push you to the next step of hiring. 

Qwikresume

Step 4: Where and how to find a job 

Many people trying to figure out how to become a cyber security consultant often do not know where they should look for the jobs. So, they do not land their desired job opportunities even when they are ready to join the industry. To help you get some clarity, I have mentioned a list of companies that hire security consultants and offer them a fruitful professional career. 

A. Top Companies Hiring Security Consultant 

Company	Average Salary
Accenture	$87K
IBM	$80K
EY	$136K
Capgemini	$122K
Wipro	$45K
Deloitte	$99K
Tata Consultancy Services	$126K

B. Job Outlook for Security Consultant 

The job outlook for security consultants is highly positive, as almost every organization is prioritizing effective cybersecurity strategies. Moreover, the increasing frequency and complexity of cyber threats have increased the demand for experts who can mitigate the risks. So, you can rest assured that the job market is expected to remain dynamic, and you can surely plan a long, secure, and fruitful career in this industry.

Step 5: Ace the Interview 

On the roadmap to becoming a security consultant, interviews are a crucial step. You have to qualify for the stringent hiring process before you can actually enjoy the perks of becoming a security consultant. The interview process may vary for different companies. 

Brief overview of the interview process + Tips 

Some might hire directly after a PI (personal interview). Others might also include a pre-screening through a technical exam. Some tips you can use to increase your chances of acing the interview are:

• Make sure you check the interview process thoroughly and prepare yourself for each step.
• Check some technical sample papers and interview questions for security consultants. 
• Dress appropriately and ensure you sound confident and well-versed with the concepts. 

Who can Become a Security Consultant?

When you explore how to become an IT security consultant, you must have observed that there are specific requirements for this position. If you meet the criteria, you can certainly explore the job market. So, when we discuss who can become a security consultant, it has to be a professional with:

• A bachelor’s degree in computer science or information technology.
• Inclination towards cyber security and its operations.
• An add-on certification to gain expertise in at least one area of cyber security. 

Apart from this, if you have hands-on experience working in the same or a related domain, you can definitely plan a career in cyber security as a consultant. 

Why/Benefits?

I have discussed all the details about how to become a cybersecurity consultant and how it is a promising career option. If you are still wondering what benefits this career option can offer, know that, firstly, the demand is high. Secondly, it is a globally renowned job role with excellent salaries worldwide. 

A. What is the Demand for Security Consultants? 

As the system and security vulnerabilities are on the rise, so is the demand for security consultants. Moreover, there is a high dependency on digital platforms that comes with a higher risk of intruder attacks. Hence, you can rest assured that the demand for these consultants is high and is expected to grow in the near future. As per market research, by 2030, a growth of 10.55% is projected in the security consultant market. 

B. Salary details for the top 5 countries

 

Country	Salary
UK	51,058 Euros
USA	$ 105K
India	INR 730K
Australia	$90,000
Canada	CA$79K
Singapore	S$ 48000

The demand for security consultants is not only high in a particular area; it is a globally high-in-demand career option. Let me share the salary details for the top 5 countries. 

Conclusion

This guide to becoming a security consultant has covered all the details you must know to plan a career in this domain. If you find it interesting to work with networks and learn tools and techniques to identify vulnerabilities and keep the system secured, this is definitely a fruitful option for you. Plan everything in a strategic manner, starting from a bachelor’s degree in IT and computer science. Explore the market further to find apt certification courses that comply with your career goals and help you learn skills that prepare you for the competitive market. Once you are ready, explore available job offerings and aim to grab the one you desire. Ensure you follow the continuous learning principle and keep enrolling in the add-on certification courses to keep up with the trends and keep moving forward in your professional journey.