Cybersecurity Consulting Career

Cybersecurity consulting is a type of professional service that helps organizations assess their cybersecurity risks and vulnerabilities, and provides guidance and recommendations for improving their cybersecurity posture. Cybersecurity consultants typically have a strong background in information technology and cybersecurity, and are skilled in identifying and mitigating potential security threats. They can provide a variety of services, including conducting security assessments, developing and implementing security policies and procedures, providing security training to employees, and assisting with the selection and implementation of cybersecurity technologies and tools.

The goal of cybersecurity consulting is to help organizations protect their systems, networks, and data from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, disruption, modification, or destruction. This can involve identifying and addressing potential vulnerabilities, implementing effective security controls, and developing and practicing incident response plans in the event of a security breach. Cybersecurity consultants can work with organizations of all sizes and in a variety of industries, and can provide services on a one-time or ongoing basis, depending on the needs of the organization.

Cybersecurity Consulting Career

A career in cybersecurity consulting can be a rewarding and challenging field, requiring a strong foundation in information technology and cybersecurity, as well as excellent problem-solving, communication, and consulting skills.

To become a cybersecurity consultant, you will typically need to have a bachelor's degree in a related field such as computer science, information technology, or cybersecurity. Some employers may also require a master's degree in a relevant field or industry certifications such as the Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP).

In addition to formal education, practical experience in information technology and cybersecurity is also important for a career in cybersecurity consulting. This may include internships, part-time or full-time work in IT or cybersecurity roles, or participation in cybersecurity-related clubs or organizations.

As a cybersecurity consultant, you may be responsible for working with clients to assess their cybersecurity risks and vulnerabilities, and developing and implementing strategies to improve their security posture. This may involve conducting security assessments, developing and implementing security policies and procedures, providing security training to employees, and assisting with the selection and implementation of cybersecurity technologies and tools. You may also be responsible for staying up-to-date on the latest trends and developments in the field, and for maintaining industry certifications as needed.

The demand for cybersecurity professionals, including cybersecurity consultants, is expected to continue to grow in the coming years as organizations of all sizes seek to protect their systems, networks, and data from increasingly sophisticated cyber threats. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of information security analysts, which includes cybersecurity consultants, is projected to grow 31% from 2019 to 2029, much faster than the average for all occupations.

Cyber Security Consultant salary

The salary for a cybersecurity professional, including a cybersecurity consultant, can vary widely depending on a number of factors such as the individual's level of education, experience, skills, certification, and location. According to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual wage for information security analysts, which includes cybersecurity consultants, was $99,730 in May 2020.

The BLS also reports that the lowest 10% of information security analysts earned less than $58,480 per year, while the highest 10% earned more than $157,590 per year. Factors that can impact a cybersecurity professional's salary include the industry in which they work, the size of the organization they work for, the location of their job, and the level of responsibility and expertise required for the role.

In addition to salary, many cybersecurity professionals also receive benefits such as health insurance, retirement savings plans, and professional development opportunities. It is worth noting that salaries for cybersecurity professionals can vary significantly depending on the specific role and the specific employer.

Cyber Threats Require New Approach to Design Flaws and Risk

Now that the year is in full swing, and you’re only left with the distant memories, COVID, and cyber security, what are your business cyber objectives for 2022?

Ours goals are to continue helping businesses:

1. Improving security for everyone, by doubling the amount or organizations we helped last year (100% our client shows no evidence of a data breach)

2. Offer competitive pricing, to make security an attainable goal for every organization

3. Reduce cost and increase security by implementing more automation and artificial intelligence 

Cyber threats are a real threat to all modern businesses, with the evolution of technology in all sectors. Malicious cyberattacks in 2021 forced shutdown of many business operations at an average downtime of a month.  According to multiple reports, the amount of companies who ended paid hackers grew by 300% in 2020, and 200% in 2021. The businesses that were victimized had two options, pay the ransom or go out of business.

Email is the most popular attack vector

Email is still a top attack vector cybercriminal use. A majority of data breaches are caused by attacks on the human layer, but email hacking is much more than phishing.

Top 3 email attacks

1. Most wire frauds are successful over email communication; the focus trust, in most case the threat actor would be in the middle of a communication between two are more parties. This allows the threat actor to control the conversation, and change wire information.

2. Threat actor’s setup email rules to keep persistent connections and visibility to gain insight into the organization long after all passwords have been changed.

3. Threat actors add external emails to distribution groups to keep persistent connect and gain continuous insight into the organization in preparation for their next attack.

Double and Triple Extortion

Cybercriminal groups identified by the FBI responsible for most incidents are known for conducting aggressive “double/triple extortion” ransomware attacks once they have gained access to a network.

In double extortion attacks not only is the victim organization’s data rendered inaccessible until a ransom is paid but the criminals may further monetize the ransomware attack by coupling it with a Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack or selling the stolen data onto other criminal groups.  In some cases, if the organization is not careful, hackers use email, phone, or text to deceive  employees into helping them commit wire fraud.  

Providing security is challenging in any industry, whether you’re talking about agriculture, automobiles, furniture, financial services, or educational. It requires special equipment and knowledge around how things can fail in the field, and a disciplined approach to executing tests that reflect real-world conditions as much as possible.

This is where CyberSecOp can help your organization

We are an independent third-party testing, and compliance readiness firm, operating only within the cybersecurity industry. With our comprehensive suite of services and solutions our team can provide continuous testing, security program development, security tabletop exercise, security awareness training to reduce risk and increase critical testing against sensitive systems, using real-world conditions.