What does an IT security consultant do?

What is an IT Security Consultant?

Along with our rapid advancement in technology comes the increased risk of hacking attacks, spamming and black hat practices. The role of the cybersecurity or IT security consultant is very crucial to every organization, whether government or private, for helping to prevent these security threats.

IT security consultants assess software, computer systems, and networks for vulnerabilities, then design and implement the best security solutions for an organization’s needs. They play the role of both the attacker and the victim and are asked to locate and potentially exploit vulnerabilities. Some IT security consultants are former hackers who have decided to enter the profession after seeing firsthand how vulnerable companies are to security threats.

What does an IT Security Consultant do?

Cyber attacks cause huge losses of time and money each year, whether they are aimed at government databases, financial institution networks, or personal computers. For example, millions of dollars can be lost in a matter of minutes when hackers infiltrate credit card firms’ networks. Sensitive military information can be extremely dangerous when in the wrong hands. Even the smallest of businesses need to protect their brands by keeping their customers’ data secure.

Through their expertise and knowledge of databases, networks, hardware, firewalls and encryption, IT security consultants help in preventing attacks. They assess the existing infrastructures and systems for weaknesses and then develop and put in place security solutions to prevent unauthorized access, data modification or data loss. They prevent the theft of financial and personal information, keep computer systems running smoothly, and block hackers from accessing and divulging proprietary data.

IT security consultants identify and secure any network weaknesses and make recommendations for hardware and software upgrades. They perform technical tests like AV or penetration testing and malware analysis, and evaluate all the points in the technology environment where information is at risk.

On new projects, IT security consultants give recommendations based on security best practices, and advise on the best way to ensure security throughout the software development life cycle. When a client wants to choose the best security solution for their organization, IT security consultants will come in and advise them on anything from an antivirus to firewalls, cryptography, SIEM etc. They also figure out the best way to eliminate vulnerabilities and recommend practical security fixes and enhancements that make sense for each individual client.

What is the workplace of an IT Security Consultant like?

IT security consultants deal with the different ways software and systems are put in use by organizations. They are exposed to all different types of programming languages which inherently bring different attack surfaces into the picture.

An IT security consultant uses his or her expertise to advise companies in securing and protecting information capital and computer systems. Security consultants may work for consulting firms or as self-employed contractors.