Professionals who advise companies and individuals on the best ways to protect digital assets, physical property, and personal safety are known as security consultants. A large part of the job entails risk assessment. Consultants will devise a strategy for the client to install technology or revamp procedures in order to meet their security requirements. The consultant can work in a wide variety of fields. Security consultant certification has stringent requirements, is subject to renewal, and necessitates ongoing skill upgrades.
The first step in the process for security consultants is to meet with clients and discuss their concerns. They’ll conduct risk assessments, identifying weak points in computer security and potential personnel risks. Some companies provide mail handling, personal safety, and building access training to their employees. Healthcare facilities, for example, have unique requirements, and their physical plants are open to the public in many areas.
School systems and businesses with large digital databases are in high demand for security consultants. Both jobs are highly specialized, and schools and businesses will have different needs in terms of access to and privacy of personal information. Because a security breach will reflect badly on the consultant who designed the system, the job comes with a lot of pressure.
To ensure that their materials are not compromised, agriculture and food manufacturers, as well as oil, gas, and chemical facilities, may hire security consultants. A good system will guard against internal and external theft, as well as secure storage, shipping, and receiving, to avoid activity that is harmful to the product’s customers. Terrorism aimed at these industries is a major concern.
Clients’ emergency response plans are also drafted by security consultants. They begin by assessing the threat and developing procedures for designated individuals within the company to follow in the event of an emergency or natural disaster. In addition, the consulting firm will provide training in order to establish response procedures. Preventative measures as well as the reduction of consequences are discussed.
Some computer security consultants are ex-hackers who went into the field after witnessing firsthand how vulnerable businesses are to data theft. They are not eligible for certification through the International Association of Professional Security Consultants if they have been convicted of a felony (IAPSC). A computer science degree will help you get this job. Designing intrusion detection and surveillance systems, as well as access control, requires engineering degrees and CAD experience.
For a security consultant certification, the IAPSC requires a bachelor’s degree and three years of professional experience, or at least eight years of experience. Candidates will be required to sign a statement pledging their independence from any specific vendor, and they will not be allowed to sell or endorse specific products. This is to ensure that there are no conflicts of interest and that consultants are working in the client’s best interests. Investigators in the criminal or civil justice systems are not eligible.