What Is a Cybersecurity Consultant? (And How to Become One)

Key takeaways

A cybersecurity consultant identifies security risks and implements solutions to defend against threats to companies’ networks and computer systems.

• The need for cybersecurity professionals continues to grow, with cybersecurity company Cloudflare reporting it blocked 34.4 million distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks in 2025 [1].

• As a cybersecurity consultant, you’ll need to build skills in hacking, coding, penetration testing, programming languages, and leadership.

• You can start a career as a cybersecurity consultant by earning a degree or certification and building on-the-job experience.

Explore the role of a cybersecurity consultant, including responsibilities, salary, and job outlook. If you’re ready to launch your career as a cybersecurity professional, consider the IBM Cybersecurity Analyst Professional Certificate. You’ll have the opportunity to learn cybersecurity fundamentals and prepare for the CompTIA Security+ certification exam. Upon completion, you’ll earn a shareable certificate to display on your resume or LinkedIn profile.

What is a cybersecurity consultant?

Cybersecurity consultants identify problems, evaluate security issues, assess risk, and implement solutions to defend against threats to companies’ networks and computer systems. They deal with many variables when evaluating security systems and craft layers of protection in a fast-changing information technology (IT) landscape.

Cybersecurity professionals have become critical to modern business operations as organizations and companies around the world work to protect themselves from cyberattacks.

As technology has expanded and become more sophisticated, so have cybersecurity threats such as phishing, ransomware, and hacking. Cybersecurity company Cloudflare reported it blocked 34.4 million distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks in 2025, a figure over three times higher than 2024 and averaging to a rate of 5,376 blocked DDoS attempts per hour [1].

The cybersecurity industry is experiencing rapid growth. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) forecasts a 29 percent increase in employment through 2034, well above the 3 percent average for all occupations [2]. 

The median total annual salary for cybersecurity consultants in the US is $155,000 as of March 2026 [3]. This figure includes a base salary between $96,000 and $162,000, and between $23,000 and $43,000 in additional pay [3]. Additional pay may represent profit-sharing, commissions, or bonuses. While salary depends on education and experience, many consultants also enjoy benefits such as paid training, the ability to work remotely, sign-on bonuses, generous leave, and paid travel.

What do cybersecurity consultants do?

Cybersecurity consultants focus on risk prevention, detection, and response. Additional job titles include security consultant, computer security consultant, network security consultant, IT consultant, and database security consultant. Whatever the title, the job entails dealing with a wide range of variables in assessing security systems. 

Job focus varies based on the role, from engineering to customer service to executive leadership. Early-career cybersecurity professionals might focus on configuring devices or providing customer service. Those with advanced degrees and years of professional experience are more likely to set organizational information security strategies. Common responsibilities for cybersecurity consultants include: 

• Maximizing efficiency in system protection, networks, data, software, and information systems to guard against potential attacks

• Performing vulnerability testing and security checks and establishing a threat analysis schedule

• Conducting ongoing research on cybersecurity criteria while staying abreast of validation procedures, security systems, and emerging threats

• Monitoring internet safety problems and working cohesively with IT departments to craft dynamic solutions

• Working closely with other security personnel to ensure complete protection for the client in every aspect

• Delivering technical reports and test findings with actionable preventative solutions

Job skills valued by cybersecurity consulting firms

Cybersecurity requires a balance of strong technical and interpersonal skills. Security systems must remain adaptable to keep pace with technology, so possessing the technical skills to update and upgrade systems is a core function of this career. 

Cybersecurity consultants also work across teams to educate the broader organization on technical subjects and best practices, requiring strong collaboration and communication skills. 

Technical skills

• In-depth understanding of the ethical standards in hacking and coding

• Working knowledge of potential threats such as social engineering, phishing, and network access, and how they can cause harm

• Ability to conduct penetration testing, which occurs when the consultant acts as a hacker to determine the security of the system and the vulnerabilities of concern to clients

• Knowledge of operating systems, including Windows, UNIX, Linux, ongoing upgrades, and new systems that roll out continuously

• Fluency in programming languages such as Python and JavaScript

• Encryption techniques to mitigate risks posed by hackers

Workplace skills

• Strong verbal and written communication skills

• Leadership and project management for implementing new policies and procedures

• Ability to collaborate with people at all levels of an organization

• Desire to learn new things, as security and information systems and the associated threats change rapidly

How to become a cybersecurity consultant

You can build a cybersecurity career in several ways. Many job candidates have a bachelor’s degree in a field such as computer science, cybersecurity, engineering, information security, or other related fields. Cybersecurity professionals often start as junior members of an IT team and spend one to three years gaining experience before becoming consultants. Some consultants work for a single business, some work with multiple companies through consulting firms, and others decide to work for themselves.

However, a degree is not always necessary, and some cybersecurity consultants have built long and fulfilling careers through a combination of on-the-job experience and professional certifications.

1. Consider a degree.

• Bachelor’s degree: Common fields include computer science, cybersecurity, engineering, and information security

2. Explore certifications.

• Certifications: Complement on-the-job experience; sometimes necessary even without a degree

• Popular certifications:

  • Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)

  • Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)

  • Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)

  • CompTIA Security+

  • Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)

  • GIAC Security Essentials (GSEC)

  • CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst+ (CySA+) 

3. Gain experience.

• Entry-level experience: Internships, junior positions, or related IT roles

• Most consultants start as junior IT team members, spending 1–3 years gaining experience.

Read more: Computer Science vs. Information Technology: Jobs, Degrees + More

Job opportunities in cybersecurity consulting

Cybersecurity is an in-demand field. Working as a cybersecurity consultant offers growth potential and positions you to take advantage of a broad range of opportunities. In general, cybersecurity consultants serve in various roles across many environments, helping them build a portfolio of skill sets and titles.

The three most common employment types are:

• In-house: Provide solutions and manage cybersecurity systems as a full-time employee of a business.

• Freelance: Provide services to a variety of clients, with the opportunity to specialize in particular areas of cybersecurity.

• Consulting firms: Help companies establish or strengthen security measures by filling in gaps with outsourced employees.

Cybersecurity consultant salary

While Glassdoor projects the annual salary for a cybersecurity consultant in the United States as between $96,000 and $161,000 base pay, with a range of $23,000 to $43,000 additional pay, you will find a number of factors that impact how much you make [3]. For example, a cybersecurity consultant with less than a year of experience in the role earns $113,000 median total pay, while a professional with 15 or more years of experience earns $189,000 median total pay [3].

Explore our free cybersecurity resources

Subscribe to our Career Chat newsletter on LinkedIn for industry insights, career tips, and skill-building resources. Then explore free cybersecurity resources to optimize your professional growth:

• Watch on YouTube: Want a Cybersecurity Job? Start with THIS Cert

• Advance your career: Cybersecurity Career Progression: Job Levels & Skills to Advance

• Bookmark this glossary: Cybersecurity Glossary: Essential Terms and Definitions

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