If you are concerned about data protection, and almost all companies are today, even this statistic is somewhat overwhelming. There are as many aspects of our life online as bits and bytes of data traveling from one computer to another or from our phones to the cloud and vice versa. Hackers get more sophisticated every year; they know that this data is available and they are adept at finding new ways to obtain it. Businesses have a responsibility to protect and defend the personal data they collect from customers, but as we have seen in recent major data breaches, this task is not always easy for business leaders. One important factor: the volume of trained cybersecurity experts is not keeping up with the growth of data in the world.

This is where a more sobering and terrifying figure comes into play: There are expected to be as many as 6 million jobs in the cybersecurity sector by 2019, but only 4.5 million qualified security professionals. to fill those roles.

This is bad news for companies and bad news for customers who depend on companies to protect their data. But that's good news for you if you are interested in a career in cybersecurity. Because if you strive to become a qualified cybersecurity expert, your talents will be in high demand for years to come.

What is a cybersecurity consultant? How to become a cyber security consultant

There are many cybersecurity roles within companies, from cybersecurity specialists to engineers and architects. But there are still thousands of companies that don't have, can't afford, or just can't find an in-house cybersecurity expert. This is where consultants come in.

A cybersecurity consultant can work for a company or be freelance. A consultant does not have a full-time job doing cybersecurity business for a particular company, but advises and works with many companies. This puts the consultant in a position of strength, because when the need far outweighs the talent, respected consultants have their choice of clients.

The career path of a cybersecurity consultant will be similar to that of any other cybersecurity professional in some respects, but will diverge in others. For example, there is no "entry-level" cybersecurity consultant role; To work as a required consultant, you will need training, education, and years of experience. In fact, consulting can be seen as the pinnacle of a career in cybersecurity, a role in which you choose your clients, name their prices, and set their hours.

If you are already a cybersecurity professional, you may be ready for a contract job. But if you are new to the field, you have a long way to go. Don't let this put you off; Anything worthwhile will take time and effort.

What training does a cybersecurity consultant need?

The first step in any career path is training and education. There are certain technological roles that people with basic training can enter and learn in, as cybersecurity is not one of them. To trust the most sensitive and confidential information of a company, it is necessary to have a high level of education and experience.

The most common way to develop a consulting career is to work for others first. And to work for others, you must be hired. The vast majority of cybersecurity roles require applicants to have a bachelor's degree and some college education.

Cybersecurity Consultant Degree

In general, information technology and related fields are the most valuable graduate degrees for an aspiring cybersecurity professional. Historically, higher education has been slow to catch up with the ever-changing tech sector, but we expect to see more undergraduate programs and courses in areas like digital forensics, cryptography, and ethical hacking offered at major institutions. Statistics, Advanced Math, and English are also important courses for anyone wanting to enter this field.

Upon graduation, higher education at the graduate level will give you the best chance of succeeding in the cyber security profession. Whether you choose to pursue a master's or bachelor's degree, or even join an online cybersecurity boot camp, the more education you have under your belt, the better prepared you will be for this demanding job.