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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Information Systems Security Consultant

💰 $ - $

Information SecurityCybersecurityRisk ManagementCloud Security

🎯 Role Definition

The Information Systems Security Consultant is a client-facing cybersecurity specialist responsible for designing, implementing, and validating security controls across enterprise environments. They lead risk assessments, security architecture reviews, cloud and network hardening, incident response, and compliance efforts (ISO 27001, NIST CSF, PCI DSS, HIPAA, SOC 2). This role partners with IT, engineering, legal and business teams to translate security requirements into pragmatic technical and operational solutions, communicate risk to executive stakeholders, and deliver measurable security improvements.

Keywords: Information Systems Security Consultant, cybersecurity consultant, security architecture, vulnerability management, cloud security, incident response, compliance, NIST, ISO 27001, SIEM.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Security Analyst / SOC Analyst
  • Systems Administrator with security specialization
  • Network Engineer with information security focus

Advancement To:

  • Senior Information Systems Security Consultant
  • Security Architect
  • Information Security Manager / Head of Security
  • Cybersecurity Practice Lead / Director

Lateral Moves:

  • Cloud Security Engineer
  • Penetration Tester / Red Team Consultant
  • Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC) Specialist

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Lead and execute comprehensive risk assessments and information security gap analyses (including NIST CSF and ISO 27001 mapping) to identify threats, vulnerabilities, and prioritized remediation plans for enterprise and cloud environments.
  • Design, document, and implement enterprise security architectures and controls (network segmentation, encryption, identity and access management, endpoint protection) aligned to business requirements and regulatory obligations.
  • Conduct vulnerability management programs including discovery, verification, prioritization, and coordination of remediation for vulnerabilities identified by scanners (Qualys, Nessus, Rapid7) and penetration tests.
  • Plan and perform technical security assessments such as penetration tests, web/mobile application testing, cloud configuration reviews, and threat modeling to validate security posture and recommend mitigations.
  • Develop and manage incident response playbooks, run tabletop exercises, lead investigations during security incidents, coordinate containment/remediation, and produce post-incident root cause and lessons-learned reports.
  • Configure, tune, and operate security monitoring solutions and SIEM platforms (Splunk, Azure Sentinel, QRadar) to detect, investigate, and escalate suspicious activity and advanced threats.
  • Provide hands-on guidance for secure cloud deployments (AWS, Azure, GCP)—including IaC reviews, cloud identity and access configuration, CSPM tooling, and workload hardening to reduce cloud-native risks.
  • Advise on identity and access management strategy, including role-based access control, least privilege, multi-factor authentication (MFA) deployment, and privileged access management (PAM).
  • Drive compliance readiness for audits and certifications (ISO 27001, SOC 2, PCI DSS, HIPAA), prepare artifact packages, support external auditors, and remediate auditor findings.
  • Build and maintain security policies, standards, procedures, and control frameworks tailored to organizational risk appetite and industry best practices.
  • Collaborate with DevOps and engineering teams to integrate security into CI/CD pipelines, perform secure code review, automate security testing, and implement DevSecOps practices.
  • Perform third-party and supply chain risk assessments, review vendor security attestations, and develop remediation or contractual controls to mitigate third-party exposure.
  • Design and deploy network security controls (firewalls, IDS/IPS, secure remote access, microsegmentation) and validate rule sets to ensure principle of least privilege across network estates.
  • Create and deliver technical and executive-level security reporting, KPIs, dashboards, and risk presentations that translate technical findings into business impact and decision-making recommendations.
  • Provide advisory services to business units on data classification, data protection, encryption at rest/in transit, and privacy-related security controls to support compliance with privacy regulations.
  • Lead remediation projects, coordinate cross-functional teams, track remediation SLAs, and ensure effective closure of security findings using formal change and configuration management.
  • Implement endpoint security strategies (EDR/XDR platforms such as CrowdStrike, Microsoft Defender) including policy configuration, alert triage, and containment playbooks.
  • Maintain and operationalize threat intelligence feeds and enrichment processes to inform detection rules, prioritization and proactive hunting within the environment.
  • Assist in designing and validating business continuity and disaster recovery plans from a security perspective, ensuring secure backups, encryption, and DR failover processes.
  • Conduct security awareness training programs, phishing simulations, and role-based training to elevate organizational security culture and reduce human risk.
  • Perform forensic evidence collection and digital investigations to support legal, HR or regulatory inquiries, ensuring chain-of-custody and adherence to DFIR best practices.
  • Mentor junior security engineers and analysts, contribute to recruitment and skills development, and help build repeatable, scalable security operating procedures.

Secondary Functions

  • Support client-oriented security assessments, proposals, and statements of work; prepare technical scopes, effort estimates, and deliverable plans for security engagements.
  • Contribute to the organization’s security strategy and roadmap, advising on emerging technologies, threat vectors, and investment priorities.
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams (IT operations, legal, product, engineering) to translate business needs into secure technical requirements and measurable acceptance criteria.
  • Participate in project governance and agile ceremonies, provide security input during sprint planning, and ensure security tasks are tracked through backlog management.
  • Provide ad hoc security analysis, log review, and investigative support for escalated incidents or unusual activity reported by internal stakeholders.
  • Maintain documentation libraries, runbooks, and standard operating procedures to ensure continuity and repeatability of security operations.
  • Support marketing/sales by preparing technical content, case studies, and client-facing materials demonstrating security capabilities and methodologies.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Deep understanding of information security frameworks and standards: NIST CSF/NIST SP 800-53, ISO 27001/27002, CIS Controls, PCI DSS, HIPAA, SOC 2.
  • Hands-on experience with SIEM and log analytics platforms (Splunk, Elastic SIEM, QRadar, Azure Sentinel) for detection engineering, alert tuning, and incident investigation.
  • Proficiency with vulnerability assessment and management tools (Qualys, Tenable Nessus, Rapid7) including scanning, false-positive analysis and remediation tracking.
  • Practical knowledge of cloud security technologies and services in AWS, Azure, and GCP (CSPM, CWPP, IAM, KMS, Security Center) including IaC security (Terraform, CloudFormation) reviews.
  • Experience with penetration testing and assessment tools (Burp Suite, Metasploit, Nmap) and methodologies for web apps, APIs, networks and containerized environments.
  • Strong background in identity and access management technologies (Okta, Azure AD, LDAP, SAML, OAuth, OIDC) and PAM solutions.
  • Familiarity with endpoint detection and response (EDR) and extended detection and response (XDR) platforms such as CrowdStrike, SentinelOne, Microsoft Defender.
  • Knowledge of network security devices and architectures: firewalls (Palo Alto, Fortinet), IDS/IPS, VPN, proxy, and microsegmentation solutions.
  • Proficiency in scripting and automation (Python, PowerShell, Bash) to automate detection, response, and remediation tasks.
  • Competence in secure software development lifecycle (SDLC), static and dynamic application security testing (SAST/DAST), and container security (Kubernetes, Docker).
  • Experience performing forensic analysis and using DFIR tools (Volatility, Autopsy, Linux forensics) to support incident investigations.
  • Understanding of data protection, cryptography, key management, TLS, PKI and encryption best practices for enterprise systems.
  • Ability to design and interpret security architecture diagrams, threat models, and data flow diagrams to identify and mitigate risks.

Soft Skills

  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills for explaining technical risks to non-technical stakeholders and executives.
  • Strong client-facing and advisory skills; comfortable leading workshops, discovery sessions, and board-level briefings.
  • Analytical mindset with attention to detail and the ability to synthesize complex findings into prioritized recommendations.
  • Project management skills and the ability to coordinate cross-functional remediation efforts and meet deadlines.
  • Problem-solving orientation, resilience under pressure during incident response activities, and sound decision-making.
  • Ability to mentor, coach and build capability in less-experienced team members.
  • High ethical standards and respect for confidentiality, sensitive data handling, and regulatory constraints.
  • Collaborative team player who can work across geographically distributed teams and adapt to changing priorities.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Security, Cybersecurity, Information Systems, or a related technical field.

Preferred Education:

  • Master’s degree in Cybersecurity, Information Assurance, Computer Science or related disciplines.
  • Relevant professional certifications (CISSP, CISM, CRISC, CEH, OSCP, GIAC series).

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Cybersecurity / Information Assurance
  • Computer Science / Software Engineering
  • Information Systems / Network Engineering
  • Risk Management / Business Continuity

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

  • 3–7 years of progressive experience in information security, with demonstrable experience in risk assessments, incident response, security architecture and compliance.

Preferred:

  • 5+ years consulting or enterprise security experience, including cloud security implementations, SIEM administration, and leading cross-functional remediation programs.
  • Prior client-facing or advisory experience and proven track record preparing organizations for audits and certifications.
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