Cybersecurity Consultants: How to Become One
If you were to ask a group of cybersecurity consultants about how they arrived at their current job, there's a good chance you would get several different answers about the paths and steps that each person took.
That said, there are still ways that you can develop a baseline understanding of the preparation that is necessary to become one.
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has gathered data to provide you with insight into the type of education that's commonly required for cybersecurity consultants to land a job. This page contains information, sourced from real job postings, that describes the experience levels and specific skills that employers of cybersecurity consultants expect candidates to have. In the end, this information will help you create an education or professional development plan that aligns with your career aspirations.
Keep reading to learn more about career steps for cybersecurity consultants.
What Education & Experience is Needed for Cybersecurity Consultants?
Do cybersecurity consultants need a degree? What kind of experience do cybersecurity consultants typically need? Thanks to data sourced from Lightcast™ from real job postings, we can get some clarity on those questions, as well as the level of education that is commonly required for cybersecurity consultants to secure jobs.
Education Level Required in Job Postings for Cybersecurity Consultants
Jobs Postings for Cybersecurity Consultants By Education
- Bachelor's degree: 17,647 (44%)
- No Education Listed: 12,159 (30%)
- Master's degree: 5,064 (13%)
- High School or GED: 4,526 (11%)
- Ph.D. or professional degree: 577 (1%)
A bachelor's degree is the level of education sought the most by employers of cybersecurity consultants. According to job data, a bachelor's degree was required for 44% of positions. In 30% of job listings no education level was listed and in 13% of postings a master's degree was required.
Experience Level Required in Job Postings for Cybersecurity Consultants
Jobs Postings for Cybersecurity Consultants By Experience
- 0-1 Years: 3,500 (18%)
- 2-3 Years: 6,834 (34%)
- 4-6 Years: 6,044 (30%)
- 7-9 Years: 2,125 (11%)
- 10+ Years: 1,398 (7%)
While the amount of required experience will vary based on the responsibility and seniority of the position, an aggregate view of job posting data can help paint a picture of the experience level sought for most job openings for cybersecurity consultants. In 34% of job postings for Cybersecurity Consultants, employers were looking for candidates with 2-3 years of experience. In 30% of listings employers were looking for candidates with 4-6 years of experience, while 0-1 years of experience was sought in 18% of job postings for cybersecurity consultants.
What Kind of Degree Do Cybersecurity Consultants Need?
So far this page has provided detail into the level of education and the amount of experience required in job openings for cybersecurity consultants, but what type of education or degree will help prepare you for a career in the field?
According to occupational data obtained through Lightcast,™ there are 36 key academic programs that can help prepare prospective cybersecurity consultants, and in 2023 a total of 1,081,261 of those programs were completed at institutions in the United States.
Check out the information below to learn more about the specific programs that should be considered by prospective cybersecurity consultants.
Top Degree Programs for Cybersecurity Consultants
Top 5 Degree Programs for Cybersecurity Consultants (2023)
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Business Administration and Management, General. | 335,156 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies. | 333,999 |
| General Studies. | 123,192 |
| Business/Commerce, General. | 57,116 |
| Criminal Justice/Safety Studies. | 43,663 |
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Business Administration and Management, General. | 335,156 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies. | 333,999 |
| General Studies. | 123,192 |
| Business/Commerce, General. | 57,116 |
| Criminal Justice/Safety Studies. | 43,663 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities, Other. | 34,318 |
| Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration. | 27,457 |
| Economics, General. | 21,664 |
| Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician. | 21,228 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations, Other. | 13,002 |
| Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General. | 9,274 |
| Entrepreneurship/Entrepreneurial Studies. | 9,123 |
| International Business/Trade/Commerce. | 7,469 |
| Operations Management and Supervision. | 5,855 |
| Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other. | 4,872 |
| Business/Managerial Economics. | 4,864 |
| Sustainability Studies. | 4,382 |
| Small Business Administration/Management. | 2,948 |
| Fashion Merchandising. | 2,911 |
| Homeland Security. | 2,894 |
| Non-Profit/Public/Organizational Management. | 2,481 |
| Intelligence, General. | 2,413 |
| Cyber/Computer Forensics and Counterterrorism. | 1,935 |
| Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting and Related Protective Services, Other. | 1,386 |
| Taxation. | 1,256 |
| Accounting and Business/Management. | 1,214 |
| Retail Management. | 983 |
| Energy Systems Technology/Technician. | 806 |
| Accounting and Related Services, Other. | 795 |
| Securities Services Administration/Management. | 696 |
| Security and Loss Prevention Services. | 500 |
| E-Commerce/Electronic Commerce. | 415 |
| Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations, Other. | 335 |
| Science/Technology Management. | 321 |
| Solar Energy Technology/Technician. | 228 |
| Environmental Control Technologies/Technicians, Other. | 110 |
Top Online College For Working Adults
Franklin University is a top choice for adults who need to balance school with busy lives. Founded in 1902 in Columbus, Ohio, Franklin's main focus has been serving adult students and tailoring education to fit their needs. Nonprofit and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org/800.621.7440), Franklin offers more than 50 affordable bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs — all available 100% online.
Degree Options for Cybersecurity Consultants
Gain college credit for your training and work experience and prepare to move into management or grow your small business.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
- Accreditation: IACBE
Learn to identify, resolve, and prevent white-collar crime in a variety of business settings while preparing for the CFE exam.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
- Accreditation: IACBE
What Skills Do Cybersecurity Consultants Need?
Education and experience have been covered, so what are the specific skills and traits needed by cybersecurity consultants to secure a job?
A good way to understand this is to examine actual job postings for skills commonly sought by employers. Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for cybersecurity consultants, as well as common skills that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Cybersecurity Consultants
Based on 34,199 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Cybersecurity Consultants
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Marketing | 8,502 | 25% |
| Project Management | 6,756 | 20% |
| E-Commerce | 5,431 | 16% |
| Merchandising | 3,904 | 11% |
| Data Analysis | 3,711 | 11% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Cybersecurity Consultants
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 16,133 | 47% |
| Management | 12,934 | 38% |
| Sales | 11,232 | 33% |
| Customer Service | 10,502 | 31% |
| Leadership | 8,488 | 25% |
Based on 34,199 job postings related to cybersecurity consultants, marketing was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 25% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for project management, e-commerce, merchandising, data analysis and auditing were also highly sought.
As for common skills, communication was the most desired skill found in job postings for cybersecurity consultants, followed by management, sales, customer service, leadership and operations.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Marketing | 8,502 | 25% |
| Project Management | 6,756 | 20% |
| E-Commerce | 5,431 | 16% |
| Merchandising | 3,904 | 11% |
| Data Analysis | 3,711 | 11% |
| Auditing | 3,563 | 10% |
| Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) | 3,326 | 10% |
| Cyber Security | 3,258 | 10% |
| Finance | 2,935 | 9% |
| Computer Science | 2,765 | 8% |
| Analytics | 2,728 | 8% |
| Digital Marketing | 2,524 | 7% |
| Environmental Social And Corporate Governance (ESG) | 2,439 | 7% |
| Search Engine Optimization | 2,414 | 7% |
| Continuous Improvement Process | 2,282 | 7% |
| New Product Development | 2,113 | 6% |
| Accounting | 1,994 | 6% |
| Warehousing | 1,978 | 6% |
| User Experience (UX) | 1,961 | 6% |
| Business Development | 1,893 | 6% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 16,133 | 47% |
| Management | 12,934 | 38% |
| Sales | 11,232 | 33% |
| Customer Service | 10,502 | 31% |
| Leadership | 8,488 | 25% |
| Operations | 8,488 | 25% |
| Detail Oriented | 7,698 | 23% |
| Problem Solving | 7,040 | 21% |
| Writing | 6,691 | 20% |
| Planning | 6,432 | 19% |
| Research | 6,224 | 18% |
| Presentations | 6,074 | 18% |
| Microsoft Excel | 5,797 | 17% |
| Microsoft Office | 5,337 | 16% |
| Consulting | 4,529 | 13% |
| Self-Motivation | 4,496 | 13% |
| Organizational Skills | 3,862 | 11% |
| Innovation | 3,753 | 11% |
| Coordinating | 3,732 | 11% |
| Verbal Communication Skills | 3,675 | 11% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information about cybersecurity consultants? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for cybersecurity consultants.
What do cybersecurity consultants do?
How much do cybersecurity consultants make?
All Occupations
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has compiled data for dozens of in-demand jobs. Explore our full catalog of occupation data by visiting the link below.