Without a clear vision of security, even the best-performing organization can become vulnerable overnight. For many organizations, however, it can be overwhelming to meet all the standards that apply within their industry or are expected by customers. Security consultants can help your company by creating customized policies that ensure your business meets basic information security guidelines. In this article, our colleague Rients explains what the work of a security consultant looks like and what it can bring you.
What does a security consultant do?
At Nestor Security, the job of a security consultant can be done in a variety of ways. Some colleagues work at clients on a mini secondment basis where they take on smaller projects, including ISO audits. Other colleagues, such as Rients, work full-time with clients as security officers. Rients: “I work on writing policy documents that help clients comply with the basic information security rules that apply to their sector. I also resolve incidents, arrange pen tests and advise clients and their employees on how to implement information security.”
Advising is a core task of the security consultant. They translate complex standards frameworks and legislation into understandable guidelines and practical steps. They help organizations meet requirements such as ISO 27001, BIO2 and the European NIS2 directive, and bring structure to the often confusing landscape of information security regulations.
Why hire a security consultant?
Organizations that need to comply with certain legislation sometimes choose to hire a security consultant. However, there are also other reasons to do so. Rients explains, “For example, we see that it is becoming increasingly important for companies to be able to demonstrate that their information security is in order. Companies can really lose customers if they can't show this. So there is a group that comes to us because they feel some pressure from the market to obtain certain certificates, for example. There is also a group that comes to us only after something has gone wrong in the field of information security. These parties have then often already suffered major losses that could have been prevented.”
Many organizations put off hiring someone to support information security. A lack of time or the idea that information security is not (yet) urgent enough play a role in this decision. In addition, it is often unclear to organizations what exactly the standards are. It seems like a very large list where organizations do not know where to start. A security consultant can offer frameworks and structure here.
“A good consultant helps an organization improve information security; a great consultant is someone who gives the team the tools to do that themselves.”
The frameworks and structure put in place help organizations find peace of mind. In this way, security consultants like Rients take away some of the uncertainty. They also invest a significant portion of their time in sharing information that can help your team create this peace of mind themselves. Rients explains, “A good consultant helps an organization improve information security, a great consultant is someone who gives the team the tools to do that themselves. Someone who not only explains how to do something but more importantly why. I am actually working on making myself redundant in time, only then will I have really helped well.”
It is difficult to express exactly what a security consultant will gain. The actual gain depends on your organization and the intent with which a security consultant is engaged by you. It can help you build more trust with customers that makes them choose your company. If you are a government agency or other organization that must comply with the NIS2 directive, a security consultant can help you comply and avoid fines or penalties.
Collaboration with a security consultant
The degree of cooperation between your team and a security consultant greatly affects the results that can be achieved. Rients explains, “As a security consultant I depend on the client and organization. They have to approve and especially implement my policy. This makes me highly dependent on the motivation of the team members and managers.” Rients and his colleagues have therefore taken training courses in change management, but also in dealing with conflicting interests. Thus, Nestor ensures that our consultants are not only strong in information security, but also in communication and promoting meaningful cooperation.
This article was written in collaboration with Rients van Blanken. Do you need help or have any questions? If so, please feel free to contact him using the form below.