Career Guide
Security Consultant (audit, risk & compliance)
The role of a security consultant specialising in auditing, risk and compliance relies on two areas of expertise: technical and regulatory. These professionals assist organisations in identifying their vulnerabilities, managing risks and ensuring compliance with current regulatory frameworks.
The profession
What is a security consultant (audit, risk & compliance)?
His role
The security consultant assesses the security posture of their clients’ information systems, identifies risks and proposes corrective measures. You act as an external expert to strengthen an organisation’s risk governance and compliance (GRC), drawing on recognised standards such as ISO 27001 or EBIOS RM.
Its scope of activity
You will mainly work within a specialist consultancy or a digital services company, before working with clients from a variety of sectors. The banking, manufacturing and healthcare sectors are among those with the greatest demand for expertise in internal audit and regulatory compliance.
The functions
What are the responsibilities of a security consultant (audit, risk & compliance)?
The security consultant’s responsibilities cover the entire risk management cycle: from the initial analysis through to compliance, including auditing and raising awareness amongst staff.
Carry out information system security audits
Draft audit reports and make operational recommendations
Leading internal control and risk governance initiatives
Identify and assess risks in accordance with standards (ISO 27005, EBIOS RM)
Support teams in implementing remediation plans
Monitor regulatory developments and emerging threats
Assess regulatory compliance with the GDPR, NIS2 or PCI-DSS
Run workshops to raise awareness of good safety practices
Help shape the information security policy
Qualifications
Qualities and skills required to be a good security consultant
The role of a compliance and security audit consultant requires a combination of analytical rigour and the ability to communicate with non-technical stakeholders. You must quickly understand a client’s organisational context in order to tailor your recommendations to their regulatory and operational constraints. At ECE, cybersecurity courses incorporate these aspects from the engineering degree programme onwards.
From a technical perspective, a thorough understanding of risk management standards (ISO 27001, ISO 27005) and recognised audit frameworks is required. Knowledge of regulatory frameworks such as the GDPR or NIS2 is a prerequisite for working on regulatory compliance projects. Professional certifications such as CISSP, CISM or CRISC enhance the candidate’s credibility in the market.
As well as technical skills, a security consultant must demonstrate adaptability and the ability to explain complex ideas clearly. You will be required to explain complex concepts in simple terms to senior management, HR teams or procurement managers. The ability to produce clear deliverables and to lead debriefing meetings is just as crucial as proficiency in vulnerability analysis tools.
The benefits
What are the benefits of working as a security consultant?
The cybersecurity consultancy sector regularly recruits GRC professionals, driven by the growing requirements of the GDPR and NIS2. Positions are available on permanent contracts or as long-term assignments, with remote working often a feature of roles at consultancy firms.
Salaries increase with experience and the qualifications obtained (CISSP, CISM, ISO 27001 Lead Auditor). Variable bonuses linked to assignments and profit-sharing/incentive schemes often supplement the fixed salary, particularly in the banking and insurance sectors.
Remuneration
Security Consultant (audit, risk & compliance): salary and career progression
At the start of their career, a GRC security consultant earns between €35,000 and €45,000 gross per annum, depending on the sector and location. After 5 to 10 years’ experience, the range increases to between €50,000 and €70,000 gross per annum, driven by growing expertise in regulatory frameworks and the ability to lead complex audits. At senior level (10 years’ experience or more), remuneration can exceed €80,000 gross per annum, particularly in the banking and industrial sectors. In the Île-de-France region, salaries are 10 to 20 per cent higher than the national average. Career progression typically leads to roles such as GRC Manager, CISO (Chief Information Security Officer) or DPO.
Up to
€100,000
Annual salary
Training courses
What qualifications do you need to become a security consultant ?
Our training courses
A five-year post-A-level qualification is generally required to work in this profession. Recruiters tend to favour candidates who have graduated from engineering schools with a specialisation in information systems security, or those who hold a master’s degree in cybersecurity or cryptology.
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