Network Security Consultation

A consultant's job is quite complicated

A consultant's job is quite complicated because the client organization expects a lot from him in terms of diagnostic and solution suggestions to current problems. Consulting is a technique that involves a specialist providing professional services to external firms and other organizations for a charge. It entails a sequence of activities such as problem diagnosis, solution suggestions, and implementation, particularly through consultation with the parties involved (Newton, 2014). The consultancy process consists of a sequence of procedures that every consultant should follow when he or she performs his or her job. As a consultant, I will also be required to follow the following steps to come up with an effective plan to secure all network devices for the client firm;

The first step is to prepare the discussion in advance

The first step is to prepare the discussion in advance. This can be done by drafting a design document before the actual consultation. In this stage, it will be critical to define the areas of potential influence or mutual concern, determine the objectives and plan how they will be met. The second step is to identify the consulting associates by identifying all the parties that have an interest in the organization that has hired me. I will accomplish this by undertaking a comprehensive and inclusive study on previous installations of software in the company's computers. The third step is to lay down appropriate strategies to contact all the parties involved in the case and ensure that they get informed about the next step. Here, I can write letters of invitation to, for instance, all departmental heads and other management board members to organize the meeting where the actual consultation will take place. Fourth, is to hold the actual consultation meetings and record all the responses given by the parties. Fifth, I will need to carefully analyze and evaluate all the suggestions recorded during the meetings. The sixth step involves making an appropriate decision based on the analyzed and evaluated responses and implementing it. These reactions include the recommendations given by the managers on how to secure all network devices for the company. Finally, it will be critical to follow up and offer feedback to the management on the progress of the implemented strategies (Newton, 2014).

In the process of consultation, several tools or countermeasures will be put in place

In the process of consultation, several tools or countermeasures will be put in place to guarantee the success of the exercise. For instance, as a consultant, it will be critical for me to apply critical thinking to evaluate and analyze all the suggestions given to me so that I can settle on the most efficient solution that will safeguard the company's devices. Secondly, the Balanced Score Card will come on hand to assist in diagnosing the problem and come up with appropriate measures to curb it. Additionally, Porter's five forces will also help in the process of identifying the problem and formulating the most efficient mechanisms to eliminate it. For instance, it would be critical to compare the security level of the company's systems with that of other rivals in the industry. This would give an idea of what has worked and what might work for the company to the best interest of both the shareholders and employees. The other tool will be benchmarking of the company's software security with the industry standard. If the deviation is found to be higher and to the negative, then I will recommend mechanisms to ensure that the variation gets minimized (Olenski, 2016). I will, however, ensure that I maintain a good and healthy relationship with the company's managers, stakeholders, and other interested parties.

In conclusion, consultancy is a very elaborate and quite involving process

In conclusion, consultancy is a very elaborate and quite involving process that requires the consultant to be well-prepared. It is critical that the he follows all the steps involved in the process while applying the appropriate tools and techniques to solve the existing problem.

References

Newton, R. (2014). The management consultant: mastering the art of consultancy (2nd Ed.). UK: Pearson.

Olenski, S. (Jan 7th, 2016). "9 tools you need when launching a consulting firm." Forbes. Retrieved on June 2nd 2017 from https://www.forbes.com/sites/steveolenski/2016/01/07/9-tools-you-need-when-launching-a-consulting-firm/#2671e21913bd