Incident Response Consultant
Introduction
Information and data are among the most critical organisational assets in modern businesses. As an Incident Response Consultant, you will support IBM clients by delivering proactive cyber security services and responding to major cyber security incidents. You will be part of a high-performing team within IBM X-Force Incident Response (X-Force IR), applying technical expertise to improve client security posture through both reactive incident response and proactive cyber resilience services, including the use of AI-enabled security analytics.
Your role and responsibilities
As an Incident Response Consultant within IBM Security X-Force Incident Response, you will support the investigation and response to high-profile cyber security incidents affecting client enterprise environments. Working alongside senior consultants, you will help identify attacker activity, assess impact, and support containment, eradication, and recovery efforts.
You will work directly with clients to help prevent and detect future incidents, contributing to the ongoing improvement of their cyber security and incident response capabilities. You will act as a trusted advisor at a technical level and collaborate with internal IBM stakeholders to deliver integrated solutions to complex client challenges.
In this role, you will demonstrate practical skills across multiple areas of incident response, including computer intrusion investigations, log analysis, endpoint investigations, cloud-native security investigations, and the use of AI-assisted analytics to support investigation and decision-making. You will have a solid foundation in cyber security operations, policies, and best practices, ideally within large enterprise environments.
You will be familiar with modern endpoint detection and response platforms such as Cortex and Falcon, and with forensic and live response tools such as X-Ways and Velociraptor. A working knowledge of Windows and Linux enterprise environments is required, including technologies such as Active Directory, Microsoft 365, firewalls, intrusion detection and prevention systems, security information and event management platforms, and cloud identity and logging services.
When not actively responding to incidents, you will support enterprise threat hunting activities, assist clients with the development of incident response plans, participate in tabletop and purple team exercises, and contribute to other tactical security services aligned to incident response, including the effective use of AI-driven detection and analysis capabilities.
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The role includes participation in an on-call rota to support incident response engagements outside of standard business hours. On-call responsibilities are shared across the team and managed to support sustainable working practices.
Required education
Bachelor's Degree
Preferred education
None
Required technical and professional expertise
General Experience
• Hands-on experience with tools used in incident response, digital forensics, network security assessments, and or application security
• Understanding of enterprise-wide policies and procedures related to IT risk mitigation and incident response
• Experience working within incident response teams across multiple phases of an engagement
• Experience working as part of a consulting team delivering client-facing security services
• Ability to work independently while also contributing effectively within larger project teams
Forensic Analysis and Incident Response
• Ability to perform forensic analysis on Windows systems to identify evidence of compromise; familiarity with Unix or Linux forensics is an advantage
• Familiarity with industry-standard forensic and analysis tools such as X-Ways and EnCase
• Experience performing log analysis locally and via SIEM or log aggregation platforms, including cloud-native and AI-assisted analytics
• Experience supporting threat hunting activities in enterprise and cloud environments
• Practical experience using endpoint detection and response tools during investigations
• Understanding of common network protocols, associated security risks, and control mechanisms
• Familiarity with enterprise Windows and Linux applications, including Active Directory, Exchange, and Microsoft 365, and associated logging sources
• Awareness of tools and techniques used to analyse network traffic, authentication flows, and data traversing enterprise and cloud environments
• Familiarity with major cloud computing platforms, including IBM Cloud, AWS, Google Cloud Platform, or Microsoft Azure, and their security and identity models
• Ability to contribute to clear, well-structured reports for both technical and non-technical audiences
Automation, Data, and AI Awareness
• Awareness of basic automation and scripting concepts used in incident response and threat hunting
• Exposure to scripting or query languages commonly used in DFIR workflows, such as PowerShell, Python, or KQL
• Experience working with large volumes of security telemetry and log data using platforms such as Splunk or ELK
• Familiarity with the use of AI-enabled tools and analytics to support detection, investigation prioritisation, and incident triage
Assessment and Advisory Experience
• Review and analyse client processes and procedures to identify gaps at a tactical level, and provide recommendations to support the maturity of incident response capabilities and overall cyber security posture
• Familiarity with common security frameworks and standards, including ISO 27001 and 27002, PCI DSS, NIST 800-53, NIST 800-171, and relevant data protection and privacy regulations
• Experience supporting or participating in incident response tabletop exercises, with a focus on tactical and operational response processes
Preferred technical and professional experience
• Broad understanding of common cyber security vulnerabilities, attack techniques, and mitigation strategies
• Familiarity with both strategic incident response plans and tactical playbooks
• Ability to manage individual tasks and coordinate effectively with other workstreams during incident response engagements
Non-Technical Attributes
• Strong team player, able to work effectively within a global and diverse team
• Ability to perform well under pressure during high-impact incidents
ABOUT BUSINESS UNIT
IBM Consulting is IBM's consulting and global professional services business, with market leading capabilities in business and technology transformation. With deep expertise in many industries, we offer strategy, experience, technology, and operations services to many of the most innovative and valuable companies in the world. Our people are focused on accelerating our clients' businesses through the power of collaboration. We believe in the power of technology responsibly used to help people, partners and the planet.
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