What is a Security Architect?


A security architect’s job description includes developing the fundamental plan of how a security system operates in an organization. The security architect’s roles and responsibilities in a generic description can be referenced by the national U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The network security architect job description could either be looking for the person who designs the original build, testing, and production validation of a new system, or he or she could be the person who revises an existing system to make it work better with newer technology.

Either way, the chief architect job description often involves a bit of a jack of trades; the network security architect has to have both an understanding of the common network technology and software being used as well as how to implement security in these environments to prevent problems or breaches. A related cyber security job description in turn requires an incredible library of knowledge on both the latest security protocols, standards, and systems as well as the most like tools that need to be protected by such defenses.

What Does a Security Architect Do?

The information security architect can frequently be engaged in actual novel defense activities as well. They would be a key player in addressing breaches as they are occurring as well as crafting defense modifications or applying new tools based on lessons learned from recent vulnerabilities identified.

  • Regularly reviewing and monitoring existing systems for areas of weakness and how improvements can specifically be implemented.
  • Operating ethical hacking tests and organizational system audits to confirm user and system compliance with expected security standards.
  • A cyber security architect’s job description also includes creating and updating life cycle schedules for when to replace security equipment or software.
  • Enforcing a “least privilege” policy to prevent users from having large-scale access across a system, creating security vulnerabilities via one authorized account.
  • Drafting, updating, and distributing the organizations’ disaster recovery plan and procedures as well as running practice drills on the same.
  • Security architect responsibilities also include playing a key role in security incident team response as well as the post-incident analysis.

The information security architect typically operates as a senior player on an organization’s IT security team, so candidates applying for an enterprise security architect job description should expect to be able to show both requisite practical experience in IT security as well as proven knowledge certification on various IT security disciplines.

How to Become a Security Architect

Most information security architect job description postings will require a computer science, programming or information technology college degree. While some have the requisite experience to substitute, such as those coming from the military and working in high-tech defense system intelligence, most candidates produce a degree as foundational training proof. Additionally, viable candidates have additional skills security architect certification as well such as the Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) or the Sherwood Applied Business Security Architect (SABSA). These are not the only security architect certification options but they rank as the most recognized in the tech industries.

Experience Matters the Most

However, anyone considering a career as an information security architect should realize that the primary criteria for a successful candidate are technical experience. Good candidates are able to show they have:

  • A significant number of years working in information security or responding to IT risk management demands, particularly in a team setting as a network security architect is a common expectation in a network security architect job description.
  • A proven understanding and ability to work with common security protocols and standards.
  • Security architect responsibilities are based on a solid practical understanding of IT systems, software, and hardware.
  • A current competency with the latest major security standards and systems such as multi-factor authentication, intuitive firewall systems, and role management in a modern network.
  • A proven ability to work with cross-discipline teams to enforce security IT expectations as a network security architect.
  • Enterprise security architect job description criteria also expect a proven capability to communicate in executive-level environments in terms of speaking and writing delivery.
  • A solid understanding of common business principles such as marketing, accounting, budgeting, sales and operational analysis.

The above is not a complete answer to how to become a security architect, but it does include a good amount of what to expect in this career path. Chief security architect job description details will vary from company to company, but the fundamentals are the same.

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