Today, Security Is The First Word In Every Business. A Security Architect Is Responsible For Designing Security Structures To Prevent Hackers From Penetrating An Organization’s Computer System.

The security architect evaluates systems and identifies weaknesses. Due to the increasing number of cyber attacks, the demand for security architects is also increasing. This article covers the definition of a security architect, its duties, and the main steps to becoming a successful security architect.

 

Who is the security architect?

A security architect is responsible for designing, building, testing, and implementing security systems in an organization’s IT network. A security architect is expected to thoroughly understand complex IT systems and be familiar with the latest security standards, authentication systems, protocols, and various security products.
Security architects combine hardware and software knowledge with programming skills, research skills, and policy development. Security architects anticipate potential threats and design systems to prevent them.

As senior IT professionals, they also regulate and monitor computer and network security systems. These professionals have a thorough understanding of the world of security.

This job is for you if you enjoy solving problems and developing security solutions.
Security architects have a bachelor’s degree in computer science or years of Experience. They have expertise in sound computer systems, networking, cyber security, and risk management.

A security architect is a person who is in charge of all security matters. They are also skilled in security strategies and methodologies. In the following, we will describe the duties of the security architect in more detail.

Duties and responsibilities of the security architect

A security architect must respond quickly and effectively to potential security breaches. The duties of a security architect generally include the following:

• The security architect evaluates the computer systems of his organization and identifies its strengths and weaknesses. Also, it performed penetration testing, risk analysis, and authorized hacking in local networks, wide area networks, and virtual private networks.

• The security architect must have a complete picture of the company’s technology and information systems. Also, one must be familiar with the latest security standards, procedures, and authentication protocols.

• A security architect thinks like a hacker, and when they identify vulnerabilities in existing systems, they plan and implement architectural changes to strengthen security structures.

• The security architect is also responsible for creating standards for all IT systems, such as routers, firewalls, LANs, WANs, VPNs, and other network devices.

• The security architect should ensure that all firewalls, VPNs, routers, servers, etc., are reviewed and approved before installation. It should also test and ensure that the organization’s end-to-end security mechanisms are working as expected.

• Indeed, IT must plan and implement reliable, robust, and flexible security architectures for all IT innovations. A security architect integrates knowledge of security hardware and software, organizational needs, and cybersecurity risks with corporate policies and industry standards. This security specialist often develops and implements entirely new security architectures.

• The Security Architect guides members of the Information Technology (IT) security team and must ensure that all members adhere to security policies and procedures. This security specialist advises IT analysts, security managers, and engineers to coordinate effective security protocols. In addition to building and maintaining security systems and networks, the security architect also prepares budgets, monitors costs, and allocates personnel resources as needed.

• A security architect responds to security breaches. When something happens, the security architect assesses the causes, damage, and data and prepares comprehensive reports for his colleagues and managers. It also implements appropriate changes, updates, and upgrades in response to vulnerabilities and intrusions.

Requirements of a security architect

As with many IT jobs, many employers prefer a degree in IT, computer science, or a related field, so try to get your bachelor’s degree in one of these fields first. EEarn Experience and education are vital to being a security architect, but IT security professionals can also earn cybersecurity certifications. Certifications strengthen skills, increase knowledge, and keep security architects motivated and active. Therefore, after receiving a university degree, begin professional training and obtain valid certificates.

In addition to academic degrees and other valid professional degrees, a security architect should include the following skills:

• Extensive Experience in information security or IT risk management with a focus on security

• Thorough understanding of security protocols, encryption, authentication

• Security architects will play a significant role in building and maintaining computer networks. For this reason, the security architect must have a deep and advanced knowledge of the principles of computer networks.

• To be an influential security architect and protect your network against malware, a general knowledge of malware and malware analysis is essential.

• Risk management is a big part of a security architect’s job, so a solid understanding of risk management principles is critical.

• Many security architects have hacking experience. With Experience breaking into existing computer and network security systems, former hackers know what to look for in the way of weaknesses and vulnerabilities. Therefore, it is better to strengthen your skills in this field.

• A security architect has technical, administrative, and leadership skills, can provide wired and wireless security, and is thoroughly familiar with systems and network architecture and general information technology principles.

• A security architect understands complex cybersecurity rules and guidelines and knows how and when to implement security concepts and controls such as routing, authentication, and proxy services.

• Soft skills are essential for a security architect, which includes verbal and written communication. The security architect prepares and presents oral and written reports on vulnerabilities, incidents, and security protocols. Also, it communicates details of security infrastructure, policies, and practices to technical and non-technical colleagues. Creativity and innovative thinking are also necessary to progress in becoming a successful security architect.

• A security architect also has analytical and problem-solving skills that allow him to identify and remediate computer and network security vulnerabilities. The security architect must be alert and adapt to the needs and goals of his organization. As a team leader, the security architect works closely with IT professionals in planning, deploying, and monitoring security solutions.

How to become a successful security architect?

Preparing for a complex path
In general, the role of a security architect is not rudimentary. Security architects must have between 5 and 10 years of relevant work experience. This means people should be prepared for the long journey ahead when choosing this career path.
University Degree
To enter the world of security as a security architect, individuals must have at least a bachelor’s degree in a related field. Of course, since a security architect is considered a management-level role, it’s best to get a master’s degree as well. However, most of the time, work experience in related fields can be substituted for a master’s degree.
gain experience
As mentioned earlier, the security architect role is not an entry-level role. This means that people aiming to become security architects will probably have to start their careers in different positions. Since the security architect job is a management position, professionals usually start in an entry-level role, move up to a more mid-level role, and finally reach the role of a security architect. For example, a person might start as a system administrator before becoming a security architect. Other parts that can be good stepping stones to a security architect position include security manager, network administrator, security specialist, security analyst, and security consultant.
Obtain valid certificates
In the next step, you should obtain the necessary certificates in the field of security. As with most cybersecurity fields, security architect certifications can help professionals and students prove their skills and make their resumes stand out. Professional security training and certifications such as Security+, CEH, and Pentest+ will help you enter this field seriously and advance your career. Some employers may require advanced security credentials such as SABSA (Sherwood Applied Business Security Architecture) or CISSP (Certified Information Systems Security Professional).
Applying
 After having the prerequisites above, there is nothing left but to prepare a strong resume and apply for the relevant job.
Keep learning.
Learning for a security architect is a never-ending path. Because this is a management role and security approaches constantly change, security architects must stay updated on new and emerging security threats and techniques. Participation in training courses can effectively keep the information and knowledge of security architects up to date.

Security architect career future

As with most cybersecurity jobs, the career prospects for security architects are excellent. Threats and attacks on computer systems and networks cannot be eliminated, so the need for qualified security professionals is increasing.

However, because a security architect is more advanced than a lower-level cybersecurity role, like a security analyst, employers are more demanding, and you need to work harder to get there.