Cyber Security Architect Job Description, Skills, and Salary
Are you searching for a cyber security architect job description? Get to know about the duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and skills requirements of a cyber security architect. Feel free to use our job description template to produce your own. We also provide you with information about the salary you can earn as a cyber security architect.
Who is a Cyber Security Architect?
A Cyber Security Architect, also known as security architect designs, builds and maintains an organization’s IT network’s security systems, including the computer systems and data. Security architects scan the organization’s systems for weaknesses while assessing their security. They conduct penetration testing, risk evaluations, and ethical hacks on LANs, WANs, and VPNs. They also assess similar systems, such as routers and firewalls, to ascertain their effectiveness and efficiency.
A cyber security architect is also an expert in computer system analysis for online goods like cloud computing architecture and information systems. Assessing a company’s or organization’s present security capabilities through security testing and analysis is one of the responsibilities of a cyber security architect. You then create strategies to increase security. You collaborate with other professionals to develop and implement policies and procedures for the whole company, including emergency security measures and security training for all personnel.
On the administrative end, a cyber security architect could collaborate with other managers to enforce staff policies to preserve system integrity. These procedures are important when dealing with high levels of security, such as while working as a defense contractor. You might ensure that no workstation should be left unattended and that every employee must pass a physical examination before entering and leaving the department. You will have to conduct interviews for new hiring, organize training for your department staff, and even fire people when required.
As a security architect, you will train your personnel on new standards and procedures when they are implemented. As a security architect, you’ll probably need to keep up with the most recent developments in the security industry. Attending seminars and reading industry publications will be required of you. Some people find it satisfying to produce articles on new security software or the top security architecture design strategies.
You will be able to choose when and how to improve your system when you are knowledgeable about current business trends. Then, when doing installations and uninstalls, you will need to supervise the rollout of new software packages while maintaining the integrity of the whole network. You can conduct a fresh audit after updates to find any software inconsistencies or flaws.
Cyber Security Architect Job Description
What is a cyber security architect job description? A cyber security architect job description is simply a list of duties and responsibilities of a cyber security architect in an organization. Below are the cyber security architect job description examples you can use to develop your resume or write a cyber security architect job description for your employee. Employers can also use it to sieve out job seekers when choosing candidates for interviews.
The duties and responsibilities of the cyber security architect include the following:
- Align the infrastructure and organizational security plan with the broader business and technology strategy.
- Create security architecture components to counteract threats as they materialize.
- Determine and convey current and new security risks.
- Develop solutions that balance business, information, and cybersecurity needs.
- Find security design flaws in current and prospective architectures and suggest improvements or adjustments.
- Examine and provide the go-ahead for servers, routers, firewalls, and VPN installation.
- Create, implement, and maintain enterprise-class security systems.
- Establish, carry out, and uphold business security guidelines.
- Instruct consumers on how to utilize or convert systems.
- Offer in-depth analysis and remedial actions to security-related problems.
- Inform higher management regularly of critical information, security requirements, and priorities.
- Gain a thorough grasp of the technology and information systems used by the organization.
- Organize, study, and create reliable security architectures for each IT project.
- Perform or oversee security assessments, risk analysis, and vulnerability testing
- Test security systems to confirm functionality.
- Utilize modern programming languages and tools to develop code, finish programming, and test and debug the application.
- Provide oversight and direction to security staff.
Qualifications
- A bachelor’s degree in computer science or information technology (preferably by firms)
- A master’s degree in a relevant discipline (optional)
- Years of experience as a cyber security analyst or engineer
- A certification in certified cloud security professional (CCSP), chief information security officer (CISO), certified ethical hacker (CEH), and cisco certified networking professional (CCNP)
Essential Skills
Here are the skills you require as a cyber security architect:
- Analytical
- Communication
- Creativity
- Data Security
- Identity Security
- Decisiveness
- Detail-orientation
- Leadership
- Motivation
- Penetration Testing
- Problem-solving
- Research
- Risk Management
- Security Audit
- Safety Procedures
- Team-playing
Analytical
Data collecting and interpretation are considered analysis. As a security architect, you may analyze network and software data to find any vulnerabilities or firewall faults. The ability to analyze data and examine information is useful when looking into the most modern company methods for security. Being more perceptive and honing your attention to detail will help you build analytical abilities. Understanding how processes operate will help you comprehend topics more clearly. Additionally, it may increase your productivity at work.
Communication
Communicating with people involves utilizing words and nonverbal cues like body language. To effectively communicate, one must also listen and analyze what is being said.
Security architects sometimes manage teams of coworkers in computer and network security. They communicate with other team members while giving non-technical personnel written and verbal technical knowledge. Network requirements for network security must be discussed often by security architects with other IT experts regarding the network and the needs of the organization’s employees.
Creativity
Creativity is the ability to think of original ideas and generate novel programs or products. Security architects need innovative skills to build secure networks and organize activities to enhance data and network security in an organization. Look for inspiration everywhere you go to become more creative. Reading articles on the sector might assist you to think of ideas. To generate more original ideas, you may also brainstorm with others and include them in your plans.
Data Security
Data protection techniques including encryption, pseudonymization, and scrambling are well known to cyber security architects. They are aware of when to apply these techniques to prevent data loss, compromise, and corruption.
Identity Security
Identity security protects access to human and nonhuman identities. Cyber security architects can monitor, evaluate, and improve a computer system or network’s identity security.
Decisiveness
Making judgments concerning information security procedures, tools, and regulations is the responsibility of cyber security architects. This necessitates assurance in their understanding and evaluation of organizational demands.
Detail-orientation
Cyber security architects might benefit from having a keen eye for detail. This is due to the possibility that they may be required to analyze and comprehend complicated systems, which necessitates they pay great attention to the specifics of each system. For instance, a cyber security architect may need to be familiar with every network function while assessing an existing one to decide what improvements should be made to increase its security.
Leadership
Cyber security architects must possess strong leadership qualities because they frequently manage groups of IT specialists. They must be able to assign duties, offer direction, and inspire their team members to do this. A company’s security operations can be aided by effective leadership if the appropriate personnel are in place to undertake the various tasks.
Motivation
Information security demands are determined by cyber security architects, who work to address such needs. To carry out a strategy and achieve a goal, calls for internal motivation. Security architects enthusiastically respond to outside motivation.
Penetration Testing
Penetration testing includes mimicking a cyberattack to identify weaknesses in current systems and networks. Security architects need various ethical hacking techniques, including covert pen testing, internal pen tests, and open-box pen tests.
Problem-solving
Cyber security architects need problem-solving skills to find and fix problems in their designs. Before putting a solution into action, they might need to assess the effectiveness of several options or fix technological issues. Additionally, they may invent fresh approaches to handle everyday problems and enhance current systems because of their talent.
Research
Research skills are the capacity to gather data, validate sources, and respond to research queries. To understand the most recent security features that are accessible, security architects employ their research skills. They also research to find out about threats to the IT infrastructure or network of the organization.
Learning techniques like taking notes, reading critically, and data collecting will help you improve your research abilities. You can practice these abilities while pursuing a degree in computer science or information technology.
Risk Management
A cyber security architect has to be well-versed in risk management. With this skill set, you can weigh the risks of many options and choose the best course of action. You can decide whether an alternative will lessen your organization’s risk of cyberattacks, for instance, if one solution costs more or demands more time than another.
Security Audit
Security audits comprise a thorough assessment of an organization’s information system security based on a predetermined set of standards. Once security measures are put in place, cyber security architects supervise ongoing compliance and assist in developing this criterion.
Safety Procedures
The guidelines that specify how a business should manage data and information are known as security procedures. Cyber security architects may use these protocols to create methods for safeguarding sensitive data inside an organization. For instance, they may be aware of the technology or software a company requires to safely keep its data and how users should access it.
Team-playing
The capacity to cooperate, assist, and communicate effectively with others are all aspects of teamwork. Since many of their job duties and projects depend on other employees completing their work, it’s crucial to operate effectively with a team. Team members could also count on cyber security architects to be meticulous and install certain software so they can do their jobs.
How to Become a Cyber Security Architect
Below are the steps to becoming a cyber security architect:
Step One: Get a Bachelor’s Degree
It takes substantial prior knowledge and experience in cutting-edge information technology ideas to be a cyber security architect. A bachelor’s degree is often the initial stage in an aspirant’s career. Many candidates may study computer science or information technology to guarantee they acquire the proper training. This is because these programs frequently provide courses in cybersecurity, systems management, and computer programming, which might be crucial to understand while working in cybersecurity. Here are a few additional topics you could study as you work toward your bachelor’s degree.
Algorithms, device usage, information management, files and databases, network basics, logic design, computer architecture, artificial intelligence, data management, and computer science theory are some of these. Computer science is also known as information technology.
Step Two: Apply For an Information Technology-related Job
You can work in an entry-level IT job for a few years after graduation to apply the principles you study in your bachelor’s degree program and get experience working in professional settings. A security architect is a senior-level role in information technology. Most entry-level IT jobs may help you build the skills you need to succeed and raise your chances of getting hired for more senior positions. There are numerous entry-level IT careers available, but here are a few you might want to consider: database administrator, help desk analyst, software developer, computer operator, and IT technician.
Step Three: Specialize in Cyber Security-related Role
You can start seeking more specialized jobs in cyber security after working for a few years in an entry-level IT position. Even if some aspiring architects submit applications for positions, it’s beneficial to begin in a mid-level cybersecurity job to get a sense of the more complex duties the line of work may entail. For instance, working as a security analyst can help you get ready for the workplace. You may learn from more experienced individuals in the area while performing comparable tasks to those you could do as an architect if you work as a security analyst.
Step Four: Get Certified
Although obtaining a certification may be optional, doing so can improve your chances of landing a job since it demonstrates your knowledge of and commitment to your field. Applying to an organization and passing a thorough exam are normally required to get certified. Some certification programs also provide educational courses or study guides, which can advance your career by giving you extra training in your area of expertise.
Common certifications in cybersecurity include:
Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP), Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH), and Cisco Certified Networking Professional (CCNP).
Step Five: Apply for Cyber Security Architecture Roles
You can start looking for an available position with a few years of information technology and cybersecurity expertise. Since certain businesses or organizations employ cyber security architects, you might get work by contacting those businesses to inquire about possible job vacancies. You may look for job listings online using search engines and job search websites.
Where to Work as a Cyber Security Architect
Every company with an IT infrastructure may hire cyber security architects. This comprises academic institutions, big data firms, tech-development firms, and other significant businesses. A security architect can work with most enterprises that use networks of some kind.
They collaborate with the IT department indoors. Travel is seldom necessary for this position, however, it may be necessary for industry-specific conferences or to set up a secure network at a new workplace. The day-to-day interactions of security architects with business leaders, IT managers, and other staff members are many.
Cyber Security Architect Salary Scale
The average salary for a cyber security architect is $153,396 annually or $78.66 per hour in the United States. The starting salary is $134,150 yearly, while the average yearly salary for years of experience as a cyber security architect is $195,000.
In the UK, the average income for a cyber security architect is £71,657 per year or £36.75 per hour. More experienced professionals earn up to £90,000 yearly, while entry-level start at £60,000.
In Canada, a cyber security architect makes an average pay of CA$103,697 per year or CA$53.18 per hour. More experienced professionals earn up to CA$150,375 yearly, while entry-level start at CA$85,207 annually.
A cyber security architect makes an annual average salary of AU$138,526 yearly or AU$71.04 per hour. Entry-level start at AU$119,086 yearly, while most experienced ones make up to AU$200,722 yearly.
In Germany, a cyber security architect makes an average yearly income of €88,224.
In Ireland, a cyber security architect makes an average yearly pay of €76,000.
A cyber security architect makes a monthly average of ₦290,000 in Nigeria.