How to start your career as a security architect
Thanks to modern digitalisation, there are a wide variety of cyber security jobs, including security architecture. These experts are highly specialised in identifying security threats and deploying appropriate measures to resolve them.
Security architects are senior members of staff within their organisations and often have significant levels of knowledge, skill and experience within the field of cyber security. The role involves a top-level perspective of a company’s protective measures, as well as maintaining existing defences and creating new ones.
Due to the nature of being a security architect, it’s not an entry-level job by any means. In fact, you’ll need to gain several years of professional experience before being considered for this position. Here are the best ways to increase your chances of landing a job as a security architect.
Achieve a university degree
The vast majority of cyber security roles require candidates to have obtained a degree in computer science or a closely related subject. This is mainly so that candidates have some demonstrable knowledge and experience within the field. Depending on the organisation, there might even be a requirement for some level of postgraduate qualification.
You won’t need to have a degree in security architecture. In fact, most subjects within computer science or IT will support you to become an architect, as they foster the technical, theoretical and practical knowledge you’ll need to get your career started.
Search for entry-level roles
If you’ve graduated from university with a degree in either computer science or IT subjects, or you’re moving from another profession with significant experience in these fields, it’s time to search for the perfect starting role. However, for most organisations, a security architect is a senior member of both the technical and managerial teams. This just means you’ll need to be open to other roles at first.
When starting your career, take on a general job within the industry. It will allow you to use the knowledge you gained from your university or prior experience and hone your skills. Some of the most common entry-level positions include database administrator, software developer and IT technician.
Build experience in cyber security
Because security architecture is a senior career pathway, having an extensive understanding of cyber security and best practices is simply unavoidable. After gaining some experience in an IT position, the next step is to move into a more specialised cyber security role. Positions such as security analyst are great for building
Obtain industry certifications
There are plenty of cyber security job opportunities on the market at the moment, but don’t be fooled by the abundance of vacancies. It’s an incredibly competitive industry and, as a senior position, becoming a security architect is no simple task.
To help stand out from the majority of candidates, take a look at some of the available certifications in cyber security. It’s not an essential part of architecture, but certified security architects will inevitably be more lucrative for employers than other prospects. Some of the most common certifications include:
- CompTIA Security+
- Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)
- Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP)
- Certified Chief Information Security Officer (CCISO)
Look for security architect jobs
With the experience, skills and knowledge gained from all of the previous steps, you should be well-placed to apply for security architect jobs. However, identifying these vacancies can be challenging and time-consuming, especially for professionals already working in the demanding cyber security sector.
The best way to look for security architect jobs - and other cyber security roles - is to sign up with a dedicated job board such as CyberSecurityJobsite.com. Just by uploading your CV, recruiters and organisations can view your credentials and reach out to you if the right opportunity arises.
