A security architect maintains computer system security in various settings, requiring a degree in computer science or engineering, training, and certification. They review systems, define and enforce policies, and think like attackers to address unique security needs.
A security architect is an IT professional who focuses on maintaining security in a computer system. Security architects work in a variety of settings, protecting corporate networks, government computer systems and websites, and are part of a global IT staff designed to keep a computer system relevant, up-to-date and useful. To work as a security architect, you usually need a bachelor’s degree in computer science or computer engineering, along with specific training and certification in security architecture.
There are a number of aspects to the job of a security architect. He or she must first review the system, gaining an understanding of how the system is being used, who is using it, and where weaknesses in the system may be located. The security architect thinks about how to improve an outdated system after reviewing it, or makes recommendations to strengthen security on a relatively new system. These recommendations may include hardware and software updates as well as new protocols for system users.
Security architects define policies and enforce them, regularly monitoring compliance. These policies can range from never leaving a workstation unattended while someone is logged into the computer system to always using an encryption protocol to gather sensitive information from customers on the Internet. The security architect wants basic security measures at all times and wants people to observe the protocols he establishes, and the system also has countermeasures in place that can become active when someone tries to break into the system.
A good security architect can think like an attacker. He or she can look at a system and see not just conventional weaknesses, but potential areas that someone thinking outside the box can exploit. He also knows that the work of developing a good security architecture is never done, because security needs are constantly evolving and changing, and you need to be highly adaptable and avoid sticking to particular approaches.
Every computer system and website has unique security needs that need to be addressed. While some software suites provide basic security, for large or sensitive systems it is necessary to hire a security architect to protect the system. As a permanent staff member of an organization, the security architect keeps the organization strong by keeping up with changes and trends in the security and information technology fields.
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