OVERVIEW
What Is a Cybersecurity Architect?
A cybersecurity architect is an information security professional responsible for designing and building an organization's high-tech security systems. The role requires knowledge of business practices paired with a comprehensive understanding of technology used to conduct operations. Cybersecurity architects usually consider three major factors when overseeing security systems:
- Familiarity with cybercrime: Cyberattacks get more sophisticated by the day. Successful cybersecurity architects must be able to think like hackers to anticipate malicious attacks and build the infrastructure needed to defend digital systems against security risks, information theft, and more.
- Organizational awareness: Cybersecurity architects must be experts on the ins and outs of the organization they work for so that they know what areas need to be protected against criminal penetration and to what degree. These professionals often communicate directly with business executives about security policies and plans.
- Information security expertise: Cybersecurity architects must also be masters at building security infrastructure from scratch or updating existing systems in response to ongoing changes in the security landscape. An organization’s infrastructure is based on the capabilities of cybercriminals coupled with the security needs of the organization.
As cybercrime remains one of the largest threats to professional organizations, especially due to the popularity of remote work, demand for cybersecurity professionals will continue to rise.
RESPONSIBILITIES
What Does a Cybersecurity Architect Do?
Every day, businesses, individuals, and government agencies experience some form of cybersecurity breach, phishing scam, or internet fraud. But thanks to the strategic work of cybersecurity architects, these crimes become harder to carry out. The most successful cybersecurity architects spend their time:
- Gaining a thorough understanding of an organization’s technology and information systems.
- Planning, researching, and designing reliable, powerful, and flexible security architectures for IT projects.
- Performing vulnerability testing on completed infrastructure, including risk analyses and security assessments.
- Researching the latest security standards, new network security systems, and updated authentication protocols.
- Defining, creating, and maintaining corporate security policies and procedures, ensuring that employees abide by them.
- Developing requirements for IT assets, including routers, firewalls, local area networks (LANs), wide-area networks (WANs), virtual private networks (VPNs), and any other related network devices.
- Reviewing and approving the installation of all firewalls, VPNs, routers, servers, and IDS scanning technologies.
- Preparing cost estimates for all cybersecurity measures and identifying any potential integration issues.
- Designing critical public infrastructures (PKIs), including digital signatures and certification authorities (CAs).
- Testing an organization’s final security structures to make sure they function as planned.
- Providing technical guidance and supervision for security teams.
- Spearheading security awareness programs and educational efforts to better prepare non-IT personnel.
- Responding promptly to any security-related incidents and providing a complete post-event analysis once resolved.
- Updating and upgrading an organization’s security architectures and systems as needed.
EDUCATION & BEST DEGREES
How Do I Become a Cybersecurity Architect?
Cybersecurity architecture is a highly technical career that typically requires a comprehensive education and years of experience in the IT field. Consider the following step-by-step guide to begin your journey on this career path.
Earn a Bachelor’s Degree
The first step to becoming a cybersecurity architect is to earn a bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity, computer science, or a similar subject. A bachelor’s program will grant you the foundational knowledge you need to anticipate the crimes of hackers and build resilient systems.
WGU's Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity and Information Assurance can equip you to outsmart the most sophisticated cybercriminals and participate on the frontlines of information security. This program also includes select industry certifications designed to boost your résumé before you enter the job market.
Earn a Master’s Degree in Cybersecurity
While not always required, a master’s degree in cybersecurity or a related field can deepen your knowledge, demonstrate your commitment, and pave the way for higher-paying job opportunities or other forms of career advancement.
Earn IT Certifications
There may be specific IT certifications you’ll need, depending on your niche, the industry you work in, and your job experience. Some of these certifications you might earn while completing a degree program. Others you’ll earn on your own.
Some of the most common certifications held by cybersecurity professionals include CompTIA Security+, Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH), Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP), Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP), and Certified Information Security Manager (CISM).
Gain Work Experience
The role of cybersecurity architect is usually a senior-level position, so you’ll need to gain some experience in the IT world before jumping into this role. Common entry- and mid-level roles include security administrator, network administrator, system administrator, security analyst, security engineer, security consultant, and security specialist.
Best Degrees for a Cybersecurity Architect
Technology
Cybersecurity and Information Assurance – B.S.
Protect your career and earning potential with this degree....
Protect your career and earning potential with this degree.
- Time: 60% of graduates finish within 29 months.
- Tuition: $4,410 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 34 total courses in this program.
Certifications included in this program at no extra cost include:
- Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP) - Associate of (ISC)2 designation
- Systems Security Certified Practitioner (SSCP) - Associate of (ISC)2 designation
- ITIL® Foundation Certification
- CompTIA A+
- CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst Certification (CySA+)
- CompTIA IT Operations Specialist
- CompTIA Network+
- CompTIA Network Vulnerability Assessment Professional
- CompTIA Network Security Professional
- CompTIA PenTest+
- CompTIA Project+
- CompTIA Secure Infrastructure Specialist
- CompTIA Security+
- CompTIA Security Analytics Professional
Skills for your résumé that you will learn in this program:
- Secure Systems Analysis & Design
- Data Management
- Web and Cloud Security
- Hacking Countermeasures and Techniques
- Digital Forensics and Incident Response
Technology
Cybersecurity and Information Assurance – M.S.
Become the authority on keeping infrastructures and information safe....
Become the authority on keeping infrastructures and information safe.
- Time: 63% of graduates finish within 18 months.
- Tuition: $4,700 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 9 total courses in this program.
Certifications in this program at no additional cost include:
- CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst (CySA+)
- CompTIA PenTest+
- CompTIA Advanced Security Practitioner (CASP+) Optional Voucher
- ISACA Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) Optional Voucher
- (ISC)² Certified in Cybersecurity (CC)
Skills for your résumé that you will learn in this program:
- Cybersecurity Strategy
- Information Assurance
- Incident Response
- Penetration Testing
The curriculum is closely aligned with the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE) Workforce Framework. The program was designed in collaboration with national intelligence organizations and IT industry leaders, ensuring you'll learn emerging technologies and best practices in security governance.
How Much Does a Cybersecurity Architect Make?
$124,910
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the average annual salary for information security analysts in May 2024 was $124,910. Most—if not all—cybersecurity architects can expect to earn more on average due to the nature of their senior-level work.
What Is the Projected Job Growth?
29%
The BLS states that employment of information security analysts is projected to grow by 29% from 2024 to 2034, which is much faster than the average for all occupations. Cybersecurity architect jobs can expect a similar growth trend.
SKILLS
What Skills Does a Cybersecurity Architect Need?
Expertise in managing and resolving data breaches, hacking incidents, account hijacking, data loss, and denial-of-service (DoS) attacks.
- Firm understanding of access management.
- Knowledge of Windows, UNIX, and Linux operating systems.
- Knowledge of VB.NET, Java EE, ColdFusion, Relational Database Management Systems (RDMS), and API's.
- Thorough understanding of industry security standards and protocols.
- Experience with router, switch, and VLAN security technology.
- Familiarity with risk assessment procedures, policy formation, role-based authorization methodologies, and authentication technologies.
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