Cybersecurity architect salary
Introduction
The role of cybersecurity architect has become vital in the IT department of any organization in the 21st century. IT threats and attacks happen every day, and they are increasing in frequency and sophistication. To prevent them from affecting your organization, there is a need for cybersecurity professionals.
A cybersecurity architect is an IT professional who takes the responsibility of designing, building and overseeing the implementation of a computer and network security for a company.
In addition to the defense-related activities, a cybersecurity architect also assesses costs and risks, provides technical guidance and establishes security policy and procedures. Due to the multifaceted nature of the job, a cybersecurity architect is offered a generous salary in the IT marketplace. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, information security highly demands qualified managers, including network and security architects. This high demand results in high salaries and years of hard work will pay off with a median salary of $101,210 per year.
Since cybersecurity is a continuous phenomenon, the demand for cybersecurity architects is very strong. Starting a career today could go anywhere in the years to come.
In this article, we will delve into the responsibilities of a cybersecurity architect, his or her job experience and degree requirements, and how much money a cybersecurity architect can make.
What are the responsibilities of a cybersecurity architect?
The core function of a cybersecurity architect is to design and build the IT infrastructure and ensure its implementation and protection. Below is a list of all job responsibilities associated with the cybersecurity architect:
- Implement employees’ protocols, such as a defense contractor, to maintain system integrity by working with other security managers
- Implement a security policy that may involve all physical and logical security controls
- Implement employees’ training, handle the recruitment process and allow/disallow resignation or termination
- Keep abreast of the latest cybersecurity trends
- Ensure upgrading of new software versions
- Ensure and oversee the installation of new patches
- Approve the installation of firewalls within the network. Other devices may include routers, servers and IDS scanning technologies
- Provide requirements for Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), Wide Area Networks (WANs), Local Area Networks (LANs), bridges, routers and other network devices
- Provide estimated cost of the proposed infrastructure and highlight potential risks associated with it
- Implement the Public Key Infrastructure (PKI). The PKI contains Certification Authorities, CRL, CSR, public and private keys, Object Identifiers (OID), online versus offline CA, key escrow, different types of certificates and multiple formats of the certificate
- Ensure the implementation of authentication systems
- Prepare a report on the cause of the incident and help to remove potential loopholes in the security
Prerequisites: What job experience is required for a cybersecurity architect?
Unlike other entry-level information security job roles such as IT support technician, which requires minimum or no job experience at all, cybersecurity professional requires a good deal of job experience since he or she performs high-level job functions with regard to the cybersecurity of a company.
As a cybersecurity architect, you need to have at least five to 10 years of relevant IT experience, with at least three to five years being devoted specifically to security.
What are the soft and hard skills required for the cybersecurity architect?
A cybersecurity architect must have soft and technical skills to compete with others during interviews. Soft skills are related to teaching; oral and written communication. Since you are mostly performing a managerial role in the organization, in addition to designing the complete IT architecture you must be a problem-solver and inspiring leader with the ability to understand how to deal with people, such as security partners, third-party vendors, SOC teams, incident responders and others.
Hard skills are related to some technical skills, such as the understanding of:
- Authentication and authorization technologies, policy formation and risk assessment procedures
- Common security controls such as antivirus programs, SIEM, SOAR or endpoint detection technology
- Cybersecurity frameworks such as COBIT, ITIL or ISO 27001/27002
- Linux, UNIX and Windows operating systems
- Network devices
- Common attacks and their resolution
- Design and development of IT network security architecture
What are the degree requirements for an advanced-level cybersecurity architect?
The more job experience and educational requirements you have, the more career opportunities with high salaries will you be offered. To meet the degree requirements, you must have a bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity, computer science or related fields.
In addition, many employers especially demand advanced-level cybersecurity certifications, including Certified Information Systems and Security Professionals (CISSP), GIAC®️ Security Certifications (GSEC/GCIA/GCIH), Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) or/and Certified Information Security Manager (CISM).
How much money can a cybersecurity architect make?
Due to the fact that the cybersecurity architect job role has a complex nature and mostly requires in-house hours, cybersecurity architects may earn between $50,000 each year and $195,000 each year.
ITJobsWatch revealed that the median annual salary for a cybersecurity architect in the UK was £75,000 for advertised job vacancies during the past six months up to October 16, 2019. According to Payscale.com, the average salary for an IT security architect is $122,634.
According to the Neuvoo, “the average Cyber Architect salary in the USA is $165,000 per year or $84.62 per hour. Entry-level positions start at $55,000 per year while most experienced workers make up to $266,663 per year.” Below is the table of cybersecurity architect job roles and salaries associated with them:
| Job roles | Average salary per hour | Average salary per year | Entry-level position salary per year | Most experienced worker salary per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cybersecurity architect | $62.75 | $122,363 | $20,000 | $195,000 |
| Senior security architect | $90 | $175,500 | $39,000 | $220,875 |
| Cyber architect | $85.26 | $166,250 | $55,000 | $266,175 |
| Cloud architect | $76.92 | $150,000 | $18,525 | $242,500 |
| Cloud security architect | $75 | $146,250 | $18,525 | $248,625 |
| Security engineer architect | $73.84 | $143,986 | $40,000 | $195,000 |
| Solutions architect | $72.33 | $141,233 | $18,525 | $214,500 |
| Application architect manager | $71.79 | $140,000 | $115,000 | $238,000 |
| Enterprise architect | $71.75 | $139,917 | $18,525 | $225,000 |
| Data architect | $70.86 | $138,171 | $18,525 | $224,250 |
| Security architect | $70 | $136,500 | $18,525 | $214,500 |
| Enterprise security architect | $69.72 | $135,949 | $18,273 | $231,144 |
| Application security architect | $69.23 | $135,000 | $35,685 | $229,500 |
| Chief architect | $69.223 | $135,000 | $32,029 | $229,500 |
| Information security architect | $66.42 | $129,515 | $70,796 | $170,625 |
| IT security architect | $65.38 | $127,500 | $19,500 | $208,416 |
| Security network architect | $62.75 | $122,363 | $20,000 | $195,000 |
Conclusion: The way forward
The role of cybersecurity architect is one of the leading managerial roles in the IT department of any organization. He or she is responsible for designing, building, implementing and overseeing the security architecture of enterprises.
The cybersecurity architect job role incorporates a variety of entry-level, median-level and advanced-level information security positions, which include chief architect, data architect, application security architect, security network architect and more. The cybersecurity architect with extensive experience and a bachelor’s degree or/and information security certifications can win the trust of employers and command a large salary.
Sources
- How to Become a Security Architect, Cyber Degrees
- How to Become a Security Architect, Cyber Security Education
- Cyber Architect salary in USA, Neuvoo
- Average Security Architect, IT Salary, PayScale
- Cybersecurity Architect Jobs, ITJobsWatch