Security Architect Courses

 

Security Architect Courses

The cyber security role of Security Architect is becoming ever more important in todays organisations seeking protection from cyber threats. The job means vital skills must be kept up to date in order for the practitioners to apply their knowledge effectively. Many courses for security architects are available.

The skills involved will likely include the ability to project manage teams, technical skills in IT security architecture planning, design and implementation and guidance regarding best practice. Before this, they will need the right skill-set to enable them to fully analyse any existing IT and cyber security infrastructure within an organisation. Up to date knowledge of state of the art hardware and software relating to IT Security will also be a must!

As part of their security architect role they will be responsible for initial existing risk analysis and recommending changes regarding the infrastructure of an organisations Information and Data security systems. Documentation and procedures relating to the new architecture will need drafting, aiding training of other staff.

 

Keeping Skills up to date

A great many of an employees existing skills will likely have been learnt on the job. But clearly due to the rapid rate of change in IT, new skills will need to be learnt along the way. This means that individuals will need to keep their skill-set and knowledge of the field up to date by attending refresher courses and training related to new technology as and when required.

Education regarding new trends within the field of IT Security is usually best achieved in a more formal classroom setting. In this way pupils can learn alongside their peers, comparing experience, and lessons learnt as they study.

The practical skills required by security architects will include up to date knowledge of IT and Cyber Security, Network Security, Cloud Security and other newly emergent technology in fields such as Big Data processing, AI (Artificial Intelligence), Smart Cities and the Internet of Things (IoT).

A Security Architect is a senior technical role. The individual may be educated to degree or post-doctorate level in fields such as Computer Science, IT Risk Analysis, Cyber Security or any other Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) related specialism. To be effective in this field an individual will require a deep understanding of both Cyber Security and IT Security Architecture. This will encompass knowledge of Network Management and Architecture, Local Area Networks (LAN), Wide Area Networks (WAN) and Virtual Private Networks (VPN) amongst others.

 

Training to become a Security Architect

In order for IT Security Architects to keep their skills as up to date as possible, there are many different courses to choose from. They are necessary in order to keep skills up to date, whether or not an individual has previously obtained a Bachelor of Science (BSc), post graduate PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) or similar qualification.

 

Security Architect Courses – an introduction

There are naturally many different courses available providing new skills to those involved in IT Security architecture. In this guide we will endeavour to highlight some of the most popular courses available in this type of career.

Basic skills in the architecture of networks in general and all related hardware and software will be vital to practitioners in this role. Deep knowledge of hacking methods, data encryption and transmission, Blockchain, Big Data, AI, IoT and other Smart City related fields are also likely necessary skillsets depending on the roles requirements.

 

Specific Security Architecture Courses

CompTIA

The well-known CompTIA is an Information Technology (IT) Association with a non-profit focus. Their objective is to enable IT professionals to obtain industry standard qualifications within the IT Security field. They provide a mix of individual certification programs suitable for a wide range of students. For Security Architects that need to update their skills, they offer useful foundational courses.

The main modules covered are as follows:

CompTIA Network+

Training in vendor neutral network skills including design, configuration, and management tasks and troubleshooting.

CompTIA Security+

Providing the education required to sit the SYO-401 exam

CompTIA Linux+

Provides foundation level skills for Linux system administration. The module covers configuration, management and troubleshooting for UNIX based Linux systems.

CompTIA Server+

A module covering planning, security and maintenance, this applies to a wide variety of server hardware and storage equipment.

CompTIA Cloud+

As Cloud Computing quickly evolves, this module helps you to learn new skills relating to the maintenance and optimisation of many of todays cloud based services. The key skills and knowledge necessary for the CVO-002 examination is included.

 

Ethical Hacking Courses

As cyber security has evolved, so too have a great many new courses, especially in the field of ethical hacking. Here we will introduce you to some of the courses and ethical hacker training programs that are available.

Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH). Training as a CEH involves the detailed study of hacking techniques and technologies as used by hackers. Education in this field will provide any security architect with the skills to get into the mind-set of a hacker.

Once learnt, these ‘hacker’ skills can be applied to the more robust design of new information security architectures. Valuable lessons can be learnt when seeing cyber security from a different point of view on a CEH course.

 

CISSP Courses

CISSP (Certified Information Systems Security Professional) certification is useful for anyone that desires, or has, a senior career in information security, such as practitioners in the field of security architecture. This makes it a good foundation course for most Security Architects. The qualification is globally recognised, showing that the holder has a good understanding of information systems security.

 

The general skillset that a Security Architect will need:

1) IT Security Architecture Planning – A full knowledge and understanding of an organisations IT, technology and Information Systems architecture.

Up to date understanding of security standards, different authentication protocols and state of the art IT security related hardware and software systems. Ability to compare and select the most appropriate solution to a requirement. Project planning skills and knowledge of each stage of the IT project lifecycle.

2) IT Security Architecture Design – Detailed design skills.

Design of IT Security solutions will be driven by knowledge learnt during training and on the job in previous roles. Network designs for WAN (Wide Area Networks), LAN (Local Area Networks) and VPN (Virtual Private Networks) will likely be necessary.

3) IT Security Architecture Implementation – Installation of WAN, LAN, firewalls, routers, VPN (Virtual Private Networks), Servers and Network related hardware and software.

Assistance with implementation of the new architecture post planning and design may be vital skills.

4) IT Security Architecture Management and Maintenance – Providing technical documentation and initial training

On-going maintenance and management of IT Security architecture solutions needs planning for. IT Security Architects will be expected to create technical documentation and initial technical support to IT Security teams. IT security policies and procedures may also need to be created, together with education regarding them.