How to Become a Security Architect: 2025 Career Guide

Security architecture refers to the overall security system required to protect an organization from security threats. As a security architect, it’s your job to design, build, and maintain your company’s security system. It’s a critical advanced-level role on nearly any cybersecurity team.

Whether you’re just getting started in cybersecurity or already have experience working in the field, setting your sights on a security architect role could be a rewarding career goal to work toward. Learn more about what a security architect does, their skills, their salary, and why you should consider a career in cybersecurity. 

If you’re ready to launch your career as a cybersecurity professional, consider enrolling in the IBM Cybersecurity Analyst Professional Certificate program to learn how to use cybersecurity tools and techniques to perform penetration testing, respond to incidents, and conduct forensics.

What is a security architect?

A security architect plays a critical management role within an organization’s information technology (IT) or cybersecurity department. As a security architect, you’re tasked with keeping your organization safe from digital threats. Take a closer look at what the job entails.

What does a security architect do?

The day-to-day tasks of a security architect will vary depending on the industry, company size, and the current state of the company’s security infrastructure. Some tasks you might perform in this role include:

• Designing and updating the overall security strategy

• Budgeting for new security software or hardware

• Managing security improvement projects

• Overseeing security testing strategy, including vulnerability scanning and penetration testing

• Performing regular threat analysis to keep up-to-date on the current security landscape

• Managing a cybersecurity team

• Ensuring compliance with applicable laws and regulations

Security architect skills

In this advanced-level role, many security architects have had years to develop the skills needed to be effective on the job. Even if you’re new to cybersecurity, you may already possess some of these technical and workplace skills taken from real security architect job listings on LinkedIn.

Security architect technical skills

• Cloud security: With many organizations working (at least in part) in the cloud, you’ll need to understand best practices for keeping cloud environments secure.

• Network security: You’ll balance business and security requirements to ensure an organization’s network is safe and functional.

• Software development and DevSecOps: Experience in software development can empower you to implement security principles more effectively in the development process.

• Identity and access management (IAM): Your job may be to protect data from unauthorized access while making it accessible to those who need it.

• Scripting language: The ability to write code in Python or PowerShell to automate tasks helps you work more efficiently.

• Linux, Windows, and Mac operating systems: Depending on your organization, you may need to address security concerns unique to each operating system.

Security architect workplace skills

• Collaboration: Security architects often work with company stakeholders to ensure the security infrastructure addresses business needs. 

• Mentoring and coaching: You may be tasked with managing a security team or training new cybersecurity professionals.

• Written and verbal communication: As a driver of security policy, you’ll often need to document your work and communicate complex topics to colleagues with non-technical backgrounds.

• Problem-solving: Maintaining an organization’s security means staying one step ahead of hackers and other threats. 

• Project management: Understanding project management can help you oversee the implementation of new security products, procedures, or technologies.

• Integrity: As a high-level security professional, you may have access to the same sensitive information you’ve been hired to protect. Furthermore, others might look to you to understand what behavior is acceptable and what is not.

Security architect vs. security engineer: What’s the difference?

A security architect creates the vision for a company’s security systems. It’s then the job of the security engineer to figure out how to implement that vision. If a security architect decides to add a new security tool to the infrastructure, the security engineer would be responsible for installing and configuring it. 

Read more about what it’s like to work as a security engineer (and how to get started). 

Why pursue a career as a security architect?

Working as a security architect means taking a more strategic role on your organization’s cybersecurity team. If you enjoy working with others to solve complex problems and don’t mind taking a step back from hands-on technical work, a career in security architecture could be a good fit.

Security architect salary

Security architects are among the highest-paid members of a cybersecurity team. According to Glassdoor, the estimated median total pay for security architects in the US is $223,000 annually [1]. This figure includes a median base salary ranging from $134,000 to $206,000, plus additional pay, which can include profit-sharing, commissions, bonuses, or other compensation, between $43,000 and $80,000. [1]. Your salary will depend on your company, location, and experience, among other factors.

Job outlook

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that information security analyst jobs will grow 29 percent between 2024 and 2034 [2]. That’s much faster than the average rate of growth for all occupations. 

Many parts of the US have more cybersecurity job openings than qualified candidates to fill them. States like New York, California, Texas, Florida, Illinois, Virginia, Colorado, and Maryland have the biggest cybersecurity talent gaps—and the most opportunities for those with the right skills [3].

Security architect career paths

Security architects are an advanced-level role within cybersecurity. Depending on your career goals, you might choose to pursue the management side of security by working for a larger company, managing a larger team or target, and working toward an executive security role.

You may also choose to specialize by further developing your security skills in a niche area, such as cloud, network, or application security. 

How to become a security architect

Successful security architects can take a high-level view of an organization’s security needs and craft solutions to meet those needs. Becoming a security architect often means developing your security and leadership skills while gaining experience working with information security. If this sounds like a career for you, here’s an outline of how to get there.

Start with an entry-level cybersecurity job.

Most security architects move into the role after gaining several years of experience working in cybersecurity. Browse some job listings on LinkedIn, and you might see requirements ranging from three to eight years of experience in information security. Entry-level roles and their median annual salary in the US include:

• Cybersecurity analys: $130,000 [4]

• IT auditor: $108,000 [5]

• Security specialist: $114,000 [6]

• Incident responder: $83,000 [7]

*All salary information represents the median total pay from Glassdoor as of September 2025. These figures include base salary and additional pay, which may represent profit-sharing, commissions, bonuses, or other compensation.

After gaining a year or two of experience, you might move into roles like penetration tester, cybersecurity consultant, or security engineer on your professional path toward becoming a security architect.

Consider a degree.

Approximately 32 percent of security architect job listings request at least a bachelor’s degree, while none request a graduate degree [8]. While it is possible to get your first job in cybersecurity without a degree, having one could open up more opportunities for advancement and make you a more competitive candidate in your job search.

Earning a degree in computer science, cybersecurity, information technology, or a related field can help you acquire some of the foundational IT and security skills recruiters seek.

Develop your cybersecurity skills.

If you’ve worked in IT before, you may already have some of the technical skills needed to become a security architect. But even if you’re completely new to cybersecurity, you can start developing these skills through online courses, boot camps, or cybersecurity degree programs.

Get certified.

Another way to gain new skills (and validate those skills to hiring managers) is to earn a cybersecurity certification. Certifications that might prove beneficial to aspiring security architects include:

• Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)

• Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)

• Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)

It’s common for cybersecurity professionals to earn more than one credential throughout their careers. If you’re trying to break into the industry, consider an entry-level certification, like the Security+ or Systems Security Certified Practitioner (SSCP). 

Stay current with security architect career trends and tips

Discover the latest trends in cybersecurity, an important aspect of organizations’ security architecture, with Career Chat, a weekly LinkedIn newsletter by Coursera. Explore insider stories or revisit essential cybersecurity topics with the following digital resources: 

• Hear from a professional: Meet the IT Support Tech Advancing Toward a Cybersecurity Career

• Bookmark for easy access: Cybersecurity Glossary: Key Terms & Definitions

• Watch on YouTube: Why Cybersecurity Professionals Need to Understand AI

Experience a more structured path toward becoming a security architect with Coursera Plus. With a monthly or annual plan, you can access over 10,000 expert-led courses to support your learning journey.

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