Description

This curriculum spans the design and integration of security architecture across enterprise functions, comparable in scope to a multi-phase advisory engagement that addresses strategy, technical implementation, and governance across hybrid environments.

Module 1: Defining Security Architecture Strategy and Alignment

Selecting enterprise security frameworks (e.g., SABSA, TOGAF TRM, NIST CSF) based on organizational maturity, industry regulations, and existing IT governance structures.
Mapping security capabilities to business objectives by conducting stakeholder interviews and aligning control objectives with business risk appetite.
Establishing a security architecture review board with representation from IT, legal, compliance, and business units to govern architectural decisions.
Integrating security architecture deliverables into enterprise architecture repositories using tools like LeanIX or Alfabet to ensure traceability and visibility.
Defining architectural principles (e.g., "encrypt data in transit and at rest by default") and enforcing them through design standards and approval workflows.
Conducting gap analyses between current-state security controls and target-state architecture, prioritizing remediation based on risk and feasibility.

Module 2: Designing Secure Network and Infrastructure Architecture

Implementing network segmentation using VLANs, micro-segmentation, or zero trust network access (ZTNA) based on data classification and threat modeling outcomes.
Selecting and configuring next-generation firewalls (NGFW) with application-aware policies, IDS/IPS, and TLS inspection while balancing performance and privacy.
Architecting DMZs for external-facing services with layered controls, including reverse proxies, WAFs, and host-based monitoring.
Designing secure hybrid cloud connectivity using IPsec VPNs, AWS Direct Connect, or Azure ExpressRoute with strict routing and access control policies.
Standardizing secure baseline configurations for servers, network devices, and cloud instances using tools like Ansible, Chef, or AWS Config.
Evaluating the security implications of SD-WAN deployment, including encryption requirements, endpoint authentication, and centralized policy management.

Module 3: Identity and Access Management Architecture

Designing a centralized identity provider (IdP) architecture using SAML or OIDC to support SSO across on-premises and cloud applications.
Implementing role-based (RBAC) and attribute-based (ABAC) access control models aligned with job functions and data sensitivity.
Integrating privileged access management (PAM) solutions for just-in-time access to critical systems with session monitoring and credential vaulting.
Enforcing MFA across all remote access and administrative interfaces, including exceptions handling and fallback mechanism governance.
Architecting identity lifecycle management processes to automate provisioning and deprovisioning across systems based on HR workflows.
Assessing federation requirements for third-party partners and vendors, including trust establishment, audit logging, and contract stipulations.

Module 4: Data Protection and Encryption Architecture

Classifying data assets by sensitivity (e.g., public, internal, confidential, regulated) and defining protection requirements for each classification.
Selecting encryption methods (e.g., AES-256) and key management solutions (e.g., HSMs, cloud KMS) based on compliance needs and operational scalability.
Implementing DLP solutions at endpoints, network egress points, and cloud storage with policy tuning to minimize false positives.
Designing secure data handling patterns for cloud storage, including bucket policies, server-side encryption, and access logging.
Architecting tokenization or masking solutions for non-production environments to prevent exposure of sensitive data during testing.
Establishing data retention and secure disposal policies aligned with legal holds, regulatory requirements, and storage cost constraints.

Module 5: Cloud Security Architecture

Defining cloud security responsibility matrices for IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS services across AWS, Azure, and GCP environments.
Implementing cloud security posture management (CSPM) tools to detect misconfigurations and enforce compliance with benchmarks like CIS.
Architecting secure container and Kubernetes deployments with image scanning, network policies, and least-privilege service accounts.
Designing secure serverless application architectures with least privilege IAM roles, input validation, and execution environment isolation.
Integrating cloud workload protection platforms (CWPP) for runtime threat detection, file integrity monitoring, and behavioral analytics.
Establishing secure multi-cloud networking patterns with consistent identity, logging, and policy enforcement across providers.

Module 6: Security Monitoring and Threat Detection Architecture

Designing a centralized logging architecture using SIEM platforms (e.g., Splunk, QRadar) with normalized log sources and retention policies.
Developing detection rules based on MITRE ATT&CK techniques, tuned to reduce noise while maintaining coverage for critical threats.
Implementing endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions with real-time monitoring, automated response playbooks, and threat hunting capabilities.
Architecting network traffic analysis (NTA) systems to detect lateral movement, beaconing, and encrypted threats using metadata and ML.
Integrating threat intelligence feeds into security tools while filtering for relevance, timeliness, and false positive reduction.
Establishing secure log transport mechanisms (e.g., TLS, syslog over TLS) and protecting log integrity with hashing and access controls.

Module 7: Application Security and Secure Development Lifecycle

Integrating SAST and DAST tools into CI/CD pipelines with policy gates that block high-severity vulnerabilities from deployment.
Defining secure coding standards and conducting developer training based on OWASP Top 10 and organization-specific threat models.
Architecting API security controls including authentication, rate limiting, input validation, and schema enforcement using API gateways.
Implementing software bill of materials (SBOM) generation and vulnerability scanning for open-source dependencies in applications.
Conducting threat modeling during design phases using STRIDE or PASTA methodologies to identify and mitigate design-level risks.
Establishing a bug bounty program or coordinated vulnerability disclosure process with legal and response workflows defined.

Module 8: Governance, Risk, and Compliance Integration

Mapping security controls to regulatory requirements (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA, PCI DSS) and maintaining an evidence repository for audits.
Implementing risk assessment methodologies (e.g., FAIR, OCTAVE) to quantify risk and prioritize architectural investments.
Designing control validation processes using automated compliance checks, penetration testing, and red team exercises.
Integrating GRC platforms (e.g., RSA Archer, ServiceNow GRC) to track control ownership, exceptions, and remediation timelines.
Establishing a security architecture change management process requiring review for all high-risk infrastructure or application modifications.
Reporting security architecture KPIs and KRIs to executive leadership and board members using dashboards focused on risk reduction and control effectiveness.