Security Architect
Advania · Manchester, GB ·
- Work mode
- Hybrid
- Seniority
- Principal
- Employment
- Contract
- Category
- Security
- Experience
- 3+ years
Advania · Manchester, GB ·
Security Architect
Position Overview
The Security Architect is a senior technical leadership role responsible for defining, governing and evolving secure enterprise architectures across Advania's Managed Services client base.
The role provides strategic and technical leadership across identity, security, cloud, infrastructure, networking, data protection and operational security domains, with a particular focus on Microsoft technologies including Entra ID, Defender, Sentinel, Purview, Azure and Microsoft 365.
Salary & Benefits
Our salaries are competitive within the cyber market
Click here for the list of benefits.
Hybrid working
We recognise the benefits that remote and flexible working brings.
We operate a hybrid working policy that allows our employees to balance time in the office and time from home. Each team within our organisation can decide how to implement this policy. If you have any questions after applying, please reach out to our recruitment team.
Responsibilities
Key Responsibilities
Security Architecture Leadership
Act as the lead security architecture authority across assigned Managed Services clients.
Develop enterprise security strategies, roadmaps and target-state architectures.
Produce and govern High-Level Designs (HLDs), Low-Level Designs (LLDs) and reference architectures.
Ensure architectures align with Zero Trust, Security by Design and Secure by Default principles.
Conduct architecture reviews and design assurance activities.
Identity & Access Management Architecture
Design and govern enterprise identity strategies across cloud, hybrid and on-premises environments.
Lead architecture for:
Microsoft Entra ID
Active Directory
Identity Governance
Privileged Identity Management (PIM)
Conditional Access
Authentication Services
Federation
Single Sign-On
B2B/B2C identity models
Define lifecycle management and access governance strategies.
Architect integrations between Microsoft identity services and third-party platforms. Managed Identities, Conditional Access, Identity Governance, Enterprise Applications and hybrid identity capabilities are core areas already recognised within Advania's service offerings.
Microsoft Security Architecture
Provide architectural ownership across the Microsoft security ecosystem, including:
Microsoft Defender Suite
Microsoft Sentinel
Microsoft Purview
Security Copilot
Microsoft Intune
Entra ID Security
Azure Security Services
Microsoft 365 Security & Compliance
Develop security patterns and reference architectures for:
Threat protection
Identity protection
Data protection
Insider risk management
Security monitoring
Compliance
AI security
These technologies are explicitly identified as core security architecture domains within Advania's security architecture practice.
Infrastructure & Platform Integration
Design secure architectures spanning:
Azure
AWS
Google Cloud
On-premises infrastructure
SaaS platforms
Datacentre environments
Lead secure integration of:
Third-party security products
Network infrastructure
Business applications
Identity providers
Security operations tooling
Assess technical dependencies and integration risks across complex customer estates.
Managed Services Enablement
Support the onboarding of customer environments into managed services.
Ensure new solutions are operationally supportable.
Define service acceptance criteria and operational design requirements.
Work alongside SOC, Managed Identity, Azure and Infrastructure teams to establish support models.
Provide technical governance throughout the service lifecycle.
Client Advisory & Strategic Engagement
Act as trusted advisor to CIO, CTO, CISO and technology leadership teams.
Facilitate architecture workshops and strategy sessions.
Develop security strategies, maturity roadmaps and investment plans.
Present architecture solutions and recommendations to executive and board-level stakeholders.
Support client security assessments, audits and transformation programmes.
Service Development
Support the creation and evolution of Managed Security Services.
Define architecture standards, reusable patterns and technical frameworks.
Evaluate emerging technologies and services.
Drive innovation across identity, cloud security, AI security and automation.
What Success Looks Like
Structural review of 10 clients, understand posture, contract, roadmaps and major risks
Develop reusable patterns covering Entra ID, Purview, and Defender for Cloud
Support at least 5 qualified opportunities
Qualifications & Experience
Security Architecture
Minimum 3-5 years' experience in enterprise security, cloud architecture or cyber security roles.
Demonstrable experience operating as a Security Architect, Enterprise Architect or Principal Consultant.
Strong understanding of:
Zero Trust Architecture
Secure Architecture Frameworks
Threat Modelling
Security Governance
Risk Management
Security Engineering
Data Protection
Microsoft Expertise
Advanced experience across:
Microsoft Entra ID
Microsoft Defender Suite
Microsoft Sentinel
Microsoft Purview
Microsoft Intune
Azure Security
Microsoft 365 Security & Compliance
Identity & Access Management
Deep expertise in:
Authentication
Federation
SSO
MFA
PIM
Identity Governance
Directory Services
Hybrid Identity
Infrastructure
Strong understanding of:
Networking
Hybrid Infrastructure
Azure Landing Zones
Cloud Security
Cloud based PKI
Infrastructure Integration
API Security
Security Monitoring
Client Engagement
Extensive client-facing consultancy experience.
Executive stakeholder management.
Architecture workshop facilitation.
Technical leadership across multiple concurrent clients.
Desirable Experience
Managed Services environment.
Security Operations integration.
Exposure Management and Vulnerability Management platforms.
AI security and governance.
Multi-cloud security architecture.
Secure DevOps / DevSecOps.
Regulatory environments including:
ISO 27001
NIST CSF
NIS2
Cyber Essentials
GDPR
DORA
FCA / PRA
Certifications
Preferred
CISSP
CCSP
CISM
SABSA Practitioner
Microsoft
SC-100 Cybersecurity Architect Expert
SC-300 Identity & Access Administrator
SC-200 Security Operations Analyst
AZ-500 Azure Security Engineer
AZ-305 Azure Solutions Architect
Success Measures
Trusted architecture authority across assigned clients.
Security architectures successfully deployed into operational managed services.
Increased adoption of Microsoft security technologies.
Improved client security maturity and resilience.
Growth of architecture-led consultancy and managed service opportunities.
Reusable architecture standards and patterns established across the business.
Positive client satisfaction and stakeholder feedback.
About Us:
We are the tech company with people at heart.
At Advania, we believe in empowering people to create sustainable value through the clever use of technology. As one of Microsoft's leading partners in the UK, specialising in Azure, Security, Dynamics 365, and Microsoft 365, we have a proven track record of success in delivering transformational IT services.
Our Selection Process:
We are committed to ensuring an equitable experience for all candidates, regardless of race, religion or belief, ethnic or national origin, disability, age, citizenship, marital, domestic or civil partnership status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other basis as protected by applicable law.
Please do let us know if you’ll need any reasonable adjustments as part of the selection process by highlighting these on your application form.
As part of our commitment to our clients we will need to carry out background checks, including a criminal record check, for all offers of employment. If you have any unspent criminal convictions or questions about the screening process, please notify your recruiter once the application has been submitted.
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