Security Architect

Designs enterprise and systems security throughout the development lifecycle; translates technology and environmental conditions (e.g., law and regulation) into security designs and processes.
Core KSATs
KSAT ID | Description | KSAT |
---|---|---|
22 | * Knowledge of computer networking concepts and protocols, and network security methodologies. |
Knowledge |
38 | Knowledge of organization’s enterprise information security architecture system. |
Knowledge |
63 | Knowledge of cybersecurity principles and organizational requirements (relevant to confidentiality, integrity, availability, authentication, non-repudiation). |
Knowledge |
68B | Ability to design architectures and frameworks. |
Ability |
70B | Skill in applying cybersecurity methods, such as firewalls, demilitarized zones, and encryption. |
Skill |
108 | * Knowledge of risk management processes (e.g., methods for assessing and mitigating risk). |
Knowledge |
143A | Knowledge of integrating the organization’s goals and objectives into the architecture. |
Knowledge |
183 | Skill in determining how a security system should work (including its resilience and dependability capabilities) and how changes in conditions, operations, or the environment will affect these outcomes. |
Skill |
197A | Skill in translating operational requirements into protection needs (i.e., security controls). |
Skill |
534 | Develop/integrate cybersecurity designs for systems and networks with multilevel security requirements or requirements for the processing of multiple classification levels of data primarily applicable to government organizations (e.g., UNCLASSIFIED, SECRET, and TOP SECRET). |
Task |
561 | Document and address organization’s information security, cybersecurity architecture, and systems security engineering requirements throughout the acquisition lifecycle. |
Task |
568 | Employ secure configuration management processes. |
Task |
579 | Ensure acquired or developed system(s) and architecture(s) are consistent with organization’s cybersecurity architecture guidelines. |
Task |
631 | Identify and prioritize critical business functions in collaboration with organizational stakeholders. |
Task |
646A | Document the protection needs (i.e., security controls) for the information system(s) and network(s) and document appropriately. |
Task |
765 | Perform security reviews, identify gaps in security architecture, and develop a security risk management plan. |
Task |
994 | Define and document how the implementation of a new system or new interfaces between systems impacts the security posture of the current environment. |
Task |
1072A | Ability to apply network security architecture concepts including topology, protocols, components, and principles (e.g., application of defense-in-depth). |
Ability |
1157 | * Knowledge of national and international laws, regulations, policies, and ethics as they relate to cybersecurity. |
Knowledge |
1158 | * Knowledge of cybersecurity principles. |
Knowledge |
1159 | * Knowledge of cyber threats and vulnerabilities. |
Knowledge |
2248 | Develop a system security context, a preliminary system security CONOPS, and define baseline system security requirements in accordance with applicable cybersecurity requirements. |
Task |
2390 | Evaluate security architectures and designs to determine the adequacy of security design and architecture proposed or provided in response to requirements contained in acquisition documents. |
Task |
3307 | Knowledge of cybersecurity-enabled software products. |
Knowledge |
6030 | Ability to apply an organization’s goals and objectives to develop and maintain architecture. |
Ability |
6900 | * Knowledge of specific operational impacts of cybersecurity lapses. |
Knowledge |
Additional KSATs
KSAT ID | Description | KSAT |
---|---|---|
8 | Knowledge of authentication, authorization, and access control methods. |
Knowledge |
21 | Knowledge of computer algorithms. |
Knowledge |
25 | Knowledge of encryption algorithms (e.g., Internet Protocol Security [IPSEC], Advanced Encryption Standard [AES], Generic Routing Encapsulation [GRE], Internet Key Exchange [IKE], Message Digest Algorithm [MD5], Secure Hash Algorithm [SHA], Triple Data Encryption Standard [3DES]). |
Knowledge |
27 | Knowledge of cryptography and cryptographic key management concepts. |
Knowledge |
34 | Knowledge of database systems. |
Knowledge |
40A | Knowledge of organization’s evaluation and validation criteria. |
Knowledge |
42 | Knowledge of electrical engineering as applied to computer architecture, including circuit boards, processors, chips, and associated computer hardware. |
Knowledge |
43A | Knowledge of embedded systems. |
Knowledge |
46A | Knowledge of system fault tolerance methodologies. |
Knowledge |
51 | Knowledge of how system components are installed, integrated, and optimized. |
Knowledge |
52 | Knowledge of human-computer interaction principles. |
Knowledge |
53 | Knowledge of the Security Assessment and Authorization process. |
Knowledge |
62 | Knowledge of industry-standard and organizationally accepted analysis principles and methods. |
Knowledge |
65A | Knowledge of Information Theory (e.g., source coding, channel coding, algorithm complexity theory, and data compression). |
Knowledge |
75 | Knowledge of mathematics, including logarithms, trigonometry, linear algebra, calculus, and statistics. |
Knowledge |
78 | Knowledge of microprocessors. |
Knowledge |
79 | Knowledge of network access, identity, and access management (e.g., public key infrastructure [PKI]). |
Knowledge |
81A | Knowledge of network protocols such as TCP/IP, Dynamic Host Configuration, Domain Name System (DNS), and directory services. |
Knowledge |
82A | Knowledge of network design processes, to include understanding of security objectives, operational objectives, and tradeoffs. |
Knowledge |
90 | Knowledge of operating systems. |
Knowledge |
92 | Knowledge of how traffic flows across the network (e.g., Transmission Control Protocol [TCP] and Internet Protocol [IP], Open System Interconnection Model [OSI], Information Technology Infrastructure Library, current version [ITIL]). |
Knowledge |
94 | Knowledge of parallel and distributed computing concepts. |
Knowledge |
109A | Knowledge of configuration management techniques. |
Knowledge |
110 | Knowledge of key concepts in security management (e.g., Release Management, Patch Management). |
Knowledge |
111A | Ability to apply secure system design tools, methods and techniques. |
Ability |
113A | Knowledge of N-tiered typologies including server and client operating systems. |
Knowledge |
119 | Knowledge of software engineering. |
Knowledge |
124A | Ability to apply system design tools, methods, and techniques, including automated systems analysis and design tools. |
Ability |
130 | Knowledge of systems testing and evaluation methods. |
Knowledge |
132 | Knowledge of technology integration processes. |
Knowledge |
133 | Knowledge of key telecommunications concepts (e.g., Routing Algorithms, Fiber Optics Systems Link Budgeting, Add/Drop Multiplexers). |
Knowledge |
141A | Knowledge of the enterprise information technology (IT) architectural concepts and patterns to include baseline and target architectures. |
Knowledge |
144 | Knowledge of the systems engineering process. |
Knowledge |
155 | Skill in applying and incorporating information technologies into proposed solutions. |
Skill |
180 | Skill in designing the integration of hardware and software solutions. |
Skill |
224 | Skill in design modeling and building use cases (e.g., unified modeling language). |
Skill |
238A | Skill in writing code in a currently supported programming language (e.g., Java, C++). |
Skill |
413A | Analyze user needs and requirements to plan architecture. |
Task |
483 | Define and prioritize essential system capabilities or business functions required for partial or full system restoration after a catastrophic failure event. |
Task |
484 | Define appropriate levels of system availability based on critical system functions and ensure system requirements identify appropriate disaster recovery and continuity of operations requirements to include any appropriate fail-over/alternate site requirements, backup requirements, and material supportability requirements for system recover/restoration. |
Task |
502A | Develop enterprise architecture or system components required to meet user needs. |
Task |
569A | Document and update as necessary all definition and architecture activities. |
Task |
797 | Provide advice on project costs, design concepts, or design changes. |
Task |
807 | Provide input on security requirements to be included in statements of work and other appropriate procurement documents. |
Task |
809 | Provide input to the Risk Management Framework process activities and related documentation (e.g., system life-cycle support plans, concept of operations, operational procedures, and maintenance training materials). |
Task |
864A | Translate proposed capabilities into technical requirements. |
Task |
993A | Ability to apply the methods, standards, and approaches for describing, analyzing, and documenting an organization’s enterprise information technology (IT) architecture (e.g., Open Group Architecture Framework [TOGAF], Department of Defense Architecture Framework [DoDAF], Federal Enterprise Architecture Framework [FEAF]). |
Ability |
996A | Assess and design security management functions as related to cyberspace. |
Task |
1034A | Knowledge of Personally Identifiable Information (PII) data security standards. |
Knowledge |
1034B | Knowledge of Payment Card Industry (PCI) data security standards. |
Knowledge |
1034C | Knowledge of Personal Health Information (PHI) data security standards. |
Knowledge |
1037B | Knowledge of program protection planning to include information technology (IT) supply chain security/risk management policies, anti-tampering techniques, and requirements. |
Knowledge |
1038 | Knowledge of local specialized system requirements (e.g., critical infrastructure systems that may not use standard information technology [IT]) for safety, performance, and reliability. |
Knowledge |
1073 | Knowledge of network systems management principles, models, methods (e.g., end-to-end systems performance monitoring), and tools. |
Knowledge |
1130 | Knowledge of organizational process improvement concepts and process maturity models (e.g., Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI) for Development, CMMI for Services, and CMMI for Acquisitions). |
Knowledge |
1133 | Knowledge of service management concepts for networks and related standards (e.g., Information Technology Infrastructure Library, current version [ITIL]). |
Knowledge |
1141A | Knowledge of an organization’s information classification program and procedures for information compromise. |
Knowledge |
1142B | Skill in applying security models (e.g., Bell-LaPadula model, Biba integrity model, Clark-Wilson integrity model). |
Skill |
2014 | Analyze candidate architectures, allocate security services, and select security mechanisms. |
Task |
2887 | Write detailed functional specifications that document the architecture development process. |
Task |
3030 | Ability to conduct vulnerability scans and recognize vulnerabilities in security systems. |
Ability |
3153 | Knowledge of circuit analysis. |
Knowledge |
3246 | Knowledge of confidentiality, integrity, and availability requirements. |
Knowledge |
3353 | Knowledge of the Risk Management Framework Assessment Methodology. |
Knowledge |
3642 | Knowledge of various types of computer architectures. |
Knowledge |
6150 | Ability to optimize systems to meet enterprise performance requirements. |
Ability |
6330 | Knowledge of multi-level/security cross domain solutions. |
Knowledge |
6640 | Skill in designing multi-level security/cross domain solutions. |
Skill |
6680 | Skill in the use of design methods. |
Skill |