Cyber Security Architect

A Cyber Security Architect designs and implements comprehensive security frameworks for organisational IT systems and networks in Australia. They assess security risks, develop architecture blueprints that align with regulatory requirements such as the Privacy Act 1988 and Notifiable Data Breaches scheme, and oversee the deployment of security controls across infrastructure, applications, and data systems. They ensure that security is embedded at all layers of an organisation's technology estate and responds to emerging threat landscapes.

Conduct comprehensive security risk assessments and threat modelling across IT infrastructure, applications, and business processes. Design security architecture frameworks that address authentication, authorisation, encryption, network segmentation, and data protection requirements. Develop security policies and standards that comply with the Privacy Act 1988, Notifiable Data Breaches scheme, and Australian Information Security Manual (ISM) guidelines. Evaluate and select security tools, platforms, and technologies (firewalls, intrusion detection systems, identity and access management, security information and event management). Establish incident response plans and disaster recovery procedures aligned with Australian Signals Directorate guidance and organisational risk appetite. Conduct security architecture reviews of existing systems and provide remediation roadmaps for identified vulnerabilities. Collaborate with cloud service providers to ensure security configurations meet Australian data sovereignty and compliance requirements. Define security testing and penetration testing programmes to validate the effectiveness of implemented controls.

The standard entry pathway requires a bachelor degree or higher (ABS Skill Level 1). Specific qualification requirements vary by employer and state. Some employers may accept equivalent experience. Check yourcareer.gov.au for available courses and dewr.gov.au/skills-reform/free-tafe for subsidised training options.

You'll need years of hands-on security experience before landing an architecture role. Most employers want 5 to 10 years in security operations or engineering first. The other catch: you're on call for breaches and incidents. When something goes wrong, you own it. The role also demands constant learning as threats evolve, so burnout from vigilance is real.

Most positions are with banks, insurers, defence contractors, and government departments. Remote work is common once established, but you'll need to be in a capital city initially to build the network and find entry points into architecture roles.

Published for ANZSCO unit group 2621, the wider group this job sits in, not for this job on its own.

This is the median for full-time employees who are not managers and are paid at the adult rate, before tax and salary sacrifice. It is a guide to what the work pays, not a wage rate.

Source: ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, customised report.

• Attention to Detailcore
• Confidentiality and Privacy Compliancecore
• Incident Reportingcore
• Policy Interpretationcore
• Problem Solvingcore
• Process Documentationcore
• Quality Assurance and Checkingcore
• Regulatory and Legislative Awarenesscore
• Report Writingcore
• Research and Analysiscore
• Risk Identificationcore
• Stakeholder Communicationcore
• Verbal Communicationcore
• Written Communicationcore
• Cloud monitoring and reporting
• Cloud technologies
• Continuous Learning and Upskilling
• Digital Literacy
• Goal Setting and Planning
• Negotiation
• Policy and Procedure Adherence
• Process Improvement Identification
• Reporting and Analytics
• Team Collaboration
• Verification and Authentication

• ABS OSCA 2024, occupation definition and task statements
• ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, customised report.
• ABS, 2021 Census of Population and Housing based on usual place of residence (Custom Report). OSCA Experimental Estimates.

Role data is drawn from official Australian Government sources, and each figure names where it comes from. Where a role is not in the ABS classification, the page shows no government figures for it. Data may not reflect every local variation.

Where our numbers come from.

Last updated: 30 October 2026