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Security architect vs senior security consultant

The differences between security architects and senior security consultants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a security architect and a senior security consultant. Additionally, a security architect has an average salary of $128,636, which is higher than the $120,769 average annual salary of a senior security consultant.

The top three skills for a security architect include cloud security, architecture and cloud. The most important skills for a senior security consultant are cloud security, infrastructure, and governance.

Security architect vs senior security consultant overview

Security ArchitectSenior Security Consultant
Yearly salary$128,636$120,769
Hourly rate$61.84$58.06
Growth rate32%32%
Number of jobs127,61966,226
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 62%Bachelor's Degree, 67%
Average age4242
Years of experience66

What does a security architect do?

A security architect specializes in designing and establishing security systems and measures to protect a company and its clients from hackers or cyber-attacks. Their responsibilities revolve around reviewing existing security systems to determine areas needing improvement, implementing upgrades, and devising strategies to identify a company's information technology needs. A security architect may also provide instructional materials to employees on utilizing the security systems, respond to inquiries and concerns, and perform maintenance tests as needed. Furthermore, should there be any incidents of breaches, it is essential to conduct a thorough investigation to prevent it from happening again.

What does a senior security consultant do?

A senior security consultant is an information technology (IT) expert specializing in establishing security protocols and systems to protect a company's data and network. Their responsibilities revolve around performing internal research and analysis to identify the strengths and weaknesses of current IT security systems, recommending solutions to problem areas, and suggesting new tools and techniques to improve data security. Furthermore, as a senior security consultant, it is essential to monitor the company's systems and networks and promptly respond to any breaches, conducting corrective and preventive measures to prevent it from ever happening again.

Security architect vs senior security consultant salary

Security architects and senior security consultants have different pay scales, as shown below.

Security ArchitectSenior Security Consultant
Average salary$128,636$120,769
Salary rangeBetween $92,000 And $179,000Between $91,000 And $159,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CASacramento, CA
Highest paying statePennsylvaniaNevada
Best paying companyThe KnotAmazon
Best paying industry-Technology

Differences between security architect and senior security consultant education

There are a few differences between a security architect and a senior security consultant in terms of educational background:

Security ArchitectSenior Security Consultant
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 62%Bachelor's Degree, 67%
Most common majorComputer ScienceBusiness
Most common collegeMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyStanford University

Security architect vs senior security consultant demographics

Here are the differences between security architects' and senior security consultants' demographics:

Security ArchitectSenior Security Consultant
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 90.5% Female, 9.5%Male, 86.1% Female, 13.9%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 6.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.0% Asian, 9.6% White, 65.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%Black or African American, 9.2% Unknown, 6.1% Hispanic or Latino, 9.0% Asian, 9.6% White, 65.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage9%9%

Differences between security architect and senior security consultant duties and responsibilities

Security architect example responsibilities.

  • Manage 4.1MM growth budget and 20MM operating budget in order to facilitate execution of priorities across the IAM landscape.
  • Manage annual penetration testing exercise and PCI compliance validation scanning program.
  • Lead multiple identity management projects integrating provisioning and roll management tools.
  • Manage GLBA security awareness and training program and annual information security awareness activities.
  • Implement a manage endpoint encryption solution utilizing TrendMicro MobileArmor to secure university workstations against sensitive data loss.
  • Develop criteria, assess, and validate security architectures models according to NIST 800-123 , 800-53 and ISO regulations and standards.
  • Show more

Senior security consultant example responsibilities.

  • Manage GLBA security awareness and training program and annual information security awareness activities.
  • Work alongside the QA department to ensure all documents are concise and well written in order to meet ISO's standards.
  • Monitor company s internal logs and traffic via Splunk to proactively investigate suspicious traffic and determine if the anomalies are malicious.
  • Perform email and file encryption transition for global financial/insurance company.
  • Assist organizations with creation of their management systems and registration to international (ISO) security and service management standards.
  • Provide technical leadership, task management, and engineering support to customers in the development of cryptography and key management solutions.
  • Show more

Security architect vs senior security consultant skills

Common security architect skills
  • Cloud Security, 12%
  • Architecture, 8%
  • Cloud, 7%
  • Infrastructure, 6%
  • Java, 5%
  • NIST, 4%
Common senior security consultant skills
  • Cloud Security, 9%
  • Infrastructure, 7%
  • Governance, 5%
  • Java, 5%
  • Risk Management, 5%
  • Access Management, 4%

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