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Senior security architect vs information assurance engineer

The differences between senior security architects and information assurance engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a senior security architect and an information assurance engineer. Additionally, a senior security architect has an average salary of $129,456, which is higher than the $89,291 average annual salary of an information assurance engineer.

The top three skills for a senior security architect include cloud security, cloud and risk assessments. The most important skills for an information assurance engineer are RMF, DOD, and IAM.

Senior security architect vs information assurance engineer overview

Senior Security ArchitectInformation Assurance Engineer
Yearly salary$129,456$89,291
Hourly rate$62.24$42.93
Growth rate32%32%
Number of jobs123,555104,421
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 66%Bachelor's Degree, 60%
Average age4242
Years of experience66

What does a senior security architect do?

Senior security architects deal with developing solutions to accomplish goals and providing ideas about structure, growth, and solutions. Their job revolves around a quick moving environment, constant communication, and working with partners to identify business opportunities. Having this position requires leadership and mentoring skills to help junior team members succeed in this field. They should have technical skills to design and develop solutions to improve an already existing technology. Also, they will be responsible for developing, planning, and executing security systems and strategies.

What does an information assurance engineer do?

Information assurance engineers are responsible for protecting an organization's data. They act as a team of security specialists that use their skill in securely operating and keeping data to protect the organization's most essential asset. Their main role is to guarantee the quality, security, and retrievability of the organization's information. Also, they outline security systems that make certain the integrity, confidentiality, and accessibility of data. Additionally, they secure IT infrastructure, maintain hardware and software updated, establish security standards, and monitor threats like breaches.

Senior security architect vs information assurance engineer salary

Senior security architects and information assurance engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Senior Security ArchitectInformation Assurance Engineer
Average salary$129,456$89,291
Salary rangeBetween $96,000 And $173,000Between $67,000 And $117,000
Highest paying CityOlympia, WASanta Clara, CA
Highest paying stateWashingtonOregon
Best paying companyAppleParsons
Best paying industryProfessionalProfessional

Differences between senior security architect and information assurance engineer education

There are a few differences between a senior security architect and an information assurance engineer in terms of educational background:

Senior Security ArchitectInformation Assurance Engineer
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 66%Bachelor's Degree, 60%
Most common majorComputer ScienceInformation Technology
Most common collegeStanford University-

Senior security architect vs information assurance engineer demographics

Here are the differences between senior security architects' and information assurance engineers' demographics:

Senior Security ArchitectInformation Assurance Engineer
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 94.3% Female, 5.7%Male, 78.6% Female, 21.4%
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 senior security architect and information assurance engineer duties and responsibilities

Senior security architect example responsibilities.

  • Achieve full compliance for industry specification standards (UL, NEMA, NIST).
  • Manage logistics of moving necessary equipment for test across country to newly designed/built NSA certify test facility.
  • Provide governance and direction for proper use of data.
  • Implement logging, Nessus, write policies and develop encryption from framework for PCI/SOX compliance.
  • Ensure encryption solutions are in compliance with company policies, regulatory directives, and best practices.
  • Develop enterprise security policy, standards, controls and guidelines base on PCI, SOX, HIPPA, and NIST standards.
  • Show more

Information assurance engineer example responsibilities.

  • Install, configure, and managing ACAS deployments to assess the current vulnerabilities and security posture for classify networks.
  • Implement a manage endpoint encryption solution utilizing TrendMicro MobileArmor to secure university workstations against sensitive data loss.
  • Review system security plans, risk assessments, and compliance with NIST minimal security controls.
  • Assess network against NIST SP 800-53 rev3 security controls.
  • Review of PowerBroker root user logs on SOX UNIX systems.
  • Automate regression scenarios and update existing regression suite (QTP).
  • Show more

Senior security architect vs information assurance engineer skills

Common senior security architect skills
  • Cloud Security, 8%
  • Cloud, 8%
  • Risk Assessments, 5%
  • Encryption, 5%
  • Firewall, 5%
  • Windows, 4%
Common information assurance engineer skills
  • RMF, 9%
  • DOD, 9%
  • IAM, 5%
  • Windows, 5%
  • ACAS, 5%
  • Assurance Support, 4%

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