What methods can you use to assess the competencies of a security architect?

1 Technical skills

One of the most obvious methods to assess the technical skills of a security architect is to test their knowledge and ability to use various tools, frameworks, and languages that are relevant to the security architecture domain. For example, you can ask them to demonstrate how they would use a tool like Nmap to scan a network for vulnerabilities, or how they would apply a framework like TOGAF to define and document the security architecture of an organization. You can also ask them to write or review some code snippets that involve security features or issues, such as encryption, authentication, or error handling.

2 Security knowledge

Another method to assess the security knowledge of a security architect is to ask them about the concepts, principles, and best practices that underpin the security architecture discipline. For example, you can ask them to explain the difference between confidentiality, integrity, and availability, or how they would apply the principle of least privilege to a security design. You can also ask them to describe the common threats, risks, and countermeasures that affect the security architecture of an organization, such as malware, phishing, denial-of-service, or encryption.

3 Security experience

A third method to assess the security experience of a security architect is to ask them about their previous projects, roles, and achievements that relate to the security architecture field. For example, you can ask them to provide examples of security architectures that they have designed, implemented, or reviewed, and how they met the requirements and objectives of the stakeholders. You can also ask them to share their lessons learned, challenges faced, and solutions found in their security architecture work, and how they communicated and collaborated with other security professionals and teams.

4 Security mindset

A fourth method to assess the security mindset of a security architect is to ask them about their attitude, approach, and perspective on security issues and challenges. For example, you can ask them how they keep up with the latest trends, developments, and innovations in the security architecture domain, and what sources and resources they use to learn and improve their skills. You can also ask them how they balance the trade-offs between security and usability, performance, and cost, and how they handle uncertainty, ambiguity, and complexity in their security design decisions.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?