Security architecture vs engineering?

I have done alot of security work in my career and can't decide which role would best fit. I see alot of security engineering positions that are looking for guys with just NIST, ISO and other policy type/ vuln exp.

This type if role would fit my exp perfect, but I also keep seeing a role called security architecture.

Almost the same type credentials in some of the job descriptions.

Does anyone have any detailed description that would distinguish between the two, or are they one in the same?

Also, would CISSPISSAP/EP get me in the right frame of mind for one of these jobs?

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Comments

networker050184

One companies architect is another's engineer. Judge the positions by the duties not the title.

Danielm7

^^ Exactly, titles don't mean anything between companies. You'll find helpdesk engineers, I've worked with architects who only do policy and others who are super technical. Figure out what sort of role you want to fill and go for that, the title shouldn't be the defining characteristic.

JoJoCal19

What I've generally seen is the architects design the implementations and the engineers are the ones who implement it. But as networker said, some companies will slap either label on either responsibility.

DDStime

Interesting.

Anyone have any exp filling one of these roles?

What was your take?

Right now I do securiry implementation and heavy C&A/ policy work so I think one of these roles would fit well.

636-555-3226

Everybody uses different words for different things even if they might be the same. I concur with JoJo re: architects design the program and the engineers are the hands-on people actually installing, tuning, and rolling out the systems. After the architects say what to do and the engineers install it all, the security administrators run the systems and notify the analysts when something looks off. if you're doing implementation then at least in my mind that's engineering, but believe me, most job openings i see are written by people who don't know much about security, so they're all over the board.

DDStime

Ha ha sounds like I am actually already in an engineering position according to the responses.

The government labels everything different.

Although I am a sys ADM, my official title is information systems security officer.

UnixGuy

And architects gets paid MUCH more than engineers. I want to be an architect when I grow up. Or I want to get paid like one.