INDUSTRY OPINION
The evolving role of the Network Security Architect can deliver great value to the modern organisation The role of the network security architect is constantly changing due to evolution in the IT landscape and its digital transformation, and the position has become particularly important over the past fifteen years. This is a period during which technology, and the way it is consumed, has evolved significantly
I
By Sarthak Rohal, Vice President - IT Services at AlphaCodes
n addition, considering the current Covid situation, where work-fromhome is the new normal and those home-workers are vigorously targeted by cybercriminals due to the lack of necessary security solutions and user compliance on their devices. For instance: – as per the Kaspersky team – “As of January 2021, the number of global users encountering various threats, e.g. using popular online learning platforms as a lure, reached 270 171 – a 60 per cent increase when compared to the first half of 2020.” From the network security architect’s perspective, this has brought large changes to the application portfolio, based on the need to secure an
30
SECURITY FOCUS AFRICA APRIL 2021
organisation’s online presence. However, the biggest change in the role of the network security architect probably occured in recent years due to the advent of new technologies and a change in technologies such as IoT, distributed cloud, blockchain and serverless micro services. In addition, organisations are looking for automatic scaling and lower runtime costs, along with options of demand-based flexibility to run and access applications through modern security architecture. To enable a secure way to consume IT services, security has become much more important to organisations in recent years. Cloud and network security, application security, cyber defence,
security compliance, identity and access management, mobile security, including security related to Internet of Things (IoT), etc. now must be taken care of by the network security architect. The importance of compliance Compliance has also become extremely important in the past few years and this has impacted the role of a network security architect. Compliance and governance form a large part of this role, as the architect needs to consider regulations such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the Protection of Personal Information Act (PoPI), and other industry relevant compliances, etc.
securityfocusafrica.com
