Solutions Architect – Contract (Outside IR35)
Summary:
We are seeking a highly skilled Security Architect to support a complex Datacentre Exit program which must complete before the end of 2025, ensuring secure transition of workloads, systems, and services from on-premises infrastructure to cloud or alternate hosting environments. This role is critical to maintaining the security posture during migration, managing risk, and ensuring compliance with organizational and regulatory standards.
Key Responsibilities:
* Lead the design and implementation of security architecture to support datacentre decommissioning and workload migration (e.g., to cloud, colocation, or hybrid environments).
* Conduct risk assessments, threat modelling, and security impact analysis for migrated applications, data, and infrastructure.
* Define and implement security controls to protect data in transit and at rest throughout the transition.
* Develop and validate security requirements for cloud platforms (e.g., Azure, AWS) and associated services being adopted.
* Ensure alignment with regulatory requirements (e.g., ISO 27001, NIST, GDPR) and internal governance policies.
* Collaborate with infrastructure, network, cloud, and application teams to embed security by design in the migration process.
* Oversee security tool integration, including identity and access management, logging/monitoring (SIEM), encryption, and vulnerability management.
* Review and Lead Security Tooling modernisation i.e. leveraging Microsoft native capabilities
* Provide guidance on the secure decommissioning of legacy systems and data destruction.
Required Skills and Qualifications:
* MUST have operated as pace to make decisions quickly
* Proven experience as a Security Architect supporting major infrastructure transformation or datacentre exit programs.
* Strong understanding of enterprise security architecture, cloud security frameworks, and hybrid environments.
* Hands-on experience with cloud security tools and services (e.g., Azure Security Center, AWS Security Hub, Microsoft Defender Suite, Zscaler etc.).
* Solid knowledge of identity and access management (IAM), encryption, network security, and secure workload migration.
* Experience with security governance, risk, and compliance in regulated environments.
* Strong documentation, communication, and stakeholder engagement skills.
* Relevant certifications preferred (e.g., CISSP, CCSP, Azure/AWS Security, SABSA, TOGAF).