Security Architect – Microsoft Security Security Architect – 12-Month Contract (Financial Services) My client, a leading organisation within the Financial Services sector, is seeking an experienced Security Architect for an initial 12-month contract . Key Responsibilities: Lead and develop security capabilities, focusing on Microsoft security solutions, governance, and strategic usage. Facilitate high-level security discussions across the business, aligning technical capabilities with organisational priorities. Assess and advise on Microsoft licensing relevant to security technologies. Design and implement security reference architectures, reusable templates, and patterns to support development and platform teams. Ensure solutions align with industry standards and compliance frameworks such as CIS, NIST, ISO 27001, particularly in cloud-native environments. Additional Requirements: Hands-on experience with Microsoft 365 E5 Security & Compliance tools. Ability to evaluate and compare existing security products (e.g. Microsoft Defender vs. CrowdStrike). Collaborate closely with the Security Operations Centre (SOC) team. Professional certifications such as CISSP or CISM are highly desirable.