Cloud Architect

Job Description

Roles & Responsibilities2.1 Cloud and Tenant ArchitectureOwn the target-state architecture for the Group's Microsoft 365 and Azure estate, including the consolidated tenant design, subscription and management-group structure, and Azure landing zones.Lead the architectural workstream of the tenant -tenant assessment, coexistence design, cutover sequencing, domain and namespace strategy, and post-migration hardening.Define data-residency, licensing, and service-placement decisions in line with regulatory obligations and Group business requirements.Produce and maintain High-Level and Low-Level Design documentation, reference architecture, and architecture decision records for every major platform change.Assess new Microsoft and third-party services for risk, cost, and impact on integration before adoption.2.2 Identity and Access ArchitectureDesign the Group identity architecture on Microsoft Entra ID, covering tenant topology, domain federation, guest and B2B collaboration, and lifecycle workflows across subsidiaries.Define the Conditional Access policy framework, authentication strength requirements, phishing-resistant MFA rollout, and named-location and device-trust strategy.Architect privileged access using Privileged Identity Management, role-assignable groups, administrative unit delegation per subsidiary, and access reviews.Establish joiner-mover-leaver design, entitlement management, and application single sign-on standards for line-of-business applications.2.3 Security Architecture (Zero Trust)Own the Zero Trust reference architecture for the Group and drive its adoption across all subsidiaries.Design the detection and response architecture across Microsoft Defender XDR and Microsoft Sentinel, including log-source onboarding strategy, data-collection tiers, retention design, and integration with the managed SOC provider.Define data protection architecture using Microsoft Purview: sensitivity labelling taxonomy, data loss prevention, insider risk, retention, and eDiscovery readiness.Set email, collaboration, and application security standards, including Defender for Office 365 policy design and SPF, DKIM, and DMARC enforcement across Group domains.Design the security architecture interface with network and perimeter controls, ensuring identity, endpoint, and network layers form a coherent control set.2.4 Endpoint and Modern Workplace ArchitectureDefine the endpoint management architecture on Microsoft Intune, covering enrolment models, Windows Autopilot, compliance and configuration baselines, update rings, and application delivery.Design the BYOD and mobile posture using application protection policies and set the standard for endpoint hardening and encryption across the Group.Establish the collaboration and productivity architecture for Exchange Online, SharePoint Online, OneDrive, and Microsoft Teams, including external sharing and governance controls.Define backup, retention, and recovery architecture for cloud workloads, with recovery objectives agreed with the business.2.5 Governance, Compliance, and RiskEnsure all designs satisfy NCA ECC-1:2018 and ISO 27001:2022 requirements, and map implemented technical controls to the relevant domains and Annex A controls.Maintain the architecture standards, technical baselines, and control-evidence set required for internal and external audit.Contribute to the technology risk register: identify architectural risks, quantify impact, and propose treatment options with clear cost and effort estimates.Provide technical input to Group IT policies, standards, and the Cybersecurity Steering Committee reporting pack.2.6 Technical Leadership and Vendor GovernanceAct as the technical authority in vendor and partner engagements: review statements of work, solution designs, and deliverables, and hold implementation partners to the agreed architecture.Lead design reviews and technical assurance for projects delivered by the internal team or third parties.Mentor the Infrastructure & Cloud team through documented standards, knowledge-transfer sessions, and structured development plans; build internal capability rather than concentrate it.Support the Infrastructure & Cloud Manager in technology roadmap planning, capacity forecasting, and budget input for cloud and security platforms.Desired Candidate ProfileBachelor?s degree in computer science, Information Technology, Cybersecurity, or a related engineering discipline.8 to 10 years of progressive experience in IT infrastructure, cloud, and security, including at least four years in architecture or senior design capacity.Demonstrable ownership of an enterprise Microsoft 365 and Azure estate, including hands-on production experience with Entra ID, Intune, Defender XDR, and Microsoft Purview.Practical working knowledge of NCA ECC-1:2018 and ISO 27001:2022, including control mapping and audit evidence preparation.Identity: Entra ID, Conditional Access, Privileged Identity Management, entitlement management, B2B and external identities, SSO and SCIM provisioning.Security: Defender XDR (Endpoint, Office 365, Identity, Cloud Apps), Microsoft Sentinel, KQL for hunting and analytics, Secure Score and Exposure Management.Data protection: Microsoft Purview sensitivity labels, DLP, insider risk management, retention and records management.Endpoint: Intune, Windows Autopilot, compliance and configuration baselines, application protection policies.Cloud platform: Azure landing zones, networking, RBAC, Azure Policy, and infrastructure as code (Bicep or Terraform).Automation: PowerShell and Microsoft Graph API for configuration, reporting, and migration tooling.Architecture practice: Zero Trust, defense in depth, segregation of duties, and documented design patterns.

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