BCS Practitioner Certificate in Information Assurance Architecture (CIAA)

There are no formal entry requirements however, candidates will require an understanding of information assurance. 

Who is it for:

Security professionals looking to understand the technical and business aspects of the profession or anyone looking to work in the field of security architecture.

• System Administrators who wish to become security architects
• Technical architects looking to move into the field of security architecture 

This certificate also offers a complimentary certification for those awarded or looking to achieve CCP status in IA.

What will I learn:

Candidates should be able to:

• Describe the business environment and the information risks that apply to the systems.
• Describe and apply security design principles.
• Identify information risks that arise from potential solution architectures.
• Design alternate architectures or countermeasures to mitigate identified information risks.
• Ensure that proposed architectures and countermeasures adequately mitigate identified information risks.
• Apply ‘standard’ security techniques and architectures to mitigate security risks.
• Develop new architectures that mitigate the risks posed by new technologies and business practices.
• Provide consultancy and advice to explain Information Assurance and architectural problems.
• Security configure ICT systems in compliance with their approved security architectures.

The syllabus includes training objectives and details of modules:

The latest syllabus (PDF)

Summary outline:

1. Module 1 – The Basics of IA Architecture

• What is IA Architecture?
• The Role of an IA architect
• Security Design Principles
• Conceptual Architectures

2. Module 2 – Advanced Security Architecture Concepts

• Core Security Mechanisms
• Security Services
• Security Design

3. Module 3 – Information Assurance Methodologies

• Information Assurance Frameworks
• Cryptographic Assurance
• Product and Service Assurance
• Vulnerability and Penetration Testing

4. Module 4 – Innovation and Business Improvement

• Business Change, Security Metrics and ROI
• Risk, Security Postures and Security Culture
• Security as a Business Enabler
• IA Maturity Models

5. Module 5 – Security Across the Lifecycle

• Security Across the Lifecycle

6. Module 6 – Preparation for IA Architecture mock and live exam

• Format, structure and scoring of the examination
• Mock examination, using the BCS sample paper

Module Learning Outcomes

• Understand the format and scoring of the examination
• Be prepared to take the IA Architecture examination

NobleProg is a BCS Accredited Training Provider.

This course will be delivered by an expert NobleProg trainer approved by BCS.

The price includes delivery of the full course syllabus by an approved BCS trainer and the BCS CIAA exam (which can be taken remotely in your own time and is invigilated centrally by BCS). Subject to successfully passing the exam (multiple choice, requiring a score of at least 65% to pass) participants will hold the accredited BCS Practitioner Certificate in Information Assurance Architecture (CIAA)