Role Title: Azure Security ArchitectDuration: contract to run until 30/10/2026Location: Knutsford 3 days per week onsiteRate: up to £543.45 p/d Umbrella inside IR35Role purpose/summaryThe Azure Security Architect is responsible for designing, implementing, and governing security controls across cloud platforms, with a focus on Zero Trust, secure build standards, and network segmentation. This role ensures that security controls are Embedded into all solution components and aligned with organisational and regulatory requirements.Key Responsibilities:Develop and maintain Azure security architecture aligned to Zero Trust principles, ensuring least privilege, segmentation, and strong identity control.Define secure configuration standards for Azure resources, including network, compute, storage, identity, and monitoring components.Lead design and assurance of secure network segregation, including hub-and-spoke, Firewalls, private endpoints, and micro-segmentation.Oversee policy implementation through Azure Policy, Defender for Cloud, RBAC, Conditional Access, and security baselines.Conduct threat modelling, risk assessments, and architectural reviews.Guide engineering teams on hardening patterns, remediation activities, and secure deployment practices.Ensure alignment with compliance standards (ISO, NIST, CIS benchmarks).Technical Components:Expertise with Azure AD/Entra, Defender suite, Sentinel, NSGs/ASGs, WAF, Azure Firewall, Key Vault, and managed identities.Experience ..... full job details .....