Secure Architecture Review

Security flaws built into your architecture cost 10 times more to fix after deployment.

Design decisions made early in a project determine how secure a system can ever be. AMATAS secure architecture review identifies weaknesses at the design level – in new systems before they’re built and in existing systems before attackers exploit what’s already there.

Scope

New designs & existing systems - both benefit

The right time to review your architecture depends on where you are in the build cycle – but there’s never a wrong time to understand your security posture at the design level.

New systems

Reviewing architecture at the design stage is the highest-value point in the security lifecycle – changes are cheap, and design decisions can be shaped before they’re hardened into production.

Review of architecture diagrams & design documents
Trust boundary & data flow analysis
Threat modeling against the proposed design
Security control recommendations before implementation
Compliance alignment review

Existing systems

Systems grow and change over time – integrations are added, components replaced, and original design assumptions drift. A review of your existing architecture surfaces what’s been missed.

Review of current architecture against documented design
Identification of architectural drift & undocumented changes
Trust boundary & access control gap analysis
Technical validation of security control effectiveness
Remediation roadmap & design improvement recommendations

Review coverage

What every secure architecture review examines

Trust boundaries & data flows

Where data moves between components, services, and trust zones – and whether the controls at each boundary are appropriate for the sensitivity of what crosses it.

Authentication & authorization

How identity is established and enforced across the architecture – including service-to-service authentication, privilege models, and token handling.

Network segmentation & exposure

How components are isolated from each other and from the internet – and whether the network architecture limits blast radius in the event of a compromise.

Secrets & credential management

How API keys, credentials, certificates, and secrets are stored, rotated, and accessed – including third-party service integrations and CI/CD pipelines.

Data protection

Encryption at rest and in transit, data classification alignment, retention and deletion controls, and backup security.

Logging & observability

Whether the architecture produces sufficient security-relevant logs to support detection, incident response, and compliance evidence requirements.

When to use it

The right moments for a secure architecture review

Before a major build or migration

New platforms, cloud migrations, or major redesigns – review the design before implementation begins, when changes cost the least.

Before a compliance audit

Identify architecture-level gaps before your auditors do – and address them with documented evidence of due diligence.

Before or after M&A

Security due diligence on an acquisition target’s architecture – or integration planning after a merger to identify where boundaries need reinforcing.

After a security incident

Following a breach – understand whether the architectural decisions that enabled it are present elsewhere in your environment.

Before deploying AI systems

AI deployments introduce new trust boundaries and data flows – architecture review before deployment significantly reduces downstream risk.

Before major third-party integrations

New integrations extend your trust boundary – review the architecture before connecting to ensure controls are appropriate.

Compliance support

Regulatory frameworks this service supports

Secure architecture review produces documented evidence of security-by-design practices directly relevant to the following frameworks.

FAQ

Secure architecture review - common questions

What is the difference between a secure architecture review and a penetration test?

A penetration test assesses what’s exploitable in a system that’s already deployed – testing from the outside, the way an attacker would. A secure architecture review examines the design of a system – identifying weaknesses in how it’s structured, how data flows between components, and how security controls are positioned. Architecture reviews are most valuable earlier in the lifecycle, when changes are cheapest. Penetration testing validates what’s exploitable in the finished system. Both are important and complement each other.

What documentation do you need to conduct the review?

We work with whatever documentation exists, which varies significantly between organizations. Ideal inputs include architecture diagrams, data flow diagrams, network topology documents, and any existing threat models or security control documentation. For systems without formal documentation, we can begin with interviews and technical discovery – mapping the architecture ourselves as the first step. We’ll agree what’s available and what’s needed during scoping.

Does DORA require a secure architecture review?

DORA’s ICT risk management framework requires financial entities to maintain documented, up-to-date architecture documentation and to ensure their ICT systems supporting critical functions are designed with security controls appropriate to the risks they face. A secure architecture review provides both the independent assessment and the documented evidence that satisfies these requirements – and is particularly relevant in the context of DORA’s emphasis on mapping and reviewing ICT assets and dependencies.

Ready to review your architecture?

Talk to our team – we’ll scope the right review for your system, compliance requirements, and timeline.

Often combined with secure architecture review

Web & API Testing

Validate exploitability of architectural weaknesses in the deployed system – the natural follow-on to a design review.

AI/LLM Security Assessment

Runtime security testing of AI systems – pairs with architecture review for complete coverage of design and deployment.

PQC Readiness

Ensure your architecture is designed for crypto-agility – making future cryptographic migrations faster and lower risk.