Greetings from The SABSA Institute!
We are extremely excited to bring you lots of fantastic news and updates for 2025 and the coming months. First up, SABSA goes global!
Global coverage of SABSA: SABSA Chartered Architects now in 84 countries worldwide – including Vietnam, Cameroon and Kazakhstan (as of 2025)
We are thrilled to share that SABSA Chartered Architects are now present in 84 countries worldwide, including Vietnam, Cameroon and Kazakhstan!
Vietnam Update
The first ever SABSA Foundation Training course has been run in Vietnam as a private in-house course. Our warmest congratulations to the five new SABSA Chartered Architects in Vietnam who recently passed their exams. Congratulations and well done!
International in-house private SABSA training anywhere in the world
Because our coverage is global, SABSA training is available to you anywhere in the world. If you would like to organise a group training on SABSA Foundation or even just a one-day TSI-accredited Enterprise Security Architecture Essentials course to be introduced to the benefits of SABSA, anywhere in the world, contact our Accredited Education Partners (AEPs) to discuss private in-house delivery.
Our goal is to provide and make official SABSA training available all around the world, no matter where you’re located, through the in-house delivery of private SABSA training courses for Chartered Architects located in countries where there is no public classroom course scheduled yet.
In short, if you and your organisation would like official SABSA Foundation training where you are, we have an AEP network to support this, and our AEPs are on hand to organise this for you as a private in-house course.
Contact our AEPs to learn more.
The SABSA Institute Testing Board
The SABSA Institute Testing Board (SITB) is being established following a proposal by David Lynas, with the aim of enabling subject matter experts to accelerate the development of certification-related policies and candidate advice on behalf of the SABSA Board of Trustees (BoT). The SITB comprises experienced members, including advanced exam markers, thesis evaluators, and the SABSA authors.
The initial members of the SITB are: Michael Hirschfeld (SITB Lead), Chris Blunt, Glen Bruce, John Czaplewski, Jaco Jacobs, James Lynas, David Lynas, and John Sherwood (Honorary).
The SITB’s remit includes defining and maintaining certification policies, developing examination supervision strategies, managing examination appeals, and maintaining competency maps and certification roadmaps. Additionally, the SITB will focus on improving practitioner and master certification processes through developing new exam content.
In the first months, the SITB will be looking at improving the examination processes including enhanced guidance for candidates for the practitioner level courses and moving on to broader certification policy issues thereafter.
The SITB will report to the BoT every six months, detailing outcomes and setting future priorities.
The current forward work plan for the SITB includes providing a new generation of practitioner exam questions with related candidate guidance and reviewing certification policies. The SITB aims to ensure the quality and integrity of the SABSA certification process while addressing emerging challenges and maintaining high standards.
Michael Hirschfeld (SITB Lead)
The Open Group
The Open Group version of the T100 is now published and the TSI version is in the process of finalisation and submission.
The SABSA Institute has also now formally joined The Open Group ArchiMate Forum, which enables us to follow up on our proposals for better security integration in ArchiMate 4.0.
The 2025 scheduled dates for the accompanying SABSA Course ‘Practical SABSA with Modelling Tools’ this year are:
- 11th – 12th June (EMEA virtual);
- 9th – 10th September (US/ Canada virtual); and
- 22nd – 23rd October (EMEA virtual)
TSI Webinar
Defence in Context: Architecting Proactive Security through Business and Threat Intelligence
Date: 18th February 2025, Tuesday at 7am (GMT)/ 6pm (AEDT)
Presenter: Jason Layton
Registration link: https://sabsa.org/defence-in-context-architecting-proactive-security-through-business-and-threat-intelligence/
Details:
In today’s rapidly evolving threat landscape, organisations face the challenge of building security architectures that are both business-aligned and threat-aware. This presentation explores how to achieve proactive defence by harmonising business-driven and threat-driven security approaches. Jason will examine how understanding business context shapes effective threat defence whilst leveraging frameworks like MITRE ATT&CK to inform mitigating control decisions.
Through real-world case studies and practical examples, Jason will also demonstrate how this unified approach helps organisations overcome common challenges such as fragmented security solutions, stakeholder alignment, and threat prioritisation. Attendees will gain insights into creating a cohesive security strategy that balances business objectives with threat intelligence, leading to more resilient and contextually aware security architectures.
Speaker profile:
Jason is a distinguished security architect and thought leader who brings over a decade of hands-on experience in designing and implementing proactive defense strategies across complex enterprise environments. With deep expertise in both the technical and business aspects of cybersecurity, Jason has helped numerous organisations build resilient security architectures that align with modern threat landscapes and business objectives.
Jason Layton, Presenter of Defence in Context: Architecting Proactive Security through Business and Threat Intelligence
Register to attend this Webinar here, or contact Rob Laurie for more details.
SABSA World
SABSA World is the banner under which SABSA community members and practitioners can organise events and gatherings to connect with one another. SABSA World can be an evening talk, a weekday lunch, a study group or a casual social networking event and may be regularly scheduled or spontaneous and occasional.
All SABSA World activities are intended to be a welcoming space for everyone – and all are welcome – seasoned SABSA practitioners or just the SABSA-curious alike.
SABSA World UK (London), 14th January 2025
Next event… coming in March!
The first post-pandemic meetup for a group of enterprise security architects in London was a great success. Attendees thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to reconnect and discuss topics ranging from cloud security to broader enterprise concerns.
Rob Campbell delivered an engaging presentation which did not disappoint and sparked lively discussion throughout the entire evening. Many participants voiced how helpful it was to see SABSA concepts brought to life with real-world examples and created artifacts. It was also particularly extremely rewarding that the SABSA World London event had attracted both SABSA-certified professionals and those new to the methodology.
We would like to extend our sincere thanks to everyone who attended and contributed to the event’s success and special appreciation goes to Rob for his thought-provoking and relevant presentation, Infoblox for providing and sponsoring the venue, food, and refreshments as well as Simon for graciously hosting our 14th January SABSA World London.
The next SABSA World UK event is planned to take place in March. Specific details will follow. If you would like to attend the next SABSA World UK event, present your work, or have a space to host an event anytime this year, please contact Simon.
SABSA World Australia (Melbourne and Perth)
Here are some of the events that are happening in Melbourne and Perth in January and February.
· SABSA World Melbourne – Monthly security architect’s lunch
Melbourne, Australia
Tuesday 28th January
· SABSA World Perth – February Monthly Meetup
Perth, Australia
Wednesday 5th February
· SABSA World Melbourne – Security Architect Cocktails
Melbourne, Australia
Monday 24th February
· SABSA World Melbourne – Monthly security architect’s lunch
Melbourne, Australia
Tuesday 25th March
SABSA World Melbourne – A monthly casual networking lunch for the local security architect community in Melbourne – for both the SABSA-curious and the SABSA enthusiast.
SABSA World Groups
The following are pages for SABSA World community groups which organise events and provide resources to security architects around the world. For more information on how to join, help, host or participate in SABSA World community groups, please visit:
Australia
SABSA World Australia is a community project focused on the Australian SABSA Community, but is open to all.
Links to SABSA World Australia pages, events, and resources can be found via the Linktree: https://linktr.ee/sabsaworldaustralia
Europe
For information on upcoming events in Europe, follow SABSA World Belgium.
SABSA Practitioner Study Group
The SABSA Practitioner Study Group is a monthly meeting that aims to provide an environment of mutual support between those completing their SABSA Practitioner assignment submissions. Expressions of interest to join the group can be made via the Practitioner Paper Study channels in the SABSA Speakeasy server on Discord: https://discord.gg/ZZRkCxGF8Z
What do Liaison Group members do?
Joining an LG is a volunteer commitment for those who are interested to take an active role in connecting and growing the global community of SABSA practitioners.
General expectations of LG members include:
- Growing active community engagement with TSI Members
- Encouraging TSI Members’ participation in TSI projects
- Engaging with TSI Members to understand their needs
- Creating bonds of mutual support between LGs
- Advising the Board on how to best serve TSI Members
- Advocating for TSI Member interests to the Board
- Attending LG regular meetings
Interested in joining a Liaison Group?
Both EMEA & NA and APAC LGs welcome expressions of interest from community members who are keen to join. TSI Members can join either group, based on their time zone, location or preference.
Members who would like to join an LG are encouraged to write in to:
EMEA & NA LG
LG-emea@sabsainstitute.org
APAC LG
LG-apac@sabsainstitute.org
Security Architecture: Community Research Survey
Australian Security Architects and community leaders Lidia Giuliano and Sarah Young are undertaking a research project to better understand the global Security Architect community. The anonymised response dataset will be used in a white paper and also be published separately for use by other researchers.
“I have seen companies build a security architecture practice without putting in the foundations to ensure it adds value. Whether it’s at the enterprise or solution level. I have seen people struggle understanding the pathway into this profession as well as recruiters and employers knowing what experience or knowledge is required.
I am really excited by the responses so far and hope it will have a massive impact for all current and future security architects.”
– Lidia
TSI members are strongly encouraged to respond to the anonymous survey and include your SABSA training and community experience in your response. We thank you for your support.
Security Architecture: Community Research Survey
https://forms.gle/MVfEC2bbDkgNEaHY9
TSI Training and Certification
SABSA training is available through the TSI network of Accredited Education Partners (AEPs). Our training covers all levels in the SABSA training continuum from Foundation to Practitioner.
Certification by TSI is competency-based and requires candidates to demonstrate the knowledge, skills and abilities required to use the SABSA method in the real world. SABSA Certification Examinations can only be taken after completion of training provided by a TSI AEP.
For more details, please refer to the TSI AEP website.
Upcoming Courses
A schedule of all upcoming SABSA-approved (non-certification based) and SABSA official (certification-based) courses can be found on our website here.
Recommended Reading
A monthly selection of material assembled by the Publications Team for the SABSA community.
Community Video
The Business of Risk – David Lynas
How can we make The Business of Risk meaningful, credible, and clearly understood? How do we provide accurate Risk Context for decision-making that balances the likelihood of loss with the possibility of gain? How do we determine clear, transparent, and obvious risk authority and ownership such that it is welcomed and endorsed rather than avoided? And how do we communicate risk about what really matters, to whom it matters, in a relatable and instinctive language?
DLC CEO and SABSA co-author David Lynas demonstrates a fresh approach that can dramatically improve the way an Enterprise manages risk and grasps opportunities by applying SABSA Architecture techniques.
SABSA Institute Paper
A Brief History of SABSA Part 1
This is Part 1 of 3 where SABSA co-author John Sherwood details some of the early history of SABSA and The SABSA Institute.
SABSA Publishing
This is an initial call for expressions of interest to join the SABSA Publications Team. We would like to invite you to reach out to us if you’re keen to be a volunteer or have your materials published by us. Those who submit their EOIs will be contacted by a member of the Publications Team to schedule an interview.
Authors
We welcome all submissions and are particularly interested in working with those who have successfully passed the examination for Practitioner courses (A1 and A3).
Those interested in having their work published by The SABSA Institute may submit their details here.
Publications Team Volunteers
Document editor
Technical editor
Document composer (LaTeX software typesetter)
Graphic designer
Technical document translator
Project manager
Video editor
Audio editor
Anyone who wishes to join the Publications Team as a volunteer may register using this form.
For more enquiries, please contact Kirk Nicholls.
TSI Digital Credentials Program
The SABSA Institute will be launching our Digital Credentials Program in mid-February.
Follow us on LinkedIn for more information.
We are looking forward very much to seeing everyone at COSAC APAC in Melbourne.
See you soon.
The SABSA Institute
The COSAC APAC 2025 Information Security Conference will take place in Melbourne from 25th to 27th February. The agenda includes a full SABSA Stream across three days. Event registration is now open.
For anyone looking to apply for sponsorship, The SABSA Founders Bursary aims to award at least one fully funded place at COSAC APAC in Melbourne annually. For more information on the bursary, please refer here.
Individuals and industry organisations who are interested in donating to the SABSA Founders Bursary may also do so here.
Register for the SABSA Forum on Thursday 27th February at 5.45pm
