United Kingdom · Technology and data · Lead (8-12 years)

Principal Security Architect

Here is the whole job, in plain words. What it is, what you decide, how you're judged, how people get here and where they go next. Then the part no course gives you: twelve AI tutors who learn your work.

Free to start: a plan built for this role, and a Future Fluency module to try first. No card.

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One email: what AI is changing in this job, and where to start free. With a link back here. Nothing else follows unless you confirm your address.

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  • Experience bandLead (8-12 years)
  • Direct reports3-8 reports
  • Reports toDirector of Security
  • UK framework levelUsually a manager, or the deepest specialist in a team

Also advertised as Lead Security Architect · Staff Security Engineer (Security Architecture) · Head of Security Architecture · Senior Security Programme Lead

Built on 43,079 real UK job descriptions we analysed · grounded in qualifications employers recognise

1From this job to a course

The qualifications matched to this job

Qualifi Level 5 Extended Diploma in Cyber Security Qualifi Ltd · Level 5 · covers 4 of 9 standards
Qualifi Level 5 Diploma in Cyber Security Qualifi Ltd · Level 5 · covers 3 of 9 standards
ATHE Level 4 Extended Diploma in Computing ATHE Ltd · Level 4 · covers 6 of 9 standards
NCFE Level 4 Diploma: Cyber Security Engineer NCFE · Level 4 · covers 5 of 9 standards
ATHE Level 7 Extended Diploma in Computing ATHE Ltd · Level 7 · covers 5 of 9 standards
Qualifi Level 4 Diploma in Cyber Security Qualifi Ltd · Level 4 · covers 2 of 9 standards

Matched from the standards this job is measured against: a suggestion, not an official ruling.

The units you would start with

Security Strategy: Laws, Policies and Implementation Qualifi Level 5 Extended Diploma in Cyber Security
Strategic Leadership Qualifi Level 5 Diploma in Cyber Security
Security Architectures ATHE Level 4 Extended Diploma in Computing
Cyber security architecture NCFE Level 4 Diploma: Cyber Security Engineer
Cyber Security Operations: Threat Analysis, Testing, and Incident Response ATHE Level 7 Extended Diploma in Computing

The future skills this job leans on

AI Fluency working with AI as a thinking partner
Data Fluency turning numbers into a decision
Automation Fluency building AI into how work runs
Frontier Fluency the next wave, beyond mainstream AI
Trust Fluency keeping the digital world safe
Your Plan Illustration

Built for Principal Security Architect

5 units that map to this job, from the qualifications that cover it.

  1. Security Strategy: Laws, Policies and Implementation Qualifi Ltd · covers 4 of 9 standards Level 5
  2. Strategic Leadership Qualifi Ltd · covers 3 of 9 standards Level 5
  3. Security Architectures ATHE Ltd · covers 6 of 9 standards Level 4
  4. Cyber security architecture NCFE · covers 5 of 9 standards Level 4
  5. Cyber Security Operations: Threat Analysis, Testing, and Incident Response ATHE Ltd · covers 5 of 9 standards Level 7
These are the real units behind this job, in the order they rank for it. Nothing here is marked done, because this plan has not been started by anyone yet. Yours would fill in as you go.

2AI and this work

Will AI change your work as a Principal Security Architect?

Nobody can say exactly how. Here is what this job is being asked for next, and where to start.

The new skills this role is being asked for

  • AI-Driven Threat Modelling & Predictive Security
  • Quantum-Safe Cryptography Readiness
Why each one is rising

The future skills this job leans on

We'll only ever tell you what we can actually back up. No hype, no scare tactics.

What happens when you start

Next, a free account. We build your Principal Security Architect plan as you set up, starting with a Future Fluency module on using AI in your job. No card.

Your first Future Fluency module is free. After that, your AI tutor is £70 a month.

3What this role really is

A Principal Security Architect designs secure systems across a whole technical estate, rather than just finding flaws in existing ones. The work covers designing and leading how systems are built to be secure from the start.

4What you'd actually use

The tools this job runs on, and how well you'd need to know each one.

Splunk Enterprise Security / Microsoft Sentinel (SIEM/SOAR) Expert

Optimising data ingestion, building custom correlation rules, developing new SOAR playbooks, and interpreting executive dashboards to identify architectural gaps and improve detection capabilities.

CrowdStrike Falcon / SentinelOne (Endpoint Security) Advanced

Architecting endpoint protection strategies, configuring advanced detection and response policies, and conducting proactive threat hunting to inform architectural improvements.

Wiz / Palo Alto Prisma Cloud (Cloud Security Posture Management) Advanced

Designing cloud security policies, architecting secure cloud environments, and presenting cloud risk posture to the CTO based on CSPM findings.

ServiceNow GRC / OneTrust (GRC Platform) Advanced

Configuring control workflows, building dashboards for functional managers, and ensuring architectural designs align with GRC requirements and risk registers.

Recorded Future / Mandiant Advantage (Threat Intelligence) Advanced

Analysing threat actor TTPs, writing intelligence reports for internal teams, and using intel to shape security architecture strategy and investment.

Tenable.io / Qualys (Vulnerability Management) Expert

Customising scan profiles, prioritising vulnerabilities based on business context, and managing the remediation lifecycle from an architectural perspective to reduce overall attack surface.

Confluence / Jira (Collaboration & Project Management) Advanced

Managing security project backlogs, creating detailed architectural design documents and runbooks, and communicating major architectural changes to executive stakeholders.

5What you get to decide, and how that grows

Power in a job isn't your title. It's what you're allowed to decide. Here's how it grows as you move up.

The choiceComing in Where you are nowThe step above
Security Architecture Design Follows pre-defined architectural patterns under supervision. Proposes architectural patterns for new features, reviewed by senior staff. Designs and owns security architecture for major systems; consults Director on strategic direction.
Programme Budget Allocation No budget authority; escalates all spending requests. Manages small project budgets (up to £10K) with manager approval. Manages programme budgets (£50K-£500K); consults Director for larger investments or significant deviations.
Hiring & Team Management No hiring authority; provides input on candidate fit. Participates in interviews; provides informal mentorship to new joiners. Has hiring authority for direct reports (3-8 people); leads performance reviews and career development for team.
Vendor Selection (Security Tools) Evaluates specific features of tools under guidance. Recommends tools for specific use cases; participates in vendor demos. Leads vendor evaluations and selection for strategic security tools (up to £100K contract value); consults Director for larger or enterprise-wide purchases.

6How you'll be judged

The scoreboard, and what is not on it. The hard targets, how often each is actually looked at, and the quiet signals that never reach a dashboard.

Mean Time to Contain (MTTC)
Average time taken to contain critical security incidents once detected.
Target · Reduce average containment time for critical incidents to <1 hour, year-over-year.

If a critical breach occurs, your architectural designs should enable our incident response team to isolate the threat within 45 minutes, down from the previous average of 90 minutes.

Security Architecture Review Coverage & Effectiveness
Percentage of new critical systems and major architectural changes that undergo a formal security review, and the number of critical flaws identified and remediated pre-deployment.
Target · Achieve 95% coverage for critical systems; reduce critical design flaws by 30% in reviewed systems.

You'll ensure that our new customer data platform's design passes its security review with zero critical findings before it even sees a line of code, preventing costly rework later.

Vulnerability Reduction in Architected Systems
Decrease in the number of open critical and high vulnerabilities within systems where you've led the security architecture.
Target · Reduce critical vulnerabilities by 25% and high vulnerabilities by 15% quarter-over-quarter in your assigned programme areas.

After your team re-architects the authentication service, we'd expect to see a significant drop in high-severity CVEs reported by our scanners for that component.

Adoption Rate of Security Standards & Patterns
The extent to which development and operations teams adopt the security architectural patterns and standards you've designed.
Target · Achieve 80% adoption of key security patterns (e.g., secure API gateways, standardised identity management) across new projects within 12 months.

You'll know you're successful when new microservices automatically use your recommended secure configuration templates without needing direct intervention from your team.

Proactive Risk Identification & Mitigation
Your ability to spot potential security issues in design phases before they become real problems, and to propose practical, effective mitigations.
  • You're regularly invited to early-stage design discussions
  • your input leads to significant design changes that pre-empt future vulnerabilities
  • you're seen as a trusted advisor, not just a gatekeeper.
Influence & Collaboration Across Technical Teams
How effectively you work with engineering and product teams to embed security, rather than imposing it. It's about getting them to *want* to build securely.
  • Engineering leads actively seek your architectural guidance
  • security requirements are naturally integrated into their sprint planning
  • you're able to drive consensus on complex security trade-offs without resorting to mandates.
Clarity of Technical Security Vision
Your ability to articulate a clear, understandable, and actionable security architectural vision for the organisation, from high-level strategy down to specific technical patterns.
  • Your architectural roadmaps are clear and well-understood by technical and non-technical stakeholders
  • your team consistently delivers against this vision
  • you can explain complex security concepts simply to senior leadership.
Mentorship and Team Development
How well you develop and empower your direct reports and other security engineers, helping them grow their technical and architectural skills.
  • Your team members are visibly growing in their roles
  • they're taking on more complex architectural challenges
  • you're seen as a go-to person for technical career advice within the security team.

7Would you like it

Both sides. What people enjoy, and what grinds them down.

What people enjoy
Solving Complex Security Puzzles

You'll get a real kick out of dissecting a new system's architecture, identifying potential attack vectors, and then designing elegant, robust security controls. This means deep dives into network diagrams, data flows, and application logic. It's like being a detective and an architect all at once.

Being presented with a new global payment processing system and tasked with designing its end-to-end security, from customer input to bank settlement, is your idea of a good day.

Building and Shaping Secure Foundations

You're driven by the opportunity to build things that last and make a fundamental difference. This role isn't about quick fixes; it's about laying down the secure architectural patterns and standards that the entire organisation will use for years. Seeing your designs implemented and actually making things safer is incredibly rewarding.

Leading the design and rollout of a new enterprise-wide identity and access management solution that genuinely improves security and user experience across dozens of applications.

Mentoring and Growing Technical Talent

You enjoy guiding and developing junior security architects and engineers. This means regular code reviews, whiteboarding sessions, helping them unstick complex problems, and celebrating their wins. You'll get satisfaction from seeing your team members grow into stronger, more independent security professionals.

Helping a junior architect understand the nuances of a complex cloud security control, then watching them confidently present their solution to a development team.

What frustrates people
  • Budget Justification Fatigue: The endless cycle of trying to prove the ROI of preventing a disaster that hasn't happened yet, especially for proactive architectural work.
  • M&A Integration Nightmares: Being tasked with securing a newly acquired company that has a completely different tech stack, zero documentation, and a 'move fast and break things' culture, all while trying to integrate it securely.
  • The Department of 'No' Perception: Constantly fighting the perception that Security's only purpose is to slow down innovation and block projects, rather than enabling the business to take risks safely.
  • 'Why weren't we involved sooner?': Being brought into a major new product launch a week before go-live and being expected to 'bless' the architecture with no time for a proper security review, forcing you to make quick, high-stakes decisions.
What this role does not give you
  • A quiet, predictable routine with minimal stakeholder interaction—you'll be talking to people constantly.
  • Guaranteed, immediate implementation of every single one of your security recommendations; sometimes, business priorities will win out.
  • A 'hands-off' leadership style where you just delegate and wait for results; you'll be deeply involved in the technical details and problem-solving.

8Who you work with

Your work directly shapes the security posture of our entire technical estate. You're not just fixing problems; you're preventing them by embedding security from the earliest design phases. This means fewer incidents, stronger compliance, and a more resilient business overall, which frankly, makes everyone sleep a bit better at night.

Inside the business
  • VP of Engineering and their leadership team
  • Product Management Leads (especially for new product initiatives)
  • Infrastructure and Cloud Operations teams
  • Legal and Compliance teams
  • Internal Audit
Outside the business
  • Strategic security vendors and partners
  • External auditors and compliance bodies
  • Industry peer groups for best practice sharing

9What you need before you start

Not a wish list. The things you would be expected to already have.

  • A minimum of 8 years of hands-on experience in cybersecurity, with at least 3-5 years specifically in a security architecture or lead security engineering role.
  • Demonstrable experience leading the design and implementation of security solutions for complex, enterprise-scale applications and infrastructure, preferably in cloud environments.
  • Proven track record of mentoring junior technical staff and leading small teams or significant security programmes.
  • Strong understanding of modern software development practices (e.g., Agile, DevOps) and how to embed security within them (DevSecOps).
  • Experience presenting technical security concepts and risks to both technical and non-technical audiences, including senior leadership.
  • A solid grasp of network protocols, operating systems (Linux/Windows), and virtualisation technologies from a security perspective.

10What to practise next

Where the job is going, and what to do about it starting this week.

Advanced Supply Chain Security Architecture

Software supply chain attacks (like SolarWinds) are a major threat. You'll need to architect solutions that secure our entire development pipeline, from code inception to deployment, including third-party components. This is becoming critical within 12 months.

Software Bill of Materials (SBOM) · SLSA (Supply-chain Levels for Software Artifacts) · Secure build pipelines · Third-party risk management for software

  • This quarter: Deep dive into SLSA framework and its implementation details.
  • Next quarter: Work with engineering to implement SBOM generation for a critical application.
  • Month 6: Design a secure build pipeline for a new service, incorporating signing and integrity checks.
  • Month 9: Evaluate a third-party risk management solution specifically for software components.

Quick win: Identify the top 3 critical third-party libraries used in your domain and ensure they're regularly scanned for vulnerabilities.

Security Mesh Architecture & Distributed Security

As microservices and distributed systems become the norm, centralised security models struggle. You'll need to architect a 'security mesh' where security controls are distributed and integrated closer to the workloads, enabling decentralised security ownership. This is important within 18 months.

Service mesh security (e.g., Istio, Linkerd) · Distributed identity and access management · API security gateways · Observability for distributed security

  • This quarter: Research service mesh technologies and their security features.
  • Next quarter: Design a security architecture for a new microservices-based application using service mesh principles.
  • Month 6: Implement a proof-of-concept for distributed API security controls.
  • Month 9: Collaborate with engineering on a roadmap for security mesh adoption.

Quick win: Identify a small microservice application and map out its current security controls. Brainstorm how a service mesh could enhance its security.

11Staying current once you are in

What people here do to keep up
  • Regularly attend and present at industry conferences (e.g., Black Hat, RSA Conference, DEF CON, OWASP AppSec) to stay current with emerging threats and architectural best practices.
  • Actively participate in security architecture working groups or communities of practice, sharing knowledge and learning from peers.
  • Contribute to open-source security projects or publish articles on security architecture topics, establishing yourself as a thought leader.
  • Pursue advanced training in specific cloud security platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) or specialised architectural domains (e.g., IoT security, blockchain security).

12The rising capability

The rising capability

Zavmo analysis

What's rising in its place

This is where the work is heading, and the higher pay with it. Get fluent here and the shift stops being a threat and starts being your edge.

AI-Driven Threat Modelling & Predictive Security

Traditional threat modelling is often manual and reactive. AI is changing this by enabling automated analysis of system designs, code, and threat intelligence to predict vulnerabilities before they're exploited. This is critical within 12 months as adversaries start using AI more effectively.

  • Graph-based threat analysis
  • Predictive analytics for attack surface management
  • Generative AI for secure code patterns
  • Automated security control validation

Quantum-Safe Cryptography Readiness

While quantum computers aren't here yet to break current encryption, the 'harvest now, decrypt later' threat is real. We need to start architecting for quantum resistance within the next 2-3 years to protect long-lived sensitive data. This is a critical strategic shift.

  • Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) algorithms
  • Cryptographic agility
  • Quantum key distribution (QKD) basics
  • Inventory of cryptographic assets

13What you’ll use

What you’ll use

Skills this role draws on

Technical

  • NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF)
  • ISO 27001/27002
  • Threat-Informed Defence (MITRE ATT&CK)
  • Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA)
  • Cyber Risk Quantification (CRQ)
  • Incident Response Lifecycle (PICERL)

14The pathway

The pathway

How you actually get there, here

How you become one varies far more by country than what one does. This is the UK route. Most people take one of these ways in; the right one depends on where you're starting from.

  1. 1

    Senior Security Engineer (with Architectural Focus)

    3-5 years in this role before moving to Principal

    Skills to master

    • Deep technical expertise in a specific security domain (e.g., cloud, application security), strong problem-solving skills, initial experience designing security for smaller systems or features, and a knack for explaining complex technical concepts.

    You're ready to move on when

    • Consistently delivers high-quality, secure solutions for complex features.
    • Proactively identifies architectural security flaws and proposes robust mitigations.
    • Mentors junior engineers and is seen as a technical expert within their team.
    • Has led the security design for at least 2-3 significant projects end-to-end.
  2. 2

    Security Consultant (Specialising in Architecture)

    4-6 years in consulting before moving in-house

    Skills to master

    • Broad exposure to various security architectures across different industries, strong client-facing communication and presentation skills, ability to translate business requirements into technical security designs, and experience managing project timelines.

    You're ready to move on when

    • Successfully delivered multiple security architecture engagements for diverse clients.
    • Demonstrates ability to adapt architectural principles to different organisational contexts.
    • Can articulate complex security risks and solutions to executive-level clients.
    • Has a strong portfolio of architectural designs and recommendations that led to tangible improvements.
  3. 3

    Enterprise Architect (with Security Specialisation)

    3-5 years in enterprise architecture

    Skills to master

    • Holistic understanding of enterprise IT landscapes, experience with architectural frameworks (e.g., TOGAF), ability to align technical strategy with business objectives, and a strong focus on cross-domain integration.

    You're ready to move on when

    • Has designed enterprise-level solutions that incorporate security by default.
    • Understands the interdependencies between various IT domains and their security implications.
    • Can effectively communicate architectural vision to a wide range of technical and business stakeholders.
    • Possesses a strong understanding of IT governance and compliance from an architectural perspective.

15Where this role leads

The long view: This role can lead to CISO, CTO or Chief Architect positions, or a Distinguished Engineer role focused purely on technical architecture.

The ten Future Fluencies

Zavmo analysis

The credential is what you can do today. These are what keep you valuable.

A qualification proves you can do the job as it's defined today. These ten are what decide whether you're still the obvious person for it in five years. They're the capabilities employers are now writing into senior roles faster than people are learning them. Zavmo weaves them through whatever you study, so you come out with both: the credential and the fluency.

The highlighted ones are the Fluencies your role leans on hardest, from how Principal Security Architect is actually changing.

How you would learn this

One to one, on the work you already do

A tutor sets the task against your own job and marks the reasoning, at your pace. There is no cohort to fall behind.

A lesson from Security Strategy: Laws, Policies and Implementation, worked against Principal Security Architect.

Security Strategy: Laws, Policies and Implementation Level 5

Applied to your work in Principal Security Architect

This unit aims to provide learners with an understanding of cyber security strategy, including its strategic management, the importance of legislation and industry standards, and the implementation of security and risk management policies. Learners will explore the future legal and technical environment and its impact on cyber security planning.

How the thinking builds
  1. 1 Remember
  2. 2 Understand
  3. 3 Apply
  4. 4 Analyse
  5. 5 Evaluate
  6. 6 Create
An illustration of a Zavmo lesson, built from this role’s own route. The unit, its objective and every criterion above are the awarding body’s own words, not an example.

It is £70 a month, billed monthly. Your free first module is Future Fluency, and you can cancel any time.

See Your Progress Grow Illustration
Principal Security Architect
  • NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF)
  • ISO 27001/27002
  • Threat-Informed Defence (MITRE ATT&CK)
  • Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA)
  • Cyber Risk Quantification (CRQ)
  • Incident Response Lifecycle (PICERL)
This is your Mind Palace on learn.zavmo.ai. Every skill above comes from this role's own record, not an example borrowed from another job. A node lights up when you evidence it, and what you build stays yours between jobs. That is the part a course cannot do.

16The detail, folded away

Everything else the record holds

The career branches in full, how AI is already showing up in the day-to-day, and the questions people ask about this job. Here when you want them, out of the way while you decide.

Where it leads next, rung by rung

Where it leads

The career path, and where it branches

Principal Security Architect is a start, not a ceiling. Each step below asks for new skills and hands back more autonomy.

  1. Security Manager (L5)

    2-4 years as Principal Security Architect

    This is a move into people leadership, managing a team of security architects or a specific security function (e.g., Cloud Security Team). Your focus shifts from individual architectural contributions to building and empowering a high-performing team.

    • Organisational design and team structuring.
    • Vendor management and contract negotiation at a larger scale.
    • Programme portfolio management for multiple security initiatives.
    • Reporting on team performance and metrics to senior leadership.
  2. Director of Security Architecture (L6)

    3-5 years as Principal Security Architect (or 1-2 years as Security Manager)

    This is a significant step up, owning the entire security architecture strategy for the organisation. You'll lead multiple teams (potentially including managers) and be responsible for the multi-year architectural roadmap, budget, and overall effectiveness of security design across the enterprise.

    • Enterprise security architecture framework development and governance.
    • M&A security integration strategy.
    • Advanced cyber risk quantification and reporting to the board.
    • Industry thought leadership and external representation of the company's security posture.
Working with AI on the job

Working with AI

Where AI is starting to help

Let's be real, security architecture can be incredibly complex and time-consuming. But what if you could offload some of the heavy lifting, automate repetitive tasks, and get faster, smarter insights? That's exactly what AI can do for you in this role.

We're not just talking about theory here. Our AI Productivity Hub is packed with tools and guides showing you how to genuinely use AI to make your daily work as a Principal Security Architect more efficient, allowing you to focus on the truly strategic, high-impact challenges. Here's a glimpse of how you'll use it:

Automated Threat Modelling & Risk Analysis

Feed architectural diagrams and system specifications into an AI tool. It'll automatically identify potential attack vectors, suggest common vulnerabilities, and even propose initial mitigation strategies, giving you a comprehensive first draft for your threat models in minutes instead of hours. This means less manual grunt work and more time for deep, nuanced analysis.

AI-Powered Risk Quantification & Prioritisation

Use AI models to analyse internal vulnerability data, threat intelligence, and business context. It'll translate technical risks into financial terms (e.g., 'This design flaw has a 15% chance of causing a £2M loss this year'), helping you prioritise what architectural changes to push for first and giving you a defensible, data-driven narrative for budget and resource allocation.

Generative AI for Security Standards & Policies

Need to draft a new security architectural standard or update a policy? Feed existing documentation and key requirements into a secure, internal generative AI model. Ask it to 'Draft a Zero Trust architectural standard for our cloud environment, incorporating NIST CSF principles'. It provides a solid first draft in seconds, saving you hours of writing and ensuring consistency.

AI-Assisted Stakeholder Communication

Got complex security architectural concepts to explain to non-technical executives? Use AI to help you draft clear, concise executive summaries, analogy suggestions, or even presentation outlines. Feed it your technical report and ask it to 'Summarise this for the CEO, focusing on business impact and required investment.' It accelerates the creation of high-stakes communications, allowing you more time for strategic refinement.

Common questions

Common questions

How do you become a Principal Security Architect?

Common routes in include Senior Security Engineer (with Architectural Focus) (3-5 years in this role before moving to Principal), Security Consultant (Specialising in Architecture) (4-6 years in consulting before moving in-house) and Enterprise Architect (with Security Specialisation) (3-5 years in enterprise architecture). Times vary with prior experience.

Where can a Principal Security Architect progress to?

This role can lead on to Security Manager (2-4 years as Principal Security Architect) and Director of Security Architecture (3-5 years as Principal Security Architect (or 1-2 years as Security Manager)), depending on the skills you build.

What new skills matter most for a Principal Security Architect?

Increasingly, AI-Driven Threat Modelling & Predictive Security and Quantum-Safe Cryptography Readiness. These are the skills our record of this role lists as growing.

Free tools

Want a read on where you stand?

Three free tools, no account needed. Each one ends with a role, a level and a way in.

17Where to go from here

Other roles at Level 5

Same depth of qualification, different job. Useful if the work appeals but this particular role does not.

More jobs in technology and data

Stay in the field you know and move sideways rather than up.

If you leave this industry

The skills involved apply across industries, including finance and healthcare. Some security architects move into consulting work instead of staying in one organisation.

This role profile is © 2026 Growth Engineering Technologies Ltd. Built from UK occupational standards and regulated qualification data, and written for Zavmo.

You're not behind. You're right on time. The shift is only just beginning. Your role won't look the same in two years. Be the one who leads the change, not the one it happens to. Start my Principal Security Architect plan, free What happens next: a free account, then we build your plan as you set up. No card. Build your plan, see your roadmap and meet the twelve tutors matched to you. All free. When you're ready to start learning, it's £70 a month, billed monthly. Cancel any time and billing stops.