Enterprise architecture is a critical discipline that helps businesses align their technology infrastructure with their business objectives. It improves efficiency, reduces costs, facilitates innovation, and enhances decision-making and governance.
The framework is often implemented as a set of standards or best practices that provide consistency in operational processes. There are a number of different enterprise architecture frameworks, each designed to meet the specific needs of an organization.
Business Architecture
A business architecture framework provides a structured approach to developing and executing business strategies. It also enables effective alignment of information technology with business needs and identifies opportunities to improve performance.
A key element of a business architecture is the concept of capability. This is defined as the set of activities that together create a specific outcome for a customer. Capability models are usually displayed in a value stream map, which is an end-to-end sequence of activities.
Many different frameworks have been developed for enterprise architecture, including the Zachman framework, first published in 1987. The Business Architecture Guild is working to establish a standard reference model for business architecture.
Technology Architecture
Technology architecture provides a framework for aligning IT infrastructure with business goals. A correct model will assess technology risks and guide the monitoring, metrics, and analysis needed to identify when and how to evolve IT in alignment with business needs.
The underlying technologies that support application and information architectures include networks, servers, storage (SAN, NAS, and direct-attached), software development tools and environments, DBMSes, and enterprise service buses. Analog, IoT, and textual data must also be considered in determining architectural decisions.
A good EA framework can help simplify complex IT structures and allow architects to focus on meeting business requirements. Frameworks like TOGAF, the Zachman framework for enterprise architecture, and the Federal Enterprise Architecture Framework (FEAF) are popular choices among organizations looking to standardize their architectures.
Information Architecture
Information architecture is the process of creating a clear information structure. It involves determining the best way to organize information for an enterprise and ensuring that all of its systems are connected in a seamless manner.
With users suffering from information overload and dwindling attention spans, good information architecture is vital to a successful user experience. It allows people to find what they need quickly and easily, which is a key element of UX design.
The industry of information architecture has a number of associations, community groups, and certifications that promote its concepts and practitioners. These organizations host discussion forums, events, and conferences to help information architects gain knowledge and network with others in the field.
Integration Architecture
Application integration architecture allows a company to keep its workflows consistent and efficient. In most businesses, a single transaction will affect several applications, so it’s important to link them to reduce double data entry and inconsistencies.
A business can use a variety of tools for application integration, including file-based and database synchronization techniques. However, these methods only support point-to-point connections between functions and do not provide a consistent, well-defined interface realized through an API specification or appropriate data quality and compliance processes monitored by data stewards.
Alternatively, a business can use data pipelines. In this approach, data is transferred between systems in a sequence of discrete stages. The system sending the data waits for the output from the previous stage before proceeding.
Security Architecture
The security architecture component of enterprise architecture ensures that information systems are secure and private. This includes protecting the company’s web resources, e-mail servers, and private HR data from outside hackers and allowing only authorized employees to access these systems.
Data breaches are costly for companies and lead to bad PR, lost profits, and regulatory fines. Having a security architecture framework in place allows companies to prevent these disasters from happening.
A good security architecture can also help meet new regulations on data privacy, such as the GDPR in Europe. These new regulations can be overwhelming, but having an architecture in place makes it easier for management to get on board.
Business Process Architecture
This is where an organization documents their strategy, plan, and workflow. It is also where their IT solutions are configured to fit the framework and implementation directions. All modifications and processes must be recorded in their documentation artifacts, which must be kept up-to-date.
This process allows you to identify any unnecessary steps in your business, reducing the burden of non-value-adding activities on staff and resources. This is also where you can cut costs by eliminating duplication and redundancies that add up over time. It also helps you to create a clear roadmap for achieving your business goals over a certain time horizon while keeping in mind how your technology will evolve.