Enterprise Architecture
What is Enterprise Architecture?
Enterprise Architecture is a comprehensive electronic document that describes an organization's strategies, business processes, data and information requirements, information systems and technology infrastructure within a specific framework. The main function of corporate architecture is to provide information about the goals, structure, functioning, systems used and technologies used in the systems.
Enterprise Architecture is the process by which organizations standardize and regulate their IT infrastructure to align with business goals. These strategies support digital transformation, IT growth, and modernization of IT as a department.
The basic function of Enterprise Architecture is to provide information about the goals, structure, functioning of the institution, the systems used and the technologies used in the systems and to manage them. In this context, corporate architecture is not only responsible for managing the existing structure, but also for determining and creating a projection for the IT infrastructure that will support the future plans of the organization.
Enterprise Architecture helps businesses configure IT projects and policies to achieve desired business results and track industry trends and disruptions using architectural principles and practices, also known as Enterprise Architectural Planning (EAP).
Enterprise Architecture is particularly useful for large businesses that are going through digital transformation because it focuses on bringing together legacy processes and practices to create a smoother environment.
Its main purpose is to ensure that the information systems and technologies within the institution comply with the common standards in accordance with the objectives and functioning of the institution, and in this way, the information and communication resources are used effectively and efficiently.
Corporate Architecture is not a one-off work. To the extent that changes in the general and sectoral environment affect the structure and functioning of the institution, the institutional architecture should also be revised and changed. While creating the institutional architecture, the existing architecture is first examined and described. Then, systems that will support corporate strategies, provide data and information on core processes and technological components that will create these systems are determined. System and technology policies, procedures and standards are rebuilt. Finally, how the existing architecture will be transformed into the required architecture is projected and implemented.
What are Enterprise Architecture Tools and Software?
Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint are the two most basic tools you will use in corporate architecture planning. However, there are other third-party tools and software packages available to help you create advanced EA strategies for your business.
BiZZdesign
Orbus Software
Sparx Systems
Software AG
HoriZZon by BiZZdesign
Avolution
Mega
Erwin
Planview
HANDLE
BOC Group…
What are the Goals of Enterprise Architecture?
Contributing to the IT decision-making process
Transforming manual or automated business processes within the organization into an integrated and standards-compliant environment that responds quickly to changes and supports the implementation of strategies.
Ensuring the balance between IT efficiency and innovation in business processes
To create and maintain IT Inventory
Providing a playground and competitive advantage to independent business units within their own goals
Providing infrastructure for synergy between business units
What are Corporate Architecture Interests?
Support for next generation IT projects
Application inventory management and maintenance processes
Compliance and security
Cost comparison
Strategic KPIs Target architectural studies
Termination plans
Corporate Architecture Branches
Business Architecture: Determines the processes that business units will implement to achieve their goals
Application Architecture: Determines the applications needed in the institution and their relations with each other.
Information and Data Architecture: It determines how corporate data sources will be organized and how these resources will be accessed.
Technology Infrastructure Architecture: Determines the hardware and software infrastructure that will support applications and their relationships.
Benefits of Enterprise Architecture
More efficient IT operations
Decrease in software development, maintenance and support costs
More application portability
Increased application interoperability
Easy system and network management
Easier handling of problems that spread throughout the organization
Easier updating and replacement of system components
Better return on investment and lower risk of investment
Elimination of complexity in IT infrastructure
Maximum return on current investments
Providing flexibility to develop, purchase or outsource IT solutions
Reducing risk and total cost of ownership in new investments
Fast, simple and inexpensive procurement process
Purchasing decisions are made easier as information gathering procedures exist as consistent plans
The purchasing process is fast, a fast and flexible process is carried out without ignoring architectural rules.
It is possible to supply systems that are homogeneous and provided by more than one supplier.
Major Institutional Architecture Frameworks
As a framework, corporate architecture can be ambiguous as it aims to address the entire organization rather than individual needs, problems, or business units. Therefore, there are several frameworks available to help companies implement and monitor EAP effectively.
The Open Group Architectural Framework (TOGAF): TOGAF provides guidelines for designing, planning, implementing and managing corporate IT architecture. The TOGAF framework helps businesses establish a standardized approach to EA with a common vocabulary, recommended standards, compliance methods, recommended tools and software, and method of defining best practices. The TOGAF framework is very popular as a corporate architect framework and has been adopted by more than 80 percent of the world's leading organizations, according to The Open Group.
The Zachman Framework for Enterprise Architecture: The Zachman framework is named after one of the original founders of the enterprise architecture and is another popular EA methodology. It is better understood as a "taxonomy" according to CompTIA and encompasses six architectural focal points and six main stakeholders to help standardize and define IT architecture components and outputs.
Federal Enterprise Architecture Framework (FEAF): FEAF was introduced in 1996 as a response to the Clinger-Cohen law that imposed powers for IT activity in federal institutions. It is designed for the US government, but can also be applied to private companies looking to use the framework.
Gartner Enterprise Architecture Methodology (Gartner EA Methodology): After acquiring The Meta Group in 2005, Gartner identified best practices for EAP and adapted them to the company's general consulting practices. Although not an individual framework, CompTIA considers it a "practical" methodology that focuses on business results "with a few clear steps or components".
These are just four of the most commonly used and accepted EA methodologies, but others are also available. For example, the European Space Agency Architectural Framework (ESAAF), the US Department of Defense Architecture Framework (DoDAF), the British Department of Defense Architectural Framework (MODAF), the SAP Enterprise Architecture Framework, the OBASHI Business and IT Methodology and Framework ...
These frameworks target a more niche market than the more generalized EA methodologies listed above, specifically targeting individual industries or products.
Who Is The Corporate Architect Called?
First of all, in order to be an Institutional Architect; A bachelor's degree in computer science, information technology or a related field and at least 10 years of experience in IT or a related field is required. Also in general; Experience in working with computer systems, hard drives, main computers and other architectural technologies is also required. Corporate Architects need a variety of social skills such as communication, problem solving, critical thinking, leadership, and teamwork to succeed.
Enterprise Architects often report to the CIO or other IT administrators. They are responsible for analyzing business structures and processes to see that they are effectively and efficiently aligned with business goals. As a corporate architect, you will also be responsible for ensuring that these structures and processes are agile and durable so that they can adapt quickly and withstand major changes.
The most commonly reported hard skills for an Enterprise IT Architect include:
Java and J2EE
Service oriented architecture (SOA)
Enterprise application integration
Cloud computing
Software and system architecture
Enterprise solutions
Strategy Development
IT and project management
Corporate Architecture Certificates
Certifications are available to demonstrate your EA skills, including more specialized certifications focusing on skills such as cloud and security architecture.
TOGAF 9 Certificate
Open group Certified Architect (Open CA)
AWS Certified Solutions Architect
Salesforce Certified Technical Architect (CTA)
Axelos ITIL Master certificate
Microsoft Certified Architect
Professional Cloud Solutions Architect Certificate
Virtualization Council Major Infrastructure Architect certificate
CISSP Information Systems Security Architecture Specialist (ISSAP)
Dell EMC Cloud architect training and certification
Red Hat Certified Architect
EC Council Approved Network Defense Architect (CNDA)
Almost all of the institutional architectural frameworks consist of four basic architectural elements, and the models used are used to describe and analyze the details of these elements and the relationships between them:
Business Architecture;
Information and Data Architecture;
System Architecture;
Technology Infrastructure.
There are four main frameworks most commonly used for enterprise architecture:
The Open Group Architectural Framework.
Gartner Enterprise Architecture.
Zachman Framework (Zachman Framework).
Federal Enterprise Architecture.
A general corporate architecture framework. Generally, an enterprise architecture framework consists of the following four sets of items:
Architectural Elements
Corporate Elements
Structural Elements
Administrative Elements
Architectural elements consist of four layers, starting from the business architecture, which constitutes the basic social and economic function of the business, to the information and communication technologies infrastructure. The structure of each layer is defined by the stakeholders in that layer, the processes that the stakeholders perform for certain reasons, at a specific time, in a specific place, and by using certain tools.
Institutional items consist of different business units or departments and their management layers, depending on the type of business. Each corporate element consists of a series of vertically related architectural elements and a series of horizontally related structural elements.
Managerial elements include common information and communication technologies policies, procedures and standards that are compatible with the corporate strategy. Thanks to these common elements, it is possible to integrate and consolidate the information and communication resources of the enterprise; resources are used more efficiently.
Architectural Elements
The elements that make up the institutional architecture are categorized under four main groups:
Business Architecture Elements
Information and Data Architecture Elements
System Architecture Elements
Technology Infrastructure Elements
Business architecture elements include use cases and task diagrams that describe business processes. Objects that constitute data entries, records, data summaries and management decisions that occur during workflows are also part of the business architecture.
Information and data architecture describe corporate entities, the relationships between these entities, data flows between entities, and business logic. The elements that make up the information and data architecture come together to form the system architecture.
Asset packages, interfaces, components and architectural structures are used to describe the system architecture. Technology infrastructure explains the technological elements that make up the systems, application software, system software, peripherals, computer hardware and computer networks and the relationships between these elements.
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