IT Infrastructure Architecture Practice
Industry
Applies to any industry.
IT Architecture Practice Overview
An architecture practice provides the quintessential foundation for understanding the current state of your infrastructure platform, and tactically approach changes to the infrastructure through a well defined architectural process. This process helps with visualization of the future state, accounts for necessary steps or milestones associated with the changes and predicts a new cost and functional model of operation to meet the business goals to accomplish such changes.
IT Architecture Actionable Items
An architecture practice involved the collaboration and contribution from the infrastructure team to arrive on the same sheet of music to move forward ideas and their implementation with structure, consensus and well planed objectives. An architectural practice requires some pre-requisites and a new, well defined process to be followed.
Capture standards for your IT infrastructure divisions: define preferred standards, vendors, equipment, software, services and other ancillary items that should be followed. Architecture follows a standard that’s usually comprised of best practices and adaptations to the business and its processes.
Develop reference models: IT infrastructure requires a “well known” or “defined” reference modules that work together to form a larger system. For example, there should be well defined reference models for Internet access, LAN switching, Firewalling, WAN access, Storage networks and so on.
Develop a preferred vendor model: Organizations partner with service providers, hardware manufacturers and software vendors to meet their organization’s business process goals. Standardizing on a preferred and alternate list is excellent to work with, eliminating guesswork and scouting for new service providers.
Maintain a working log of architectural changes: Each architectural change should undergo a process to organize the idea, gather the models and concepts, evaluate pricing changes and project resources. General feedback is constructively used to address any questions and concerns, assuring business needs and budgets are aligned.
Run a routine architectural board meeting, where selected architectural board members and audience present the proposed architectural changes. Minute notes, questions and presentation materials are organized, disseminated and answered to assure clarity and transparency.
With a well defined standard, processes and procedures, an architectural board of individuals may collectively steer the practice to assure necessary, well-vetted and proven technologies, services, and vendors are selected to move the IT infrastructure toward modernization and maturity.
IT Architecture Practice Outputs
Engaging in seeding an architectural practice may seem daunting and challenging, however once processes are well defined, it becomes a standard practice. Organizations should expect the following outputs:
Arrive to an Architectural Review Board meeting with a business driver: Architectural changes either address improvements or changes, therefore they need to be justified with consensus.
Apply a well-developed template for the ARB: Maintain consistency, uniformity and relevance to your audience by adressing key points in Review Board meetings and maintain focus.
Product Market Capabilities: An overview of the vendor’s offerings within the relevant market, highlighting their capabilities and how they meet the organization’s needs.
Scope of Products and Services: Clear definitions of the products and services under evaluation, ensuring all options are aligned with business goals.
Initial Pricing: An outline of initial, non-negotiated pricing for essential services and products, including any potential upgrade costs.
Cost Forecast: A one-year, three-year, and five-year projection of service costs, incorporating both capital and operational expenditures to aid in long-term financial planning.
Engagement Details: A comprehensive list of resources, documents, and key contacts from each vendor interaction, ensuring transparency and ease of future reference.
This product evaluation package not only provides a structured analysis but also serves as a critical tool for evaluating vendors, comparing costs, and assessing scalability. It empowers stakeholders to make data-driven decisions that align with organizational objectives, optimize resources, and support future growth.
IT Architecture Practice Benefits
The outputs from an IT architecture practice are critical for guiding decisions, ensuring alignment with business goals, and establishing a scalable, secure infrastructure. Key outputs include:
Enterprise Architecture Blueprint: A comprehensive document outlining the current and future state of the organization’s IT landscape, including systems, technologies, processes, and their alignment with business goals. This blueprint serves as a roadmap for ongoing and future projects.
Technology Standards and Guidelines: A set of standardized rules, policies, and best practices for technology selection, system design, and development across the organization. These guidelines ensure consistency, security, and interoperability of systems.
Reference Architectures: Templates or frameworks that provide a reusable foundation for designing common types of systems (e.g., cloud, data management, security). These reference architectures streamline new project development and ensure that projects align with best practices.
System Design Documents: Detailed architectural designs for specific systems, services, or applications. These documents define the technical requirements, components, and integrations needed to support business objectives while adhering to established standards.
Integration Strategy: A plan detailing how various systems and platforms will integrate and communicate, both internally and externally. This includes protocols, data flow, APIs, and middleware to ensure seamless interoperability between systems.
Technology Roadmaps: A timeline-based plan that outlines future technology investments, system upgrades, and deprecations. The roadmap is aligned with business goals, ensuring that the organization can adopt new technologies while maintaining continuity and support.
Risk and Security Assessments: Reports and analyses that identify potential risks in the architecture, including security vulnerabilities, compliance issues, or technology limitations. These assessments help mitigate risks by recommending security controls and strategies for future growth.
Gap Analysis Reports: Assessments that compare the current state of IT systems with the desired future state. These reports identify gaps in technology, skills, or processes that need to be addressed to meet long-term business goals.
Capacity and Scalability Plans: Documents that outline the capacity requirements for IT systems and provide strategies for scaling those systems as demand grows. These plans help prevent performance bottlenecks and ensure that infrastructure can handle future needs.
Vendor and Product Evaluations: Analysis and recommendations on third-party vendors, tools, and technologies. This includes performance reviews, cost-benefit analysis, and how these solutions align with the organization’s architecture and long-term objectives.
Governance Framework: A set of processes and policies to oversee IT projects and ensure that they align with the enterprise architecture. The governance framework includes decision-making structures, review processes, and compliance mechanisms to maintain consistency across all IT initiatives.
Change Management Plans: Documentation detailing how changes to the IT architecture will be implemented, communicated, and managed within the organization. These plans help ensure smooth transitions with minimal disruption to business operations.
Metrics and KPIs for IT Performance: A set of metrics and key performance indicators (KPIs) to evaluate the effectiveness of the IT architecture. These can include system uptime, cost-efficiency, user satisfaction, and alignment with business goals, helping to assess and improve the IT strategy.
Each of these outputs provides a structured way to manage IT resources, align with business goals, and ensure the scalability, security, and effectiveness of the organization’s technology environment.
Interested in IT Architecture Practice Services?
Does your organization have difficulty selecting, launching and implementing new technologies?
Do systems fail often, and teams are always working to solve issues?
Are you looking to mature your IT services and portfolio for your business teams?
Is running a steady, predictable IT budget important to the organization?
Is organization and communication with IT and business peers important to move forward with technology in unison?
Book a free one hour session to visualize how implementing an architecture practice may fit in your organization.