By IT Brew Staff
less than 3 min read
Definition:
Enterprise architecture starts with organizations analyzing their business requirements, including how IT supports those attempting to meet business goals. Once they have a sense of the current state, enterprise architects and other stakeholders can analyze a desired future state for the enterprise architecture, as well as how to evolve the technology roadmap to reach that state.
Perfectly executed enterprise architecture incorporates business strategy and requirements, existing software and hardware systems, and data, all with an eye toward making the organization more innovative, cost-efficient, and capable of utilizing the latest technologies as they come online.
From a cybersecurity perspective, enterprise architecture also allows organizations to evaluate potential vulnerabilities, as they have a map of their tech stack and how it aligns with other business units. Cybersecurity experts can also utilize enterprise architecture to evaluate which business units need to be patched or updated before others (for example, if a particular unit is relying on outdated software or hardware). In a similar vein, managers may also use the holistic view provided by enterprise architecture to figure out how to streamline processes or systems.
For those IT pros interested in an enterprise architect career, relevant certifications include TOGAF 9, AWS Certified Solution Architect, Salesforce Certified Technical Architect, Open Certified Architect (Open CA), and more. Enterprise architects also need to become familiar with skills such as strategy development, AI, data warehousing and modeling, and software architecture.
