Enterprise & Solution Architecture.

An Enterprise Architect is responsible translating an organisation’s current and future business strategies into efficient, sustainable and adaptable technology solutions that are fit for purpose and future proofed. Reporting to senior management, they are responsible for outlining enterprise wide technology architectures & road maps to support those strategies, using several architectural models or views.

Solution Architects tackle technical problems, often in context with one or more projects. They develop high level or detailed designs of technical solutions that solve issues and align with wider business requirements. This includes frameworks, platforms & technology stacks, and holding responsibility for solution delivery & execution with technical teams. They take business requirements and translate them into solutions.

The Integration Architect’s role is to plan, coordinate and design all activities and road maps related to the integration of software, applications and third-party solutions required to meet business requirements. Using tools like APIs, middleware and other resources, they create solutions that allow different software programmes to communicate and work together.

Data Architects have responsibility for designing, creating, deploying and managing the technology architecture that defines how data is stored, consumed, integrated and managed by different data entities and IT systems. This includes applications using or processing data in some way. They ensure compliance to defined data standards and check that data assets are in line with the goals of the business.

Application Architects have responsibility for designing how an organisation’s software applications are assembled as part of its overarching enterprise architecture, and how those applications interact with each other to meet business requirements. They ensure that applications are scalable & reliable and define how applications interact with middleware, databases and other applications.

Cloud Architects are responsible for managing all public, private and hybrid cloud based computing infrastructure in an organisation, especially as reliance on cloud technologies becomes more mainstream. Cloud computing architecture encompasses everything involved with cloud computing, including front-end platforms, servers, storage, delivery and networks required to manage cloud storage.

An Infrastructure Architect designs and implements the underlying systems infrastructure and platforms that support an enterprise. Technologies include Wintel, Server, Security, Storage, EUC & communications technologies, with cloud based solutions also highly prevalent. They identify technical innovations and engage with the business to ensure that underlying technology platforms are robust, with good performance, high availability and remain fit for purpose.

A Security Architect designs, builds and maintains all IT security structures for business technologies & systems, including policies, monitoring systems and countermeasures. They design security to thwart malware and hacker intrusions, test for vulnerabilities and audit systems for weaknesses. Recommendations are made to update and improve system security using a variety of tools or software.

Network Architects are responsible for creating, maintaining and modifying an IP network’s hardware, software and virtualized components. They maintain expert-level knowledge regarding network hardware and software technology, but they must also be able to translate a network’s technological requirements into solutions that benefit a given business. Furthermore, they are intimately familiar with the latest networking protocols, server technology and security vulnerabilities.

Software Architects or Technical Leads are responsible for the high-level design and strategic planning of new software products. This may include hardware planning as well as the design methodology of the code. It may also include design of technical standards, including coding standards, tools or platforms. Other responsibilities include technical considerations such as technology strategy, compatibility, interoperability, support, deployment, upgrade policies and end-user environments.