Created: 26 November 2021

Last Updated: 28 July 2023

What Is IT Architecture?

Don't know what IT architecture is? You're not alone. Read on to find out the answer to this and other important questions! 

Keyword(s): What Is IT Architecture

What is IT architecture? Building a computer system for your small business can cost tens of thousands of dollars (1). When you're spending that much money, you need to be sure of what you're doing.

Enter the IT architect. This employee is the guiding hand behind all of your computer systems. They will design every part of your business' network and let you get on with making cash.

But what does their job entail? Does every business need an IT architect? What different kinds of architects are there?

You've got a lot of questions, but we've got the answers. Want to find out what IT architecture is and why you need it? Then read on.

What Is IT Architecture?

Understanding just what is IT architecture can be difficult. In short, like an architect designs buildings, an IT architect will design your computer systems. There are three main types of IT architecture that do very different things for your business.

Enterprise Architect

An enterprise architect is a kind of architect that is less computer science-oriented. Instead, they focus on making IT work for your business.

They will often have technical backgrounds, but they are not the same as IT support. Instead, these employees will work on making your IT system fit your business' goals. They will look at your business strategy and find IT solutions to make it work.

An enterprise architect needs to be able to understand both IT and business at a high level.

Software Architect

Software architecture is a specific subset of IT architecture. They are exceptionally technical and are less concerned with the day-to-day running of your business.

Software architects will know how to code and will help you find cost-effective software solutions. They will act as a relay between the software development team and the business, acting as leaders to make sure that your needs are met.

Infrastructure Architect

You may have heard the term infrastructure architect bandied around and wondered "what is it, this infrastructure architecture?"

In short, infrastructure architects are responsible for keeping your business running smoothly. If you're planning to expand into a new market, they will create the solutions to handle the increased demand. They will keep your business' mobile apps and backends running smoothly.

They will also handle data security for your sensitive data. This part of their role could be ensuring your IT system is compliant with GDPR regulations (2), for example. Without an infrastructure architect, your business' IT system will struggle.

Do I Need an IT Architect?

Whatever the size of your business, you could benefit from having an IT architect on your staff. The position requires a great deal of knowledge, so we recommend having your staff trained in IT architecture. Larger businesses will require more than one architect.

Having an IT architect on your staff will ensure that everything is running smoothly. Once your IT needs are taken care of, you can focus on doing what you do best: making money and growing your business.

What to Look For in an IT Architect

IT architecture comes with a lot of responsibilities. You need to ensure that your new employee can fulfill all of these without any problems. A good IT architect should have the following qualities.

A Good Understanding of Business Technologies

Your IT architect needs to have a fantastic grasp of the latest business technologies. While a full grasp of business is only essential for enterprise architects, any IT architect worth their salt will understand business tech.

They should also have specialist knowledge of your industry's technology.

Design Skills

An IT architect needs to be a "big-picture" thinker. They should be able to put their knowledge into practice and design systems on a large scale.

This becomes even more important as the size of your business increases. The larger the business, the more complex its IT systems. A competent IT architect will be able to design systems of any size, either alone or as part of a team.

Communication Skills

It may not be related to IT, but excellent communication skills are key to the role of an IT architect. They will be required to document every step of their process in both technical and layman's terms.

They should also be good at giving presentations and should boast leadership skills. These two skills are particularly important given the IT architect's role as a leader. They need to be able to communicate well with superiors and subordinates.

Training an IT Architect

We've answered your question of "what is IT architecture". If you're ready to get an IT architect for your business, you should consider whether to hire a new employee or train an existing one.

Our training and in-house courses can give your existing employees the skills they need to succeed as IT architects. This cuts down on recruitment costs, time spent shortlisting and interviewing candidates and allows you to continue an existing business relationship, rather than starting a new one.

Whether you need one or more architects, our training will ensure that your business has everything it needs. We have trained architects for businesses from around the world and continue to build a reputation for excellence.

Our exams have a near 100 percent pass rate and we have over 450 satisfied clients on our books.

If you need an IT architect, we can help.

Final Thoughts on IT Architecture

We hope that while you may have started reading this article wondering "what is IT architecture", you now know, and realize why you need an architect.

In today's day and age, a secure, responsive and well-developed IT system is essential for any business. By training an employee as an IT architect, the sky is truly the limit for your business.

Do you have any further questions about IT architecture? Would you like to know more about what our training courses cover? Then get in touch with us, and we'll be happy to tell you more!

External sources:
1. business.org https://www.business.org/finance/cost-management/much-computer-cost/ by Micah Pratt
2. BBC https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-43657546 by Clive Coleman

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Advised Skills Research Team - Blog Author 
The Advised Skills Research Team is a professional group dedicated to investigating and publishing information on the latest trends in technology and training.
This team delves into emerging advancements to provide valuable insights, empowering individuals and organizations to stay ahead.
Their work significantly contributes to the ever-evolving landscape of technological education and workforce development.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for IT Architecture

• 1. What is IT architecture?
  The goal of IT architecture is to provide a structure for the efficient deployment and management of IT within a business. Everything that has to do with computers, their components, and their infrastructure, including hardware, software, networks, data, and security The purpose of IT architecture is to guarantee that IT solutions are in sync with the business's overall strategy and goals.
• 2. So, why is it so important to have a well-designed IT architecture?
  Some of the benefits of a well-designed IT architecture include better alignment of IT solutions with business goals, increased efficiency and cost-effectiveness, better interoperability between systems, easier management of IT resources, better security and compliance, and more agility and adaptability in the face of changing business needs.
• 3. Which IT architectures are most frequently used?
  Enterprise architecture, solution architecture, application architecture, data architecture, and security architecture are all distinct subsets of information technology architecture (IT architecture). While enterprise architecture is concerned with the big picture of an organization's IT, solution architecture is concerned with tailoring individual solutions to satisfy operational requirements. While data architecture is concerned with the management and organisation of data, application architecture focuses on the design of specific software applications. Defending a company's data and IT infrastructure from hackers is the primary goal of any security architecture.
• 4. What are the most important qualifications for IT architecture?
  IT architecture is a multifaceted subject that calls for a wide range of abilities, including familiarity with corporate strategy and goals, proficiency in working in teams, knowledge of various IT components, the ability to analyse and solve problems, and awareness of emerging technology.
• 5. What steps should be taken to create an organization's IT architecture?
  An efficient IT architecture can only be built using a methodical and organised process. Typical steps in this direction include articulating the company's stated goals and determining which pieces of IT infrastructure are necessary to back up those goals. After this is complete, an architectural road map can be developed to detail the measures to be taken to reach the target architecture. So that the architecture can be managed and maintained efficiently over time, it may be necessary to select and execute suitable technological solutions, create IT policies and standards, and set up governance structures.