1. What is information architecture and what is infrastructure architecture and how do they differ and how do they relate to each other?
Information architecture identifies where and how Important information, such as customer records, is maintained and secured. A single backup or restore failure can cost an organisation more than time and money; some data cannot be re-created, and the business intelligence lost from that data can be huge. On the other hand, infrastructure architecture includes the hardware, software and telecommunications equipment that, when combined, provides the underlying foundation to support the organisation’s goals. Both information and infrastructure architecture relate to each other because information architecture is the micro side of storing information, i.e. the physical information itself, and infrastructure architecture is the macro side of things, i.e. the physical makeup of the software and hardware that stores the data, the difference that they are both specify in different fields of the same element.
2. Describe how an organisation can implement a solid information architecture
To implement a solid information architecture organisations should satisfy the 3 primary areas of information architecture, they are: backup and recovery, disaster recovery and information scrutiny. The first of the three elements; backup and recovery, can be satisfied by backing up all necessary data, files, software and any other cyber data of the business and making sure that it is regularly updated and kept neat and tidy in a backup system, organisations should feel safe from any threats to their businesses data, these threats mainly include system crashes and failures, particularly in the case of data that cannot be re-created. Recovery is the ability to get a system up and running in the event of a system crash or failure and includes restoring the information backup. Secondly, disaster recovery is a detailed process for recovering information or an IT system in the event of a catastrophic disaster such as a fire or flood. A comprehensive disaster recovery plan considers the location of the backup information; in most cases this is an off-site facility. This plan also considers the impact of the building in such a catastrophe and as such suggests the use of a hot site, (a separate and fully equipped facility where business can start up without hassle) in these types of situations. Lastly, information scrutiny is concerned with the regulatory requirements to safeguard data, not only in business organisations but the data of remote users, partners, customers and mobile phones, PDAs and other mobile devices. Also its concerns about identity theft are at an all time high.
3. List and describe the five requirement characteristics of infrastructure architecture.
The five required characteristics of information architecture include: flexibility; scalability; reliability; availability; and performance. The first of the five, flexibility discusses how organisations must watch today’s business, as well as tomorrow’s, when designing and building systems. Also considering that systems need to be flexible enough to meet all types of business changes. Secondly, scalability refers to how well a system can adapt to increased demands. Thirdly, reliability talks about ensuring all systems are functioning correctly and providing accurate information. Fourthly, availability discusses when users can access systems. Note that high availability refers to a system or component that is continuously operational. Lastly, performance measures how quickly a system performs a certain process or transaction (in terms of efficiency IT metrics of both speed and throughput).
4. Describe the business value in deploying a service oriented architecture
Service orientated architecture (SOA) is a business-driven IT architectural approach that supports integrating a business as linked, repeated tasks or services. SOA helps today’s businesses innovate by ensuring that IT systems can adapt quickly, easily and economically to support rapidly changing business needs. SOA helps businesses increase the flexibility of their processes, strengthen their underlying IT architecture, and reuse their existing IT investments by creating connection among disparate applications and information sources.
5. What is an event?
An event is a business event, and can happen at any particular place or time, and is usually under special circumstances.
6. What is a service?
A service is simply a business task, such as checking a potential customer’s credit rating when opening a new account.
7. What emerging technologies can companies can use to increase performance and utilise their infrastructure more effectively?
Emerging technologies include what is known as grid computing; at its core grid computing is based on an open set of standards and protocols that enable communication across heterogeneous, geographically dispersed environments (as implemented by google). Grid computing goes far beyond sheer computing power. Today’s operating environments must be resilient, flexible and integrated as never before. Grid computing enables this to take place, and organisations around the world are experiencing substantial benefits by implementing grids in critical business processes to achieve both business and technology benefits.
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