Who are IT architects and what problems do they solve?
Dynamic changes in society and business force companies to adapt to new rules and requirements when creating a product. Success often accompanies those who carefully think through their strategy and develop their projects. One of these benefits can be an effective IT solution.
In modern information technologies, special importance is given to the design of application architecture. In this article, I tried to answer questions about who IT architects are and how this profession appeared, what types of architects are and what problems they solve.
He is annoyed by imperfection, and what is more imperfect than our world? (“TRON: Legacy”)
How did IT architects appear?
At the dawn of the development of computing technology, the main task of computers was to perform mathematical calculations. The first programs were instructions and commands for machines that were difficult for humans to understand. The way out of this situation was the emergence of the first programming languages. It became possible to write programs in a more understandable and structured language. Programming languages allowed developers to abstract away from specific processor commands and focus on the logic of the program. This significantly accelerated the software development process and made it more accessible to a wide range of specialists.
However, with the development of technology and the emergence of new software requirements, it has become clear that even the most advanced programming languages cannot satisfy all the needs of developers. And then it became clear that it was necessary to pay attention to the application architecture. In the 60-70s of the last century, there was a need for specialists capable of creating complex systems. Then a new profession appeared – IT architect.
Today, in the era of the Internet, big data and artificial intelligence, the work of IT architects is becoming especially significant and challenging. Their main task is not just to create systems, but to determine the strategic direction for the development of the company’s digital space.
The variety of IT architect roles and their tasks.
An IT architect is a specialist who designs and develops information systems. He is responsible for ensuring that the system is efficient, reliable and meets customer requirements.
To begin with, we can highlight common tasks and skills that are important for any IT architect.
Tasks of an IT Architect
IT Architect Skills
Specialization of IT architects
In modern systems, it is customary to divide the architecture into areas and levels. For example, this can be seen in TOGAF framework. Accordingly, architects also specialize in developing design solutions. In general, architecture can be divided into several categories.
By level of decision making:
Enterprise Architecture – this area is at the highest level of decision-making, which is handled by the enterprise architect. He is responsible for strategic planning and management of the company's IT infrastructure. His responsibilities include creating enterprise architecture, developing corporate standards and standard architectural solutions.
Solution architecture is a direction that combines business strategy and technical implementation. The service architect is responsible for the preparation. The architect's work includes creating a service architecture, designing integrations, and selecting technologies and tools to implement the solution.
Software architecture — this direction is most focused on technological implementation. This is handled by a software architect. It defines the structure of the application, selects technologies and tools for development, and ensures the quality and security of the code.
By subject area (layer):
Business architecture — the main task of business architects is to ensure the effective management of all IT systems and their maintenance in accordance with the company's goals. Business-oriented architects must have a deep understanding of the technologies, processes, policies, and expected outcomes of the enterprise, given the available resources and constraints. These specialists work closely with business units that develop strategy and form a holistic, multi-dimensional business architecture for the company.
System architecture – A system architect is responsible for the design and development of individual systems and applications. Its tasks include defining the structure, components and interfaces of the system, as well as selecting suitable technologies and tools for its implementation.
Technology architecture – this is the technical part of the system architecture, which determines the technical means by which the solution will be implemented. Technology architecture defines the software and hardware components used in system development.
Application architecture is the application part of the system architecture that describes the logic, structure and organization of software components. It defines how an application interacts with data, other applications, and users.
Security architecture — a security architect is responsible for protecting information systems from cyber threats. He develops security strategies and policies, ensures the implementation of data protection measures and monitors their compliance.
Data architecture is a direction that is associated with the organization of data processing. A data architect designs, implements, and oversees the processes by which a company receives, transmits, stores, queries, and secures its data.
By technology:
Cloud architecture is a direction that is focused on the design and deployment of cloud services and infrastructure. Architects in this field select the most suitable cloud platforms for projects, optimize the use of resources and ensure the security of data stored in the cloud.
Network architecture – this area is associated with the design and management of networks, including local (LAN), wide area (WAN) and the Internet. Network architects create network designs, select equipment and protocols to ensure efficient communication.
Internet of Things Architecture – this area is associated with the design and development of systems that include Internet of Things (IoT) devices. IoT architects define the structure of the system, select technologies for connecting devices, ensure security and integrate data with other systems.
Artificial Intelligence Architecture (AI Architecture) is a direction that is focused on the development and implementation of architectural solutions for projects using artificial intelligence. An AI architect works to create and implement systems capable of learning, analyzing data, and making decisions based on machine learning algorithms.
Technical architecture is a direction that is focused on the development and implementation of application architecture for a specific technology. A Technical Architect ensures technology is usable and functional through deep knowledge of their field, such as SAP, Java, or Python.
These are just some of the possible specialists. Depending on the specifics of the project and the company, requirements for candidates may vary. In practice, vacancies may have different names or combine several roles at once, which can be understood from their description.
How to become an IT architect
Becoming an IT architect is not an easy task. To do this, you need to determine the goal of what kind of architect you want to become, then develop a plan and gradually move along it. This path includes education, experience, portfolio building, development and research.
Basic recommendations:
Education:
First, you need to obtain a university degree in information technology, computer science, or a related field. Additionally, you can obtain a master's degree or MBA. Also, as an exception, we can note the path of some specialists who mastered the IT profession on their own thanks to their hard work and discipline.Certification:
Special programs are being created to certify IT architects. Certification can be obtained from government agencies, corporate universities, or global professional societies such as TOGAF or AWS Certified Solutions Architect.Experience:
You don’t become an IT architect from scratch; this requires experience as a developer, analyst, or system administrator. Architects with real development experience are highly sought after.T-shape or π-shape skills:
Skills acquired in related areas provide a good advantage. Master the basics of business analysis, strategic planning and project management.Soft skills:
The work of an IT architect involves a large amount of communication with business units, partners, the development team and the company's management. To successfully perform your duties, it is important to develop communication, presentation and negotiation skills.Portfolio building:
Over time, accumulate a portfolio that will reflect successfully completed projects. This will help you demonstrate your experience and skills to potential employers.Business connections:
Meet colleagues working in your industry, attend conferences, seminars and workshops. This will not only allow you to learn a lot about your profession, but will also help you strengthen your position in the professional community.
Conclusion
It is important to note that becoming an IT architect is a complex and multifaceted process that requires the candidate to have a wide range of knowledge and skills. The future specialist must have technical competencies and a deep understanding of the company's strategy and business processes. In addition, personal development plays an important role in this profession. Despite the variety of tasks and challenges that IT architects face, they play an important role in the development of information technology and the community.
