Enterprise Architecture Framework as an Enabler for Cloud Adoption

Enterprise Architecture Framework for Cloud Adoption

The focus of Enterprise Architecture (EA) is to bridge the gap between an enterprise’s current state and its desired future state. EA benefits the enterprise business in managing its current cloud-based systems. The primary benefit being the ability to see how and where the newer, disparate cloud systems fit with the legacy systems.

EA provides a focus on cloud adoption based on strategy, business policy, planning and decision-making. In order to integrate enterprise architecture to the cloud computing services of an enterprise, a framework needs to be established where EA covers all stages of cloud adoption by an enterprise.

The following section describes enterprise architecture framework for cloud adoption. Each step of the cloud enablement of an enterprise are described below.

Enterprise Architecture Framework as an Enabler for Cloud Adoption

Fig: Enterprise Architecture Framework for Cloud Adoption

Cloud Strategy

This is the first step in cloud adoption. The typical tasks for this stage are the collection of all the artifacts and related information about the as-is state and formal procedures for the daily operations of existing EA. Analyze the needs, requirements and trends in each of the business units of an organization, validate the weaknesses, strengths, opportunities and threats during cloud adoption.

During this stage, an understanding of Business Strategy and organization goals should be undertaken.

It details information about the goal of Target architecture, the identification of relevant stakeholders, the creation of architecture vision, and the required approvals.

Cloud Adoption Planning

During this stage, understand the as-is architecture and existing EA across the organization. Business models are then defined, which consists of identification of involving roles, activities, and quantification of the current operational costs. Identify the requirements and motivations to migrate to cloud.

It is about envisioning new opportunities when cloud computing is implemented, the description of expected benefits, including the determination of respective stakeholders and understanding the capabilities of potential vendors.

Identification of the right target cloud landing zone for the Applications based on cost efficiency (TCO & ROI) and Application performance consideration during this phase.

Cloud Business Case

It is to provide an understanding of overarching abilities needed to support the implementation of cloud, such as developing the business case and ROI inputs to estimate the required budget, assessing the adoption maturity level, and selecting the cloud provider.

Target Architecture & Cloud Enabler

In this stage, the development of target Business Architecture, Information System Architecture and Technology Architectures is undertaken. This is the stage for target architecture and cloud enablers.

Identify the target architecture covering information architecture (physical and logical data models), application architecture (functional components, interrelationship between systems) and technology architecture (hardware, software and communication infrastructure) that accommodates the cloud vision and business requirements.

Cloud Transition Planning

This phase involves the creation of a more detailed plan for the actual implementation and migration from the existing architecture to the to-be architecture.

As part of the Cloud Migration, the following activities are undertaken -

Lay out a migration plan strategy including the required processes, tools and business chargeback model
Conduct an assessment on all enterprise applications to determine which business function 'bundle' falls into and the relationships between applications and bundles. This information will then be used to recommend a market place cloud product that will introduce business value

Cloud Implementation Planning & Governance

In this step, the confirmation on the scope and priorities for cloud setup and cloud deployment view are established. SLA is set up, and policies and security are defined during this stage. The definition of decision rights and responsibilities are covered. This governance covers the strategic direction to execution phase within the cloud adoption strategy.

Identification of the required deployment resources and skills during this stage. EA compliance reviews performed. Implementation of business and IT operations, post implementation review performed during this stage.

Summary

Cloud plays a major role in Enterprise Transformation. Cloud computing does not replace enterprise architecture. Cloud systems have disrupted how businesses operate already. Therefore, having well-executed EA will make it easier for businesses to manage such inevitable disruption. It will also enable organizations undergoing digital transformation to implement new cloud systems with less friction.

Enterprise Architecture framework for Cloud Adoption is an approach that integrates easily and quickly with the enterprise platforms that provide ease of cloud adoption, reducing development time and minimizing maintenance cost.

Enterprise Architecture Framework for Cloud Adoption provides benefits to the enterprise such as reduced cost of technology and response times, improved scalability, extensive storage, high availability, security.

Cloud computing helps the enterprises -

Move to an agile operating model and remove the traditional technology lock-ins
Attract top digital talent from the industry and provide them the best tool set and technologies available
Transform architecture to a scale-out capability and enabled for dynamic API-based interaction
Bring cloud-native capabilities to application and transform to deliver real-time capabilities and work on actionable data
Able to drive cost takeout by driving higher level of automation and reducing projects and run costs
Digital capability for revenue acceleration enabled through cloud in an agile and opex model

No matter what tool we use, the core problem is not the technology. It is in defining the relationships between all the different components, from business processes to technology. That is where EA comes in.

About the author

Dr. Gopala Krishna Behara is a Distinguished Member of Technical Staff and Lead Enterprise Architect at Wipro Technologies. He is a Certified Open Group TOGAF, AWS Solution Architect, IBM Cloud Solutions and serves as an Advisory Architect, Mentor on Enterprise Architecture, Next Generation Architectures, Application Portfolio Rationalization and Architecture Assurance initiatives, and continues to work as a Subject Matter Expert and Author. He has worked on multiple architecture transformation engagements in the USA, UK, Europe, Asia Pacific and Middle East Regions that presented a phased roadmap to transformation that maximized business value, while minimizing costs and risks.

He has published white papers, blogs and articles in international journals in SOA, BPM, Open Source and Next Generation Technologies & e-Governance space. Dr. Behara has also published books titled "Enterprise Architecture Practitioner Hand Book”, "Next Generation Enterprise Reference Architecture for Connected Government" and "Microservices Practitioner Guide". He is the recipient of the EA Hall of Fame - Individual Leadership in EA Practice, Promotion and Professionalization Award, 13th Annual Enterprise Architecture Conference, Washington, D.C., USA.

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