1. What is information architecture and what is information infrastructure and how do they differ and how do they relate to each other?
Information architecture can be identified as the operation which identifies how and where important information is maintained and secured. Infrastructure architecture includes the hardware and software and telecommunications and equipment, that when combines, provides the underlying foundation to support the organisation's goals.
2. Describe how an organisation can implement a solid information architecture
The three primary areas of information architecture include: backup and recovery, disaster recovery and information security. In order for a business to implement a solid information architecture system these three elements must be involved.
Backup and recovery is a significant procedure to implement into a business’s operations, this is because important business data is too significant to lose when a system failure occurs. Backup and recovery means the business’s ability to create copies of information and data and their ability to retrieve it in case of system failure. Grandfather, Father, Son is a common backup system used by many businesses to back up their important data.
Disaster recovery can be a plan or a cost curve designed to aid the business in the event of a disaster. Disaster recovery plan, disaster recovery cost curve and business continuity planning are all plans which can be implemented by a business to ensure the safety of their information and data during an event of a disaster.
Information security refers to the safety of a business information system. Implementing passwords, antivirus software, firewalls and biometric devices will ensure the safety and security of the system.
3. List and describe the five requirement characteristics of infrastructure architecture.
· Flexibility- systems must have to ability to be flexible and adapt to the changes of the business. For example, the business may decide to implement a new TPS, as a result the software of the system must be updated quickly to suit the new TPS requirements.
· Scalability- can be identified as the ability of the system to adapt to increased demands.
· Reliability- the system and its components must always be operating efficiently with a limited amount of system failure.
· Availability- The system should be available to access by all authorised users whenever desired.
· Performance- Is the system’s ability to carry out transactions or other significant processes.
4. Describe the business value in deploying service oriented architecture.
Service orientated architecture can be identified as a business IT approach which mainly focuses on repeated processes or services. Service orientated architecture assists businesses in carrying out these specific processes and has the ability to adapt quickly, easily and economically to support the dynamic nature of an enterprise. There are several benefits for businesses implementing a service orientated architecture. E.g. SOA allows businesses to plug in new services or upgrade existing services in a large fashion, therefore helping businesses to address new system requirements quickly and efficiently.
5. What is an event?
An event can be expressed as the eyes and ears of a business and has the ability to alert those responsible about a significant change in data. An event has the ability to detect any threats or opportunities within the business and report to those who, in turn act on the information and act accordingly.
6. What is a service?
A service can be identified as software products. They must have a user friendly interface so they can be used by a broad audience; they must also have the infrastructure architecture characteristics because they have a large impact on a business’s productivity. A few examples of contemporary service forms are ‘credit checks’ and ‘customer information’. These services are essential to businesses as they are accountable for carrying out simple yet significant business operations and tasks.
7. What emerging technologies can companies can use to increase performance and utilise their infrastructure more effectively?
Two emerging technologies that companies can use to increase performance and utilise their infrastructure more effectively are web services and open systems.
Web services are a medium used to share data and information between shared protocols and standards. With the use of web services, businesses have more interoperability as two or more systems can share data and resources within a network even if the hardware and software are made by different manufacturers. According to Baltzan (et al, 2010) web services encompass all the technologies that are used to transmit and process information on and across a network, most specifically the internet.
Open systems can be identified as a non-proprietary IT hardware and software made available by the standards and procedures by which their products work, making it easier to integrate the (Baltzan et al, 2010). This emerging technology can increase performance as they allow for greater information sharing.
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