Kalani Kirk Hausman & Susan L. Cook 
IT Architecture For Dummies 

A solid introduction to the practices, plans, and skills
required for developing a smart system architecture

Information architecture combines IT skills with business skills
in order to align the IT structure of an organization with the
mission, goals, and objectives of its business. This friendly
introduction to IT architecture walks you through the myriad issues
and complex decisions that many organizations face when setting up
IT systems to work in sync with business procedures.

Veteran IT professional and author Kirk Hausman explains the
business value behind IT architecture and provides you with an
action plan for implementing IT architecture procedures in an
organization. You’ll explore the many challenges that organizations
face as they attempt to use technology to enhance their business’s
productivity so that you can gain a solid understanding of the
elements that are required to plan and create an architecture that
meets specific business goals.

* Defines IT architecture as a blend of IT skills and business
skills that focuses on business optimization, business
architecture, performance management, and organizational
structure

* Uncovers and examines every topic within IT architecture
including network, system, data, services, application, and
more

* Addresses the challenges that organizations face when
attempting to use information technology to enable profitability
and business continuity

While companies look to technology more than ever to enhance
productivity, you should look to IT Architecture For Dummies
for guidance in this field.

Table of Content

Introduction 1

Part I: Developing the Architecture 7

Chapter 1: Planning for Enterprise Realignment 9

Chapter 2: Exploring Tasks, Roles, and Tools 17

Chapter 3: Pondering Platform Pros and Cons 29

Part II: Defining the Role of IT Architecture 41

Chapter 4: Reducing Complexity through Standardization and Consolidation 43

Chapter 5: Planning Enterprise Information Security 65

Chapter 6: Complying with Mandates and Managing Risk 81

Part III: Creating an Enterprise Culture 93

Chapter 7: Developing Identity and Access Management Strategies 95

Chapter 8: Developing a Network Culture through Collaboration Solutions 113

Chapter 9: Reviewing Communication Methods 127

Part IV: Developing an Extended Network Enterprise 141

Chapter 10: Managing Data Storage 143

Chapter 11: Managing Application Development 163

Chapter 12: Planning for the Mobile Enterprise 175

Part V: Obtaining Value beyond the Basic Enterprise 193

Chapter 13: Virtualizing Enterprise Systems 195

Chapter 14: Facilitating High-Performance Computing 207

Chapter 15: Enabling Green IT 219

Part VI: Protecting the Enterprise 229

Chapter 16: Planning Technology Updates 231

Chapter 17: Planning Security Strategies 247

Chapter 18: Planning Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery 261

Part VII: The Part of Tens 273

Chapter 19: Ten Challenges for Redesigning an Existing Enterprise 275

Chapter 20: Ten ‘Low-Hanging Fruit’ Opportunities 281

Glossary 289

Index 313

About the author

Kalani Kirk Hausman is a specialist in enterprise architecture, security, information assurance, business continuity, and regulatory compliance. Susan L. Cook is a Senior IT Policy and Security Programs Administrator and a former compliance auditor. Both are employed by Texas A&M University.