Enterprise Architechture

The Enterprise Architecture practice designs and delivers integrated technology solutions that meet the specific needs of your business.

In order to deploy and maintain effective Information Services with an optimised Total Cost of Ownership, it is crucial to take a holistic approach to technology selection and standards. Using an architecture framework that is flexible and scalable to the needs of your business is crucial - this ensures an integrated approach to achieving both the functional and non-functional requirements of Information Services. This allows a consistent approach to system design, ensuring integration of systems and minimising support costs following deployment.

Agile Software Development

Delivery of software development projects to time, budget and that deliver business value can be extremely challenging. We can assist you in adopting the latest Agile development techniques that allow development of software while adapting to changes in requirements and circumstance, ensuring that the business always receives an application that is fit for purpose. We have extensive experience of providing mentoring to organisations in the area of Agile development, and can also assist in ensuring that the quality of software delivered under an outsourced contract is fit for purpose and consistent with the organisation's software strategy.

Architecture Strategy & Standards

Selecting the most appropriate architectural strategy for your business can be challenging under the pressure of changing business environments, emerging technologies, competing frameworks and standards, vendor pressure and inherited legacy systems. We provide an independent view on your current architectural environment and offer recommendations on all aspects of technology including server hardware, operating systems, databases, software development, application selection and desktop environments. Our approach carefully considers your current environment to ensure an integrated and pragmatic approach to your technology needs. The result is not just an architectural vision of your technology through each level of the technology stack, but also a pragmatic roadmap for implementation in the context of legacy environments.

Network Design and Deployment

Your network is the fundamental building block on which all other mission critical applications sit and, as such, failure to implement a sound transport and delivery mechanism will have significant negative impact on any applications that rely on it. We have deep expertise in the design, delivery and management of IP network solutions for major carriers as well as multi-national organisations. This includes the delivery of converged data and voice services and IP telephony solutions. Our focus is on ensuring the quality, performance and availability of your data and voice services while minimising the Total Cost of Ownership. Whether wired or wireless, LAN or WAN, we take a pragmatic approach to helping you understand and consolidate your network presence to improve support, reduce administrative overheads and strengthen resilience.

Application Rationalisation

It is common for IT departments to support multiple applications that provide the same functionality, both for business systems and desktop applications. This leads to increased license and support costs and reduced vendor leverage. Rationalising the application portfolio can lead to significant benefits in terms of cost and service quality, however it must be treated sensitively with the application customers. We can provide an independent assessment of your application portfolio based on best practice assessment criteria. We can then work with you to build a business case and achieve business buy in to implement a rationalisation programme.

Why Choose the CIO Consulting Enterprise Architecture Practice?

To ensure a successful approach to Architecture it is essential to have a long-term vision while remaining pragmatic about dealing with existing legacy technologies. We will work with you to ensure that all technology decisions and selected standards are most appropriate for your specific needs, with a key focus on cost efficiencies. We base our approach upon standards from The Open Group Architecture Framework (TOGAF).