Operations architecture
Encyclopedia
Operations architecture allows the ongoing support and management
of IT
services infrastructure
of an enterprise
. The IT infrastructure of an enterprise will typically comprise many different systems and platforms, often in different geographic locations. Operations architecture ensures that these systems perform as expected by centrally unifying the control of operational procedures and automating the execution of operational tasks. It also reports the performance of the IT infrastructure. The implementation of an operations architecture consists of a dedicated set of tools and processes which are designed to provide centralisation and automation.
and data center
infrastructure rather than desktop computers
. It supports a company’s computing infrastructure to provide IT services which are required by business process
es. Any organisation with a substantial amount of automated back office processes can have an operations architecture, such as banks, factories and government agencies. The focus of operations architecture is on the day-to-day provision of IT services and it is not concerned with manufacturing IT products such as the programming of applications.
While operations architecture deals with the technical implementation of IT service management
, it does not address personnel or human resource
aspects. The hiring and training of suitable operators is not managed within the context of operations architecture.
The operations architecture is the technical implementation of an IT governance
framework such as ITIL
. Specifically, it is the solution design for IT service management. While IT service management focuses on the conceptual design of the IT service, operations architecture focuses on the technical practicalities of implementing this concept.
Geographically, operations architecture unites the control over increasingly disparate and mobile IT systems on a central operations "bridge" (so named in analogy to a ship’s command bridge).
Management
Management in all business and organizational activities is the act of getting people together to accomplish desired goals and objectives using available resources efficiently and effectively...
of IT
Information technology
Information technology is the acquisition, processing, storage and dissemination of vocal, pictorial, textual and numerical information by a microelectronics-based combination of computing and telecommunications...
services infrastructure
Infrastructure
Infrastructure is basic physical and organizational structures needed for the operation of a society or enterprise, or the services and facilities necessary for an economy to function...
of an enterprise
Company
A company is a form of business organization. It is an association or collection of individual real persons and/or other companies, who each provide some form of capital. This group has a common purpose or focus and an aim of gaining profits. This collection, group or association of persons can be...
. The IT infrastructure of an enterprise will typically comprise many different systems and platforms, often in different geographic locations. Operations architecture ensures that these systems perform as expected by centrally unifying the control of operational procedures and automating the execution of operational tasks. It also reports the performance of the IT infrastructure. The implementation of an operations architecture consists of a dedicated set of tools and processes which are designed to provide centralisation and automation.
Scope and context
Operations architecture is mainly centered around back officeBack office
A back office is a part of most corporations where tasks dedicated to running the company itself takes place. The term "Back office" comes from the building layout of early companies where the front office would contain the sales and other customer-facing staff and the back office would be those...
and data center
Data center
A data center is a facility used to house computer systems and associated components, such as telecommunications and storage systems...
infrastructure rather than desktop computers
Personal computer
A personal computer is any general-purpose computer whose size, capabilities, and original sales price make it useful for individuals, and which is intended to be operated directly by an end-user with no intervening computer operator...
. It supports a company’s computing infrastructure to provide IT services which are required by business process
Business process
A business process or business method is a collection of related, structured activities or tasks that produce a specific service or product for a particular customer or customers...
es. Any organisation with a substantial amount of automated back office processes can have an operations architecture, such as banks, factories and government agencies. The focus of operations architecture is on the day-to-day provision of IT services and it is not concerned with manufacturing IT products such as the programming of applications.
While operations architecture deals with the technical implementation of IT service management
IT Service Management
IT service management is a discipline for managing information technology systems, philosophically centered on the customer's perspective of IT's contribution to the business. ITSM stands in deliberate contrast to technology-centered approaches to IT management and business interaction...
, it does not address personnel or human resource
Human resource management
Human Resource Management is the management of an organization's employees. While human resource management is sometimes referred to as a "soft" management skill, effective practice within an organization requires a strategic focus to ensure that people resources can facilitate the achievement of...
aspects. The hiring and training of suitable operators is not managed within the context of operations architecture.
The operations architecture is the technical implementation of an IT governance
Information technology governance
Information Technology Governance, IT Governance is a subset discipline of Corporate Governance focused on information technology systems and their performance and risk management...
framework such as ITIL
Itil
Itil may mean:*Atil or Itil, the ancient capital of Khazaria*Itil , also Idel, Atil, Atal, the ancient and modern Turkic name of the river Volga.ITIL can stand for:*Information Technology Infrastructure Library...
. Specifically, it is the solution design for IT service management. While IT service management focuses on the conceptual design of the IT service, operations architecture focuses on the technical practicalities of implementing this concept.
Geographically, operations architecture unites the control over increasingly disparate and mobile IT systems on a central operations "bridge" (so named in analogy to a ship’s command bridge).
Elements of operations architecture
Some of the commonest elements of operations architecture are:- Production scheduling/monitoring
- System monitoring
- Performance monitoring
- Network monitoringNetwork monitoringThe term network monitoring describes the use of a system that constantly monitors a computer network for slow or failing components and that notifies the network administrator in case of outages...
- Event management
- Secure file transferFile transferFile transfer is a generic term for the act of transmitting files over a computer network or the Internet. There are numerous ways and protocols to transfer files over a network. Computers which provide a file transfer service are often called file servers. Depending on the client's perspective the...
- service level agreementService Level AgreementA service-level agreement is a part of a service contract where the level of service is formally defined. In practice, the term SLA is sometimes used to refer to the contracted delivery time or performance...
s (SLAs) - operating level agreementOperating Level AgreementAn operational-level agreement defines the interdependent relationships among the internal support groups of an organization working to support a service-level agreement . The agreement describes the responsibilities of each internal support group toward other support groups, including the process...
s (OLAs)