solutions architect vs enterprise architect

Solutions Architect vs Enterprise Architect: What's the Difference?

The distinction between solutions architects and enterprise architects is often misunderstood, even among those working within the IT industry. To shed light on this topic, let us first consider the different types of systems that exist in a typical organization.

Outside of the cloud or data center, there are external systems that provide additional value to our organization, such as Google Analytics for tracking website traffic or media processing services for handling multimedia content. Additionally, we have internal systems that manage hiring processes, accounting, and other business functions. User data must be stored in a big data storage solution to facilitate analytics, reporting, and business intelligence.

To further enhance analysis, machine learning can be applied to help interpret user behavior and inform sales strategies or client insights. This system is responsible for processing and analyzing user data.

Meanwhile, binary data such as images and videos requires separate storage solutions. Different paradigms can be employed, including relational databases or NoSQL solutions. These services must store data in designated databases, often deployed using Kubernetes. Single sign-on (SSO) technology may also be necessary to secure access to these services.

After the gateway layer, we enter the realm of microservices architecture, where an API Gateway provides load balancing, request proxying, authentication, and authorization capabilities. These microservices must communicate with a backend system, which can be deployed in the cloud or on-premise infrastructure.

To better understand the role of solutions architects, let us consider a sample system that integrates client-facing applications such as a website, mobile app, or desktop client. In this article series, we will explore the responsibilities and specializations of solution architects in more detail.

As we begin our exploration of the job of the solution architect, it is essential to recognize the distinct characteristics of this role within the broader landscape of enterprise architecture. By examining the differences between solutions architects and enterprise architects, we can gain a deeper understanding of their respective roles and responsibilities.

Solutions architect vs enterprise architect