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Design discipline that structures systems to meet business requirements across components, technologies, and constraints.
DESCRIPTION
Solution architecture aligns technology choices and system design with specific business needs. It defines functional and non-functional requirements, selects patterns, and orchestrates components and integrations. Practitioners consider scalability, resilience, security, and cost within organizational and regulatory constraints. Frameworks like TOGAF guide processes and deliverables. Solution architecture bridges strategy and implementation, producing reference architectures, designs, and roadmaps.
ALTERNATIVE DEFINITIONS
The Open Group
Solution Architecture describes a specific architecture that delivers a specific solution.
Concise definition highlighting specificity to a single solution.
AWS
Solutions architecture focuses on designing, building, and optimizing architectures that meet business requirements on AWS.
Vendor context emphasizing cloud practice and optimization.
RELATED TERMS
System Design TOGAF Cloud Architecture Integration Architecture Non-Functional Requirements Reference Architecture
COMPETING TERMS
Enterprise Architecture Software Architecture
RELATIONS
- Narrower: Application Architecture
KNOWLEDGE AREAS
Data Architecture Software Engineering Cloud Infrastructure
TARGET AUDIENCE
Solution Architect Software Architect Data Architect Cloud Architect IT Project Manager Enterprise Architect
EXTERNAL SOURCES
- Wikipedia - Solution architecture
- Microsoft - Azure architecture guidance
- Google Cloud - Architecture patterns and guides
- The Open Group - TOGAF reference materials
TOP QUESTIONS
What is Solution Architecture’s primary goal?
To design systems that effectively meet business requirements while honoring constraints like security, cost, and scalability.
Category: Overview
How does Solution Architecture differ from Enterprise Architecture?
Enterprise Architecture sets cross-organizational standards; Solution Architecture delivers designs for specific initiatives.
Category: Distinction
What are typical deliverables of Solution Architecture?
Reference architectures, design diagrams, technology selections, and decision logs.
Category: Basics
Which frameworks support Solution Architecture?
TOGAF, AWS Well-Architected, and Azure CAF provide principles and templates.
Category: Frameworks
What risks in Solution Architecture are common?
Overengineering, insufficient NFR coverage, and misalignment with business value and constraints.
Category: Risks
What skills are required for Solution Architecture?
System design, cloud platforms, security, integration, and stakeholder communication.
Category: Requirements
How is Solution Architecture measured for success?
Meeting NFRs, delivering value on time/budget, and maintainable designs adapted to change.
Category: Management
What is currently a hot topic in Solution Architecture?
Event-driven architectures, zero-trust security, and cloud cost optimization.
Category: Topic
How does Solution Architecture relate to Data Architecture?
It incorporates data storage, integration, governance, and analytics patterns into overall system design.
Category: Relation