Architecture References#
A collection of quality architecture references. Make use of good reference architecture to speed up the creation of your Solution Architecture.
Architecture magazines#
Architectuur en Governance magazine
Architecture & Governance Magazine is a publication of Troux Technologies.
The DoDAF Journal is a community of interest based discussion board. The Journal includes descriptions of best practices.
Journal of Enterprise Architecture (AOGEA Journal)
The Journal of Enterprise Architecture (JEA) is published quarterly by the Association of Enterprise Architects. It is a peer-reviewed international quarterly publication for the Enterprise Architecture community. Standard magazine for all TOGAF certified architects…
Journal of Information Architecture
The Journal of Information Architecture is an international peer-reviewed scholarly journal. Its aim is to facilitate the systematic development of the scientific body of knowledge in the field of information architecture.
The Architecture Journal (Microsoft)
The Architecture Journal is an independent platform for free thinkers and practitioners of IT architecture. New editions are issued quarterly with articles designed to offer perspective
XR Magazine is Dutch online platform and magazine for managers and architecten. (Language dutch).
Architecture Methods#
Architectural Decision Records
Great resource on ADRs. Including templates and real world examples. Using ADRs is vital for any mature architecture and architect.
Self-contained Systems (SCS)
An architectural approach that separates a larger system’s functionality into many independent, collaborating systems.
Repository on Github: innoq/SCS
Archimate 3 version: The ArchiMate enterprise architecture modelling language offers an integrated architectural approach that describes and visualizes the different architecture domains and their underlying relations and dependencies. More info can be found on: https://www.opengroup.org/archimate-forum/archimate-overview
ARIS (Architecture of Integrated Information Systems). Long time a industry default standard. Not anymore however -) ARIS is now more a tool of Software AG’s. ARIS Business Process Analysis Platform is ideal for organizations that want to document. Vendor Learning portal
Describing good solutions to reoccurring problems as patterns is a common practice in research and industry alike. While the development of cloud applications faces many new challenges
Primary Dutch EA method. Used and owned by Sogetti. Vendor info
DYA|Infrastructure brings business agility
The objective of the EAM Pattern Catalog is to complement existing Enterprise Architecture (EA) management frameworks
The objective of the EAM Pattern Catalog is to complement existing enterprise architecture (EA) management frameworks, which provide a holistic and generic view on the problem of EA management, and to provide additional detail and guidance needed to systematically establish EA management in a step-wise fashion within an enterprise.
FSAM (Federal Segment Architecture Methodology)
The Architecture and Infrastructure Committee released the Federal Segment Architecture Methodology (FSAM) v1.0 in December 2008. The FSAM features easy-to-use templates that expedite architecture development and maximize architecture use. The FSAM includes step by step guidance based on business-driven
FSAM (Federal Segment Architecture Methodology)
The Architecture and Infrastructure Committee released the Federal Segment Architecture Methodology (FSAM) v1.0 in December 2008. The FSAM features easy-to-use templates that expedite architecture development and maximize architecture use. The FSAM includes step by step guidance based on business-driven
GERAM (Generalised Enterprise Reference Architecture and Methodology)
The scope of GERAM encompasses all knowledge needed for enterprise engineering / integration. Thus GERAM is defined through a pragmatic approach providing a generalised framework for describing the components needed in all types of enterprise engineering/enterprise integration processes.
ITANA library for architects. ITANA is focused on developing the skills, tools and a suite of resources to assist institutions with their enterprise, business and technical architectural needs. Very useful collection of documents, tools and more for architects!
TOGAF is a framework - a detailed method and a set of supporting tools - for developing an enterprise architecture.
OIAr OIAm stands for Open Infrastructure Architecture method (OIAm). OIAm provides a structured, repeatable, efficient and powerful way to create meaningful overarching designs for IT infrastructure. The method is tried and proven with organizations up to multinationals, and has community content at the front and centre. This site is in the process of being updated, to reflect the latest insights that are being described in a new book ‘Bringing IT architecture to life’ (English) / ’Levende IT-Architectuur’ (Dutch).
Architecture organizations#
Association of Enterprise Architects (AEA)
The Association of Enterprise Architects (AEA) is the definitive professional organization for Enterprise Architects. Our goals are to increase job opportunities for all members and increase their market value by advancing professional excellence
BIAN (Banking Industry Architecture Network)
The BIAN model is a Service Oriented Architecture with consistent service definitions, level of detail and boundaries. This makes it easier to choose and integrate commercially available products of different vendors.
the Enterprise Architecture Center Of Excellence EACOE.org is a practitioner-based firm advancing the Enterprise Architect profession, discipline, and base of understanding - since 1972.
Distributed Management Task Force
DMTF’s Systems Management Architecture for Server Hardware (SMASH) standard is a suite of specifications that deliver industry standard semantics, protocols and profiles to make data center resource management interoperable.
Enterprise Architecture Center of Excellence (EACOE)
The mission of the Enterprise Architecture Center of Excellence (EACOE) is to be the definitive source for all aspects of Enterprise Architecture
IASA (Global IT Architects Association)
Iasa is the premier association focused on the architecture profession through the advancement of best practices and education while delivering programs and services to IT architects of all levels around the world. Our mission is to make IT architecture the most recognized profession in the world.
ITAG – Information Technology Architecture Group
The MIT Enterprise Architecture Guide (EAG) documents MIT’s architectural principles and goals, the current state of MIT’s enterprise architecture, and a future state architectural vision. The EAG also includes information regarding the ITAG architecture review process. Since this document serves to inform developers about available enterprise tools and services, we expect the EAG will be useful to enterprise system developers across the institute.
NAF (Nederlands Architectuur Forum)
Dutch organization for promoting working with the IT architecture discipline. (EA driven)
Dutch department under KNVI (Dutch non-profit IT organization for Information professionals). This architecture group works with couple with other Dutch EA groups when organizing meetings and creating workgroups.
Software Engineering Institute (SEI)
The Software Engineering Institute (SEI) is a federally funded research and development center (FFRDC) sponsored by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD). It is operated by Carnegie Mellon University. The SEI offers many (free) publication on all aspects of software architecture.
The Information Architecture Institute Archive of the IAI: http://archive.iainstitute.org/
The Information Architecture Institute is a 501(c)6 professional organization
The Jericho Forum
Research group on model-driven software engineering at SINTEF The MOD research group is part of the Department of Networked Systems and Services within the Division of Information and Communication Technology. This group is located in Oslo
The Open Data Institute works with companies and governments to build an open, trustworthy data ecosystem, where people can make better decisions using data and manage any harmful impacts. The ODI produces guides, standards and more to make the use of data simpler.
The Open Group is a global consortium that enables the achievement of business objectives through IT standards. With more than 400 member organizations.
Architecture Patterns#
Cloud Design Patterns: Prescriptive Architecture Guidance for Cloud Applications patterns
This site contains twenty-four design patterns and ten related guidance topics, this guide articulates the benefit of applying patterns by showing how each piece can fit into the big picture of cloud application architectures. It also discusses the benefits and considerations for each pattern. Most of the patterns have code samples or snippets that show how to implement the patterns using the features of Microsoft Azure. However the majority of topics described in this guide are equally relevant to all kinds of distributed systems, whether hosted on Azure or on other cloud platforms. Patterns can also be downloaded as ePUB or PDF (or ordered as hard copy book).
Cloud#
Eucalyptus Cloud Reference Architectures
HPE Helion Eucalyptus, hereafter “Eucalyptus,” is an open source platform that allows you to build an Amazon Web Services (AW S)-compatible, on-premise cloud. It is designed to run on commodity hardware and provide an implementation of popular AWS-compatible services, such as EC2 (Elastic Compute Cloud) and Auto Scaling.
IBM Cloud Computing Reference Architecture 2.0
Currently adopted by the Open Group
NIST Cloud Computing Reference Architecture (Version 2)
NIST Cloud Computing Reference Architecture.
The Open Guide to Amazon Web Services
This guide is by and for engineers who use AWS. It aims to be a useful, living reference that consolidates links, tips, gotchas, and best practices. It arose from discussion and editing over beers by several engineers who have used AWS extensively.
Example Architecture#
Architecture of a reproducibility service
This architecture describes the relationship of a reproducibility service with other services from the context of scientific collaboration, publishing, and preservation. Together these services can be combined into a new system for transparent and reproducible scholarly publications.
Foundation Architectures#
The objective of the EAM Pattern Catalog is to complement existing enterprise architecture (EA) management frameworks, which provide a holistic and generic view on the problem of EA management, and to provide additional detail and guidance needed to systematically establish EA management in a step-wise fashion within an enterprise.
FSAM (Federal Segment Architecture Methodology)
The Architecture and Infrastructure Committee released the Federal Segment Architecture Methodology (FSAM) v1.0 in December 2008. The FSAM features easy-to-use templates that expedite architecture development and maximize architecture use. The FSAM includes step by step guidance based on business-driven
Guidelines#
Google Site Reliability Engineering
This book is a collection of essays by one company, with a single common vision. Historically, companies have employed systems administrators to run complex computing systems.We apply the principles of computer science and engineering to the design and development of computing systems: generally, large distributed ones. Sometimes, our task is writing the software for those systems alongside our product development counterparts; sometimes, our task is building all the additional pieces those systems need, like backups or load balancing, ideally so they can be reused across systems; and sometimes, our task is figuring out how to apply existing solutions to new problems.
The Microsoft REST API Guidelines, as a design principle, encourages application developers to have resources accessible to them via a RESTful HTTP interface. To provide the smoothest possible experience for developers on platforms following the Microsoft REST API Guidelines, REST APIs SHOULD follow consistent design guidelines to make using them easy and intuitive. cc-by-sa document created by Microsoft architects
Industry Architectures#
Architecture of a reproducibility service
This architecture describes the relationship of a reproducibility service with other services from the context of scientific collaboration, publishing, and preservation. Together these services can be combined into a new system for transparent and reproducible scholarly publications.
BIAN (Banking Industry Architecture Network)
The BIAN model is a Service Oriented Architecture with consistent service definitions, level of detail and boundaries. This makes it easier to choose and integrate commercially available products of different vendors.
Distributed Management Task Force
DMTF’s Systems Management Architecture for Server Hardware (SMASH) standard is a suite of specifications that deliver industry standard semantics, protocols and profiles to make data center resource management interoperable.
EURIDICE is an EU funded project which deals with the development and implementation of new concepts in the area of intelligent Cargo.
Euridice was an Integrated Project funded by EU’s Seventh Framework Programme ICT for Transport Area. The basic concept of Euridice is to build an information services platform centred on the individual cargo item and on its interaction with the surrounding environment and the user.
Rackspace Open Cloud reference architecture
Description of Rackspace cloud architectural configurations so you known how to use it for your business or personal project. (cc-by license)
Microservices#
Designing microservices: Domain analysis
Part of set of articles. Good read before designing, using and building and running microservices architecture on Azure.
Microservices architecture style (Microsoft)
Nice overview for what, how and when to use microservices. And of course tailored also for Azure specific details.
The Microsoft REST API Guidelines, as a design principle, encourages application developers to have resources accessible to them via a RESTful HTTP interface. To provide the smoothest possible experience for developers on platforms following the Microsoft REST API Guidelines, REST APIs SHOULD follow consistent design guidelines to make using them easy and intuitive. cc-by-sa document created by Microsoft architects
Mobile#
Mobile Security Reference Architecture
The Mobile Security Reference Architecture (MSRA) is a deliverable of the Digital Government Strategy (DGS). A key objective of the DGS is to procure and manage mobile devices, applications, and data in smart, secure, and affordable ways. The MSRA has been released by the Federal CIO Council and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to assist Federal Departments and Agencies (D/As) in the secure implementation of mobile solutions through their enterprise architectures
Principles#
ITAG – Information Technology Architecture Group
The MIT Enterprise Architecture Guide (EAG) documents MIT’s architectural principles and goals, the current state of MIT’s enterprise architecture, and a future state architectural vision. The EAG also includes information regarding the ITAG architecture review process. Since this document serves to inform developers about available enterprise tools and services, we expect the EAG will be useful to enterprise system developers across the institute.
The Principles for Digital Development
The Principles for Digital Development find their roots in the efforts of individuals, development organizations, and donors alike who have called for a more concerted effort by donors and implementing partners to institutionalize lessons learned in the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in development projects.
U.S. Digital Services Playbook
U.S. Digital Services Playbook: The American people expect to interact with government through digital channels such as websites, email, and mobile applications. By building digital services that meet their needs, we can make the delivery of our policy and programs more effective.
Reference architectures#
ATHENA Interoperability Framework (AIF)
The ATHENA Interoperability Framework (AIF) provides a compound framework and associated reference architecture for capturing the research elements and solutions to interoperability issues that address the problem in a holistic way by inter-relating relevant information from different perspectives of the enterprise.
Australian Government Architecture Reference Models
The AGA Reference Models provide a common language for Australian Government agencies so that their architectures can be described in a common and consistent manner. cc-by licensed material See also: http://www.finance.gov.au/policy-guides-procurement/australian-government-architecture-aga/aga-rm/
Cloud Computing Portability and Interoperability (Open Group)
Open Group document. This guide analyzes cloud computing portability and interoperability.
Cybersecurity Framework (NIST)
The Framework Core offers a way to take a high-level Security Framework.
Architecture document of The Data Transfer Project. The DTP project is formed in 2017 to create an open-source, service-to-service data portability platform so that all individuals across the web could easily move their data between online service providers whenever they want. The contributors to the Data Transfer Project believe portability and interoperability are central to innovation.
Distributed Microservice Architecture with Docker
Master’s Thesis focused on microservice architecture and Docker
DoDAF (Department of Defense Architecture Framework)
Reference architecture of the Department of Defense (US) The DoDAF Architecture Framework Version 2.02
The objective of the EAM Pattern Catalog is to complement existing Enterprise Architecture (EA) management frameworks
Eucalyptus Cloud Reference Architectures
HPE Helion Eucalyptus, hereafter “Eucalyptus,” is an open source platform that allows you to build an Amazon Web Services (AW S)-compatible, on-premise cloud. It is designed to run on commodity hardware and provide an implementation of popular AWS-compatible services, such as EC2 (Elastic Compute Cloud) and Auto Scaling.
EURIDICE is an EU funded project which deals with the development and implementation of new concepts in the area of intelligent Cargo.
European Interoperablity Reference Architecture(EIRA)
The European Interoperability Reference Architecture (EIRA©) is an architecture content metamodel defining the most salient architectural building blocks (ABBs) needed to build interoperable e-Government systems. The EIRA© provides a common terminology that can be used by people working for public administrations in various architecture and system development tasks. The EIRA© was created and is being maintained in the context of Action 2016.32 of the ISA² Programme. The EIRA uses (and extends) the ArchiMate language as a modelling notation and uses service orientation as an architectural style.
GEMMA (GEMeentelijk Model Architectuur)
(Dutch site) GEMMA 2.0 is een doorontwikkeling naar een architectuur die de gehele gemeentelijke informatievoorziening beschrijft, helpt bij het reduceren van de complexiteit van de informatievoorziening, bij het organiseren van samenwerkingsverbanden en het positioneren van functies in de cloud.
GERAM (Generalised Enterprise Reference Architecture and Methodology)
The scope of GERAM encompasses all knowledge needed for enterprise engineering / integration. Thus GERAM is defined through a pragmatic approach providing a generalised framework for describing the components needed in all types of enterprise engineering/enterprise integration processes.
IBM Cloud Computing Reference Architecture 2.0
Currently adopted by the Open Group
Interoperability Solutions for EU public administrations
Reference architecture documents for use and reuse developed within EU program. ISA’s collaborative platform to find, reuse and share a wealth of ready-to-use interoperability solutions for eGovernment and best practices and discuss with your peers!
ITAG – Information Technology Architecture Group
The MIT Enterprise Architecture Guide (EAG) documents MIT’s architectural principles and goals, the current state of MIT’s enterprise architecture, and a future state architectural vision. The EAG also includes information regarding the ITAG architecture review process. Since this document serves to inform developers about available enterprise tools and services, we expect the EAG will be useful to enterprise system developers across the institute.
ITANA library for architects. ITANA is focused on developing the skills, tools and a suite of resources to assist institutions with their enterprise, business and technical architectural needs. Very useful collection of documents, tools and more for architects!
ITSM Reference Architecture Framework
FitSM is a free and lightweight standards family aimed at facilitating service management in IT service provision, including federated scenarios.
Microservice Architecture Reference Architecture 2017 (RH)
Microservice REF architecture 2017 of RedHat. Tailored for Java/JBOS. But with good general principles. This reference architecture provides a thorough discussion on microservices, some of the factors that go into determining a client’s needs, and cost to benefit parameters. After defining several potential modularity levels, this paper focuses on business-driven microservices and provides an implementation using JBoss EAP 7 (CC-BY-SA)
Microsoft Industry Reference Architecture for Banking (MIRA-B)
MIRA-B This 2012 Microsoft Industry Reference Architecture for Banking gives financial institutions a framework to ensure IT meets their strategic goals across channels and various customer needs.
Mobile Security Reference Architecture
The Mobile Security Reference Architecture (MSRA) is a deliverable of the Digital Government Strategy (DGS). A key objective of the DGS is to procure and manage mobile devices, applications, and data in smart, secure, and affordable ways. The MSRA has been released by the Federal CIO Council and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to assist Federal Departments and Agencies (D/As) in the secure implementation of mobile solutions through their enterprise architectures
The overall ambition of NEXOF-RA is to deliver a Reference Architecture for the NESSI Open Service Framework (ranging from the infrastructure up to the interfaces with the end users) leveraging research in the area of service-based systems to consolidate and trigger innovation in service-oriented economies
NIH Enterprise Architecture Framework (National Institute of Health)
As a comprehensive framework the NIH Enterprise Architecture identifies how IT assets directly enable NIH
NIST Cloud Computing Reference Architecture (Version 2)
NIST Cloud Computing Reference Architecture.
Dutch Government Reference Architecture (version 3.0) )
Open Security Architecture (OSA)
OSA distills the know-how of the security architecture community and provides readily usable patterns for your application. OSA shall be a free framework that is developed and owned by the community.
Oracle Enterprise Architecture Framework : Information Architecture Domain
The OEAF:Information Architecture. Oracle EA Information reference architecture. OEAF Domain consists of the following components: Data Realms, Capability Model
Oracle Reference Architecture Security Release 3.1
This document (2010) provides a reference architecture for designing an enterprise security framework. This framework supports the security needs of business solutions and helps to unify the disparate security resources commonly found in IT today. It offers security services that are critical to the integrity of modern distributed and service-oriented solutions, and beneficial to legacy systems as well.
Reference Architecture for Scalable Word Press Websites (on AWS)
Description of scalability and deployment options when using AWS for hosting of WorPress sites.
Reference Architecture Foundation for Service Oriented Architecture
This document specifies the OASIS Reference Architecture for Service Oriented Architecture. It follows from the concepts and relationships defined in the OASIS Reference Model for Service Oriented Architecture. While it remains abstract in nature
ROSA (Referentie Onderwijs Sector Architectuur)
(Dutch) Reference Architecture site for Education Sector.
This specification presents a SOA Reference Architecture (SOA RA)
Software Assurance Maturity Model
The Software Assurance Maturity Model (SAMM) is an open framework to help organizations formulate and implement a strategy for software security that is tailored to the specific risks facing the organization.
The Chromium Architecture (Google)
Complete architecture and design documentation of the Google Chromium Projects.
VMware Infrastructure Architecture Overview
VMware Infrastructure architecture Overview (PDF whitepaper).
Security architecture#
Cybersecurity Framework (NIST)
The Framework Core offers a way to take a high-level Security Framework.
Mobile Security Reference Architecture
The Mobile Security Reference Architecture (MSRA) is a deliverable of the Digital Government Strategy (DGS). A key objective of the DGS is to procure and manage mobile devices, applications, and data in smart, secure, and affordable ways. The MSRA has been released by the Federal CIO Council and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to assist Federal Departments and Agencies (D/As) in the secure implementation of mobile solutions through their enterprise architectures
Open Reference Architecture for Security and Privacy
This reference architecture is created to improve security and privacy designs in general. In our opinion it is time to stop reinventing the wheel when it comes down to creating architectures and designs for security and privacy solutions.
Open Security Architecture (OSA)
OSA distills the know-how of the security architecture community and provides readily usable patterns for your application. OSA shall be a free framework that is developed and owned by the community.
Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP)
The Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP) is a 501(c)(3) worldwide not-for-profit charitable organization focused on improving the security of software.
Oracle Reference Architecture Security Release 3.1
This document (2010) provides a reference architecture for designing an enterprise security framework. This framework supports the security needs of business solutions and helps to unify the disparate security resources commonly found in IT today. It offers security services that are critical to the integrity of modern distributed and service-oriented solutions, and beneficial to legacy systems as well.
Privacy Management Reference Model and Methodology (PMRM)
The Privacy Management Reference Model and Methodology (PMRM, pronounced “pim-rim”) provides a model and a methodology for: · understanding and analyzing privacy policies and their privacy management requirements in defined use cases; and · selecting the technical services which must be implemented to support privacy controls. It is particularly relevant for use cases in which personal information (PI) flows across regulatory, policy, jurisdictional, and system boundaries.
SABSA (Sherwood Applied Business Security Architecture)
SABSA is a proven methodology for developing business-driven
Software Assurance Maturity Model
The Software Assurance Maturity Model (SAMM) is an open framework to help organizations formulate and implement a strategy for software security that is tailored to the specific risks facing the organization.
Software Architecture#
Distributed Microservice Architecture with Docker
Master’s Thesis focused on microservice architecture and Docker
Microservice Architecture Reference Architecture 2017 (RH)
Microservice REF architecture 2017 of RedHat. Tailored for Java/JBOS. But with good general principles. This reference architecture provides a thorough discussion on microservices, some of the factors that go into determining a client’s needs, and cost to benefit parameters. After defining several potential modularity levels, this paper focuses on business-driven microservices and provides an implementation using JBoss EAP 7 (CC-BY-SA)
Standards#
Advancing Storage and Information Technology(SNIA)
SNIA is a not–for–profit global organization, made up of member companies spanning the global storage market. SNIA’s mission is to lead the storage industry worldwide in developing and promoting standards, technologies,
Consortium for Information & Software Quality (CISQ)
https://www.it-cisq.org/ The Consortium for Information & Software Quality (CISQ) stands as a leading advocate for enhancing the quality and reliability of software and information systems. Committed to establishing measurable standards and best practices, CISQ plays a pivotal role in driving improvements across the software development lifecycle.
Digital Signature Standard (DSS) (FIPS PUB 186 – 4)
This (US) Standard defines methods for digital signature generation that can be used for the protection of binary data (commonly called a message), and for the verification and validation of those digital signatures.
Distributed Management Task Force
DMTF’s Systems Management Architecture for Server Hardware (SMASH) standard is a suite of specifications that deliver industry standard semantics, protocols and profiles to make data center resource management interoperable.
FIPS PUB 198-1:The Keyed-Hash Message Authentication Code (HMAC)
Providing a way to check the integrity of information transmitted over or stored in an unreliable medium is a prime necessity in the world of open computing and communications. Mechanisms that provide such integrity checks based on a secret key are usually called message authentication codes (MACs). Typically, message authentication codes are used between two parties that share a secret key in order to authenticate information transmitted between these parties. This Standard defines a MAC that uses a cryptographic hash function in conjunction with a secret key. This mechanism is called HMAC [HMAC]. HMAC shall use an Approved cryptographic hash function [FIPS180-3]. HMAC uses the secret key for the calculation and verification of the MACs.
ITSM Reference Architecture Framework
FitSM is a free and lightweight standards family aimed at facilitating service management in IT service provision, including federated scenarios.
In the world of software management there exists a dread place called “dependency hell.” The bigger your system grows and the more packages you integrate into your software, the more likely you are to find yourself, one day, in this pit of despair.