? Gap Analysis

In information technology, gap analysis is an important assessment tool which helps to identify differences between information systems or applications. A gap is sometimes called "the space between where we are and where we want to be."

A gap analysis helps bridge that space by highlighting which requirements are being met and which are not. The tool provides a foundation for measuring the investment of time, money and human resources that's required to achieve a particular outcome.

In software development, for instance, a gap analysis can be used to document which services and/or functions have been accidentally left out, which ones have been deliberately eliminated and which still need to be developed. In compliance, a gap analysis can be used to compare what is required by law to what is currently being done.

Service performances can be also valued with the help of effective cyclic gap analysis process. Lessons learned over this cycle is the foundation stone for laying down the success definition of an IT Service.

A common policy which I always follow through is : Why to trust the instincts when I can verify the complete data...

? Vendor Risk Management

Vendor risk management (VRM) is a organizational strategy in  identifying and decreasing potential business uncertainties and legal liabilities regarding the hiring of 3rd party vendors for information technology (IT) products and services. 

When an enterprise outsources business processes to an external vendor, sensitive data may be transmitted, stored and processed on both company and vendor networks.  Regulations like the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) mandate that risk management policies extend to third-party vendors, outsourcers, contractors and consultants. 

Vendor risk management strategy should include:

• A contract outlining the business relationship between the organization and the business.
• Consistent monitoring of vendor performance to ensure that contract stipulations are being met.
• Guidelines regarding who will have access to what information as part of the vendor agreement.
• Stipulations to ensure that vendors meet regulatory compliance guidelines for your industry, and a method to monitor this compliance.

A vendor who have strong understanding of the below criteria can be potentially be a candidate in sourcing the business needs :

• Policies & Procedures
• Patch management
• Information systems security
• Network infrastructure
• Remote access and VPN
• Firewall intrusion detection and prevention
• Malware controls
• Disaster Recovery
• Business Continuity
• Incident management
• Problem management

? Role of Enterprise architect

Gone - the era where in anybody who knows little about IT management can be a decisive factor in defining the IT road map of a company.

If you look at those IT companies,  leads doesn't know the core mantra for being 'Successful' in the modern era. There would be various reasons why the success factor becomes a history for them.

Enterprise Architect - this is one Guy who can bring a great level of changes to an IT Organization in terms of business productivity while maintaining cost effective management of resources.

Concerns related to the following areas can be easily brought under control - by the help one EA Team.

• Business perspective - defines the processes and standards by which the business operates on a day-to-day basis
• Application perspective - defines the interactions among the processes and standards used by the organization
• Information perspective - defines and classifies the raw data analysis & storage mechanisms that the organization requires in order to efficiently operate.
• Technology perspective - defines the hardware, operating systems, programming, and networking solutions used by the organization.

A typical EA interfaces among the following cloud:

• Business analyst
• System analyst
• Information architect
• Solutions architect
• Software architect
• Systems architect
• Application developer
• Release manager
• IT Administrator
• Project manager
• Project management office
• Business Leads

Advantages of having an enterprise architecture include improved decision making, improved adaptability to changing demands or market conditions, elimination of inefficient and redundant processes, optimization of the use of organizational assets, and minimization of employee turnover