Enterprise architecture FAQ.
Answers to common questions about enterprise architecture, EA tools, frameworks, and the Albumi platform.
Enterprise architecture basics.
What is enterprise architecture?
Enterprise architecture (EA) is a discipline that helps organizations align their IT infrastructure and systems with business strategy. It provides a holistic view of applications, data, technology, and business processes to enable better decision-making, reduce complexity, and manage change effectively. EA covers four key domains: business architecture, application architecture, data architecture, and technology architecture. Learn more about enterprise architecture →
What is the difference between enterprise architecture and solution architecture?
Enterprise architecture focuses on the organization-wide IT landscape, strategy alignment, and governance. Solution architecture focuses on designing specific systems or solutions within that landscape. Enterprise architects set standards and strategy; solution architects implement them for individual projects. Think of EA as the city plan and solution architecture as the blueprint for a single building. See how different architecture roles use Albumi →
What is application portfolio management?
Application portfolio management (APM) is the practice of cataloging, classifying, and governing all applications in an organization. It uses frameworks like TIME (Tolerate, Invest, Migrate, Eliminate) to make strategic decisions about which applications to keep, improve, replace, or retire. Effective APM helps reduce redundancy, control costs, and ensure that every application delivers business value. Explore Albumi's APM features →
What is a business capability map?
A business capability map is a visual representation of what an organization does, independent of how it is done. It maps business capabilities to supporting applications and technologies, helping enterprise architects identify gaps, redundancies, and investment opportunities across the IT portfolio. Capability maps are valuable for strategic planning because they provide a stable view of the business that does not change as frequently as organizational structures or technology platforms.
EA tools & software.
What is an enterprise architecture tool?
An enterprise architecture tool is software that helps organizations document, visualize, analyze, and govern their IT landscape. Key capabilities include application portfolio management, impact analysis, architecture diagramming, data lineage tracking, and business capability mapping. Modern EA tools go beyond static diagrams by providing live, data-driven views of your architecture that stay in sync with reality as your landscape evolves. Compare enterprise architecture tools →
How much does enterprise architecture software cost?
Traditional enterprise architecture software typically costs tens of thousands of dollars per year. These platforms often require lengthy implementation projects (6+ months) and dedicated consulting resources on top of the license fee. Albumi offers a free plan with full functionality for small teams and paid plans that scale with your organization - making EA management accessible to teams of any size. See Albumi pricing →
What is data lineage?
Data lineage is the tracking of data from its origin (System of Record) through all transformations and integration points to its final consumers. It is essential for data governance, audit readiness, and understanding how sensitive data flows through your enterprise architecture. With proper data lineage, you can answer questions like "where does customer PII end up?" or "which systems consume data from our CRM?" Explore data lineage use cases →
What is architecture governance?
Architecture governance is the set of processes, policies, and standards that ensure IT systems align with enterprise architecture principles. It includes technology standards enforcement, ARB processes, and change management workflows like Architecture Change Requests. Effective governance prevents architectural drift, where individual project decisions slowly erode the coherence of your IT landscape. See governance features →
Do I need an enterprise architecture tool for a small organization?
Organizations with 50+ applications and multiple integrations typically benefit from an EA tool. If your team spends hours manually tracking dependencies, creating architecture diagrams that quickly become outdated, or struggling with impact analysis during changes - an EA tool will save significant time and reduce risk. The key indicator is complexity, not size. Try Albumi with your own data →
Frameworks & methodologies.
What is TOGAF?
TOGAF (The Open Group Architecture Framework) is the most widely used enterprise architecture framework globally. It provides a structured approach to designing, planning, implementing, and governing enterprise IT architecture through its Architecture Development Method (ADM). The ADM consists of iterative phases - from Architecture Vision through Migration Planning. Learn about EA frameworks →
What is ArchiMate?
ArchiMate is an open and independent enterprise architecture modeling language maintained by The Open Group. It provides a visual notation for describing, analyzing, and communicating enterprise architectures across business, application, and technology layers. Unlike UML, which focuses on software design, ArchiMate is purpose-built for enterprise architecture. Explore EA modeling approaches →
What is the Zachman Framework?
The Zachman Framework is an enterprise architecture classification schema organized as a 6×6 matrix. It maps six interrogatives (What, How, Where, Who, When, Why) against six perspectives (Planner, Owner, Designer, Builder, Implementer, User) to provide a comprehensive view of an enterprise. While TOGAF provides a process for developing architecture, Zachman provides a taxonomy. Many organizations use both. Compare EA frameworks →
What is a technology roadmap?
A technology roadmap is a strategic plan that outlines technology changes over time - including migrations, decommissions, and new system introductions. Enterprise architecture tools help build roadmaps based on real dependency data, application lifecycle status, and business priorities. A good roadmap connects current-state architecture to a defined target state through clearly sequenced initiatives. See initiative tracking →
About Albumi.
How is Albumi different from other EA tools?
Albumi focuses on practical enterprise architecture management - live architecture diagrams (Albums), inline dependency views on every entity, application portfolio management with TIME and lifecycle tracking, integration catalog with data lineage, and AI integration via MCP. Traditional EA tools target large enterprises with complex pricing and usually cost tens of thousands of dollars per year; Albumi starts free and scales with affordable paid plans - setup in 1 day vs 6+ months. Compare pricing and capabilities →
What features does Albumi include?
Albumi provides a comprehensive set of EA management capabilities: Integration Catalog, Data Lineage, Application Portfolio Management, Architecture Diagramming (Albums), Dependency Views, Business Capability Mapping, Architecture Governance with ACR/Review Boards, Initiative Tracking, and AI integration via MCP. All features are included in a single plan - no module-based pricing or add-on fees. You get the full platform from day one. Explore all features →
How quickly can I get started with Albumi?
Most teams are up and running with Albumi in a single day. You can import your existing application and integration data, and immediately start using features like Albums (architecture diagrams), dependency views, and the integration catalog. Unlike traditional EAM platforms that require 6+ months of implementation, Albumi is designed for rapid time-to-value. Sign up →
Who is Albumi built for?
Albumi is built for enterprise architects, solution architects, CTOs, integration developers, data stewards, business analysts, and anyone who needs to understand the IT landscape. It provides an architecture health dashboard and portfolio analytics so each stakeholder sees the information most relevant to them. Whether you are an enterprise architect planning a migration, a CTO assessing portfolio health, or a developer looking up integration specifications - Albumi gives you the answers without complex tooling. See how each role uses Albumi →
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