An IT architect is a crucial role in any organization that relies on technology to support its operations and drive growth.
These professionals are responsible for designing and implementing the overall technology strategy for a company, ensuring that all systems and infrastructure are aligned with the organization’s goals and objectives.
IT architects work closely with other members of the technology team, as well as with business leaders and stakeholders, to understand the needs of the organization and identify areas where technology can be used to support those needs.
They then use this information to create detailed architecture plans that outline how different systems and technologies will be integrated to support the organization’s goals.
One of the key responsibilities of an IT architect is to ensure that the technology infrastructure is able to handle the demands of the organization, now and in the future.
This involves staying up to date on the latest trends and developments in technology, and making sure that the organization’s systems and infrastructure are able to adapt to changing requirements.
What is IT Architect
You know architects, the people who design buildings and stuff? IT architects are kind of like that, but instead of physical buildings, they work on designing digital systems and solutions for companies.
They’re like the tech wizards who come up with high-level plans for business apps, systems, and even an entire company’s IT infrastructure.
The term “IT architect” covers a bunch of different roles in the tech world.
- There’s domain architects who focus on applications, business, data/information, and infrastructure.
- Enterprise architects who work on all aspects of IT architecture.
- Security architects who keep assets safe from bad actors. And solutions architects who figure out ways to solve business problems.
- Solutions Architects. These professionals develop solutions to business issues and problems.
Sure, someone could focus on just one of these specific roles, but being a jack-of-all-trades in IT architecture is pretty great. It’s not smart to limit yourself to just one aspect of the field.
What Does an IT Architect Do?
Imagine this: There’s a company called GenericCorp that makes plain gray clothes. They’re a medium-sized startup that’s just starting out. But as they’re getting everything ready to launch, the boss realizes they don’t have an IT department.
So, they bring in an expert to build their IT infrastructure from scratch. This includes setting up servers, data storage, a network, a private cloud, and security protocols.
Once everything is in place, this person makes sure everything runs smoothly and keeps the management informed about their IT resources. Plus, they keep an eye out for new technology and plan for future updates to their infrastructure.
Roles and Responsibilities
Here’s a list of what an IT architect typically does, but keep in mind that not every architect will take on all these responsibilities. It depends on the company’s size and needs, as well as the IT resources they already have.
1. Planner: They make a plan for how to get from where the company is now to where they want to be, with milestones and important tasks along the way.
2. Communicator: They explain their plan and vision to everyone from top management to other experts and make sure everyone is on the same page.
3. Leader: They lead the team implementing the plan and keep everyone on track to reach the goals.
4. Stakeholder Manager: They work with key stakeholders before the project starts to make sure their input is included in the plan.
5. Consultant and Advisor: They help clients understand the process and build trust by being available to advise and consult.
6. Change Manager: They understand how changes will affect the business and plan for future changes that may be needed, including new processes and advanced technologies.
Job Description
If you have already decided to be an IT architect and started looking at job opportunities, below you can find some descriptions that should look at:
- Prototype, create, form, analyze, design, and check new design models, methods, and other algorithms
- Describe the application, technical architectures, and the system
- Accomplish required technical standards and procedures
- Research new ever-developing software applications as well as their products
- Able to predict forthcoming plans and component architecture
Required Skills
When it comes to the skills needed for an IT architect, you can think of them as falling into two categories: hard skills and soft skills. Hard skills are the technical abilities you learn through classes, certifications, or on-the-job training. They’re the nuts and bolts of the job.
Soft skills, on the other hand, are more about how you interact with people. They’re harder to measure but just as important.
Hard Skills
1. Cloud Computing
Cloud computing is a big deal for IT architects. More and more tech functions are moving to the cloud, so it’s important to know how to use it and how to share and scale resources.
2. IT Management
Managing resources like computer hardware, data, data centers and software is also a must-know for IT architects.
3. IT Security
Cybersecurity is a big concern these days, with so much data fraud and hacking going on. IT architects need to know how to keep things secure.
4. Systems Architecture
Systems architecture is a fancy way of saying understanding how different parts of a system work together. IT architects need to know how to create a conceptual model of the system and how all the different parts fit together.
5. Virtualization
Virtualization is also important for IT architects. They need to know how to use virtual machines, hardware platforms, storage devices and network resources to create solutions.
Soft Skills
1. Analytical Skills
Analytical skills are all about being able to make sense of information and make good decisions. This can include critical thinking and problem-solving.
2. Communication Skills
Being able to communicate well is crucial for an IT architect. They need to be able to explain complex ideas to others and guide their team.
3. Organizational Skills
Being organized is a must for an IT architect. They have to juggle a lot of tasks at once and need to be able to prioritize, manage resources, and keep track of time.
4. Project Management
Project management is also important. Being able to plan, start, execute, control and finish a project is key to meeting goals and being successful.
Salaries
The salary for an IT architect can vary depending on a number of factors such as location, industry, and level of experience. According to data from Payscale, the average salary for an IT architect in the United States is around $121,000 per year.
However, some IT architects can earn upwards of $150,000 per year or more. Keep in mind that salary ranges can also be affected by factors such as company size, company location, and the specific responsibilities of the role.
According to the statistics below, the average salary for an IT architect in the US is as follows;
- Glassdoor : 106k USD/year
- Indeed : 107k USD /year
- Payscale : 117k USD/year
In India, the average salary of an IT architect is around ₹1,880,000.