Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
other team members through instant messaging, and review operational
readiness using business intelligence solutions such as dashboards and
automated scorecards.
Whether or not an e-mail selection needs to fit within such an enter-
prise communication suite, it will also affect data storage, backup solu-
tions, records retention practices, and media management controls based
on all applicable regulatory and operational mandates. Defenses must
also be integrated to protect against e-mail-borne threats, particularly
as more users access their mail through small portable devices whose
limited resources cannot support fully featured antivirus defenses. Selec-
tion of an e-mail platform affects options available for defenses to filter
out spam (unwanted electronic “junk mail”), viruses, and other undesir-
able content.
Business continuity and disaster recovery planning must also be inte-
grated with the selection. Large-scale disasters such as the terrorist attacks
of September 11, 2001, hurricanes such as Rita and Katrina, and fears of
contagious pandemics have shown the value of the business continuity
of operations that can be provided by adequate planning and effective
electronic communications, where the selected platform may be the only
means of coordinating a geographically dispersed staff.
Beyond
Thus a simple e-mail service selection will have far-reaching effects by
determining all protocols and standards that may be used to access, pro-
tect, and consume its functionality. It will affect internal users, operational
planning, and external issues such as partner agreements or contract-
worker access. Because the e-mail service is only one component of many,
each of these other choices will, in turn, affect many other elements of the
extended technology enterprise.
Unless the architect is fully cognizant of all such issues, including
both business requirements as well as the technologies involved, a mis-
step may limit options later or even require a total overhaul of the system
down the road. A manager or information technology professional who is
not skilled in enterprise architecture can easily cost a business significant
opportunities, even if the selection at first seems best based solely on user
requirements and cost analysis.
