Providing linked views through a single data source and using the right tools are
key to successful documentation of an enterprise application's architecture.
Without Visio, the application architecture is unclear.
- Records are typically in unconnected formats.
- There’s no tool to diagram the software components for specific applications
or the hardware that supports them.
- Showing the interfaces and databases used by different applications is a challenge.
- Related flows are duplicated and out of synch.
- Diagrams drawn in other applications often don’t meet the needs of the customer.
- Changes to an application can affect others, resulting in incorrect data and unreliable
reports.
Without a way to easily identify upgrades driven by changes, hardware and software
updates may be required, applications may not work properly and performance could
deteriorate. These problems can jeopardize business operations.
IT Managers can clearly document application flows and dependencies with Visio 2007,
displaying data graphics, using pivot diagrams to produce visual reports, hyperlinking
related flows as “Drill Downs” and refreshing visual information with
linked data.
System architecture diagram with data graphics showing bandwidth usage and current
software versions
Pivot Diagram view of system applications by department
A variety of useful views can be generated with little effort and linked to a central
system database to ensure consistency. When diagrams are used to identify software
and hardware dependencies, systems are more easily maintained and the impact on
business operations of updates, upgrades and other changes can be minimized.
Pain Points for IT Managers
