Platform

Intro

A platform is a set of technology infrastructure components combined to host application software. In EA, platforms provide standardized foundations for building and running solutions.

Key points:

• Enables consistency, scalability, and reuse.
• Reduces integration and operational effort.
• Common use cases across EA/BPM/Data/App/Tech include application hosting, data platforms, and integration backbones.
• Pitfall: fragmented platforms that increase cost and risk.

Examples:

• Cloud platform hosting enterprise applications.
• Data platform supporting analytics and governance.
• API platform enabling secure service integrations.

In practice:

Rationalize platforms to a small, well-governed set that aligns with enterprise standards.

Related terms: Application Platform; Architecture; Integration Architecture

FAQs:

Q: Are platforms the same as products?
A: Not necessarily; a platform can contain multiple products and services.

Q: Why standardize on platforms?
A: To reduce complexity, cost, and time-to-value.

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