An Infrastructure Architect designs, evaluates and structures the underlying ICT infrastructure. This role is at the intersection of technology and strategy, and forms the link between the physical and virtual layers of ICT: from hardware, storage, networks and telecom connections at the bottom, up to the platforms on which applications run, such as operating systems, virtual machines, databases, web servers and containers (such as Kubernetes). All this in conjunction with cloud solutions, disaster recovery and outsourcing processes.
⚡️ What does an Infrastructure Architect do?
Design & Vision
Designing and developing robust, secure and scalable infrastructures that fit the business goals. In doing so, the infrastructure architect ensures the coherence between the hardware layer and the application layer.
RFP/RFI & Transition
Drafting, reviewing and substantiating RFPs and RFIs, assessing suppliers and guiding transitions.
Technical Leadership
Monitoring coherence, reliability and feasibility in projects and advising CIOs, IT managers and project teams.
❌ What does an Infrastructure Architect not do?
- Managing servers, storage, databases or networks
- Handling tickets (First, second and third line support)
- Daily management of applications (application management)
- Monitoring SLAs within Service Delivery Management
- Physically installing, configuring or patching hardware, networks or cloud resources
- Writing scripts, software code or CI/CD pipelines
- Daily monitoring, incident handling or security operations
- Primary contract management or supplier management
- Designing business processes or functional application processes
⚔️ Where is the boundary with other roles?
Technical Manager
- Focus: Manages servers, storage, network components and monitoring tools; responsible for operational continuity and incident handling.
- Relation: The Infrastructure Architect designs the environment that makes management simple, stable and scalable, and provides frameworks within which the manager works.
- Mantra: “Today everything works”
Application Manager
- Focus: Ensures configuration, operation and updates of applications; coordinates with users and suppliers on functionality and performance.
- Relation: The Infrastructure Architect ensures that the infrastructure provides the necessary platforms on which applications run reliably and securely.
- Mantra: “Application and use are central”
IT Manager / SDM
- Focus: Manages direction, contract management, SLAs, budgets and customer satisfaction; responsible for governance and continuity of IT services.
- Relation: The Infrastructure Architect provides designs and advice that link technical feasibility to the requirements of management, SLAs and service quality.
- Mantra: “Business and service are central”
Project Manager / Transition Manager
Focus: Manages the execution of transition and implementation projects.
Relation: The Infrastructure Architect delivers the design and monitors the technical coherence during implementation.
Mantra: “From design to realization”
Security Architect / CISO
- Focus: Defines the security policy and designs the security framework.
- Relation: The Infrastructure Architect ensures that the design complies with these security principles.
- Mantra: “Safety as an integral part of the design”
Enterprise Architect
- Focus: Describes the total architecture of the organization (business, application, data, technology) at a strategic level.
- Relation: The Infrastructure Architect ensures that his designs fit within the framework and principles of the enterprise architecture.
- Mantra: “Architecture at a strategic level, the dot on the horizon”
Solution Architect (applications)
- Focus: Designs application and functional solutions.
- Relation: The Infrastructure Architect provides the technical foundation on which these solutions run.
- Mantra: “Functional solution, infrastructure makes it possible”
Telecom / Network Specialist
- Focus: Realizes network and telecom infrastructure.
- Relation: The Infrastructure Architect aligns infrastructure designs with connectivity and telecom solutions.
- Mantra: “Ensures that connectivity matches infrastructure and application needs”
💡 In short
The Infrastructure Architect works as a connecting link between these disciplines and ensures that everything comes together. He oversees the entire chain: from physical infrastructure and networks to the platforms on which applications run.
With vision, coherence and technical depth, he supports management, application and direction to function optimally.
📬 Curious about what I can do for your organization?
Feel free to contact me.