How do you add new tech to your system architecture?

1 Assess your needs

Before you decide to introduce new technology to your system architecture, you need to have a clear understanding of your current and future needs. What are the problems or gaps that you are trying to solve or fill? What are the goals or benefits that you are expecting from the new technology? How will it align with your business strategy and vision? How will it affect your stakeholders, users, and customers? By answering these questions, you can define the scope and criteria for your new technology selection.

2 Research and compare

Once you have defined your needs, you can start researching and comparing different technology options that meet your requirements. You can use various sources of information, such as online reviews, case studies, blogs, forums, podcasts, or webinars. You can also consult with experts, peers, or vendors who have experience or knowledge about the technology. You should look for the advantages and disadvantages of each option, such as features, functionality, compatibility, reliability, security, cost, support, or documentation. You should also consider the learning curve, adoption rate, and community feedback of each option.

3 Test and prototype

After you have narrowed down your options, you should test and prototype them in a controlled and isolated environment. You can use tools such as virtual machines, containers, or cloud services to create a sandbox where you can experiment with the new technology without affecting your production system. You should test and prototype the new technology in various scenarios, such as normal, peak, or failure conditions. You should measure and evaluate the performance, scalability, security, and user experience of the new technology. You should also compare the results with your existing system and your expectations.

4 Plan and design

If you are satisfied with the test and prototype results, you can proceed to plan and design the integration of the new technology into your system architecture. You should create a detailed and realistic plan that covers the scope, timeline, budget, resources, roles, responsibilities, risks, and contingencies of the integration project. You should also design a clear and consistent architecture that shows how the new technology will fit into your system components, interfaces, data flows, and dependencies. You should document and communicate your plan and design to your team and stakeholders.

5 Implement and monitor

The final step is to implement and monitor the new technology in your system architecture. You should follow the best practices of software development, such as version control, code review, testing, debugging, deployment, or documentation. You should also follow the best practices of change management, such as backup, rollback, migration, or validation. You should monitor the performance, scalability, security, and user experience of the new technology and your system as a whole. You should collect and analyze feedback from your team, stakeholders, users, and customers. You should also identify and resolve any issues or challenges that arise during or after the implementation.

6 Review and improve

Adding new technology to your system architecture is not a one-time event, but a continuous process of improvement. You should review and improve your system architecture regularly, based on the feedback, data, and trends that you collect and analyze. You should also keep yourself updated on the latest developments and innovations in the technology field. You should evaluate the relevance and value of the new technology that you have added, and decide whether to keep, update, or replace it. You should also look for new opportunities to add new technology that can enhance your system architecture and your business outcomes.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?