Target Information Architecture A.1. Introduction AFMS and MHSS target environment will include distributed computing services that provide specialized support for applications that may be physically or logically dispersed among computer systems in a network and still maintain a cooperative processing en vironment. In a distributed environment, data not available on the local database are fetched from a remote data server at the request of the local c lient. Global file services provide for a level of abstraction for file systems.
Applications have equivalent access to data regardless of the data's physical location.
In such an environment, a single component can be replaced without disrupting the operation of the other components. In an architect environment, modularity is achieved through careful layering. Each layer performs only specific tasks, leaving other tasks to other layers. The AIS architecture of the future requires communication between information systems, the ability to access data for use in any information system from a central source, and appropriate security controls. Developing the framework for such an integrated systems environment mandates a fundamental change in the management of informat ion.