Architecture Characteristics: Availability, Reliability, Performance, Scalability, Elasticity, and Security
Published: 2023-04-20 02:53:43

In the world of technology, architecture plays a critical role in determining the success of any system, whether it be a software application, website, or hardware system. The architecture of a system comprises a range of features, each of which plays a crucial role in ensuring the system's optimal performance. In this article, we'll delve into these characteristics and discuss building blocks to help create an optimal architecture.

**Availability**:
Availability refers to the ability of a system to be accessible and operational at all times, without any downtime or interruptions. An architecture that is highly available ensures that users can access the system whenever they want, without any delays or issues. This characteristic is essential for systems that require constant access, such as e-commerce platforms and financial applications.

**Reliability**:
Reliability is the measure of a system's ability to function accurately and consistently over a period. A reliable architecture reduces the risk of errors, downtime, and other problems that can adversely impact the system's performance. Factors such as latency, error rate, and uptime are critical in determining the reliability of the architecture. A reliable system is essential for critical applications such as medical systems and industrial control systems.

**Performance**:
Performance refers to the speed and efficiency of a system in executing its tasks. A well-designed architecture should provide optimal performance, allowing users to perform tasks quickly and efficiently. The performance of an architecture is dependent on factors such as hardware specifications, software design, and network infrastructure. This characteristic is crucial for systems that require fast response times, such as gaming platforms and search engines.

**Scalability**:
Scalability is the ability of a system to handle an increasing workload without compromising its performance. A scalable architecture allows the system to grow and expand with the increasing demand. It is crucial for systems that experience high traffic and usage, such as social media platforms and video streaming services.

**Elasticity**:
Elasticity is an extension of scalability that allows the system to scale automatically in response to fluctuating demand. Elasticity ensures that the system can handle sudden spikes in traffic without affecting its performance. Cloud computing platforms often provide elasticity features to help systems scale seamlessly. This characteristic is essential for systems that experience unpredictable demand, such as mobile applications and online games.

**Security**:
Security is a vital characteristic of any architecture. A secure architecture ensures that the system is protected from malicious attacks, unauthorized access, and other security threats. Security measures such as encryption, firewalls, and access controls are critical in ensuring the system's security. This characteristic is essential for systems that handle sensitive data, such as healthcare applications and financial systems.


**Building Blocks:**

To create a successful system architecture, it's essential to start with building blocks. These building blocks consist of core components, user stories, roles and responsibility statements, non-functional requirements, and component refactoring.

**Identifying Initial Core Components:**
To build the architecture, it's necessary to identify the initial core components that will make up the system. These components will form the foundation of the architecture and must be chosen carefully. Once identified, the components can be analyzed for their functionality and how they relate to other components.

**Assign User Stories to Components:**
User stories help to define the functionality of the system from a user's perspective. Assigning user stories to components helps to ensure that each component is serving a specific user need.

**Analyze Roles and Responsibility Statements:**
Roles and responsibility statements help to define the responsibilities of each component in the system. Analyzing these statements ensures that each component is performing its assigned task effectively.

**Analyze Non-Functional Requirements:**
Non-functional requirements, such as security and performance, are critical to the success of the system. Analyzing these requirements helps to ensure that each component is meeting the necessary standards.

**Refactor Components as Needed:**
After analyzing the components, it may be necessary to refactor them to optimize their performance or meet the non-functional requirements. Refactoring ensures that each component is functioning at its optimal level.

**Three Ways to Identify Components:**
There are different ways to identify the components that will make up the system. One effective method is the "Entity Trap."

**Entity Trap:**
If you can't describe what a component does by looking at its name, you may be in an entity trap. This trap often results in poorly defined components that can hinder the overall performance of the system.

**Workflow Approach:**
The Workflow approach involves identifying components based on the system's workflow. This approach helps to ensure that each component is directly involved in a user's task.

**Actor/Action Approach:**
The Actor/Action approach identifies components based on the system's actors and their actions. This approach helps to ensure that each component is focused on specific user needs.


In conclusion, building an effective system architecture requires careful consideration of various building blocks, including identifying initial core components, assigning user stories, analyzing roles and responsibility statements, analyzing non-functional requirements, and refactoring components as needed. Additionally, using methods such as the Entity Trap, Workflow approach, and Actor/Action approach can help identify the necessary components to create a system that is highly available, reliable, performs well, is scalable, elastic, and secure. By prioritizing these building blocks and characteristics, architects can ensure optimal system performance, leading to a successful and effective system.