Today's software is not like yesterday's. While just a few years ago software construction was more art than science, today software is increasingly characterized by standardized engineering practices, architectures, frameworks and processes.

More and more organizations seek to capitalize on the emergence of standards to elevate their software construction process. The first and most critical step in this process is the software architecture audit.

Exia provides a comprehensive software architecture audit service that will tell you exactly where you stand and will provide a roadmap for enabling your development capability to advance to the next level.

Exia Qualifications

Not only does Exia possess some of the top .NET and SQL Server experts in the country, but, unlike other firms with deep Microsoft experience, Exia backs this experience up with nearly twenty years of research and development work in advanced framework design, code reusability, object-oriented programming techniques, patterns and practices, and software factory technologies. Since 1989 Exia personnel have pioneered concepts of modularity, data driven design, database design and object-relational mapping. We have consistently been at the forefront of application architecture, and partnered with Microsoft to lead and evangelize the introduction of the .NET platform in the Ottawa area. Our R&D efforts have been consistently recognized and supported by both the Government of Canada and the National Research Council since 1993, with our most recent research project in 2006/07 advancing the state of the art of Microsoft software factory and domain-specific languages interoperability to achieve greater development efficiencies.

Exia personnel each possess over twenty years of advanced architecture, methodology, framework and application development best practice experience.

We have performed code audits and reviews for the following organizations: The Department of National Defence; Bell Guardium; Ajilon Consulting; Manulife; Mercer HR Consulting; The Natural Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada, The Ontario College of Teachers; Edulinx; iStat.

A Balanced Approach

A key differentiator in Exia’s approach is the formal business education (MBA) of our lead architect. This gives Exia the ability to look not only at the technical aspects of the architecture, but to frame those against the business forces that have shaped, and will shape, the applications over time. For instance, while other audit firms might recommend wholesale reconstruction of an apparently poorly normalized database, Exia has the maturity and depth of experience to weigh this against the legacy forces shaping the demoralization and to recommend pragmatic and balanced approaches to move forward. Similarly, while many firms will reject all but a single “reference” architecture approach, Exia recognizes the need to weigh adoption of more complex architectures with the capabilities of the organization to support them. The result is a balanced and measured view and recommendations that offer sound, budget-conscious and incremental steps to advance the organizations capabilities and standards. Other differentiators are:

• Exia is impartial, objective, and uninfluenced by external forces. Exia has a well known and impeccable track record of integrity.
• Through Exia’s partner company, Ajilon Consulting, Exia has the support of a global technology consulting group with operations in Canada, U.S., U.K., France, Australia and twelve other countries. Ajilon posted revenues over $3 billion in 2006, and is currently utilizing the skills of over 33,000 IT professionals. Ajilon is a subsidiary of Adecco SA, the global leader in staffing with 6600 offices in 70 countries and revenues of $40 billion in 2006.
• Exia has unmatched expertise with the new Software Factory technologies, which can reduce application development costs by 1/3. No architecture review today is complete without a thorough gap analysis against software factory technologies and recommendations for gradual migration to the factory methodology.
• Exia personnel are certified in multiple disciplines including Microsoft Certified Solution Developer, Microsoft Certified Application Developer, Microsoft Certified Trainer and Microsoft Certified Professional.

Process

Exia has developed a Software Architecture Audit Model consisting of six phases of audit: Architecture, Security, Tools, Processes, Efficiencies and Performance.

The Architecture phase focuses on application architecture, database architecture and overall architecture. Architecture phase inputs are application inventory, database inventory and architectures. The Architecture phase output is an assessment of the overall architectural level of the organization as it pertains to application and database development.

The Security phase focuses on application security as it relates to the application architecture. Security phase inputs are application security processes, models, methods, and source code. The Security phase output is an assessment of the level to which security is built into the application architecture and implementation.

The Tools phase focuses on the tools being used to build and maintain applications. Inputs are usage patterns of the .NET Framework, usage patters of Visual Studio and usage of 3rd Party tools. The output is an assessment of degree to which tools are being leveraged in the development process.

The Processes phase focuses on code management, quality control and the development process methodology, such as RUP or Agile. Inputs are code management processes, quality and testing procedures and patterns, and development process usage and patterns. The output is an assessment of the degree to which processes are being utilized to support the development effort.

The Efficiencies phase focuses on libraries, frameworks and factories, the core elements of increased efficiency, reuse and optimization. Inputs are usage patterns, adoption patterns and patterns of innovation, exploration and corporate investment in efficiencies, including code reuse at all levels. The output is an assessment of the degree to which libraries, frameworks and factory technologies are systematically employed to increase efficiencies.

Lastly, the Performance phase focuses on the ability of the previous elements to support the level of expected software performance. Inputs are performance requirements, availability requirements and performance test processes. The output is an assessment of the degree to which the organization is able to meet the performance requirements for the current and future organizational software plans.