Enterprise Architecture Strategy: The Ultimate Guide for 2025

Enterprise architecture (EA) has become a critical framework, allowing IT and operations teams to quickly refine their architecture and bridge tech gaps without extended development times. 

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The rise of managed infrastructure, no-code/low-code development tools, and AI-powered features has lowered the barrier to entry, accelerating this evolution.

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Read on to learn more about: 

• What enterprise architecture strategy is and why it matters
• Key frameworks and methodologies used in EA
• 7 steps to implement EA effectively in an organization
• The role of modern low-code platforms like Superblocks in EA

Let’s start with the essentials of EA strategy. 

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What is enterprise architecture strategy?

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Think of enterprise architecture (EA) strategy as the blueprint for an org’s technology and operations. It’s a plan that helps businesses manage their IT systems, business processes, and data in a way that supports long-term goals.

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An EA strategy answers three key questions:

1. Where are we now? What systems, processes, and technology do we currently use?
2. Where do we want to be? What improvements do we need to stay competitive and efficient?
3. How do we get there? What steps, projects, and changes will help us reach our goal?

A well-defined EA strategy must focus on several key objectives to successfully bridge the gap between the current and desired state. These include:

• Business-IT alignment: Ensure technology investments and decisions directly support business priorities.
• Better processes & workflows: Optimize operations by improving how different systems and teams work together.
• Technology standardization & governance: Set clear rules and guidelines to ensure systems are secure, easy to manage, and compatible with each other.
• Scalability & adaptability: Make sure technology and processes can grow and evolve as the business changes.

EA strategy vs IT strategy

A common misconception is that EA and IT strategy are the same. While they are related, IT strategy is more targeted. It deals specifically with how a company plans, manages, and invests in technology to meet its short-term and long-term operational needs. 

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EA, on the other hand, provides more context for IT strategy. In other words, it provides the vision for how technology investments will contribute to the entire business.

Why is enterprise architecture strategy important? 

An EA strategy helps businesses stay organized, efficient, and ready for the future. Without it, companies can end up with messy, disconnected systems that waste time and money.

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Here’s why having an EA strategy matters:

Improved decision-making

Having an EA strategy creates the foundation that makes better decisions possible. This is because a good strategy centralizes data into a single source of truth. With all critical information in one place, businesses can implement real-time dashboards, analytics tools, and automated reports that provide instant visibility. This makes it easier for decision-makers to track performance, spot trends, and identify inefficiencies without wasting time on scattered or unreliable data.

Increased agility

An EA strategy can also enhance business agility by implementing safeguards that support long-term growth. Without a structured approach, companies often struggle to integrate new technologies or expand into new markets due to rigid and outdated IT infrastructure.

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An EA strategy defines a technology roadmap that outlines how different systems should connect and evolve over time. This means when a company wants to launch a new digital service, shift to the cloud, or implement AI-driven automation, the foundation is already in place.

Cost reduction

Many companies waste money on redundant software and inefficient processes simply because there’s no clear structure guiding technology investments. EA helps businesses eliminate duplicate systems, standardize tools across departments, and automate manual processes to cut down on waste.

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It also improves resource planning. Since IT investments are mapped out in advance, companies can prioritize upgrades that deliver real business value instead of making rushed, short-term purchases.

Stronger security

With cyber threats on the rise and regulations becoming more stringent, businesses need a structured way to protect sensitive data and ensure compliance with industry laws.

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An EA strategy establishes governance frameworks that set security standards, access controls, and data protection policies across the organization. This means IT security is built into the company’s architecture from the start, rather than being patched together as an afterthought. 

What are the most common EA challenges?

Implementing an EA strategy isn’t always easy. Many businesses struggle with obstacles that slow down progress, create inefficiencies, or make EA feel like more of a burden than a benefit. Some of the most common challenges include:

Lack of business buy-in

One of the biggest challenges is getting company leaders and business teams on board with EA. Many executives see it as just “an IT project” rather than a strategic business initiative. Without clear KPIs tied to revenue or cost savings, there’s little urgency to invest. Additionally, the 'if it’s not broke, don’t fix it' mindset makes them hesitant to change systems that seem to work. 

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Without their support, it’s tough to get the funding and resources needed to make real progress.

Resistance to change

People naturally don’t like change, especially when it disrupts how they’re used to working. Since EA often brings in new tools, processes, or workflows, employees may stick to what they know even if it’s inefficient. If no one clearly explains why these changes are happening, teams might push back or ignore the new guidelines altogether.

Complexity and scope creep

Enterprise architecture touches everything — technology, data, processes, and business goals — which makes it a complex effort. Companies that try to change everything all at once often get overwhelmed and struggle to make progress. 

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Without a clear roadmap and a step-by-step approach, EA projects can lose focus, take too long to show results, or become so big that they’re nearly impossible to manage.

Siloed teams and data

Many businesses have separate departments that use different systems and processes, creating data silos. These disconnected systems make it difficult to implement standardized architecture across the organization. 

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It requires strong collaboration between IT and business units, clear integration strategies, and sometimes a cultural shift toward shared data and processes.

Difficulty in measuring ROI

Unlike other business initiatives with clear financial returns, EA benefits such as improved decision-making or risk reduction are often long-term and intangible. Executives want to see measurable impact, but proving the ROI of EA can be challenging. To make the impact more visible, orgs need to establish key performance indicators (KPIs) to track improvements in cost savings, system performance, and business agility over time.

What skills do enterprise architects need?

Many of the above challenges stem from the gap between theory and execution. A well-documented strategy is only as effective as the people responsible for putting it into action. 

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Enterprise Architects play that role. 

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Their job is to connect business goals with technology decisions and make sure everything fits together smoothly and delivers real value. To do this, they need a mix of technical know-how, strategic thinking, and strong people skills to get everyone on board.

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Here’s what makes a great EA:

• Communication and influence: Enterprise Architects must explain EA’s value in business terms, gain leadership support, and align teams around a shared vision.
• Business strategy alignment: EA is not just about IT; architects need to ensure technology decisions directly support company goals and long-term growth.
• Change management: Implementing EA often disrupts existing processes. EAs must help teams transition smoothly, manage resistance, and drive adoption.
• Data-driven decision-making: EAs must define key performance indicators (KPIs), track cost savings, and measure the impact of EA initiatives to prove their value.
• Technical expertise: Designing scalable, secure, and well-integrated IT architectures requires a deep understanding of enterprise systems, cloud computing, and cybersecurity.
• Problem-solving: Enterprise environments are complex and EAs need to navigate challenges like outdated systems, disconnected data, and inefficient workflows.
• Collaboration and relationship building: EA spans multiple departments, so EAs must work across teams, break down silos, and ensure smooth coordination between business and IT.
• Governance and compliance: EAs must establish IT security policies, enforce regulatory requirements, and ensure data protection measures are in place.

4 popular enterprise architecture frameworks

EA frameworks provide structured approaches to designing and managing an organization’s IT and business processes. While every company has unique needs, several EA frameworks have become widely used across industries. 

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Here’s a table for a quick comparison (then we’ll go into details below):

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1. TOGAF

• Approach - Process-driven, step-by-step methodology (ADM)
• Focus - Structured development of EA
• Best for - Large enterprises needing a repeatable process
• Strengths - Detailed, repeatable framework
• Weaknesses - Can be complex and rigid

2. Zachman

• Approach - Breaks down architecture from high-level business view to technical details
• Focus - Provides stakeholders with a clear enterprise view
• Best for - Organizations needing structured documentation and analysis
• Strengths - Tailors architecture views to different roles
• Weaknesses - Lacks step-by-step implementation guidance

3. Gartner

• Approach - Business-driven and flexible 
• Focus - Aligning EA with business strategy
• Best for - Organizations prioritizing business outcomes over strict methodology
• Strengths - Emphasizes business needs and market adaptability
• Weaknesses -Less structured than TOGAF, lacks clear methodology for execution

4. FEA

• Approach - Government-focused, standardized structure
• Focus - Standardizing EA with five structured models
• Best for - Government agencies needing compliance and efficiency
• Strengths - Ensures interoperability, reduces redundancy, supports FISMA compliance
• Weaknesses - Limited to government use, not ideal for private sector

Let’s cover the details of the four most popular frameworks now:  

1. TOGAF (The Open Group Architecture Framework)

TOGAF is one of the most well-established EA frameworks. It provides a step-by-step repeatable process for designing, implementing, and managing enterprise architecture. 

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Known for its ADM (Architecture Development Method), TOGAF helps organizations develop EA in an iterative, structured way. Following a preliminary phase where the framework, scope, and principles are defined, the ADM unfolds through 8 phases:

1. Architecture vision: Defines high-level business goals and EA objectives.
2. Business architecture: Maps out business capabilities, processes, and governance.
3. Information systems architectures: Develops data architecture and application architecture to ensure proper system integration.
4. Technology architecture: Designs IT infrastructure, platforms, and security frameworks.
5. Opportunities & solutions: Identifies projects and solutions to achieve the architecture vision.
6. Migration planning: Creates a roadmap for implementing EA in phases.
7. Implementation governance: Ensures that EA changes follow standards and best practices.
8. Architecture change management: Continuously monitors and updates EA as business needs evolve.

TOGAF is best for large enterprises looking for a detailed and process-driven approach to EA.

2. Zachman Framework

The Zachman Framework is a foundational EA model developed in the early stages of the field. Unlike TOGAF, Zachman is not a process but a classification system that takes a structured, grid-based (2-dimensional matrix) approach to EA. 

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Zachman Framework organizes architecture using six categories of questions and six perspectives. Together, they form a matrix.

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The questions (Columns) represent different aspects of architecture that must be defined:

• What (Data): What information is needed?
• How (Function): How will processes and workflows operate?
• Where (Network): Where are key locations (e.g., cloud, on-premise systems)?
• Who (People): Who are the key users and stakeholders?
• When (Time): When do processes happen (scheduling, timing, sequencing)?
• Why (Motivation): Why do we have these systems (business goals, rules, policies)?

The perspectives (Rows) represent different viewpoints:

• Executive (Scope): High-level business strategy and goals.
• Business Manager (Business model): Business processes and workflows.
• Architect (System model): Conceptual system design.
• Engineer (Technology model): Technical system design and structure.
• Technician (Component model): Implementation details (software, hardware).
• User (Functioning system): The final working system in operation.

Each cell in the matrix represents a specific piece of EA knowledge, meaning an organization can document its entire architecture by filling in the grid with relevant information.

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Instead of prescribing how to build EA, the Zachman Framework helps organizations classify, structure, and analyze their architecture. It is best for companies that need a clear, structured way to document EA components rather than a step-by-step implementation process.

3. Gartner EA Framework

Gartner’s approach to EA is more flexible and business-driven compared to other frameworks. Instead of prescribing specific methodologies, it emphasizes continuous alignment between business and IT.

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The key principles of Gartner’s EA framework are:

• Business-driven, not IT-driven: Gartner believes EA should focus on business outcomes rather than technical structures. Instead of defining rigid architecture layers, it prioritizes adaptability, strategy alignment, and business agility.
• Continuous EA, not one-time efforts: Enterprise Architecture is not a one-time project but an ongoing, iterative process. Gartner promotes "just enough EA, just in time", meaning organizations should avoid overcomplicating architecture and focus on what is needed now while staying flexible for the future.
• Agility over standardization: Traditional EA frameworks focus on strict standardization, but Gartner’s approach embraces change and flexibility. The goal is to help businesses respond to evolving markets, technologies, and customer needs without being locked into rigid architectures.

Following these principles, it’s clear that the Gartner EA framework is ideal for businesses that want EA to be a strategic enabler rather than a bureaucratic burden.

4. Federal Enterprise Architecture (FEA)

FEA was developed by the U.S. government. It provides a standardized approach to EA for federal agencies. The framework includes reference models that guide the development of business, service, and technology architectures. They are:

• Performance Reference Model (PRM): Focuses on measuring performance and outcomes of federal programs and IT initiatives.
• Business Reference Model (BRM): Standardizes business processes and functions across agencies. It groups government activities into broad categories (e.g., health, law enforcement, economic development) to eliminate redundant efforts.
• Service Reference Model (SRM): Defines common IT services and capabilities used across agencies (e.g., case management, financial processing, human resources). It encourages service sharing and reuse instead of each agency developing its own systems.
• Data Reference Model (DRM): Focuses on data standardization, sharing, and governance across agencies. It establishes common data definitions to ensure different departments can exchange information efficiently.
• Technical Reference Model (TRM): Provides guidelines on IT standards, infrastructure, and security requirements. This helps agencies ensure their technology choices align with government-wide policies.

Unlike other EA frameworks like TOGAF or Gartner, FEA is specifically designed for U.S. federal agencies. It ensures compliance with national policies and standards.

Key components of an EA strategy

A solid EA strategy is built on several key components. Each one addresses a different aspect of a business's operation and how technology supports it. Here’s a closer look:

Business architecture

Business architecture focuses on how the company operates. It maps out its goals, processes, and structure. This part of EA makes sure that IT isn’t working in isolation but directly supporting what the business is trying to achieve. If a company wants to expand, launch a new product, or improve customer service, business architecture helps connect those goals to the technology and processes that make them happen.

Data architecture

Data architecture defines how data is collected, stored, and used across the organization. It ensures that information flows smoothly across the organization and that it’s easy to access and use.

Application architecture

Most companies use a mix of business applications like CRMs, ERPs, and other cloud-based platforms to run daily operations. Application architecture provides a blueprint for how these applications can be integrated, scaled, and optimized for efficiency. It defines the principles and standards that guide the selection, deployment, and integration of these systems.

Technology architecture

A company’s IT infrastructure whether on-premise, cloud-based, or a mix of both that needs to be secure and efficient. Technology architecture focuses on designing networks, servers, databases, and other systems to meet those needs.

Security architecture

Security architecture ensures that data protection, access control, and risk management are built into every part of IT. With rising security threats, having a clear framework for cybersecurity helps companies protect sensitive data and avoid legal penalties.

Governance and compliance

Governance and compliance go hand in hand. Governance sets the internal rules for how IT and business teams operate, while compliance ensures those rules meet external legal and regulatory requirements.

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For example, EA governance might define who approves new technology purchases and how systems should be integrated, while compliance ensures that those systems meet data security and privacy regulations like GDPR, HIPAA, or ISO 27001.

Steps to implement an Enterprise Architecture (EA) strategy

Implementing an EA strategy isn’t just about choosing a framework. The process needs to be clear, practical, and adaptable so that IT decisions help the company grow rather than slow it down.

A successful implementation follows these key steps:

1. Define business goals

The first thing we need to nail down is what the business actually wants to achieve. This means having conversations with key stakeholders. You can’t build an effective architecture if you don’t know what the leadership team is prioritizing. Are they focused on automation? Scaling digital channels? Improving operational efficiency?

2. Identify weaknesses in the current IT setup

Before mapping out where to go, evaluate where the current tech stack stands now. You need to document what’s working, what’s redundant, and what’s creating inefficiencies. 

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How are business processes being impacted? Are teams working around system limitations with manual fixes? This will also highlight security and compliance risks that need to be addressed.

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If you don’t take a step back and assess these gaps, you risk layering new solutions on top of an already broken foundation.

3. Choose the right EA framework

There’s no universal EA framework that works for every organization. The best choice depends on how complex the IT landscape is, what the business is trying to achieve, and how structured the architecture needs to be.

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A large enterprise with a highly regulated environment and complex IT operations might go with TOGAF. On the other hand, if the company is more focused on agility and business outcomes, they might prefer Gartner EA.

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However, many enterprises find that no single framework fits perfectly. Instead, they mix-and-match elements from multiple frameworks or develop custom approaches that suit their business model better. 

4. Develop a roadmap and implementation plan

Enterprise architecture is an ongoing process. Without a roadmap, it’s easy for efforts to become scattered or lose momentum. A good implementation plan balances short-term quick wins and long-term transformation goals. 

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Some businesses may need to start with eliminating redundant software, while others may focus on moving critical workloads to the cloud. 

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If the plan only focuses on long-term changes, people lose patience because they don’t see results fast enough. But if it’s only about short-term fixes, you end up with band-aid solutions that don’t support future growth. This is why prioritization is so important.

5. Prioritize IT investments that drive value

Once you have a roadmap, the next step is deciding which IT initiatives you should tackle first. This is because not every IT upgrade or system overhaul is urgent, and budgets aren’t unlimited. You need to prioritize based on business impact, scalability, and ROI.

6. Establish governance and security policies

The next step is making sure the investments are implemented in a structured, secure, and compliant way. Good governance means IT decisions follow a standard framework. This includes technology standards, architectural principles, and clear decision-making processes.

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Security is just as critical. You need policies and safeguards in place to protect your data. This means implementing access control, encryption, and incident response plans as part of the architecture.

7. Use automation and low-code tools to accelerate implementation

If building from scratch is part of your implementation strategy, you need to consider how you’ll deal with governance frameworks, security protocols, ongoing infrastructure maintenance, and scaling. That’s a lot of overhead. 

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Low-code and automation tools can speed up key parts of EA implementation. For example, you can automate tedious data migrations, build real-time monitoring dashboards, and set up AI-drive analytics. 

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Plus, you typically get centralized governance and management instead of relying on one-off scripts which makes it much easier to stay aligned with your EA strategy.

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You will still maintain control over your core architecture, but you'll be offloading a lot of the boilerplate work.

How long does it take to implement an EA strategy?

Implementing an EA strategy can take months or even years, depending on the organization's size, complexity, and goals.

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Here’s why it takes time:

• You will need to define goals, assess the current systems, and get leadership buy-in. 
• Then develop a roadmap and prioritize IT investments. This includes integrating EA into decision-making, choosing the right projects, and ensuring teams are on board.
• Finally, you need to execute the plan. No company can replace its entire IT infrastructure overnight. 

The reality is, EA never really “ends”. It evolves with the business.

Enterprise architecture strategy use cases

A well-executed Enterprise architecture strategy is a business enabler. Here are some real-world use cases where EA makes a significant impact:

A bank streamlining compliance & security

Banks deal with some of the strictest regulations out there — PCI-DSS, GDPR, SOX, you name it. Compliance reporting is often a slow, manual process. Teams spend hours pulling data from different systems just to prove they meet regulatory standards. It’s a time drain and increases the risk of human error.

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A good EA strategy can help such a bank unify its security architecture. Architects can define a common access control model and introduce automated audit logs, real-time policy enforcement, and a centralized risk dashboard. They can also centralize and sync data from different sources for reporting purposes. With these in place, compliance teams can track security status in real-time instead of relying on manual checks.

Improved data interoperability in companies

Many companies struggle with disconnected data sources spread across CRMs, ERPs, databases, and third-party applications. Without proper integration, teams will spend hours manually compiling reports, leading to delays, duplicate records, and inconsistent insights.

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With an EA strategy that uses low-code platforms, a company is able to connect data sources, automate workflows, and unify information in real-time dashboards. 

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This approach is already driving results. Take Shiru, a biotech company, as an example. Their data was siloed across multiple Postgres and Snowflake tables with no central UI. As they updated their data strategy, they used Superblocks’ low-code development platform as a central integration layer that connected all their data sources into real-time dashboards.

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Read more: How developers are building operational software faster with Superblocks

Unifying omnichannel experiences in retail chains

Retail chains operate across multiple channels — physical stores, e-commerce platforms, and mobile apps. When these systems don’t work together, customers face inconsistent pricing, inventory mismatches, and disconnected experiences between online and in-store shopping.

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With an EA strategy that focuses on an omnichannel experience, a retail chain could sync sales, inventory, and customer data into a single, integrated platform. This means customers can browse online to check inventory at nearby stores. 

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A centralized data model would also standardize loyalty programs and promotions, so shoppers receive the same discounts and rewards, no matter where they made their purchase.

How Superblocks accelerates enterprise architecture implementation

At Superblocks, we've built a developer-first platform that standardizes and unifies your application layer so EAs can maintain governance, security, and scalability without slowing developers down.

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Here's how our approach differs from traditional development:

• Standardized UI & components
  • Superblocks: Provides reusable UI components and standardized design across all apps‍
  • Traditional development: Each team or app may implement its own UI, leading to inconsistencies
• ‍Flexible implementation options
  • Superblocks: Allows forsimple drag-and-drop app buidilng or raw code customization for fine-grained control
  • ‍Traditional development: Requires full development effort for UI and backend changes
• Integration with existing systems
  • Superblocks: Provides built-in, governed integrations with existing databases, APIs, and enterprise systems
  • Traditional development: Requires custom integrations and middleware
• Security & RBAC
  • Superblocks: Built-in security and role-baed access control (RBAC), allowing access control across all applications
  • Traditional development: RBAC must be built and managed for each app or managed across distributed systems
• Logging & observability
  • Superblocks: Built-in audit logs with integration support for observability tools
  • Traditional development: Requires separate tools and integrations for logging and observability
• Hosting & infrastructure
  • Superblocks: Handles hosting and infrastructure, reducing operational overhead
  • Traditional development: Self-managed infrastrcture, requiring DevOps resources

Your application layer can either support your EA strategy or become the source of sprawl that derails it. When teams rely on one-off scripts, scattered dashboards, and ad-hoc integrations, things quickly become hard to govern, inconsistent, and full of security risks.

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At Superblocks, we are making it easy for EAs to enforce governance and compliance. 

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Our goal is to standardize everything in a single platform — security, UI components, logging, hosting, deployments, permissions, and more. We are helping centralize your tool ecosystem to give you the visibility you need to enforce your org’s standards. 

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We accomplish this with a complete set of features:

• Hybrid development approach: Use our visual builder to speed up development or drop into raw React code, and write custom scripts for customization.
• Integrates with your existing systems: Superblocks works on top of any existing tech stack. You can query or update your existing databases, warehouses, SaaS tools, and any other system with an API.
• Built-in security & RBAC: Every app follows organization-wide role-based access control (RBAC), authentication, and security policies without manual enforcement.‍
• Standardized UI & components: Maintain a consistent look and feel across all applications with prebuilt, reusable UI elements that align with enterprise design standards.‍
• No vendor lock-in: Applications built in Superblocks can be exported to code at any time. You always retain ownership of your applications.‍
• Managed hosting & infrastructure: Superblocks handles server provisioning, deployment, logging, observability, and updates, so you don’t have to worry about infrastructure maintenance.‍
• Centralized enterprise governance & compliance: Enforce auditing, data access controls, and observability across all applications without needing additional tools.‍
• Fits into existing SDLCs & DevOps pipelines: Supports automated testing, CI/CD integration, version control (Git), and staged deployments.‍
• Citizen development support without losing control: Business teams can build applications while IT retains full governance over security, data access, and development standards. You won't have to deal with the chaos of uncontrolled low-code sprawl.

If you're interested in how Superblocks can help you simplify your EA efforts, check out our Quickstart guide or try it for free.