The global skills and competency framework for the digital world

Infrastructure design IFDN

Designing technology infrastructure to meet business requirements, ensuring scalability, reliability, security and alignment with strategic objectives.

Revision notes

Updates for SFIA 9

  • This is a new skill introduced in SFIA 9.
  • Theme(s) influencing the updates for this new skill: Support for cyber security working practices (both specialised and general), Application of SFIA skills for cloud-based working.
  • Previous SFIA assessments or skills mapping of other SFIA skills may be impacted by this new skill. See also Systems design and Infrastructure operations

Guidance notes

Technology infrastructure encompasses a wide range of components including, but not limited to: physical devices, virtual resources, cloud services, infrastructure-related software, middleware, network services and data storage solutions.

The skill involves defining the components and services that make up the technology environment, their connections, interrelationships and operating parameters, which together ensure infrastructure solutions support current and future business needs.

Activities may include, but are not limited to:

  • developing detailed infrastructure design specifications and diagrams
  • ensuring compatibility and integration between different infrastructure components
  • designing infrastructure for scalability, performance, reliability and security from the outset
  • ensuring designs adhere to industry standards, regulatory requirements and security protocols
  • collaborating with stakeholders to align infrastructure design with business objectives
  • maintaining comprehensive documentation of the design process and decisions
  • integrating cloud services into the infrastructure design.

Understanding the responsibility levels of this skill

Where lower levels are not defined...
  • Specific tasks and responsibilities are not defined because the skill requires a higher level of autonomy, influence, and complexity in decision-making than is typically expected at these levels. You can use the essence statements to understand the generic responsibilities associated with these levels.
Where higher levels are not defined...
  • Responsibilities and accountabilities are not defined because these higher levels involve strategic leadership and broader organisational influence that goes beyond the scope of this specific skill. See the essence statements.

Developing skills and demonstrating responsibilities related to this skill

The defined levels show the incremental progression in skills and responsibilities.

Where lower levels are not defined...

You can develop your knowledge and support others who do have responsibility in this area by:

  • Learning key concepts and principles related to this skill and its impact on your role
  • Performing related skills (see the related SFIA skills)
  • Supporting others who are performing higher level tasks and activities
Where higher levels are not defined...
  • You can progress by developing related skills which are better suited to higher levels of organisational leadership.

Show/hide extra descriptions and levels.

Levels of responsibility for this skill

2 3 4 5 6

Infrastructure design: Level 2

Level 2 - Assist: Essence of the level: Provides assistance to others, works under routine supervision, and uses their discretion to address routine problems. Actively learns through training and on-the-job experiences.

Assists in developing preliminary infrastructure design specifications under routine supervision.

Uses established standards and security protocols to contribute to infrastructure design activities.

Helps draft design documents and diagrams. Documents design-related issues.

Infrastructure design: Level 3

Level 3 - Apply: Essence of the level: Performs varied tasks, sometimes complex and non-routine, using standard methods and procedures. Works under general direction, exercises discretion, and manages own work within deadlines. Proactively enhances skills and impact in the workplace.

Performs varied infrastructure design tasks, including complex and non-routine assignments, using standard methods.

Develops design specifications and diagrams for infrastructure components, integrating hardware, software, network elements, and cloud services, and addressing security requirements.

Collaborates with others to align infrastructure design with organisational objectives and resolve design issues.

Suggests improvements to enhance infrastructure performance and reliability.

Infrastructure design: Level 4

Level 4 - Enable: Essence of the level: Performs diverse complex activities, supports and guides others, delegates tasks when appropriate, works autonomously under general direction, and contributes expertise to deliver team objectives.

Leads the design of complex infrastructure systems to deliver comprehensive design solutions.

Develops detailed architectural frameworks and ensures integration of all infrastructure components, including cloud services.

Provides guidance on recommended practices and design standards. Reviews and validates design specifications and documentation.

Checks that designs are scalable, reliable and secure, aligning with business and technical requirements.

Infrastructure design: Level 5

Level 5 - Ensure, advise: Essence of the level: Provides authoritative guidance in their field and works under broad direction. Accountable for delivering significant work outcomes, from analysis through execution to evaluation.

Manages the design of infrastructure from analysis to execution and evaluation.

Accountable for achieving design objectives and ensuring alignment with organisational goals and the effective integration of infrastructure components and systems. Provides authoritative guidance on design practices and methodologies.

Evaluates new technologies and their applicability to the organisation's needs. Develops and enforces design standards and recommended practices, ensuring consistent and high-quality design outcomes.

Infrastructure design: Level 6

Level 6 - Initiate, influence: Essence of the level: Has significant organisational influence, makes high-level decisions, shapes policies, demonstrates leadership, promotes organisational collaboration, and accepts accountability in key areas.

Develops and drives adoption of and adherence to organisational policies, standards, guidelines and methods for infrastructure design.

Collaborates with senior stakeholders to align design projects with organisational objectives.

Provides strategic oversight and guidance, ensuring infrastructure designs are forward-looking, scalable and secure.

Accountable for the overall success of infrastructure design initiatives.

Keywords
New skill