The aim of the NATO Architecture Framework Version 4 is to provide a standard for developing and describing architectures for both military and business use. It provides a standardized way to develop architecture artefacts, by defining the following:
Introduction – an overview of NAF, what it is and who uses it
Methodology – how to develop architectures and run an architecture project
Viewpoints – conventions for the construction, interpretation and use of architecture views for communicating the enterprise architecture to different stakeholders
Meta-Models – the application of commercial meta-models identified as compliant with NATO policy
NAFv4 Chapter 2 provides a methodology which includes how to set up an architecting environment, govern, manage, define and evaluate architectures. The methodology has been developed from accepted best practice and standards, detailing the following:
Terms and concept for architecting.
A foundation for architecture activities
Architecture principles
Architecture activities at enterprise and project levels
Architecture repositories and libraries enabling reuse and improved interoperability between communities, and to formalize architecture-based references.
Viewpoints (Grid representation)
NAFv4 Chapter 3 defines Viewpoints, Views and Architecture Descriptions. It details a two-dimensional classification scheme for the standardized architecture viewpoints, this serves as the baseline for any NAF-Compliant architecture effort. To aid architects, these viewpoints are organized into a logical and consistent manner and presented as a “grid”. This ‘grid’ structure, represents the various ‘subjects of concern’ and ‘aspects of concern’, as shown below: The selection of Viewpoints must be tailored to the specific architecture effort; i.e. suitable Viewpoints need to be identified in the grid, should additional Viewpoints be required they must defined. A View is specified by a Viewpoint, this prescribes the concepts, models, analysis techniques and visualizations that are provided by the View. The Architecture Description typically addresses a set of related concerns and is tailored for specific stakeholders.
A View specifies what you see
A Viewpoint is where you are looking from, focusing on particular subjects or stakeholder concerns
Note: the NAFv4 specifies how views of NAF version 3 can be reused, i.e. each cell of the “grid” refers to the NAFv3 views and the NAFv4 methodology explains how forward and backward compatibility can be ensured.
Adoption of Industry Meta-Models
Chapter 4 of the NATO Architecture Framework identifies the commercial meta-models which can be used to creation viewpoints described in chapter 3:
The Open Group's ArchiMate, as specified in Version 3.1, and supported by the
Official site to download the latest version of NAF is available or on the. Search for “Architecture” and select the “NATO Architecture Framework, Version 4” entry.
