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Chapter 8 · Group 3: Design the Technical Foundation

Evaluate the ten layers required to run AI at enterprise scale.

Examine the complete environment surrounding the model, not just the model itself.

Score your maturity across all 10 layers of the AI architecture stack. This tool applies the framework from Chapter 8 of The Enterprise AI Blueprint by W. Perry Underdown and returns a directional, structured read — not an audit finding.

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Approximately 12 minutes · Results saved to your workspace · Free to start

The ten layers

  • User experience
  • Identity and access
  • Orchestration
  • Models and AI services
  • Retrieval and enterprise knowledge
  • Data
  • Applications and integrations
  • Workflow and human approval
  • Security and governance
  • Evaluation and observability

Output: An architecture maturity profile showing missing, immature, and established layers.

What the assessment covers

  1. Section 1

    Experience layer

    The interface through which users interact with AI.

  2. Section 2

    Identity and access layer

    Ensures AI systems respect enterprise identity and permission boundaries.

  3. Section 3

    Orchestration layer

    Coordinates multiple AI steps or agents.

  4. Section 4

    Model and AI-services layer

    The underlying models and AI services powering solutions.

  5. Section 5

    Retrieval and knowledge layer

    Supplies AI with accurate, current enterprise knowledge.

  6. Section 6

    Data layer

    The governed data foundation feeding AI systems.

  7. Section 7

    Application and integration layer

    Connects AI to the business systems that run the enterprise.

  8. Section 8

    Workflow and human-control layer

    Embeds human review and approval into the workflow itself.

  9. Section 9

    Security, privacy, and governance layer

    Applies consistent security and compliance review to AI.

  10. Section 10

    Observability and evaluation layer

    Provides visibility into what AI is doing and how well it performs.

Continue the journey

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