Most Data Architects Work in 2D.
PRISM Works in Three Dimensions.

A 2D architecture map shows you what exists. It cannot tell you what breaks when a system is replaced, which integrations carry the highest risk, or what your migration will actually cost to execute. PRISM adds the third dimension: a structured, evidence-based assessment that answers those questions before you commit to a plan.

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The Problem

Most Data Architecture Work Is Two-Dimensional.

Architects map what exists. They document integrations, draw diagrams, catalogue systems. Then a migration hits and the diagram cannot tell you what breaks, what the impact costs, or in what order to cut things over.

It shows structure but not risk. Connections but not consequence. Current state but not migration impact.

This is not a skills problem. It is a methodology problem. And adding more detail to a 2D diagram will not solve it.

Traditional 2D Diagram
System ASystem BSystem CSystem DSystem E

No zones

No risk classification

No change impact

PRISM Assessment
INPUTTRANSFORMOUTPUTWeb AppPaymentsAPI LayerLegacy CRM→ New CRMEmailInvoicing

Classified by zone

Change impact on every line

Replacement systems flagged

Who This Is For

You Have Been Handed a Complex Engagement. You Need a System.

A platform migration, a system replacement, a data estate nobody fully understands. You know the answer is in the architecture. You just need a systematic way to extract it.

Data architects

Working on enterprise system migrations where the integration map is incomplete or outdated.

Integration architects

Managing platform replacements where every connection needs to be assessed for change impact.

Technical consultants

Modernising legacy data estates where nobody has a complete picture of the current architecture.

Programme leads

Who need evidence-based architecture assessments they can present to a board, not a diagram on a whiteboard.

The Methodology

Three Dimensions. One Assessment.

Where a 2D diagram shows you what you have, PRISM shows you what it means. Platform, Risk, Integration and Systems Methodology.

1

System Landscape

What exists. Every system catalogued by category and zone.

Input
Transform
Loop
Output
Interface
2

Change Impact

What moves, what breaks, what stays. 18 deterministic rules.

Payment creditChange
Gateway verifyNo Change
Daily file transferAutomation
Identity callbackChange
3

Architecture Health

What is missing, what is fragile, what should be automated.

Automation gapHigh
Logging coverageMedium
AI human-gatingHigh
Process consolidationLow

The Five Zones

Input

Data enters the system

Web apps, payment gateways, identity providers

Transform

Data is processed and routed

APIs, middleware, core platforms

Loop

Intelligence feeds back in

Analytics, AI/ML, monitoring

Output

Results delivered to consumers

Reports, notifications, exports

Interface

Access and security controls

Auth, SSO, permissions

How It Works

Five Steps to a Complete Assessment.

1

Intake

15 minutes

Client name, size, engagement type, primary objective. Five questions that frame the entire assessment.

2

Discover

1-2 hours

Every system in the landscape registered with its category, zone, API status, and replacement status.

3

Map

2-4 hours

Every integration between systems defined: method, frequency, data entities, PII, financial flags, and indirect dependencies.

4

Assess

Instant

18 deterministic rules fire automatically. Change impact, architecture health, automation gaps, and platform recommendations generated.

5

Deliver

Same day

Professional PDF report with executive summary, diagrams, integration assessment, detailed recommendations, and priority actions.

What PRISM Produces

Real Deliverables. Not Just Documentation.

INPUT
Web App
Payments
Gateway
ID Verify
TRANSFORM
API Layer
Core CRM
ETL
LOOP
Analytics
OUTPUT
Email
Invoicing
INTERFACE
Auth

Architecture Diagram

Five-zone swim lane diagram with every system classified. Current state and future state, side by side.

IntegrationMethodStatus
Payment creditREST APIChange
Gateway verifyREST APINo Change
Identity callbackREST APIChange
Daily file transferREST APIAutomation
Cash-out limitREST APIChange

Integration Assessment

Every integration classified by change impact, complexity, PII, financial risk, and automation opportunity.

Priority Recommendations
1.HighAutomation gap detected
2.HighAI component requires review
3.MediumLogging coverage gap
4.MediumLogging coverage gap
5.LowProcess consolidation

Health Report

Findings prioritised by severity. Platform recommendations right-sized to your organisation. Ready to present.

The 10 Golden Rules

Non-Negotiable Principles.

01

No silos. All data lives in one system.

02

Deterministic first, AI second.

03

Every component belongs to one of five zones: Input, Transform, Loop, Output, Interface.

04

Every pipeline needs at least one feedback loop.

05

Right-size the platform. Snowflake is not the answer for a small business.

06

Consolidate redundant processes. Three payment portals doing the same job is one process waiting to be built.

07

No manual processes. Everything should be automated.

08

AI is never used unsupervised at runtime.

09

Log everything. Support tickets, errors, user behaviour. All of it is signal.

10

Every data pipeline follows the Bronze, Silver, Gold medallion pattern.

Track Record

Built From Real Engagements. Not a Textbook.

25 years designing data systems across enterprise gaming, fitness, retail, and professional services. PRISM was not adapted from a generic framework. It was built from the ground up across real client engagements.

Government Gaming

Architecture assessment and migration planning for a government lottery operator replacing a 19-year core platform. 470+ retail locations, real-time financial settlement, player registration, and identity verification flows across multiple payment providers.

21

Systems

34

Integrations

19 yrs

Platform age

Fitness Analytics

Multi-tenant analytics platform serving 205+ studios across 9 countries and 350 active users. Deterministic reporting with zero AI at runtime, full data ownership per client, and automated content generation pipelines.

205+

Studios

9

Countries

350

Active users

Marketing Services

Deterministic reporting platform used by marketing agencies across Australia. Automated data ingestion, template-driven report generation, and client-facing dashboards built on first-party analytics.

Multiple

Agencies

Automated

Reports

Zero

AI at runtime

Scott Dudley

Scott Dudley, 25+ years in data architecture

Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

What exactly is PRISM?+
PRISM stands for Platform, Risk, Integration and Systems Methodology. It is a structured approach to data architecture assessment that produces a professional report covering every system, every integration, change impact, architecture health, and platform recommendations.
How long does an assessment take?+
A typical engagement can produce a complete current state assessment in a single session once the system and integration data is gathered. The data gathering phase depends on client complexity, usually one to three days for an enterprise engagement.
What kind of engagements is PRISM designed for?+
Platform migrations, system replacements, data estate modernisation, and pre-programme architecture reviews. Any engagement where you need to understand what exists, what the migration impact is, and what the architecture health looks like before committing to a plan.
Do I need to provide technical documentation upfront?+
No. The PRISM intake process is structured to gather what is needed through a combination of stakeholder interviews and existing documentation review. You do not need a perfect picture of your architecture before we start.
What does the output look like?+
A professional PDF report covering the executive summary, systems inventory, integration assessment with change classifications, detailed recommendations per integration, architecture health check against 18 rules, and current and future state architecture diagrams. Suitable for programme boards and executive stakeholders.
How is this different from a standard architecture review?+
Most architecture reviews produce a diagram and a set of observations. PRISM applies 18 deterministic rules to every component and integration, producing a consistent, evidence-based assessment rather than a set of subjective recommendations. The output is structured, auditable, and repeatable across engagements.
What industries have you worked in?+
Enterprise gaming and lottery, fitness and wellness, financial services, marketing and advertising technology, and professional services. PRISM was built from real engagements across these sectors, not adapted from a generic framework.

What You Get

Not a Diagram. Not a Spreadsheet. A Complete Assessment.

Current state mapped with every system and integration catalogued
Change impact classified against 18 deterministic rules
Architecture health checked for gaps, risks, and automation opportunities
Platform recommendation right-sized to your organisation
Current and future state architecture diagrams
Professional assessment report for programme board presentation
Data Architecture Assessment
Engagement: Migration | Industry: Enterprise
Objective: Assess current architecture and produce migration roadmap
Executive Summary
21
Systems
34
Change
8
No Change
9
High Risk
Patterns Identified
Primary change driver identified
Automation opportunities detected
Logging coverage gaps found
Generated by PRISM

Ready to See Your Architecture in Three Dimensions?

Whether you are planning a migration, replacing a platform, or assessing an existing data estate, start with a conversation.

Start a Conversation

No pitch. No pressure. Just a conversation to see if PRISM fits your engagement.