IA Design & Support Services
Information architecture (IA) is the foundation of your enterprise. Without a formalized IA map, your organization is vulnerable to internal disorganization, compliance violations, and security threats.
At AdaptivEdge, we employ our Microsoft experience to help your team get the right tools and expertise to organize your business and execute a strong IA plan.
What Is Enterprise Information Architecture?
Information architecture describes the structure of shared information environments, especially the organization and labeling protocols for websites, intranets, software, and other online communities to support usability and findability. Essentially, IA is about creating a blueprint for how information is structured and accessed within a digital product or system.
In the Microsoft 365 cloud ecosystem, Information Architecture defines the structure of:
- Teams sites, channels, and tabs
- SharePoint sites, libraries, lists, content types, columns, views, and navigation
- OneDrive sites
- Microsoft 365 Groups
![](https://adaptivedge.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/information-architecture_how-our-services-work.jpg")
The Benefits of Enterprise Information Architecture
Most organizations forego any formal information architecture design and planning because it takes time and effort, but the benefits are well worth the investment.
Better Collaboration & Efficiency
A thoughtful, well-designed information architecture facilitates collaboration and decreases the time and effort it takes for users to find the information they need.
Consistent Governance and Security
Good IA clearly defines permissions and establishes governance to meet security and compliance standards.
Holistic, Long-Term Planning
Without an IA design, the environment’s structure develops in an unplanned, ad hoc manner based on short-term needs rather than holistic, long-term planning.
Organic Growth
Solid information architecture encourages organic growth by setting your business on a strong foundation that can scale.
How Our Information Architecture Services Work
Break Free from the Org Chart
Most organizations construct their information architecture based on their org chart. While an organizational chart is good for understanding reporting hierarchy, it typically does not reflect how people within the organization collaborate. Our information architecture design services seek to involve stakeholders across all departments and business functions so that we can understand and document your actual process.
Plan for External Collaboration
A complete information architecture should address not only how employees communicate internally but also how they collaborate with external parties such as partners, customers, and vendors. Data security is critical for all organizations, and the information architecture establishes a framework for allowing external collaboration in a secure and compliant manner. Without intentional accommodations and foresight, improper sharing is likely to occur.
Shift to Modern Navigation
With the advent of SharePoint hub sites, Microsoft has shifted its recommendation for site information architecture from classic navigation to modern navigation. Classic navigation leveraged a hierarchical topology that used sites and nested subsites. This design is challenging because it is limiting and static. For example, under the classic system, moving a subsite from its parent site architecture was difficult, which is a frequent need for many businesses.
Modern navigation leverages hub sites which can be easily associated or disassociated from other sites. Associations can involve permissions and navigation display. This flexibility ensures your information architecture can be flexible and ready to adapt to your organization’s ever-changing needs.
Our Consulting Process
Our information architecture process is collaborative and involves the following steps:
- Discuss, analyze, and document the organizational structure from both official and functional perspectives.
- Inventory the Microsoft 365 environment, existing information architecture, collaboration framework, and business application patterns.
- Discuss desired outcomes, pain points, and needs.
- Document gathered requirements.
- Draft an information architecture and finalize with client stakeholder feedback.
- Support and optimize the information architecture post-implementation.
Meet Your Information Architecture Consultant
In addition to his extensive experience with Microsoft solutions, Aaron Wilson specializes in projects geared towards process improvement and helping clients customize technology to meet their needs — a great fit for your information architecture project!
Get to know Aaron more on our team page: