Architecture and integration describe how a new application fits into the systems already in use: identity and access management, databases, APIs, logging, networks, and business workflows. A tool may work perfectly on its own, but if it does not align with these dependencies, it can create outages, duplicate data, or uncontrolled access.
In cyber security, this matters because many failures happen at the seams. Poor integration can expose sensitive data through weak API links, bypass approval workflows, break audit logging, or leave orphaned service accounts and secrets behind. Attackers often look for these gaps to move laterally, abuse trusted connections, or exploit insecure third-party services. Defenders review architecture and integration to check trust boundaries, least privilege, data flow, and recovery paths before a system is approved for production.