TOGAF Trainings

TOGAF training in Geneva: mastering the global enterprise architecture standard

TOGAF (The Open Group Architecture Framework) is a methodological standard to structure the practice of enterprise architecture. Maintained by The Open Group, it provides a shared vocabulary, an architecture development cycle (ADM – Architecture Development Method), a library of techniques, and a governance framework applicable to organisations of any size. The ITTA TOGAF catalogue, delivered in Geneva and Lausanne, covers both certification levels of version 10: Enterprise Architecture Foundation and Enterprise Architecture Practitioner, as well as a combined path to take both exams in sequence.

Why get TOGAF certified?

Enterprise architecture initiatives have spread over the past decade, driven by digital transformation, cloud programmes, legacy system modernisation and regulatory compliance (FADP/GDPR, banking sector, public sector). Having a shared standard among architects, business stakeholders and leadership helps structure the dialogue, prioritise initiatives, document decisions and capitalise on models. TOGAF provides this common vocabulary and methodological framework. For architect profiles, TOGAF certification is widely recognised in tenders and recruitment processes. For organisations, structuring an architecture team around TOGAF supports IT/business alignment and the durability of technical choices.

TOGAF Foundation: laying the groundwork

The TOGAF – Enterprise Architecture Foundation course (version 10) covers the essential concepts: definition of enterprise architecture, presentation of the ADM (eight phases of the cycle), architecture domains (business, applications, data, technology), governance, content models, and links with other architecture methods. It prepares for the Foundation exam. This is the entry point for junior architects, project managers involved in transformation programmes, senior business analysts and IT governance leads who want an overview of the standard.

TOGAF Practitioner: applying the method in the field

The TOGAF – Enterprise Architecture Practitioner course (version 10) goes further and focuses on the practical application of the framework: adapting the ADM to a real context, producing key deliverables, leading a complete architecture cycle, managing stakeholders, integrating with agile and DevOps practices, operational governance. It prepares for the Practitioner exam and is aimed at profiles who already hold the Foundation certification and have architect experience (in-house or consulting).

Combined Foundation + Practitioner path

For motivated and available profiles, the combined TOGAF Foundation and Practitioner format covers both levels over a condensed period and allows taking both exams in sequence. This format is appreciated by consultants in architecture firms, architects in transition, and organisations looking to quickly upskill an architecture team. The pace is demanding; ITTA recommends upstream preparation on architecture concepts and regular work on exam practice questions.

TOGAF and other methods

TOGAF does not operate alone. In a mature organisation, it interacts with other practices: PRINCE2 for project management, PMI/PMBOK for portfolio management, ITIL for service management, COBIT for IT governance, agile methods (SAFe, Scrum) for iterative delivery. ITTA TOGAF training addresses these interfaces to avoid applying the standard without consideration of the existing ecosystem. The goal is to produce architects able to orchestrate these frameworks according to each organisation’s context.

Key skills built across this TOGAF path

• Understand enterprise architecture concepts and TOGAF vocabulary
• Navigate phases A to H of the ADM (Architecture Development Method)
• Identify and structure architecture deliverables (vision, principles, target models)
• Lead an architecture cycle on a concrete case
• Articulate TOGAF with PRINCE2, PMI, ITIL and agile practices
• Prepare for and pass the Foundation and Practitioner exams
• Set up an enterprise architecture function in your organisation

ITTA catalogue around TOGAF and enterprise architecture

• Enterprise architecture: global domain covering architecture standards (TOGAF, ArchiMate).
• PRINCE2: complementary project management method.
• PMI: Project Management Institute, PMP and CAPM certifications.
• Management and strategy: root domain for steering profiles.

Featured TOGAF courses

• TOGAF – Enterprise Architecture Foundation
• TOGAF – Enterprise Architecture Practitioner
• TOGAF – Foundation and Practitioner (combined path)

Learning formats and certification

TOGAF training sessions take place in Geneva and Lausanne on-site, and also in synchronous remote mode. They rely on the official documentation from The Open Group, on real business cases, and on exam preparation exercises. Foundation and Practitioner exams are taken online with a voucher provided as part of the training. Passing both exams leads to the TOGAF Certified certification, internationally recognised and valued in architecture and digital transformation tenders.

Frequently asked questions on TOGAF

Is prior experience required to follow TOGAF Foundation? Officially, no prerequisites are imposed. In practice, participants who do best have had some exposure to IT, consulting or governance. For a profile with no background, ITTA recommends starting with introductory reading on enterprise architecture, or attending the Foundation course with a discovery mindset rather than aiming for immediate certification.

What is the difference between TOGAF and ArchiMate? TOGAF is a method (the “how”: ADM phases, governance, deliverables). ArchiMate is a modelling language (the “with what”: graphical notations to represent an architecture). Both are complementary: a TOGAF architect often uses ArchiMate for diagrams. ITTA offers dedicated ArchiMate training through the enterprise architecture domain.

Does TOGAF certification have a validity period? No, Foundation and Practitioner certifications are valid for life. However, the standard version evolves: v10 replaced v9.2 in April 2022, prompting some professionals to certify on the new version to stay current. ITTA delivers training only on the current version 10 of the standard.

TOGAF in practice: where to start for an organisation?

For an organisation looking to structure its architecture function, deploying TOGAF cannot be done overnight. A pragmatic approach is to first train 2 to 4 key people (chief architect, PMO lead, CIO or transformation director) to Foundation level to share the vocabulary, then progressively extend to project managers and senior business analysts. The TOGAF framework benefits from being adapted rather than applied wholesale: select 3 to 5 key deliverables that immediately bring value (architecture vision, principles, target model, governance), then enrich across cycles. ITTA supports this deployment with a mix of training and methodological consulting matched to the organisation’s initial maturity level.

Enterprise architecture and IT/business alignment

The ultimate goal of any TOGAF initiative remains alignment between business strategy and IT architecture. Too often, technical choices are made in silos, without explicit links to strategy; conversely, business ambitions are sometimes defined without considering the real constraints of the information system. TOGAF provides a framework to articulate these two worlds through the ADM: phase A (Architecture Vision) starts from business stakes, phase B (Business Architecture) models business processes, phases C (Information Systems) and D (Technology Architecture) then cascade down to applications and infrastructure. This top-down logic avoids technical architectures disconnected from real needs. ITTA TOGAF training insists on this articulation, drawing on concrete cases from instructors’ field experience.