Which of the following BEST lowers costs and improves scalability from an IT enterprise architecture (EA) perspective?

Cost management is a process that applies to existing structures but does not inherently drive the architectural changes needed for long-term cost reduction and scalability improvements.

IT strategic sourcing focuses on procurement strategies, which can lower costs but is a tactical approach and not an overarching architectural principle that also fundamentally improves scalability.

Standardization in IT architecture means using a common set of technologies, platforms, and processes across the enterprise. This reduces complexity, allows for economies of scale in purchasing and support, simplifies integration, and makes systems easier to scale by replicating known, tested patterns, directly leading to lower operational costs and enhanced scalability.

Business agility is an outcome of an effective EA, not a method within EA itself to lower costs or improve scalability, though standardization can contribute to agility.