Enterprise Architecture in the Cloud
Cloud computing and SaaS have gained considerable momentum over the last few years. Although companies are adopting cloud and SaaS technology there is great confusion of the applications in which cloud can serve an organization. Organizations are left with endless questions about security, infrastructure options, scalability, administration and business agility.
While API’s have improved from many vendors going cloud does not eliminate the need for integration and/or middleware. Some smart platform as a service vendors (PaaS) have architected middleware right into their technology stack. This gives the organization a more robust cloud platform in which to architect an enterprise application strategy.
Cloud and SaaS can play an important part of the organizational IT strategy especially for mid-sized companies that are resource strapped. The secret of implementing the correct software or technology solution are always to ask what can this do for the organization, will this assist us facilitating growth, what are my organizational needs, now and in the future, is it scalable, should we use full cloud, can supplement our existing systems with cloud, can we use the to unify disparate systems, can we sustain this solution and maintain it are a few questions to begin designing your enterprise application strategy with.
Cloud does not necessarily complicate your enterprise app strategy but can aid in quickly constructing a scalable, agile business infrastructure to adapt to your quickly changing business requirements. While it is convenient for organizations to select one vendor to base their infrastructure strategy on the collaboration of the cloud ecosystem is rapidly changing. Infrastructure as a service (IaaS) are partnering with PaaS and consequently adding complimentary applications (SaaS) to offer a complete infrastructure strategy framework for organizations.
In the case of best of breed vs. Integrated suite the landscape has changed so much and so rapidly that it really boils down to what the objectives are the organization trying to solve. We have seen that our customers are using cloud to quickly add functionality, scale or unite their systems using the cloud. We have several dozen posts on how to unify disparate systems, how companies are using cloud, cloud/SaaS software evaluation etc. If an organization selects a vendor that offers IaaS, PaaS and SaaS it does simplify the infrastructure application strategy. The cloud technology stack can be a combination of SOA and other methods as outlined recently on our blog and ERP Cloud/SaaS Research buyers guide.
Organizations must caution as to how they configure their enterprise application strategy whether it is on-premise, cloud or combination and what kind of business agility it offers. Cloud has definitely opened an opportunity for more organizations as an easy point of entry but the advice for enterprise infrastructure strategy should be taken seriously as it will affect the ability of your organization to run effectively. Thoroughly investigate the expertise of your providers and do they have your best interests at heart. An impartial firm that does not sell or implement software is probably the best bet to succeed as they will define, aggregate and configure your organizational objectives to best fit your requirements.
Eval-Source is an Analyst/Consulting consulting firm that offers enterprise software evaluation, cloud computing consulting, business process optimization and technology planning for organizations. Our innovative professional services make your life easier whether it is to acquire enterprise software or provide you with fact – based information to match your business with IT. Eval-Source provides critical decision support to validate your technology investments using the Tru-Eval system. Follow our blog at www.eval-source.com/blog or on twitter @eval_source or our site http://www.eval-source.com
