Three Ways Using Cloud and SaaS To Unify Disparate Systems
The use of cloud computing has become a cost efficient way to leverage and bolster existing infrastructure while extending functionality of existing systems. Using a cloud or SaaS model to unite all the data over the many systems for an organization is now an option. The need to aggregate data from all these has become cumbersome and that’s considering all structured and unstructured data can be stored, backed up efficiently, tagged and retrieved properly; a problem that has become more prevalent as organizations increase the use of systems. Content Management Systems (CMS) have a hard time to aggregate unstructured data and from many sources. This article will highlight how to use the cloud to unite disparate systems, being cloud-based BI, implementing a common platform (PaaS, or SOA) and cloud mashups.
Cloud based BI – A new and emerging trend that organizations are leveraging is use of the cloud to remedy this problem. There are number of solutions that can be provisioned using a cloud or SaaS model. A common method organizations are employing is to use the cloud to provide business intelligence (BI) from their many systems. Such content that is created by social media, collaboration, and email is often unstructured, hard to categorize and tag and how is it accessed for use ? These BI solutions can provide dashboards for individual users and groups to combine the data using their own platform as the backbone to aggregate the data. The use of the cloud facilitates the aggregation of information and can be delivered using a cloud or SaaS based Business Intelligence application.
Platform/SOA (PaaS) – Another solution to unify enterprise systems is by employing a platform of common technology that exists between all the applications and databases of your current systems. An example of this may be something such as Salesforce.com (SFDC) or Zoho. If you are running a CRM from Salesforce by utilizing the Force platform you can deploy other applications all running on the same technology. The ability to add another application such as a collaboration software such as Chatter can be used to leveraged data across all systems. This is known as platform as a service (PaaS) and also acts as the organizational service oriented architecture (SOA)
Cloud Mashups – Using the cloud and SaaS options a now emerging trend we are seeing is that companies are using the cloud to monitor all the systems within the enterprise and are creating a technology mashup that unites the data from all their systems. This method of cloud mashups is proving effective to monitor, track update and is proving easier to administrate. This option can be deployed using the web or exist behind your company firewall which would provide the necessary security that companies require. This model can be deployed on either a public or private cloud. Organizations are using the cloud and building their requirements as a mashup using their own technology and security requirements.
These are just 3 methods to unify disparate enterprise software systems using the cloud and SaaS technologies whether they are on-premise, cloud apps or a hybrid version. Contact us for information on migrating to cloud, technology planning and how to leverage your existing technology investment using the cloud.
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
