Cloud Computing and SOA Convergence in Your Enterprise: A Step ...

Moving Onward 229
only software-as-a-service or applications-as-a-service. SOA using cloud computing
means we are willing to leverage more fine-grained IT resources that
are delivered as a service, and to mix and match those resources in the context
of our architecture to support the business.
Going forward, the adoption of these fine-grained resources will define
how our architecture, specifically SOA, extends into cloud computing. We
could have our databases hosted with one provider, our application development
platform with another, and our process server and rules engine with a
third. In other words, we can spread the architecture to the cloud computing
providers that provide the best functionality and reliability at the best price,
and we can have cloud computing–delivered resources work seamlessly with
all on-premise resources.
Cloud computing is nothing to be afraid of. It is a fundamental evolution
of the way we do computing. At the very least, it will provide a welldefined
architectural option for those who build enterprise architectures using
SOA approaches. The core idea of cloud computing is to open up your
mind and your architecture to any sort of technology that will allow you to
better serve the business.