Cloud Computing For Dummies®

Chapter 19. Service Oriented Architecture and the Cloud

In This Chapter

• Understanding service oriented architecture (SOA)

• Defining loose coupling

• Finding SOA components

• Pairing SOA and cloud services

• Benefiting from SOA and the cloud

A cloud has some key characteristics: elasticity, self-service provisioning, standards based interfaces, and pay as you go. This type of functionality has to be engineered into the software. To accomplish this type of engineering requires that the foundation for the cloud be well designed and well architected.

What about cloud architecture makes this approach possible? The fact is that the services and structure behind the cloud should be based on a modular architectural approach. A modular, component-based architecture enables flexibility and reuse. A service oriented architecture (SOA) is what lies beneath this flexibility. In this chapter, we provide an overview of what SOA is and how it enables the characteristics of the cloud.

Defining Service Oriented Architecture

SOA is much more than a technological approach and methodology for creating IT systems. It's also a business approach and methodology. Companies have used the principles of SOA to deepen the understanding between the business and IT and to help business adapt to change.

Tip

One of the key benefits of a service oriented approach is that software is designed to reflect best practices and business processes instead of making the business operate according to the rigid structure of a technical environment. ...