Service oriented architecture: tools and technologies
Zaigham Mahmood · 2007
Abstract:- Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) is an emerging architectural style for developing and integrating enterprise applications. Businesses are required to be agile and flexible and IT managers are being asked to deliver improved functionality while leveraging existing IT investment. Globalisation, tighter economies, business process outsourcing and ever increasing regulatory environments are forcing the large enterprises to transform the way they provide their business and services. In this context, SOA promises better alignment of IT with business, seamless integration of business functions and reduced costs of development and the industry is keen to embrace this new architectural style. Realising the opportunity, major enterprise software vendors have released a number of development tools. However, a majority of these are difficult to use and do not deliver the benefits they claim. In this paper, we introduce the SOA approach, present the benefits it offers, discuss some of the frameworks, tools and products offered by major software vendors and provide general guidance for building and implementing SOA. The objective is to provide enough background information that enterprises wishing to embark on the road to SOA have a better understanding.