The Role of Web Services in Enterprise Architecture

The role of Web Services technology in the enterprise architecture2/1/2007by Peter varholas large organizations find increasing difficulty in the merger, many of the complex, mission-critical software systems into its established and evolving computing infrastructure, the role of the enterprise architect becomes even more important. Increasingly depends on the software, that is all the support software also have the right to work, both now and in the future.

Enterprise architects to ensure that these applications, as well as their associated data, at any time service the needs of the Organization. This is a broad mandate. This could include infrastructure, such as networking and communications, servers and operating systems, application software packages, as well as application development and deployment strategy.

Web services and related service-oriented architecture (SOA) tools, as a complete software strategy, or more accurately, an enterprise application strategy. Common assumptions of this strategy and repeatable logic devices exist inter-enterprise applications, they can fragmentation, coding and packaging services. Create services, make it possible to more easily update and enhance applications, and to mix and match services for the rapid production of new applications for the establishment of a new business needs.

The role of the enterprise architect What is the relationship between enterprise architecture (ea) and Web services when the storm? Web services is a set of building blocks for the enterprise architect. These blocks can be assembled response to business needs. Enterprise architects building is not typical, but what kind of decision to block the production and maintenance. If an enterprise architect can design a set of blocks to meet future application needs, then they are able to respond more quickly and completely to the opportunities and changes in business conditions.

Enterprises designers also have to ensure that the overall IT infrastructure to meet the future to match the needs of the enterprises. IT infrastructure including Web services, as communications, systems and operating platform. Completion of this task requires a rare combination of common sense, predictability, planning, research, and sometimes a bit of luck.

Taken, for example, a government building projects, in the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in many years ago. Contractor design and construction of buildings to accommodate the new wind tunnel, which is under construction, and also by another contractor. The completed building is big enough, in the area, to accommodate the machines, it became unclear when the contractor arrived in the wind tunnel is not allowed, so that workers put heavy tunnel to the new building. Because of this oversight on the part of contracting, construction has been removed, and new built in its place.

This example illustrates, obstacles and opportunities facing the enterprise architect. Enterprise architect is the nations first and foremost responsible for the preservation of applications and databases on the efficiency of day-to-day basis. Of course, most of the practical efforts Falls to IT support staff, but the architect of the enterprises to participate in decision-making and action in order to maintain the software and systems.

Enterprise architects, at least visible, but perhaps the most important responsibility is to ensure that the applications took a few years down, the efficient operation of enterprises and help maintain the ever-changing market. Enterprise architects are most likely to bear responsibility if an opportunity today to make the decision to exclude years ago.

Enterprise architects have difficulty, sometimes difficult, job-seekers. If the power to make the decision, and correctly implementing today, and then in three years time, every new applications and servers, will work in an optimal level, and the business will be able to easily adapt to changing opportunities.

On the other hand, if not on todays decision, they can be manifested in the expensive project, it is difficult to change the system, as well as a high rate of failure to achieve in the future. It may not be clear, in the past the decision-making surrounding environment should be blamed, but it made it clear that to move forward, it will be increasingly difficult. An organizations position in this regard, we must rip a large part of its computing infrastructure, and replace networks, systems and platforms for the implementation of application-specific settings or workflow.

Implementation of network services enterprise architects play matchmaker, choose many different infrastructure design, and in a variety of applications can make use of these infrastructures. Most of these infrastructure and applications has been proven in practice to be. But not all of the portfolio, infrastructure construction and application of a race. Use an extreme example, you do not want to have a video conferencing applications to run in the 10 Mbps Ethernet backbone enterprises. If we say that the video conferencing application is mission-critical, then the business will not be able to respond effectively, it needs to apply for.

Web services, enterprise architects employment more easily. Design of an environment rather than a major factor for a single application, enterprise architects can design environment, appropriate building interchangeable parts. This environment is similar to the original model is used to manufacturers in the year 2000, in this Web services, in order to "plug" to each other using standard interfaces and protocols.

An enterprise architects use this method does not require the construction and maintenance of large software group said that only one commercial purposes. Enterprise architects build components can be assembled in different ways for different commercial uses. If these components, and built-in the definition of the right, then the next new business opportunities do not come, in the great sacrifice, in information systems. Enterprise architects can reconsider an integral part of a small part of a new code to respond quickly to new opportunities.

In order to implement this strategy, the enterprise architect must closely involved in the formulation and implementation services, as well as understand the business drivers need IT support. This means that, apart from a technically astute, enterprise architects to participate in business planning and strategy, and to acquire information and communication needs, and adopting different strategies. By mapping business strategy, the existing and planned Web services, enterprise architects can understand almost immediately when and how to implement the business strategy.

Services enterprises The best way to meet the business-critical information processing needs for the present and future, is to build a service company. Enterprise architects play the most important role in this process. Definition of the services business needs in order to move forward the strategy is undefined and often unknown. What constitutes a set of useful services from different industries, trades, even from organization to organization.

Discussion around the Web services architecture, usually focus on the size of services. Does it better, with less major service or many catching main and neglecting details? More of a service to manage, maintainability, but not enough flexibility. In addition, smaller services, maintenance headache can be, but they are likely to be used in different applications more easily.

Enterprise architects must also decide which functions to make up for a good service, in this type of election advertisements. Of a particular operation is a very important point of view, the business, but it applies only to a single application. Other functions, perhaps even more simple ordinary, but less common, may be more useful part of a service charge.

Make these types of decisions on the enterprise architect must have a broad basis of knowledge and access to information throughout the enterprise and talent, Looking to the future, and implement a strategy, which makes it occurs. This role is not everyone has a computer science degree, and to provide a lot of development experience. Enterprise architects must be able to communicate ideas, and the decision to at least information.

Using Web services strategy, enterprises can make employment more easily architects, or at least the consequences of incorrect decision so serious. If foresight about the evolution of services, business, technology, as well as some of the skills set, then the enterprise architects can look forward to a long and effective career.

Bideiwaheer is executive editor, review Redmond magazine, and more than 20 years of experience as a software developers, software product manager and technical writer. He has graduate degrees in computer science and mathematics, and to the two subjects at the university level .

Bideiwaheer is executive editor, review Redmond magazine, and more than 20 years of experience as a software developers, software product manager and technical writer. He has graduate degrees in computer science and mathematics, and to the two subjects at the university level .