Cloud Computing is the new SOA

I've always got a "long list" of blog entries I want to write (unfortunately it often takes me ages to get around to writing them). I've been meaning to write a couple of possibly dull-but-worthy posts for the past couple of months now: one on why Cloud Computing is like SOA, and one on why it isn't. But then, just very recently, I read a tweet from ‘thought leader' Peter Hinssen, saying "Cloud Computing will remove the CIO from the board table". That was all the catalyst I needed to get off my backside and write some of my thoughts down (I'll explain why in a moment).

Cloud Computing: building on SOA principles
So let's get to the topic at hand: why is Cloud Computing the new SOA?

From an IT or enterprise architect's point of view, there are definitely similarities. If we put the commercial and financial aspects of the Cloud Computing model to one side for a moment, and just concentrate on how Cloud Computing platforms work to deliver software functionality, then what we're looking at is a software service delivery platform - something that is conceptually at the heart of every SOA initiative. From an application and data integration standpoint, too, the principles of SOA shine through Cloud Computing very strongly indeed.

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I firmly believe Cloud Computing and SOA are strongly related at a conceptual level, too. Back in 2005 when I formed MWD Advisors, our main focus was SOA and its potential to help forge new, more structured relationships between IT organisations (acting as service providers) and their "customers" in other parts of a business. We believed that SOA - done right - could help organisations think about IT as a service delivery discipline from "cradle to grave": not only thinking about service delivery by pursuing ITIL, but also by looking at what the idea of service delivery meant from a software development and integration perspective.

With that thought in mind, I see Cloud Computing as another route to achieving "service oriented IT" that is complementary to, and builds on, SOA adoption.

Falling into the SOA trap?

So why did that tweet about "Cloud Computing removing CIOs from board tables" make me finally put fingers to keyboard on this topic? Because as well as being excited about the potential of Cloud Computing to build on the good things about SOA, I'm worried that Cloud Computing could be dogged by some of the negative aspects of SOA too.

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