Cloud application integration is the act of integrating multiple cloud-based technologies into a cohesive whole. The ultimate goal of cloud integration is to bring together the different aspects of various cloud and local resources into a single, ubiquitous environment where administrators can access and administer applications, data, services, and systems with ease.
Instead of building and managing resources and services in-house, businesses can now employ a wide range of highly scalable resources and services on demand thanks to the rise of public cloud computing. However, the emergence of these diverse resources and services has resulted in IT silos in some firms, as administrators struggle to manage and maintain each cloud resource or data set. IT administrators must conduct each integration activity separately and manually without cloud integration, which is time-consuming and raises the risk of error.
Cloud App Integration Process
The cloud application integration process will influence the processes and timings of The number of applications integrated, their architecture, required legacy software update, integration approach, the complexity of security, and compliance requirements. The most common steps in cloud app integration initiatives are described below.
Step 1: Planning and Scope to integrate cloud applications
The integration team defines the systems and processes that will be integrated cloud applications, as well as the data that will be exchanged, at this stage. Obtains information from the business side to ascertain current concerns. Then defying infrastructure capabilities and constraints. Moving on to Examining the capabilities and restrictions of legacy software that will be incorporated. The team then determines how the data should flow and whether it requires transformation into a different format.
Further looking at how many communication protocols will be used between the integrated apps. Then they examine/define existing/new types of standards to be employed in the integration architecture. After that, they define the integrated system’s non-functional requirements. Lastly, they specify the standards for compliance. Then they look to see whether there are any ready-to-use integration solutions or APIs.
Top Cloud Platform Integration Software
Choosing the proper cloud integration platform can be a difficult task that involves extensive research and consideration of factors. We have compiled a list of the top Integration platforms to make your search a little easier.
- JitterBit
- Operational Hub
- SAAS
- SAP
- SAC
- Zapier
Platform: SaaS Application Integration
Description: SaaS(Software-as-a-Service) application integration, also known as SaaS application integration, entails using application programming interfaces to connect a SaaS application to another cloud-based app or on-premise software (APIs). When the app is connected, it can freely request and share data with the other app or on-premise system.
Platform: Salesforce App Cloud
Description: Salesforce App Cloud is a set of development tools that enable Salesforce platform developers to swiftly construct apps that operate on the platform.
Platform: Sap Cloud Platform Integration
Related Products: SAP Replication Server, SAP Landscape Transformation Replication Server, SAP Data Hub, SAP HANA, SAP Cloud Integration Platform Suite, SAP Data Services.
Description: SAP cloud platform integration offers on-premises through two different methods. SAP Data Services, a data management platform with capabilities for data integration, quality, and cleansing, delivers traditional features. The SAP Cloud Platform provides Integration Platform as a Service functionalities. SAP’s Cloud Platform connects cloud apps, third-party apps, and on-premise systems to share processes and data.
Ways to Go About Cloud Application Integration
Cloud Application Integration is commerce businesses or organizations that provide app-based services that are switching to the cloud to reduce their backup costs and increase reliability. Cloud application integration combines the benefits of company-wide data protection, reliable internal processes, and user convenience that results from it. The cloud IT infrastructure can host all the applications on the same network and integrate them into one solution.
There are four popular approaches, and we have highlighted the salient features of each below. The final decision depends on your organization’s IT infrastructure and overall goals.
Software Vendors as a Service
SaaS vendors and third-party software development companies in London provide products that have built-in integration potential. The market has a wide range of extension options available to facilitate easy integration such as Saas vendors for applications. However, SaaS offers little control over operations and is not as flexible as iPaaS. If you have a heavily customized solution, then neither embedded integration nor third-party vendors should be your go-to choice.
Cloud Integration Platforms as a Service
iPaaS can quickly build and deploy complicated integration. You can connect two cloud-based networks and even merge a cloud integration application or cloud integration platform with a server-based system. If your company has an extensive portfolio of IT solutions and wants to integrate them without spending time on the operations, choose iPaaS. However, if your applications are niche or customized and require control over the operational aspect, this is not the right solution.
Enterprise Service Bus for Cloud App Integration
This approach uses the cloud app integration software as a hub that connects all applications. It is excellent for isolated eCommerce solutions, CRM, supply chain management, and other applications for a widely spread company with multiple chains.
The software architecture allows data exchange across different locations. You can choose the ESB if you want centralized control over all your branches or subsidiaries. However, we do not recommend it if your applications are not on the premises.
Direct Cloud Application Integration
The most versatile cloud application integration approach is direct with the use of a custom code. It can be through a standalone application or a cloud-based app. The most significant advantage it offers is that you can tailor all APIs that connect the cloud application integration according to the organization’s needs. However, you need qualified software development companies in London to design and implement this solution.
Once you have integrated all your cloud applications into one architecture, it will streamline everything. However, the process requires meticulous planning. Suppose you lack the skills, then you can contact ISETech to help you out. We are one of the best software development companies in London that can help you implement a cloud environment.
Step 2. Implementation and Testing Cloud App Integration
The steps in this stage will vary based on the cloud app integration strategy chosen. Examples of scenarios for two of the most common integration methodologies are provided below.
Direct Integration: Creating and deploying custom APIs or putting ready-to-use APIs into place.
Mediated integration: Creating or purchasing a glue layer to handle message routing, modification, aggregation, and data mapping changes. Then Selecting or construct adapters for your applications to communicate with the glue layer while creating connections. Configuring triggers for requests delivered to the service when orchestrating integration and Invoke for requests delivered from the service to the target are configured.
The Questions and answers team is responsible for the following tasks:
- All unidirectional and bidirectional queries between the connected interfaces are verified.
- Verifying that distributed transactions are complete.
- Approval of the proper handling of exceptions.
- Assuring that the failover and recovery procedures are working properly.
- Examining how well the integrated system performs within set bandwidth constraints.
- Examining how well the system components handle large data sets and a growing number of requests without failing.
Step 3. Integrated System Support and Evolution
The support team keeps track of the integrated system’s performance and manages scale-ups and scale-outs in terms of the number of users and the number of integrated applications.