The SOA is real

The service-oriented architecture (SOA) isn't just hype, according to a recent survey by Boston-based Yankee Group. Upon questioning executives with IT buying authority at 437 North American enterprises, analysts found that 75 percent of these organizations either already have made significant investments in an SOA, or plan to do so within a year.

An SOA uses emerging technologies such as XML-based Web services to create reusable software components, sometimes referred to as composite applications, that can easily be linked to devise new business processes on-the-fly. Phil Fersht, Yankee Group business applications group director, says enterprise application integration platforms are fueling SOA growth by giving users clear road maps for incorporating pieces of various applications into composite applications. He says these integration platforms can lower what remains a "large upfront cost [associated with building an SOA]."