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SOA stands for service-oriented architecture, which is an architectural pattern in software design.
This design allows for application components to provide services to other components over a network.
SOA is based upon the use of services such as RESTful Web services which are able to carry out some functions such as producing data, validating a customer, or providing basic analytic services.
SOA architecture occurs with loosely coupled services that operate independently, this helps to allow for service reuse so IT professionals do not have to start from the beginning when it comes to upgrades, or modifications.
What’s SOA’s role in the cloud world? Find out on the next page.
One of the benefits of SOA is that it can help to improve time-to-market as it allows application builders to do so more quickly, this is because the services already provide much of what the application needs.
The use of SOA has a role to play in the new cloud world, this is because clouds are typically service driven.
SOA includes the use of service directories, service governance, and orchestration, all which can be useful when running cloud services.