Tackling Data Integration Issues With Cloud Networking

Even the mid-size enterprise has diverse sources of data flowing in every day from multiple sources. The challenge is to integrate and analyze all this information into a unified, user friendly and adaptable view. Furthermore, security requirements must not be overlooked. The process is ever more complex revealed in application-to-application, business-to-business, on-premise and even cloud-to-cloud scenarios. Here are some of the latest solutions surrounding this issue.

Business-to-Business: Not as Usual

Businesses adopted the cloud concept as fast, or faster, than anyone to the point where it is standard fare. Now, vendors are smoothing data integration with enterprise application integration (EAI) into cloud supported back-end systems. Here, cloud data integration and management are used for and between:

• * On-premise applications
• * Software as a service (SaaS)
• * Third party clouds

Be Social About It

Social networks/marketing and the domination of mobile has led to a leapfrog advance in the role of the consumer as a service (CaaS) platform. The increasing direct-to-consumer trend is moving businesses to evolve their on-premise and cloud business-to-business platforms to be able to process the consumer data integration coming in to the back-end and then cycle it out again.

A Business in Itself

Cloud management of data integration has become a business in itself. Some firms look to outsource the work creating a whole new way of handling the huge amounts of incoming data. This has generated an atmosphere of cloud service brokerages that subscribe to many data providers in order to represent their clients. The goals are enhanced data quality and efficiency.

Shifting the Load

In order to ease the work of IT staff, integration platform as a service (iPaaS) provides a business the ability to have data transformed and translated via the cloud network. This strategy appears to be especially helpful when transitioning the data integration of on-premise applications to the cloud.

Heightened Security

As the privacy needs and regulations become more demanding, sensitive personal and financial information requires on-premise protection. The challenge arises due to movement into the cloud network into data warehouses demanding new solutions to minimize exposure and risk. Cisco content security offered by Axonex is a good example.

Greater Call for Governance

As the trend of cloud vendor data management increases, clients will require access to the data sources, the manner in which the data is applied and reliable audit information. Data governance must be transmitted in a way that promotes easy understanding and feedback. It’s all about reducing risk.

Genie in the Box

This is basically the vendor’s dream come true. Master data management (MDM) looks to provide full-service cloud data management and integration including:

• * Aggregation
• * Modification
• * Quality control
• * Enrichment
• * Comply with data governance

This option is especially attractive to small or mid-sized companies whose IT department is limited due to budget, human resources or other IT restraints.

Know What You Do

As more business processes move into multiple networks, the need for adequate business activity monitoring (BAM) has increased. This means cloud networks aggregating, analyzing and presenting data in order to give companies a global view of their movements.

Conclusion

It should be kept in mind that cloud computing is not a magic solution to all data integration needs, and various providers will be required to meet the requirements of most businesses. Still, cloud networking has changed forever the face of data integration. Even entire cities are being transformed by cloud networks. The terrain provides not only new challenges, but also fresh opportunities.

Wayne Douglas has a deep interest in technology and the impact it is has on society and business. Wayne is supporting the innovating solutions of www.axonex.com.