SOA-Governance

Cooperative administrative structures can be established and specialist applications can be integrated into electronic processes in a platform independent manner, particularly when they are based on service oriented architectures (SOA).

Their use in administration and business promises integrated process-oriented workflows at all internal levels and in cooperation with public authorities, municipal administrations and small and middle-sized businesses, extending beyond the borders of these organisations.

Open Service Interfaces and International Standards

The concept of service oriented architectures based on a set of international standards, which are already supported by most vendors, presents an opportunity to improve cooperation between heterogeneous software systems and reduce integration costs.

The individual IT systems are connected to each other via open service interfaces and the technical requirements - including IT relevant strategic business objectives – are strongly linked to the technologies which support them.

Due to the narrow focus of the Information Technology used for business requirements, SOAs are increasingly being used for management strategies in business and administration.

SOA Governance

People – Processes – Information Technology – a Complex Combination

SOA governance relates to a businesses’ entire IT infrastructure and SOA tools such as processes, business regulations and legacy services used throughout the complete SOA lifecycle.

Fraunhofer FOKUS, amongst others, provides a consultation service offering advice about how to comply with the basic rules and regulations in order to tap into the full potential of services oriented architectures across the business sector.   We provide support by defining and explaining existing organizational structures, using the right tools and by adhering to processes that help to monitor the implementation of strategic IT relevant business objectives.

Thus SOA governance leads to transparency and control over the entire life cycle of an SOA’s elements: internal and external participants and employees, clients, suppliers and partners as well as processes, information and an organization’s assets are all integrated. Rights are also defined and performance reviews are carried out. Thus governance is of primary importance for the maintenance of Service Level Agreements (SLAs).

Here at the FOKUS SOA Laboratory we provide decision makers, system and software architects, developers and carriers with support when setting up SOA governance by offering lasting protection in order to foster SOA potential.