Are companies moving toward service-oriented architecture without even realizing it? In a recent interview, Ettienne Reinecke, group CTO at global IT solutions provider Dimension Data, notes that while it may take up to a decade for SOA to become a full reality, many of the pieces are already falling into place -- under many different names and approaches.
Standardization and virtualization, for example, are part of this picture. Most tellingly he added, "I am amazed at the speed with which people are moving away from client/server without even knowing it. They are consolidating data centers, and changing from client/server to XML- and Web-based applications."
Good bye client/server, hello to what, exactly? To bring SOA sensibilities to all these developing pieces of service orientation, Reinecke advises development of a strong architectural program that drives SOA through every project. "Set a basic framework and define standards, then live by them in every project," he advises. "For example, when you do VoIP and you have to deal with IPT numbering plans, use the standard directory service you have defined -- in many cases we see corporations using Active Directory as a standard -- then add your IPT numbers to the directory in Active Directory."
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