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Cloud integration patterns tackle cloud integration challenges

Cloud integration has changed the IT landscape by forcing businesses to consider how to most efficiently structure the enterprise. Cloud integration has also accelerated the need for integration. The number of Software as a Service (SaaS) applications deployed by businesses has grown exponentially, creating numerous new integration use cases. As more and more businesses move to the cloud, overcoming cloud integration challenges grows increasingly important.

 

Integration scenarios

A number of cloud integration patterns have been established to take on specific cloud integration scenarios in order to quickly and easily manage recurring integration problems. These key archetypes are specific integration scenarios around which a strategy can be structured.

  • Cloud to cloud: Cloud to cloud integration is fundamental for SaaS applications and services. Also referred to as SaaS integration, this scenario enables connectivity between SaaS applications and services of all types (expense management, marketing, HR, collaboration, CRM) in real-time.
  • Cloud to enterprise: Cloud to enterprise integration, also referred to as hybrid integration, allows for seamless and secure connectivity between cloud and on-premises applications and services. This paradigm demonstrates the process of connecting legacy systems and databases.

These integration scenarios have become common in the IT landscape.  As more businesses address the challenge of creating connectivity, common integration patterns have emerged.

Cloud integration patterns

Cloud integration patterns are widely accepted solutions to commonly occurring integration problems. These patterns provide a framework for designing and creating integrations between applications, data, user identities, and networks within various environments. These reusable designs are great for growing businesses, as they are easily scalable, reduce complexity, and save time.

Some common cloud integration patterns are:

  • Remote Procedure Call (RPC): This synchronous operation is a protocol used by programs to request services from other programs located in disparate networks, without having to understand the complexity of the network itself. This pattern is ideal for integrating and synchronizing numerous applications in order for them to exchange information.
  • Asynchronous messaging:  When the source is not tied to the destination, asynchronous messaging is an ideal, scalable way to connect applications. If, for any reason, a receiver is unable to accept a message, the sender is able to continue on without being affected.
  • Shared databases: Shared databases is another commonly encountered integration pattern that handles situations where data needs to be instantly available and consistent. It is best used when multiple applications need to work together and share information.
  • File transfers: The need to transfer data in bulk is a common integration pattern and one that is crucial to all businesses. It supports exporting, importing, and transforming files between systems and services (e.g. MS Dynamics to Salesforce) to ensure data with different file types can be shared across systems and applications.

Cloud integration patterns are vital as they save businesses time and resources. Moreover, these integration patterns, if not properly leveraged can lead to unsuccessful cloud projects.  

MuleSoft solutions - Cloud integration patterns

MuleSoft enables businesses by providing a number of integration solutions to help businesses create connectivity across the enterprise. With CloudHub, the cloud integration platform as a service (iPaaS), businesses can seamlessly integrate SaaS and on-premises applications. With Mule as an ESB (ESB), organizations can create a foundation for SOA (Service Oriented Architecture), modernize legacy systems, and eliminate point to point integration.

Both of these solutions are a part of Anypoint Platform, a unified, future-proof integration platform designed to help organizations solve their integration challenges. Anypoint Platform includes numerous components, like Anypoint Studio, that work to keep the enterprise running efficiently. Anypoint Studio enables businesses with tools they need to leverage common cloud integration patterns. With support for numerous patterns of cloud integration, Anypoint Studio greatly reduces the effort required to create connectivity. Anypoint Studio allows businesses to easily configure and leverage cloud integration patterns to simplify integration throughout the enterprise.

To learn more about how Anypoint Platform and its components can help your business overcome cloud integration challenges, contact us today.