In the rapidly-evolving world of IT, one of the biggest ongoing challenges is application and data integration, both within the enterprise and across enterprises. This, of course, has become even more challenging with the need to integrate traditional on-premise software with the proliferation of cloud-based services, something called hybrid integration. IT managers, attempting to keep up with ever-changing integration needs in-house often found themselves strapped for time, money, and resources. As a result, we’ve seen the introduction and growing adoption of integration-platform-as-a-service, also known as Integration PaaS, or iPaaS for short.
So what exactly is iPaaS? Essentially, integration-platform-as-a-service is a cloud-based solution that enables users to connect applications regardless of whether they’re on-premise or in the cloud without having to add layers to their infrastructure. In short, Integration PaaS is a way to rethink enterprise architecture. iPaaS enables IT managers to move beyond patching together disparate software and platforms with stop-gap APIs to embracing cloud-based hybrid integration that seamlessly connects a variety of applications, databases, and channels.
iPaaS integrates everything, everywhere, everytime.
Integration PaaS is fast becoming the tool of choice for hybrid integration because it provides a comprehensive solution for a wide variety of IT issues. Virtually every organization – from SMBs to large enterprises – needs to link on-premise, often proprietary, systems with SaaS and other cloud-based operations. iPaaS can act as off-premise middleware that handles integration chores regardless of what’s involved – on-premise legacy systems, cross-platform databases and warehouses, and third party networks — regardless of who manages them or where they are.
What makes iPaaS even more attractive is the way it can free up IT resources, employees, and budgets for more mission-critical tasks instead of spending time and money integrating and maintaining on-premise and cloud-based systems to ensure they can work together.
Integration PaaS offers a number of benefits to the end-user:
Seamless, comprehensive, hybrid integration
Multiple platforms – including on-premise, cloud, mobile, and the web – have surpassed traditional integration’s ability to handle it. iPaaS is a next-generation solution that moves from “one-to-one” integration to “many-to-one” functionality. With the growing demand for Big Data, comprehensive, automatic integration is crucial for effectively managing and utilizing large volumes of data from a variety of sources.
Better operational efficiency
Integration PaaS enables the enterprise to operate better and more efficiently by making vital premise and cloud-based information more accessible, including underutilized but valuable data residing in legacy systems.
Rapid scalability
Today’s high-speed business environment requires rapid scalability to take advantage of changing data management and analysis needs. iPaaS enables IT organizations to quickly utilize new software and systems without worrying about integration and compatibility.
Improved security
The proliferation of cross-platform networks, channels, and devices can be a security nightmare. Hybrid integration using iPaaS provides the ability and flexibility to better manage sensitive data and choose between less or more secure storage, inside or outside firewalls, on-premise or in the cloud.
Integration-platform-as-a-service use growing globally
Because of the critical need for improved IT integration – especially between on-premise and cloud-based systems — industry analysts such as Gartner are predicting the rapid growth of iPaaS, estimating the worldwide hybrid integration platform spend will increase over 30% annually between now and 2018.
Organizations that need to wring every benefit out of their IT resources should be considering integration-platform-as-a-service as a must-have IT tool for the enterprise and beyond.
