Cloud Connector

Chaitanya Garikaparti

Despite the popularity of Cloud computing technological benefits. Many Industry experts and analysts observing SaaS industry would all agree that providing integration solutions has a major role to play in this intensifying competitive landscape other than the core capabilities offered by the ISV for multiple business functions. Proliferation of SaaS applications, latest cloud trends and change in customer buying patterns are giving raise to the importance of providing integration solutions by an ISV to its customer. This paper observes on these various needs, challenges and solutions available in todays market and also analyzes the need to provide connector included in solutions by ISVs

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TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION SAAS INTEGRATION REQUIREMENTS INTEGRATION SOLUTIONS & CLOUD CONNECTOR HOW CLOUD CONNECTOR PLATFORMS FUNCTION POINTS TO BE CONSIDERED WHILE DEVELOPING CONNECTORS ISV ADVANTAGES IN PROVIDING CONNECTORS ISV CHALLENGES IN BUILDING CLOUD INTEGRATION SOLUTIONS WHAT SONATA PROVIDES BUSINESS VALUE REFERENCES ABOUT SONATA 3 4 4 5 6 6 6 7 8 9 10

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I NTRODUCTION
Cloud computing has rapidly transformed the Enterprises IT landscape over the past few years. Many enterprises have opted for cloud based solutions to yield measurable benefits such as lower costs, greater flexibility and better resource utilization. Though these relative merits of cloud computing might be major driver for enterprises & ISV to shift towards cloud adoptions & offerings. In reality the IT environment is a mixture of cloud and on-premise tools that need to play nice at all the time to reap business benefits and full potential usage of SaaS Applications. Understandably, this fundamental question has given rise to a basic and necessary requirement of how to achieve seamless integration of on-premise and cloud applications. Today, with an y-o-y expected growth rate of 25% in cloud software among commercial software usage, many ISVs are investing more than ever in developing specialized applications with unique capabilities, dont address integration completely and advice users to asses on core capabilities while the integrations requirements could be handled later by various means. On the contrary, Hustling to catch up to virtualization and cloud advances many new individual applications developed on different PaaS platforms each year are failing to perform some due diligence and far behind the curve on enterprise SaaS application integration, leading to complex integration and customer dissatisfaction. There have been recent trends to reduce the complexity of these integrations with different vendors

starting to provide integration platforms to reduce the pain of SaaS application integration. But whatever the scenario is, avoiding appreciable costs for

customers, providing right connectors, and selecting a right third party platform that is flexible to accommodate unique needs, impacts competitiveness and ultimately sales for ISVs.
Source: Forrester

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S AA S INTEGRATION REQUIREMENTS
Integration certainly played key role in information technology since long time and has become more important with diverse applications used in enterprises and the advent of cloud computing in recent times. Listed below are some of the important Integration requirements in the SaaS world: SaaS is very modular in its application development, As a result SaaS ISVs has introduced applications that are focused to target specific business function, which is a point solution application strategy that heavily depends on other specialized applications to complete a holistic solution to end customer. This leads to significant integration requirements between SaaS and on-premise applications and between other SaaS applications used by the enterprises. Pay as you go model that avoids vendor lock-in is typical of todays trends in cloud computing world, which provides a choice for customer to change the vendor if on- premise systems do not play well with SaaS application.

I NTEGRATION SOLUTI ONS & CLOUD CONNECTOR

Cloud connectors gain traction in enterprise application integration.
There are three typical ways to integrate product related data to their SaaS based application records on the road Web Services, Enterprise Service Buses and Cloud Connectors. While web services are relatively common through API interfaces, but still put burden on the customers to write large programs. Many times this requires hard coding and things like authentication, session management, protocols, meta browsing are hard to be handled . ESBs on the other hand are commonly used method for integration and many enterprises adopt ESBs for on-premise applications integration, but are cumbersome and expensive for cloud integration. One way to achieve cloud integration is to develop custom code for different applications, but this is unproductive and both the ISVs and the enterprises need specialist skills for this. The other kind is by providing connectors through an integration platform as a service - these are cloud applications that are designed to deliver integration securely over internet., Building Connector through Cloud integration platforms enable us to build silo/multi integration connectors. They go all the way in integrating enterprise applications from cloud to cloud or cloud to on-premise with minimal effort, better orchestration for faster deployment and enable to deploy, monitor multiple customers through one platform.

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H OW CLOUD CONNECTOR PLATFOR MS FUNCTION

With the biggest shift that has come to IT and with the growing number of SaaS applications and increasing numbers of public APIs, developing a custom point to point integration wont work effectively. If there is an update/change in the applications, you need to update all the connections at your data centre. API open up secure access to data but does not accomplish the integration itself. They dont handle data transformation, business logic or error processing. They still need a plugging unit to co-ordinate. To harness all the power cloud platforms provide integration platform as a service that employs SaaS architecture. These contain instant APIs to build custom connectors required by the end customer for any particular SaaS application. Cloud connector platforms enable the ISV products to integrate and communicate seamlessly with the Enterprise complex, varied legacy and modern systems. These allow applications to securely move data to and from the cloud, migrate data, data synchronization, data replication; data validation, field updations etc., by connecting directly with data objects instead of interacting with WSDL to describe every transaction. These connect to on-premise

information systems via adapters that mask the technical nuances between applications and data models such as connectivity options, session management, authentication, and authorization. These could be desktop based thin client that synchronize data between on-premise heterogeneous applications to cloud or cloud based solution that connect between one cloud based application to other.

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P OINTS TO BE CONSIDERED WHILE DEVELOPING CONNECTORS

Ensuring transformation as data goes from one system to the other, from on-premises to the cloud and vice-versa

Maintaining the connections and the data exchange with the same level of security that organizations had in the enterprise Having the right types of connection to accommodate the volumes of data and interaction between the two systems Orchestrating data flow to get the right data to the right system at the right time, and, in doing so, creating a comprehensive, cohesive information scheme and not silos of information.

ISV ADVANTAGES IN PROVIDING CONNECTORS

Cost reduction: Reduces end customer cost to select third party integration platform provider and develop connector. Over head costs will be reduced significantly. Connector Ready : Developing Connector by ISV themselves help to enchases their product line for future releases Next versions are connector ready USP: Trademarked custom connectors attain ISV to stand out from crowd in a crowded market place, giving a unique selling point advantage. Addressing Niche market: Knowledge gained on various connector scenarios helps ISVs to address niche market segment in future. Market Place: Provides public & private market place to your end customers for quick accessibility. Gaining customer confidence: Providing custom connectors at the first place speeds up customers SaaS adoption process for basic functionality requirements while the others could be developed later.

ISV CHALLENGES IN BUILDING CLOUD INTEGRATION SOLUTI ONS

Functional understanding of various application softwares to ensure comprehensive information availability Building one time connectors for individual/new applications that are developed on different PaaS technology platforms. Business Requirements of the application may impose complex data visibility rules that are unique to organization. This may require an additional work to shoe horn these rules in to the application. Adding connectors as the architecture grows in size. Developing custom connectors to end customers LOB applications.

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Prebuilt connectors built by third party are for the specialized functionality offered by SaaS solution, may not be compatible for all the integration software versions. Band width to check the quality of the connector; Monitoring performing issues. Up gradation of connector whenever theres an upgrade in ISV software Providing a dedicated manpower to maintain and support seamless integration whenever there is a change in customer enterprise software and systems.

W HAT SONATA PROVIDES

Sonata works in tandem with ISVs strategic plan to provide End-to end design and development services to further transform the way applications leverage business eco system around cloud and on-premise systems. With, our experience of working with major principles in the world such as SAP, Oracle, Microsoft, Red prairie etc, can provide quick realization on many scenarios that never anticipated in a world of frequent release of applications that may be of interest to your clients. Sonata takes a systematic approach in providing connector consulting to ISV. Our fine tuned methodology helps ISV to quickly assess the business needs, connector development strategy and helps to create a base line to quickly build connectors for their end customers

Analyze: After assessing the ISV needs and strategic plans. We analyze the underlying technology components, Data security regulations, data integrations points. Our team of experts analyzes to see whether to go with custom point to-point integration or to suggest the best fit cloud integration platform that reduces costly maintenance and supports scalability for future needs which provides significant value add and competitive differentiation in market place.

Build: This step includes the actual enablement of the connectors to the SaaS application. With, our experience of working on many enterprise integrations engagements and by our alliance partnerships programs with TIBCO, Informatica, sales force etc. Sonata quickly realizes on many scenarios and develops platform based connectors or builds point to point connectors for standard software products, legacy applications & custom business applications.

Upgrade & maintenance: Maintaining and upgrading connectors to ensure connectors to seamlessly interface with applications in the midst of software and hardware upgrades for specific applications

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B USINESS VALUE
Sonata offers a wealth of experience, with 15+ years of implementation & enterprise integration experience and by leveraging the knowledge gained from its various leading ISV engagements, we provide technology agnostic resources and application experts who understand various application integration scenarios to create solutions that are of high quality and competitive. We offer to our customers, a Pay-for-Productivity model where our customers can leverage an On-Demand team replete with skills on multiple technologies and tools. Partnering with Sonata represents the best value based on cost, risks, and benefits. It allows ISV to market much faster and to focus on core business applications that greatly enhances the value of ISV offering while sonata providing best-in-class connectors accommodating end customers unique needs now and in future.

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R EFERENCES
Parizo C 2012, Cloud connectors gain traction in enterprise application integration. Accessed 25/03/13. http://searchsoa.techtarget.com/feature/Cloud-connectors-gain-traction-in-enterprise-application-integration Blanchette S 2012, Cloud integration platforms: A guide to integration as a service. Accessed 26/03/13. http://searchcloudapplications.techtarget.com/news/2240158128/Cloud-integration-platforms-A-guide-tointegration-as-a-service Stafford J 2012, Why SaaS application integration requires new strategies, tools. Accessed 25/03/13. http://searchcloudapplications.techtarget.com/feature/Why-SaaS-application-integration-requires-new-strategiestools http://www.informaticacloud.com/products/integration-platform-as-a-service-ipaas/connector-toolkit.html, Accessed 30/03/13 http://forum.mulesoft.org/mulesoft/topics/esb_connector_vs_cloud_connector, Accessed 27/03/13 http://www.oracle.com/us/solutions/cloud/cloud-integration-wp-1873149.pdf, Accessed 5/04/13 Phneah E 2013, SaaS integration challenges pose security risks. http://www.zdnet.com/saas-integration-challenges-pose-security-risks-7000012243/ Accessed 27/03/13. 26/03/12.

Sanders K, Daniel A 2012, IBM Web Sphere Cast Iron Cloud Integration. Accessed http://www.websphereusergroup.org.uk/wug/files/presentations/33/What's_New_In_Cast_Iron.pdf

Henschen D 2012, Informatica Adds Integration options As Cloud Demand Multiplies. Accessed 28/03/13. http://www.informationweek.com/software/information-management/informatica-adds-integration-optionsas/240004642 Dave 2013, The SaaS Explosion of 2013 part 4: software vendors move to SaaS, Accessed 26/03/13. http://www.cloudstrategies.biz/the saas-explosion-of-2013-part4/ Tzuo T , CEO, Zuora, Integration Strategies for ISVS: Part 1 & part2. http://www.boomi.com/files/resources/wp_dell_boomi_integration_strategies_pt2.pdf http://www.boomi.com/files/resources/wp_dell_boomi_integration_strategies_pt1.pdf H.Hai et al: SaaS and Integration best practices: Accessed 10/04/13. http://www.fujitsu.com/downloads/MAG/vol45-3/paper03.pdf Accessed 25/03/13.

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A BOUT SONATA
Sonata, headquartered in Bangalore, features amongst the Top 20 IT Software Services Exporters in India as per industry rankings released by NASSCOM for 2008-09 for two consecutive years. Sonatas customers span Global 2000 Enterprises and ISVs across the US, Europe, Middle east and Asia-Pacific since 1986. Sonata is ranked among Top 50 companies by Dataquest for FY 2009 2010and figured in the Global Outsourced Product Development vendors as well as the Global Services 100 list. Sonata is publicly listed and Debt free and with revenues of USD 309 million (FY11-12), Sonata has been growing at a CAGR of 26% y-o-y last 5 years. Sonatas portfolio of services includes business application ERP/CRM/SCM Implementations, Business Intelligence, Application Development and Management, Managed Testing, Infrastructure Management and Outsourced Product Development delivered through a proven global delivery model. Sonata has 5 offshore development centers in India (4 in Bangalore and one in Hyderabad) along with three near-shore centers in Germany Why Sonata Sonata having a unifying philosophy of Think Customer and a commitment to build Long Term Value, leveraging Strong Partnerships and Alliances and being the Local Face, with Global Capabilities, driven by Empowered People and Enduring Relationships to deliver Sustained Growth Key Highlights Sonata as a mid-sized company, we are able to offer you complete management attention and focus, as you will be a star customer for Sonata.

Sonata Software has also been ranked Global #2 in the 2008 Top Ten ESO: Outsourced Software Development in The Black Book of Outsourcing High performance culture and a committed workforce Right-sized provider: Financial stability + management attention Proven processes for security and quality

Our CoEs deliver strategic value to outsourcing far beyond operational excellence - by defining and driving a set of best practices including re-usability and applying best in class processes and technologies. We will also help you in assessing and harnessing new technologies - like Bigdata, Mobility, Analytics and Cloud. Sonata Value Proposition

Contact us today For more information about Sonata Software Services visit us at www.sonata-software.com Email us at Send an e-mail to our corporate office or
can reach us directly to

APS Trust Building Bull Temple Road, N. R. Colony Bangalore - 560 019, India Tel: 91-80-3097 1999, Fax: 91-80-2661 0972
Disclaimer: Information included in this document, in its entirety, is considered both confidential and proprietary to Sonata Software and may not be copied or disclosed to any other party without its prior written

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