Migration of Applications to Cloud

To migrate an application to cloud there are 4 possible options:

1. Rehost: Redeploy the application on HaaS (Hardware as a Service) such as Rackspace or IaaS (Infrstructure as a Service) such as EC2 virtual machines.

2. Refactor: Tweak existing application (usually web application) to run on IaaS platform (such as Amazon EC2.

3. Rebuild: Rewrite your application (usually web application) and then port it to cloud (utilize SaaS – Software as a Service such as Force.com, PaaS – Platform as a Service such as Windows Azure). You may also utilize Haas and/or IaaS.

4. Replace: It is clear slate approach. Maximum flexibility is available. One can choose to use SaaS (such as salesforce.com), Paas (Microsoft Azure, Google AppEngine, Force.com), and/or IaaS (such as Amazon EC2).

So which one are you doing?

Varity of Type Definition in a Web Service

In most of WSDLs of enterprise class one finds very simple definitions of types.

But this approach has one serious flaw, if source like to change (generally add) type system, service has to change. To manage changes at source system, multiple versions of a service crop up in enterprise environment. But the good part of this approach is that one looking at types in WSDL can understand the types easily and least documentation is required for attribute/parameters.

To overcome the changing number of attributes/parameters and containing changes in source and target systems only (not in the system which facilitates exposure of functionality as service – web service) one can follow one of the following approaches:

Approaches 2 and 3 have their own set of challenges. Understanding of types is not intitutive and needs documentation with greater details.

BPM Project Life Cycle

When not to use Scrum

1. When team size is big ( more than 10)
2. When deadlines are fixed for fixed features
3. When multi vendor team is involved and especially part of team is not co-located
4. Onsite and offshore teams has inconvenient time differences
5. When pigs do not have decision making authority
6. When Enterprise Integration need to be executed with implementation of Enterprise Information System.
7. Offshore teams consist of fresher (very typical scenarios with IT offshoring companies).
8. Product vision and architecture is not ready.

Book Review: Cloud Security: A Comprehensive Guide to Secure Cloud Computing

Book Review: Cloud Security: A Comprehensive Guide to Secure Cloud Computing by Ronald L. Krutz & Russell Dean Vines: Publisher- Wiley: ISBN- 13: 978-0470589878

As the name suggests this book covers security aspects related to Cloud. But book fails to add any substantial to the subject. Book is just collection of IT security concepts appended by cloud.

I do not recommend this book.


Disclaimer: I did not get paid to review this book, and I do not stand to gain anything if you buy the book. I have no relationship with the publisher or the author.

Further reading: Competing book are Cloud Security and Privacy: An Enterprise Perspective on Risks and Compliance By Tim Mather http://www.amazon.com/Cloud-Security-Privacy-Enterprise-Perspective/dp/0596802765 and Cloud Application Architectures: Building Applications and Infrastructure in the Cloud by George Reese http://www.amazon.com/Cloud-Application-Architectures-Applications-Infrastructure/dp/0596156367

One can get more information about book and related topics from:

1. Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Cloud-Security-Comprehensive-Secure-Computing/dp/0470589876/
2. Publisher -- Wiley http://www.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-0470589876.html

Book Review: The Decision Model: A Business Logic Framework Linking Business and Technology

Book Review: The Decision Model: A Business Logic Framework Linking Business and Technology by Barbara von Halle’s and Larry Goldberg: Publisher- CRC Press: ISBN- 13: 978-1420082814

The Decision Model – A Business Logic Framework Linking Business and Technology (IT Management) collect scattered knowledge and repackage the same in beautiful package and add some heavy words to it. Book claims to introduce Decision Model to model Business Logic (essentially Business Rules) but it the idea of separation of Business Logic and process is old. Book essentially formalize the idea and add rigor to it.

Book is good read and the most important aspect of book is separation of business process and business logic. The book is very theoretical and good for those who like to understand theoretical aspects of Decision Model. Book does not talk about how to implement separation of Business Process and Business Logic in real business applications.


Disclaimer: I did not get paid to review this book, and I do not stand to gain anything if you buy the book. I have no relationship with the publisher or the author.


One can get more information about book and related topics from:

1. Book’s web presence http://thedecisionmodel.com/
2. Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Decision-Model-Framework-Technology-Management/dp/1420082817
3. Publisher – CRC Press: http://www.crcpress.com/product/isbn/9781420082814
4. Review: http://realworldsa.blogspot.com/2010/04/decision-model-business-logic-framework.html
5. One more review: http://www.tdan.com/view-special-features/10969

Enterprise Dash Board

Recently, I was involved with very large enterprise which like to purchase or develop Enterprise Dash Board (essentially Business Activity Monitoring system) which can cater to its growing needs. After surveying the market for various BAM and Dash Boards, none was able to fit into requirements. The dream BAM system was envisioned as: