Customer Reviews

Cloud Computing and SOA Convergence in Your Enterprise: A Step-by-Step Guide

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book is short on specifics of both Cloud Computing and SOA. It is certainly not a guide to either. Lots of buzz-words with few (or any) concrete examples. A few of the concepts are truly bizarre, like "testing as a service", "information as a service", and "process as a service". Also the treatment of key issues in cloud computing such as database access, file systems, and bulk data storage is so trivial as to be misleading. If you are looking to get educated on cloud computing, or how to map a SOA on to the cloud look somewhere else.

I agree with Chazin's review even if it is a little harsh. This book should not be seen as an introduction to cloud computing. Depending on your needs you are better off with Hurwitz or Rhoton to get up to speed on the subject. Linthicum uses an unconventional and unnecessarily complex classification model that introduces more fragmentation into the cloud landscape. Don't get me wrong. The ecosystem is complex but other recent books explain the picture more coherently and cohesively.

Linthicum's strength comes from his many years of experience in SOA and application integration. If you have read his earlier books you will appreciate the way he takes his approach forward into the modern world. If you are new to Linthicum but want to understand how SOA fits into a cloud computing delivery model you will also enjoy this book.

There are a bunch of things about Linthicum's book that I like, but the top two are (1) that he addresses the question of business value of cloud computing head on in chapter 4, and (2) that he has a data-centric or data-first approach. From my perspective, the lack of focus on these two areas are the biggest reasons why many organizations, even after 5-10 years of applying SOA concepts, are still in the "trough of disillusionment". Cloud computing is a natural extension of SOA and if we want to avoid the trough and move directly to the "plateau of productivity", these two aspects should be top priorities.

I applaud David for tackling the issue of articulating the business value of esoteric concepts such as IT clouds (at least they might seem to be so from a non-techie perspective). If we can't don't do this, then IT really doesn't matter (as per Nicholas Carr). Furthermore, SOA always was about data - but it seems like pretty much everyone has been focusing on the "service" or "architecture" aspects and forgot that at the heart of information systems is information. Clouds have the same issues so I for one am thankful that David is helping to fuel the thinking that we need to deal with the data issues first and foremost.

Cloud Computing and SOA Convergence in Your Enterprise tells of cloud computing and comes from an IT innovator who explains what cloud computer means. From costs, values and risk-related drivers beyond the move to cloud computing to how to assess cloud computing and SOA for an organization, this offers advanced programmers and computer collections a solid guide to building disruptive infrastructure and next-generation platforms.

I would implore C-Level executives who are not IT or cloud computing savvy, but want to get a fundamental yet comprehensive overview of enterprise cloud computing, to read this book. It is an easy read, This book gives you a good road map and the content is easily understood. It does not matter if you are a CEO or a student; the take away is an insightful understanding of Cloud Computing in general and for the Enterprise in particular. I was impressed at the depth of the content, and it was particularly insightful/helpful to get a more clear picture on requirements and implementation. It was also clear how to get at the true ROI of cloud computing for companies.

Having read Hurwitz and Rhoton, I say that their books are not nearly as authoritative and comprehensive as Linthicum's Cloud Computing and SOA Convergence in Your Enterprise: A Step-by-Step Guide
Discussed. I would recommend this book for any person with an interest in Cloud Computing.

This book is a fantastic read for anyone that is serious about Cloud Computing.David has written a book that is both practical as well as educational. He has managed to bring two extremely challenging topics together in a way that is both accessable and useful for both techncial and business people.

He has cut through alot of the hype that currently surrounds Cloud Computing and explains it as a facilitator of Service Oriented Architecture. This will allow both business and technical leaders and decision makers to better adopt "the cloud" by viewing it as one facet of an overall architectural strategy.

If you need to make a business case for SOA with cloud computing along with a solid overview of the pros and cons, this book will suit your needs well.

This was a really good book: David S. Linthicum has a solid grasp of the subject, and it's right on target, comprehensive and packed with valuable information.

The book contains many diagrams that are crude but effective for CEOs and IT developers to get a clear comprehension of Cloud Computing/SOA implementation in medium to large enterprise-wide solutions. I like the way he has structured the book: It's very technology-oriented and many technologies are presented very well with path shown towards the future.

The book encourages IT to make the much-needed shift to cloud computing/SOA, increasing business agility/ability to change/adjust processes accordingly business needs instead having to deal with redeveloping whole systems.

This book is an excellent guide to this minefield of Cloud Computing/SOA implementation. The book covers a wide variety of concepts and techniques, putting them in context.

Mr. Linthicum uses a simple style to deliver his message, which makes the books acceptable to nontechnical people. I would have no problem to suggest this book to a CEO with a non-technical background.

The book guides readers with methodical approach for delivering solutions in the cloud, while also doing a great job explaining everything from the very basics to the more sophisticated topics.

For instance, data level method integration is skillfully explained in both word & picture. In fact, the author demonstrates a terrific abundance of skill & real world experience when explaining an idea via examples & diagrammed models.

The great value of this book is the overview of Cloud Computing/SOA implementation and its use as a mechanism to change/update information, in real-time, within and between businesses.

Mr. Linthicum has done a thorough job of covering the complex issues associated with Cloud Computing - indeed step by step - with clear explanation of SOA convergence and it benefits on the long run.

This book should be on the desk of every business CEO/CIO.Cloud Computing and SOA Convergence in Your Enterprise: A Step-by-Step Guide
The bottom line is that the strategic information is worth the price of the book.
I got this book free for review from [...]
thank you Mr. M. Morisy - for sending me this
book

In looking at the world of cloud computing, and thus cloud computing
books, this book stands out in that it talks about how something is
done, versus what it is. There is a huge difference.

I enjoyed the stepwise approach that this book takes, including
working from the requirements to the implementation.
Specifically, this book was able to explain the value of governance
in the context of cloud computing, and how architectures can exist
between enterprises and cloud computing providers.

I would urge you to read this book before starting on a cloud
computing project. I suspect that most will just dive right into
cloud computing without any architectural forethought. Clearly,
that is a big mistake.

This book cuts through all of the hype and confusion of cloud computing and brings us back to the basics of architecture. Finally, someone wrote a book that is not just about semantics but instead guides us through a methodical approach for delivering solutions in the cloud. I highly recommend this book!